Expert: Dean Gade - 4/14/2011

Question
Hi Dean I have heard it said that the book of revelation does not belong in the bible.Is it possible that satan has decevied the church into beliveing the book of revelation belongs in the bible and what where the biblical requirements for a book to be in the connon of the new testements?Thank you.

Answer
Pete,

There is no real reason for anyone to doubt that the book of Revelation belongs in the canon of Scripture.  Revelation was accepted on the same criteria as the others books.

Determining which books of the New Testament were to be considered "Scripture" did not come about quickly or easily.  Already in the second century after Christ was born, the hand-copied sections of what we know as the Bible were sent around the Mediterranean and the known church leaders were agreeing on which books purported to be God's inspired word were indeed worthy of being in the canon.  Since many false writings were being distributed too, the leaders did not make decisions quickly or lightly.

The main criteria that was used were:

That the book needed to have been written by and apostle or one who worked with an apostle

That the book needed to be historically accepted by ALL the churches known to accept Jesus as their savior.

That the book had to be deemed as inspired by God.

The universal Christian Church ( the body of true believers throughout the world as opposed to nominal Christians)still holds to these criteria and still does not doubt that Revelation is the inspired word of God which He intended us to know and trust.