Book overview of Revelation
Book Summary of Revelation
This summary of the book of Revelation provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Revelation.
Author
Four times the author identifies himself as John (Rev 1:1,4,9: 22:8). From as early as Justin Martyr in the second century a.d. it has been held that this John was the apostle, the son of Zebedee (see Mt 10:2). The book itself reveals that the author was a Jew, well versed in Scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of Asia Minor, and a deeply religious person fully convinced that the Christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world.
In the third century, however, an African bishop named Dionysius compared the language, style and thought of the Apocalypse (Revelation) with that of the other writings of John and decided that the book could not have been written by the apostle John. He suggested that the author was a certain John the Presbyter, whose name appears elsewhere in ancient writings. Although many today follow Dionysius in his view of authorship, the external evidence seems overwhelmingly supportive of the traditional view.
Date
Revelation was written when Christians were entering a time of persecution. The two periods most often mentioned are the latter part of Nero's reign (a.d. 54-68) and the latter part of Domitian's reign (81-96). Most interpreters date the book c. 95. (A few suggest a date during the reign of Vespasian: 69-79.)
Occasion
Since Roman authorities at this time were beginning to enforce emperor worship, Christians -- who held that Christ, not Caesar, was Lord -- were facing increasing hostility. The believers at Smyrna are warned against coming opposition (Rev 2:10), and the church at Philadelphia is told of an hour of trial coming on the world (Rev 3:10). Antipas has already given his life (Rev 2:13) along with others (Rev 6:9). John has been exiled to the island of Patmos (probably the site of a Roman penal colony) for his activities as a Christian missionary (Rev 1:9). Some within the church are advocating a policy of compromise (Rev 2:14-15; Rev 2:20), which has to be corrected before its subtle influence can undermine the determination of believers to stand fast in the perilous days that lie ahead.
Purpose
John writes to encourage the faithful to resist staunchly the demands of emperor worship. He informs his readers that the final showdown between God and Satan is imminent. Satan will increase his persecution of believers, but they must stand fast, even to death. They are sealed against any spiritual harm and will soon be vindicated when Christ returns, when the wicked are forever destroyed, and when God's people enter an eternity of glory and blessedness.
Literary Form
For an adequate understanding of Revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the Western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation (e.g., stars are angels, lampstands are churches, Rev 1:20; "the great prostitute,"Rev 17:1, is "Babylon" [Rome?], Rev 17:5,18; and the heavenly Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb, Rev 21:9-10).
Distinctive Feature
A distinctive feature is the frequent use of the number seven (52 times). There are seven beatitudes (see note on Rev 1:3), seven churches (Rev 1:4,11), seven spirits (Rev 1:4), seven golden lampstands (Rev 1:12), seven stars (Rev 1:16), seven seals (Rev 5:1), seven horns and seven eyes (Rev 5:6), seven trumpets (Rev 8:2), seven thunders (Rev 10:3), seven signs (Rev 12:1,3; Rev 13:13-14; Rev 15:1; 16:14; 19:20), seven crowns (Rev 12:3), seven plagues (Rev 15:6), seven golden bowls (Rev 15:7), seven hills (Rev 17:9) and seven kings (Rev 17:10), as well as other sevens. Symbolically, the number seven stands for completeness.
Interpretation
Interpreters of Revelation normally fall into four groups:
Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its first-century setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place.
Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from Patmos to the end of history.
Futurists place the book primarily in the end times.
Idealists view it as symbolic pictures of such timeless truths as the victory of good over evil.
Fortunately, the fundamental truths of Revelation do not depend on adopting a particular point of view. They are available to anyone who will read the book for its overall message and resist the temptation to become overly enamored with the details.
Outline
Introduction (Rev 1:1-8)
Prologue (Rev 1:1-3)
Greetings and Doxology (Rev 1:4-8)
Jesus among the Seven Churches (Rev 1:9-20)
The Letters to the Seven Churches (Chs. 2-3)
Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)
Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11)
Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17)
Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29)
Sardis (Rev 3:1-6)
Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13)
Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22)
The Throne, the Scroll and the Lamb (Chs. 4-5)
The Throne in Heaven (Ch. 4)
The Seven-Sealed Scroll (Rev 5:1-5)
The Lamb Slain (Rev 5:6-14)
The Seven Seals (Rev 6:1; 8:1)
First Seal: The White Horse (Rev 6:1-2)
Second Seal: The Red Horse (Rev 6:3-4)
Third Seal: The Black Horse (Rev 6:5-6)
Fourth Seal: The Pale Horse (Rev 6:7-8)
Fifth Seal: The Souls under the Altar (Rev 6:9-11)
Sixth Seal: The Great Earthquake (Rev 6:12-17)
The Sealing of the 144,000 (Rev 7:1-8)
The Great Multitude (Rev 7:9-17)
Seventh Seal: Silence in Heaven (Rev 8:1)
The Seven Trumpets (Rev 8:2; 11:19)
Introduction (Rev 8:2-5)
First Trumpet: Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood (Rev 8:6-7)
Second Trumpet: A Mountain Thrown into the Sea (Rev 8:8-9)
Third Trumpet: The Star Wormwood (Rev 8:10-11)
Fourth Trumpet: A Third of the Sun, Moon and Stars Struck (Rev 8:12-13)
Fifth Trumpet: The Plague of Locusts (Rev 9:1-12)
Sixth Trumpet: Release of the Four Angels (Rev 9:13-21)
The Angel and the Little Scroll (Ch. 10)
The Two Witnesses (Rev 11:1-14)
Seventh Trumpet: Judgments and Rewards (Rev 11:15-19)
Various Personages and Events (Chs. 12-14)
The Woman and the Dragon (Ch. 12)
The Two Beasts (Ch. 13)
The Lamb and the 144,000 (Rev 14:1-5)
The Harvest of the Earth (Rev 14:6-20)
The Seven Bowls (Chs. 15-16)
Introduction: The Song of Moses and the Seven Angels with the Seven Plagues (Ch. 15)
First Bowl: Ugly and Painful Sores (Rev 16:1-2)
Second Bowl: Sea Turns to Blood (Rev 16:3)
Third Bowl: Rivers and Springs of Water Become Blood (Rev 16:4-7)
Fourth Bowl: Sun Scorches People with Fire (Rev 16:8-9)
Fifth Bowl: Darkness (Rev 16:10-11)
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River Dries Up (Rev 16:12-16)
Seventh Bowl: Tremendous Earthquake (Rev 16:17-21)
Babylon: The Great Prostitute (Rev 17:1; 19:5)
Babylon Described (Ch. 17)
The Fall of Babylon (Ch. 18)
Praise for Babylon's Fall (Rev 19:1-5)
Praise for the Wedding of the Lamb (Rev 19:6-10)
The Return of Christ (Rev 19:11-21)
The Thousand Years (Rev 20:1-6)
Satan's Doom (Rev 20:7-10)
Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15)
New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1; 22:5)
Conclusion and Benediction (Rev 22:6-21)
From the NIV Study Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, Revelation
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
click here / Chapter by Chapter
This summary of the book of Revelation provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Revelation.
