John.

There are three Johns in the New Testament:

John the Baptist, John the Disciple, and John the Divine.

Many traditional Christians claim that John the Divine, who wrote the Book of Revelation, is one and the same as the disciple John,

But I disagree.

It is hard to imagine two pieces of writing more different than the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation.

The Gospel of John is all about Light, Life, and Love.

The Book of Revelation is violent, vengeful and vindictive.

It includes a curse at the end upon anyone who changes the words of his book.

This was a common practice in the ancient world.

But I find it hard to reconcile with the beautiful words of John in his Gospel and letters.

And John the Divine says of himself that he shared with them the persecution of the early church.

This is significant because if he was the disciple John he would surely have said that he shared with Jesus his ministry on earth.

But he does not.

And so the violent and disturbing passages in the Book of Revelation must be questioned.

It seems to me that the Book of Revelation is a number of apocalyptic writings cobbled together and exaggerated.

It repeats itself and digresses constantly.

And its essential nature is not consistent with my experience of God.

My experience of God is that He is merciful, forgiving, and gracious.

He does not use fear.

And He does not punish or judge.

God is Love.

And His way is non-violent.

So do not get hung up on the vivid visions in the Book of Revelation.

They are not in keeping with the nature of God.

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