Revelation

Placement in the Holy Bible:

• The twenty-seventh book of the New Testament

Author:

• John, the disciple of Jesus and author of the Gospel, is the writer of this book.

Intended Audience:

• The Christian community of the first century, specifically the believers in the seven churches of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

Purpose:

• To inform Christian believers about prophecies, divine judgement, and the events of the end times.
• To strengthen their faith and make them aware of God’s divine plans.
• To affirm the victory of Jesus and the final judgement of God at the end of times.

Key Themes:

• Prophecies and the End Times: Events of the end times, divine judgement, and prophecies delivered through Jesus.
• Messages to the Seven Churches: Special messages to the various churches and solutions to the challenges they face.
• Divine Victory: The victory of Jesus, divine judgement, and the arrival of the new heaven and new earth.

Major Sections:

1. Prologue and Vision (Chapter 1): John’s vision of Jesus and the introduction to the Book of Revelation.
2. Messages to the Seven Churches (Chapters 2-3): Special messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor, reviewing their spiritual condition.
3. Heavenly Vision (Chapters 4-5): Description of heavenly scenes, worship of God and the Lamb (Jesus).
4. Seven Judgments (Chapters 6-11): The seven judgments, the blowing of the trumpets, and the events of divine judgement.
5. The Child and the Beast (Chapters 12-14): Protection of God’s saints, great conflicts, and the end-time events.
6. Seven Bowls (Chapters 15-16): The pouring of the seven bowls, the culmination of divine wrath, and the final judgement.
7. Fall of Babylon and Final Judgment (Chapters 17-19): The fall of Babylon, end-time events, and the final judgement.
8. New Heaven and New Earth (Chapters 20-22): The final victory, the arrival of the new heaven and new earth, and God’s ultimate promise.

Structure:

1. Chapter 1: Prologue and vision.
2. Chapters 2-3: Messages to the seven churches.
3. Chapters 4-5: Heavenly vision.
4. Chapters 6-11: Seven judgments and the sound of the trumpets.
5. Chapters 12-14: Protection of the saints and end-time events.
6. Chapters 15-16: Seven bowls and divine wrath.
7. Chapters 17-19: Fall of Babylon and final judgement.
8. Chapters 20-22: New heaven, new earth, and God’s ultimate promise.

Characteristics:

• Prophecies: Detailed account of end-time events and prophecies.
• Divine Judgment: Emphasis on divine judgement, the final judgement, and the victory of Jesus.
• New Creation: The prophecy of the new heaven and new earth, and God’s ultimate promise.