Understanding The Book Of Revelation

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

Many today are at a loss to comprehend the last book of the Bible, penned by John (“The Beloved”), c. 95 A.D. [He also wrote the Gospel of John and the 3 epistles (or letters) named after him].

I. The first reflection on Revelation is on its OUTLOOK

1.  Its outlook is Christological : The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, (Revelation 1:1) … This has to do with the person, position, and power of Jesus Christ.
2. Its outlook is also Eschatological: Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. (Revelation 1:19) …
   1. The Greek word eschatos speaks of last or final things.
   2. Its germination is in Genesis, its culmination is in Revelation.
   3. Concealed in Daniel And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (Daniel 12:9), revealed in Revelation.

II. The second reflection on Revelation is on its [chronological] OUTLINE

1. Christ’s message regarding the past (chapter 1)
2. Christ’s message regarding the present (chapters 2, 3)
3. Christ’s message regarding the prophetic (chapters 4-22)
   1. Heaven (chapters 4, 5) =God’s THRONE
   2. Tribulation (chapters 6 – 19:10) =God’s TERRORS
      1. 1^st half (chapters 6 – 11); mid-Trib. (12 – 14); last half (15 – 19:10)
      2. 7 SEALS (6); 7 TRUMPETS (8, 9, 11); 7 BOWLS (15, 16) = [judgments]
   3. Christ’s Second Coming (chapter 19:11ff.) =God’s TRIUMPH
   4. The Millennium (chapter 20) [1,000 years] =God’s TERRITORY
   5. The Eternal State of Eternity (chapters 21, 22) =God’s TIME

By way of application, this Book’s final words (The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:21)) promote Christ’s grace:

1. For the unbeliever, BELIEVE = REPENT AND RECEIVE Christ and His Word (He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:48)) …
2. For the believer, BEHAVE = LIVE in LIGHT of its message!