About the Book of Revelation

1 The writer
The writer of this book simply calls himself John. He wrote to the *churches in Asia. He describes himself as their brother in the family of God. The Christians in Asia probably knew him well. Asia in this book is part of the country that we now call Turkey. From early times, Christians have believed that the writer was the *apostle John. We know that the *apostle John lived in the city called Ephesus. But he was on the island called Patmos when he wrote this book. The rulers had sent him there as a punishment. He was there because he taught the word of God.

2 Date
The most likely date for this book was during the rule of Domitian. He was the king of Rome during the years AD 81 to 96. (AD means years after Jesus birth.)

3 Purpose
The main purpose of the book is to show how Jesus will come again. He will win the fight against the devil. Jesus will save his people. He is with them now. And he will be with them beyond the end of time. John writes to teach and correct Christians. He tells them to change where they are doing wrong things. He encourages them to continue to do the right things. John speaks about the troubles that the *churches had. He tells them about the troubles that they will suffer. He shows them how in the end Jesus will rule over all. And those who trust in Jesus will be with him.

4 Style
John calls this book a *prophecy. The *Lord told him to write it. Write what you have seen. Write what is happening now. And write what is going to happen after these things (1:19). The *Lord told John to write about the present and the future. The book shows the events that will lead to the end of history. The book warns those who do not obey it. It comforts those who do obey. It shows the fate of Gods enemies. And it shows how God will provide for his people. People have tried to explain this book in many ways. There are good reasons for each of these methods. I explain the book in this way. Chapters 2 and 3 were for the 7 *churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. But they contain lessons for the *church in all ages. From chapter 4 the book describes events that are still in the future. But in it there are lessons for us today as well. The general plan of the book is in date order. But there are parts that are not in this order. Some *prophecies are in plain language. We should believe what they say. But many *prophecies are complex descriptions. We need to understand what they mean.

5 Structure The *Lord meets with John

John tells us about his book John greets the *churches Jesus Christ speaks to John Jesus tells John to write

Revelation 1:1-20
Revelation 1:1-3 Revelation 1:4-8 Revelation 1:9-16 Revelation 1:17-20

Letters to the 7 *churches

To the *church in Ephesus To the *church in Smyrna To the *church in Pergamum To the *church in Thyatira To the *church in Sardis To the *church in Philadelphia To the *church in Laodicea

Revelation 2:1-3:22
Revelation 2:1-7 Revelation 2:8-11 Revelation 2:12-17 Revelation 2:18-29 Revelation 3:1-6 Revelation 3:7-13 Revelation 3:14-22

*Worship in heaven
*Worship of God who created all things *Worship of the *Lamb

Revelation 4:1-5:14
Revelation 4:1-11 Revelation 5:1-14

The 7 *seals
The first 6 *seals Security and *salvation The seventh (7th) *seal

Revelation 6:1-8:1
Revelation 6:1-17 Revelation 7:1-17 Revelation 8:1

The 7 *trumpets
Preparation for the *trumpets The first four *trumpets The cry of the *eagle The fifth (5th) *trumpet The sixth (6th) *trumpet The strong *angel and the little book

Revelation 8:2-11:19
Revelation 8:2-5 Revelation 8:6-12 Revelation 8:13 Revelation 9:1-12 Revelation 9:13-21 Revelation 10:1-11

John measures the *temple The two witnesses The seventh (7th) *trumpet

Revelation 11:1-2 Revelation 11:3-14 Revelation 11:15-19

War in heaven and on the earth

The woman and the *dragon War in heaven War on the earth The *beast from the sea The *beast from the earth The *Lamb on the hill called Zion Messages from three *angels Harvest of the earth

Revelation 12:1-14:20
Revelation 12:1-6 Revelation 12:7-12 Revelation 12:13-17 Revelation 13:1-10 Revelation 13:11-18 Revelation 14:1-5 Revelation 14:6-13 Revelation 14:14-20

The 7 last troubles

Preparation for the troubles The 7 bowls of Gods anger

Revelation 15:1-16:21
Revelation 15:1-8 Revelation 16:1-21

God destroys Babylon

The *beast and the evil woman The funeral of Babylon The crowd praises God in heaven

Revelation 17:1-19:5
Revelation 17:1-18 Revelation 18:1-24 Revelation 19:1-5

The return of Christ

The marriage of the *Lamb Christ the king appears The defeat of the enemies

Revelation 19:6-21
Revelation 19:6-10 Revelation 19:11-16 Revelation 19:17-21

The rule of Christ

The *angel binds *Satan Jesus Christ rules on earth The end of *Satan God the judge of everybody

Revelation 20:1-15
Revelation 20:1-3 Revelation 20:4-6 Revelation 20:7-10 Revelation 20:11-15

The new heaven and the new earth

The new *creation The new Jerusalem city The river of life

Revelation 21:1-22:5
Revelation 21:1-8 Revelation 21:9-27 Revelation 22:1-5

Final words
The promise that Christ will come soon An invitation but Promise and reply

Revelation 22:6-21
Revelation 22:6-13 Revelation 22:14-19 Revelation 22:20-21