[topcat54]

Then why would John expect the churches to believe anything he wrote if they did not know him personally and respect him? Just because he said he had a vision would not convince anybody, especially with all the itinerant preachers going around with different doctrines.

Well, I guess you're right. Being an apostle probably wasn't a big deal.

[blue-duncan]

I don't think he said he was an apostle. I think he said he was a servant, so how would they know if they weren't acquainted with him? In fact, that was one of the problems with authorship.