Overview of Revelation

Revelation is the consummation of God’s revelation and the conclusion of God’s word. Without this portion of God’s word, the Bible would become a book without an ending.

Revelation simply forecasts the apocalypse.

The book begins stating that it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants-things, which must shortly take place. He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.

The prophecy comes with a blessing, Likewise, the Revelation prophecy comes with a curse.

John begins the book by addressing the seven churches. While God spoke through the Old Testament prophets to talk to the 12 tribes of the children of Israel, the Revelation begins with Jesus communicating to the seven churches.

Jesus appears to John in His glory, and He speaks directly to the churches. The language is the same as in the books of the Old Testament prophets, with references to Jezebel and Balaam as the seven churches are now grafted alongside the children of Israel.

John on the island of Patmos, received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself instructed John to write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after.

It ends at the battle of Armageddon, which will unite the world’s armies together in the war that ends all wars. Immediately, after God causes the cataclysmic finale of the sun darkening, stars falling from the sky and the powers of the heavens shaken. This prompts the second coming of Jesus Christ, who returns in judgment with His heavenly battalion and marks the end of the world.

Revelation is not chronological.

Chapter Breakdown

Chapters 1–6:

The first chapter introduces the book and how it was received. Chapters 2 and 3 are letters to churches in seven cities that were in existence in John’s day. In chapter 4, John the Revelator is taken up to the throne room of God, and in chapter 5, he sees a scroll with seven seals, the first six of which are opened by Jesus in chapter 6. These take us through a summary of world history from a spiritual perspective, from the birth of Christianity to the end of the world.

Chapters 7–14:

These deal with the time we call the Great Tribulation, and once again these chapters culminate in the end of the world. Chapter 7 talks about the 144,000 and others who go through the Tribulation. The seventh seal is opened in chapter 8, and it heralds the beginning of the sounding of the Seven Trumpets of Tribulation. In chapters 8 and 9 the first six trumpets sound and result in various plagues and chastisements on the wicked. In chapter 10, the seven thunders sound to announce the seventh trumpet. In chapter 11 we are told that there will be two famous Endtime prophets who will be the vanguard of God’s witnesses in the Tribulation and that three and a half days after their martyrdom, the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. In chapter 12 we learn more about the Endtime church, and in chapter 13, we are told about the Beast and the False Prophet. In Chapter 14 we reach the end of the world again as both the Second Coming and Rapture occur, as well as the beginning of the Plagues of the Wrath of God.

Chapters 15–20:

In these chapters we are taken through the events that occur at the very end of this world’s current epoch. In chapters 15 and 16 the Plagues of the Wrath of God are poured out. In chapters 17 and 18 we read of the judgment and destruction of Babylon the Great Whore. In chapter 19 we are told about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and then about the Battle of the Great Day of the Lord, commonly known as Armageddon. Chapter 20 covers the imprisonment of Satan, the 1,000-year reign of Jesus and His saints on Earth, the Battle of Gog and Magog that occurs at the end of the Millennium when Satan is loosed for a little season, and then the final destruction of the surface of the earth as we now know it. Finally, we are told of the Great White Throne Judgment when all the unsaved are judged.

Chapters 21–22:

These pick up where chapter 20 leaves off and cover the New Earth that is made on the surface of the old one and the enormous, glorious Heavenly City that descends from outer space and the bright, beautiful happy future that awaits all believers in the most wonderful place ever made.