Comments on: John the Revelator

Question: John the Revelator

FunkyHelix — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:43:23 -0800

I've been listening to the song John the Revelator, and putting his name into Google gets me lyrics. Who is John the Revelator?

By: Miko

Miko — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:44:56 -0800

The author of the New Testament Book of Revelations.

By: gage

gage — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:47:03 -0800

specifically, John of Patmos. Wikipedia here

By: Miko

Miko — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:48:48 -0800

The book itself, from The Bible Gateway

By: Miko

Miko — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 09:49:24 -0800

Heh. Let's try that again with a link.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:03:03 -0800

[fixed Miko's link]

By: beagle

beagle — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:11:22 -0800

The author of the New Testament Book of Revelations.
Just to be excrutiatingly correct, check any Bible and you'll find Revelation is singular, it's all one big revelation, not a bunch of revelations. And strictly speaking, it was a revelation to him, not by him, so calling him a revelator (if that's even a word) is off the mark.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:32:51 -0800

Revelation, aka the Book of the Seven Seals, as stated in the lyrics:

Tell me who's that writing?
John the Revelator;
wrote the book of the seven seals.

By: Asparagirl

Asparagirl — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:42:06 -0800

Not to be confused with Dan the Automator.

By: matthewr

matthewr — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:42:11 -0800

Beagle: Just to be really pedantic, 'John the Revelator' is actually correct. The OED defines a revelator as "One who .. makes a revelation", where a revelation is "The disclosure or communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency." So, given that the revelation is the disclosure, not the knowledge itself, saying "John the Revelator" is in fact correct.

By: beagle

beagle — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 10:56:58 -0800

Matthewr: Thanks, I stand corrected.

By: rmm

rmm — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:10:42 -0800

Don't know if this helps at all, but there was a bit of a discussion about the song over on the White Stripes bulletin board.

By: Big Fat Tycoon

Big Fat Tycoon — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:11:07 -0800

matthewr -- that still doesn't make sense to me. If it was a revelation to him, he didn't make the disclosure to himself -- it was disclosed by a divine agency -- so wouldn't that divine agency be the revelator?

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:50:43 -0800

John then went on to disclose the revelation to the world by writing it down. Hence revelator. The name of the Book of Revelation in latin is the Apocalypse, which means litterally, the Uncovering. John uncovered what had been made know to him by heavenly messengers.

By: Hildago

Hildago — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 11:57:00 -0800

John the Revelator wrote the book of the seven seals.

By: nebulawindphone

nebulawindphone — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:33:02 -0800

Also, we're talking about the folk process here, so having a badass name that scans well counts for more than theological correctness. "John To Whom Some Stuff Was Revealed" would not make nearly so catchy a song.

By: JamesMessick

JamesMessick — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 06:53:57 -0800

A apostle. The one whom Jesus loved. The brother of James. Together they were called 'The Sons of Thunder.' The Phil Keaggy version of the song rocks out loud!