The Chapters – Quick Access
Basics
BOOK: Revelation
Description: A revelation of the End Times
Author: John the apostle
Date written: Probably about AD95
Chapters: 22
Brief Synopsis
• The revelation was received by the apostle John while he was in exile on the isle of Patmos
• The most famous parts of it are:
- Jesus’ letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor (Ch.2 & 3)
- The vision of God and Jesus in the throne room of heaven (Ch.4 & 5)
- Coming judgments (Ch.8-11,15 & 16)
- Key personages (Ch.12-14, 17-19)
- The return of Jesus (Ch.19)
- The new eternity (Ch.21,22)
Why Read Revelation
Without doubt Revelation is one of the more difficult books of the Bible to read and understand and from the outset we must agree that we will probably disagree with some commentators; the truth is that we will only know exactly how God is going to work it all out, once we enter eternity and He shows us.
It is a book that starts with several chapters of personal prophecies to seven churches in Asia Minor, then a couple of chapters revealing the throne room of heaven where the Son of God is given a scroll that rolls out end time history, and then the rest of the book reveals that history from various perspectives. The most important thing to note, perhaps, is that it is the Son of God who oversees this rolling out of this part of history. It does not name names beyond those of spiritual entities but it does show how in the last days God will bring increasingly severe judgments (rather on the same style as He brought judgments on Pharaoh in the book of Exodus), on an increasingly rebellious world, while preserving believers. In the closing chapter, the promise is given, “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
So yes it is prophecy, and yes it does employ a great deal of figurative language, and it is difficult sometimes to determine whether words should be taken literally or figuratively. However, rather than seeking to be dogmatic in our understanding (and subsequently divisive from others who interpret it differently), we simply present it and offer the notes as our understanding and hope they make it more readable to the new reader. If you reach different conclusions, no problem as long as they do not divert from the complete text.
Outline
- 1:1-8 Introduction
- 1:1-3 Prologue
- 1:4-8 Greetings and Doxology
- 1:9-20 Jesus among the Seven Churches
- Ch.2 & 3 The Letters to the Seven Churches
- 2:1-7 Ephesus
- 2:8-11 Smyrna
- 2:12-17 Pergamum
- 2:18-29 Thyatira
- 3:1-6 Sardis
- 3:7-13 Philadelphia
- 3:14-22 Laodicea
- Ch.4 & 5 The Throne Room in heaven: the Scroll and the Lamb
- Ch.4 The Throne in Heaven
- 5:1-5 The Seven-Sealed Scroll
- 5:6-14 The Lamb Slain
- 6:1-8:1 The Seven Seals
- 6:1-2 First Seal: The White Horse
- 6:3-4 Second Seal: The Red Horse
- 6:5-6 Third Seal: The Black Horse
- 6:7-8 Fourth Seal: The Pale Horse
- 6:9-11 Fifth Seal: The Souls under the Altar
- 6:12-17 Sixth Seal: The Great Earthquake
- 7:1-8 The Sealing of the 144,000
- 7:9-17 The Great Multitude
- 8:1 Seventh Seal: Silence in Heaven
- 8:2-11:19 The Seven Trumpets
- 8:2-5 Introduction
- 8:6-7 First Trumpet: Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood
- 8:8-9 Second Trumpet: A Mountain Thrown into the Sea
- 8:10-11 Third Trumpet: The Star Wormwood
- 8:12-13 Fourth Trumpet: A Third of the Sun, Moon and Stars Struck
- 9:1-12 Fifth Trumpet: The Plague of Locusts
- 9:13-21 Sixth Trumpet: Release of the Four Angels
- Ch.10 The Angel and the Little Scroll
- 11:1-14 The Two Witnesses
- 11:15-19 Seventh Trumpet: Judgments and Rewards
- Ch. 12-14 Various Personages and Events
- Ch.12 The Woman and the Dragon
- Ch.13 The Two Beasts
- 14:1-5 The Lamb and the 144,000
- 14:6-20 The Harvest of the Earth
- Ch.15,16 The Seven Bowls
- Ch.15 Introduction: The Song of Moses and the Seven Angels with the Seven Plagues
- 16:1,2 First Bowl: Ugly and Painful Sores
- 16:3 Second Bowl: Sea Turns to Blood
- 16:4-7 Third Bowl: Rivers and Springs of Water Become Blood
- 16:8,9 Fourth Bowl: Sun Scorches People with Fire
- 16:10,11 Fifth Bowl: Darkness
- 16:12-16 Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River Dries Up
- 16:17-21 Seventh Bowl: Tremendous Earthquake
- 17:1-19:5 Babylon: The Great Prostitute
- Ch.17 Babylon Described
- Ch.18 The Fall of Babylon
- 19:1-5 Praise for Babylon ‘s Fall
- 19:6-22:21 The End and the Beginning
- 19:6-10 Praise for the Wedding of the Lamb
- 19:11-21 The Return of Christ
- 20:1-6 The Thousand Years
- 20:7-10 Satan’s Doom ()
- 20:11-15 Great White Throne Judgment
- 21:1-22:5 New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem
- 22:6-21 Conclusion
Interpretation
Interpreters of Revelation normally fall into four groups:
- 1. Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its first-century setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place.
- 2. Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from Patmos to the end of history.
- 3. Futurists place the book primarily in the end times.
- 4. Idealists view it as symbolic pictures of such timeless truths as the victory of good over evil.
Instead we recommend you read the book, verse by verse, and see what it says to you, using the basic Bible Study questions, “Who, what, when, where, how, why” and also asking what would it have said to John’s readers then, and how do principles within it apply to me today? Especially note that Jesus is in control throughout. ‘He is the Lord’ is the overall message!
Note that the book sometimes gives its own interpretation of a number of symbols –
- stars are angels, lamp-stands are churches – 1:20
- a particular woman with 12 stars – Israel 12:1
- red dragon 12:3, is the devil – 12:9
- male child 12:5 is Jesus – 12:17
- “the great prostitute,” 17:1, is ” Babylon ” [ Rome ?] – 17:5,18;
- and the heavenly Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb – 21:9-10
Note there are
- seven beatitudes (see 1:3, 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7,14)
- seven churches (1:4,11),
- seven golden lampstands (1:12),
- seven stars (1:16),
- seven seals (5:1),
- seven horns and seven eyes (5:6),
- seven trumpets (8:2),
- seven thunders (10:3),
- seven signs (12:1,3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20),
- seven crowns (12:3),
- seven plagues (15:6),
- seven golden bowls (15:7),
- seven hills (17:9) and
- seven kings (17:10),
- as well as other sevens.
Concluding Comments
So much could be said but with the nature of the book the more that is said about it, the more disagreements about its interpretation arise.
Instead we will tell two (true) stories to counter the impression that this is a difficult book to read.
First, many years ago the author was involved in a children’s mission and during it a young lad of about ten came to the Lord. The next day he came back asking questions all about the book of Revelation. He had gone home and read it right through with no problem – but he did want help on some points!
Similarly, many years ago the author was involved with a boys Bible Class and over the space of several months, a group of about six thirteen to fourteen year-olds went through this book verse by verse, once a week – and couldn’t get enough of it!
The letters (Ch.2 & 3) are easy to read, as are the description in the heavenly throne room (Ch.4 & 5). Difficulty arises in the following chapters to know whether the various judgments follow in chronological order or whether they are expanding repetitions (those who are definite in their opinions, simply have never heard other opinions!) What is incredible though, is that although the judgments appear to gradually get worse (rather like those in Exodus) the hardness of sin means failure to repent. No one will ever be able to say they were not warned or given opportunity to turn to God.