Revelation Overview

REVELATION

“The Revelation, the concluding book of the Scriptures, unfolds the great events bringing history to consummation, including the revelation of Jesus Christ at His second advent.

The word “revelation,” used as the title of the book, is from the late Latin revelatio, which means the Greek apokalypsis, form which the English word “apocalypse” is derived’

“The book is a record of what the Apostle John saw and heard. Constant use is made of symbols. References to O.T. events and prophecies abound. Frequent shifts of locale from earth to heaven and back to earth may be observed. It is an account of divine judgment and conflict which sweeps the whole world.” Written by John in 100 A.D.

“The main purpose of the book is to provide the setting for the revelation of Jesus Christ. Principal attention is given to the time of the tribulation, which is believed to coincide with Daniel’s Seventieth Week prophecy.

The great tribulation, the latter half of that “week” is certainly in view. Much that is now obscure will become clear to those for whom it was written, as the time approaches.”

Basic facts and layout of the book of Revelation;

Written by the Apostle John in 95 A.D. while imprisoned on the island of Patmos, coast of Italy.
Revelation or its Greek counterpart Apocalypse means “disclosure of that which was previously hidden or unknown.”
The 22 chapters are not a Chronological narrative of the end-times. There are inset chapters of information.
Revelation is information from times past, present, and future.
It is a message from Jesus Christ delivered to John the Apostle by an angel.
It contains information sealed from the visions of Daniel while captive in Babylon.
During the narrative: Frequent shifts in location from heaven to earth are observed
It is an overview of the conflicts of mankind and divine judgements of God upon the whole world
It provides details left out in the Mount of Olives prophecy Jesus gives to the disciples the week of His crucifixion.
It is the final word of prophecy for mankind up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

PROPHECY REVEALS THE “DEEP THINGS” OF GOD Consider these words of testimony from the Apostle Peter:

2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2 Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

This does not mean, as God’s children, we cannot explore these prophecies with the Holy Spirit guiding our minds to understand or at least speculate on the meaning, warning, or significance of prophecies. We can certainly document from 2,000 years of history some prophecies that have been fulfilled or failed to happen. Jonah’s prophecy to Nineveh is an example of Prophecy changing due to the conditions being met to prevent its fulfillment. Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.

STRUCTURE AND OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTERS

The chapters of Revelation are not in a sequential order of events. The events are scattered throughout the entire book.
There are INSET chapters; Information that pertains to the overall scenario appear to interrupt the timeline of evets.
The Chapters can be identified with the following themes.

Introduction, Greeting to the Seven Churches of Asia, and Vision of the Glorified Christ
Message to the first four churches
Message to the last three churches, Attitude of Christ toward the church of the end age
Visionary scene in heaven before the opening of the seals, Twenty-four elders and four living creatures worshiping the Creator God
The seven seals taken by Christ, Visionary sighting of the Lamb of God, Worship of the Lamb by the angels, Universal adoration of the Lamb as King of Kings
Opening of the first six seals
The vision of the saving of Jews and Gentiles during the tribulation
Opening of the Seventh Seal, First four of the seven Trumpet Judgements
Opening of the fifth and sixth Trumpet Judgements
Cry of the angel for no further delay, John’s command from the “little scroll” to prophesy about many people, nations, and kings.
The Two Witnesses, Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet Judgement, Christ’s reign foreseen

12. This is an INSET chapter, Christ coming from the seed of Israel, Satan identified as the Red Dragon of the worldly system of man’s government and his desire to destroy Christ, Visionary view of war in heaven when Lucifer rebels against God.

13. INSET chapter Vision of the Beast and false Prophet, number of the beast 666

14. INSET Chapter Christ sealing the first fruits of Spiritual Israel, Fall of Babylon, Vision of Armageddon

15. The Seven Bowl Judgements of the Wrath of God

16. The Seven Bowls of wrath poured out upon the earth

17. The fall of Babylon, Whore of religion overthrown,

18. Babylon destroyed, Heaven rejoices over Babylon’s destruction

19. Second return of Jesus Christ

20. Completion of the First Resurrection, Beginning of the Millennium

21. New Heaven and earth, arrival of the Holy City from Heaven

22. The last message of the bible

Following is a list of the obvious synonyms and metaphors:

Precious metals are used to signify character and quality of kingdoms. Gold, Silver, Brass, Iron, and Clay are the most common for Kingdoms of Men.
Mountains or Mountain or Hills = Kingdoms or Governments;
Stars = angels; Blood moons = eclipses; Sun turned to blood = dust particles thick enough to appear as a solar eclipse. Possibly alignment of heavenly bodies to cause darkened sun; Thundering = voice of angels speaking for God;
Animals and Animal Horns: are used to express character traits and authority; Horns or Horn is typical of Power, authority, Kings, leaders.
Heads = Kings complete with kingdoms;
Lamb = Christ; Sheep = saints or believers; Goats = wicked or evil people.
Seas or Floods: represent large armies or a large populous of peoples in nations.
Beasts is a term used to denote Religious/Military Power backed by Satan and carnal men.
Dragon, Serpent, Wells without water, = Satan, or demons
Shepherd = Christ, ministers; Woman = church; Candlestick or Lampstands = churches; Harlot = false church; Daughters = offspring of larger churches, true and false. Olive Branches = Witnesses for Christ;
Spirit. =Wind, Water, Fire, Oil = Spiritual Intelligence
Seals = information and events; Trumpets = messages or announcements;
Sleep = death
Some events remain “latent” until close to the fulfillment of the prophecy; in other words, we can’t see its meaning and the information makes little sense until we are closer to the time it can be recognized in the world we live in.
Locusts = helicopters flying machines of war
Stings = armed missiles fired from the helicopters
144,000 =an arbitrary number of people saved from second death
Wilderness = out into the world and populous in an incognito sort of way
Time, times, and half a time, = 1,260 days or 3.5 years

THINGS I HAVE DISCOVERED ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION

There is a fair amount of repetition. Remember that REPETITION is the greatest form of Emphasis!
Revelation combines both physical observation with spiritual thoughts enhanced by our logical thought process.
The many different scenes in the visions of John do not remain permanent. Example: Jesus is not surrounded by seven candlesticks as we study today. This was a visual experience for John to get the spiritual lesson about how Jesus watches over His Spiritual Church.
Many of the metaphors and descriptions can be found in the old testament prophesies.
The main lesson for Christians today is how our conduct will determine our destiny.

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