The book is commonly dated to have been written after AD 70 by John of Patmos. Ancient scholars argued over whether that John was also the Apostle John.
Actually the book of the Apocalypse of St john does seem to have been written before 64 AD.
It seems highly unlikely that anyone other than an apostle could write with such authority to seven different churches in Asia Minor. This is especially true if John the Apostle had authority over the churches in this region at the time, as a well-attested ancient tradition suggests.7 Indeed, who would dare write to John’s churches, overstepping the apostle, to explain how things should be set in order? The Book of Revelation is very different from the other writings of the New Testament. It is the only work of an apocalyptic genre that is in the New Testament. There were other apocalyptic writings, such as the Apocalypse of Peter, in circulation at the time. Yet, only the Apocalypse of John was widely accepted, because it was commonly seen as having apostolic authority. Other apocalyptic works, which were deemed not to have been written by an apostle, were discarded. It is hard to believe, then, that the writer of Revelation, who assumes a position of authority over seven different churches, and who presents himself as one with special authority from the Lord, is not an apostle.
many concepts and ideas found in the Fourth Gospel are also found in the Apocalypse:
—Jesus as the Word (Jn. 1:1, 14; Rev. 19:13)
—Jesus as the Lamb (Jn. 1:29, 36; Rev. 5:6, 8, 12, etc.)
—Christian worship as something done “in the Spirit” (Jn. 4:23; Rev. 1:10)
—Salvation as the gift of “living water” (Jn. 4:14; Rev. 21:6)
—Jesus as the Giver of true manna (Jn. 6:48–50; Rev. 2:17)
—The Mother of Jesus as the Mother of all believers (Jn. 19:26–27; Rev. 12:17)
—The Bridegroom and the Bride (Jn. 3:29; Rev. 19:7, 21:2, 9)
—The call to love not our lives even unto death (Jn. 12:25; Rev. 12:11)
—Satan being “cast out” (Jn. 12:31; Rev. 12:9)
—The Mother of Jesus being called “Woman” (Jn. 2:4; Rev. 12:1, 5) —Jesus as the true temple (Jn. 2:21; Rev. 21:22)
—Christ as Shepherd (Jn. 10:1–16; Rev. 7:17
I thi k it clear that it was the Apostle John
Actually the book of the Apocalypse of St john does seem to have been written before 64 AD.
Those who espouse the view that the Apocalypse was written in the 60s, during the reign of Nero, also have ancient evidence to support their hypothesis.
The Syriac version of the Book of Revelation begins by stating that it was “written in Patmos, to which John was sent by Nero Caesar.”
Also, another Syriac work, The History of John, the Son of Zebedee, asserts that Nero exiled John.11 Since proponents of the variant dates for the writing of the Apocalypse can point to early Church writings to champion their views, other factors must be examined to fix an accurate date.
While Revelation scholars disagree about the date the book was written, there is strong agreement that it was written in a time of persecution (see Rev. 1:9; 2:10; 12:11; 13:15). This is supported in the writings of the Church Fathers. For example, Clement of Alexandria says that John wrote the Apocalypse while on the island of Patmos, where he had been banished by a “tyrant.”
There is another compelling argument for the early dating of the Book of Revelation that can be found in reading the text. The sacred writer conveys a sense of urgency, giving a clear message that Jesus is coming soon. Saint John writes:
—“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place” (Rev. 1:1).
—“[T]he time is near”(Rev. 1:3).
—“The Lord . . . has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place. And behold, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:6–7).
—“Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near” (Rev. 22:10).
—“Behold, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:12).