Author
Four times the author identifies himself as John (Rev 1:1,4,9: 22:8). From as early as Justin Martyr in the second century a.d. it has been held that this John was the apostle, the son of Zebedee (see Mt 10:2). The book itself reveals that the author was a Jew, well versed in Scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of Asia Minor, and a deeply religious person fully convinced that the Christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world.
In the third century, however, an African bishop named Dionysius compared the language, style and thought of the Apocalypse (Revelation) with that of the other writings of John and decided that the book could not have been written by the apostle John. He suggested that the author was a certain John the Presbyter, whose name appears elsewhere in ancient writings. Although many today follow Dionysius in his view of authorship, the external evidence seems overwhelmingly supportive of the traditional view.
Date
Revelation was written when Christians were entering a time of persecution. The two periods most often mentioned are the latter part of Nero's reign (a.d. 54-68) and the latter part of Domitian's reign (81-96). Most interpreters date the book c. 95. (A few suggest a date during the reign of Vespasian: 69-79.)
Occasion
Since Roman authorities at this time were beginning to enforce emperor worship, Christians -- who held that Christ, not Caesar, was Lord -- were facing increasing hostility. The believers at Smyrna are warned against coming opposition (Rev 2:10), and the church at Philadelphia is told of an hour of trial coming on the world (Rev 3:10). Antipas has already given his life (Rev 2:13) along with others (Rev 6:9). John has been exiled to the island of Patmos (probably the site of a Roman penal colony) for his activities as a Christian missionary (Rev 1:9). Some within the church are advocating a policy of compromise (Rev 2:14-15; Rev 2:20), which has to be corrected before its subtle influence can undermine the determination of believers to stand fast in the perilous days that lie ahead.
Purpose
John writes to encourage the faithful to resist staunchly the demands of emperor worship. He informs his readers that the final showdown between God and Satan is imminent. Satan will increase his persecution of believers, but they must stand fast, even to death. They are sealed against any spiritual harm and will soon be vindicated when Christ returns, when the wicked are forever destroyed, and when God's people enter an eternity of glory and blessedness.
Literary Form
For an adequate understanding of Revelation, the reader must recognize that it is a distinct kind of literature. Revelation is apocalyptic, a kind of writing that is highly symbolic. Although its visions often seem bizarre to the Western reader, fortunately the book provides a number of clues for its own interpretation (e.g., stars are angels, lampstands are churches, Rev 1:20; "the great prostitute,"Rev 17:1, is "Babylon" [Rome?], Rev 17:5,18; and the heavenly Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb, Rev 21:9-10).
Distinctive Feature
A distinctive feature is the frequent use of the number seven (52 times). There are seven beatitudes (see note on Rev 1:3), seven churches (Rev 1:4,11), seven spirits (Rev 1:4), seven golden lampstands (Rev 1:12), seven stars (Rev 1:16), seven seals (Rev 5:1), seven horns and seven eyes (Rev 5:6), seven trumpets (Rev 8:2), seven thunders (Rev 10:3), seven signs (Rev 12:1,3; Rev 13:13-14; Rev 15:1; 16:14; 19:20), seven crowns (Rev 12:3), seven plagues (Rev 15:6), seven golden bowls (Rev 15:7), seven hills (Rev 17:9) and seven kings (Rev 17:10), as well as other sevens. Symbolically, the number seven stands for completeness.
Interpretation
Interpreters of Revelation normally fall into four groups:
Preterists understand the book exclusively in terms of its first-century setting, claiming that most of its events have already taken place.
Historicists take it as describing the long chain of events from Patmos to the end of history.
Futurists place the book primarily in the end times.
Idealists view it as symbolic pictures of such timeless truths as the victory of good over evil.
Fortunately, the fundamental truths of Revelation do not depend on adopting a particular point of view. They are available to anyone who will read the book for its overall message and resist the temptation to become overly enamored with the details.
Outline
Introduction (Rev 1:1-8)
Prologue (Rev 1:1-3)
Greetings and Doxology (Rev 1:4-8)
Jesus among the Seven Churches (Rev 1:9-20)
The Letters to the Seven Churches (Chs. 2-3)
Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7)
Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11)
Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17)
Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29)
Sardis (Rev 3:1-6)
Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13)
Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22)
The Throne, the Scroll and the Lamb (Chs. 4-5)
The Throne in Heaven (Ch. 4)
The Seven-Sealed Scroll (Rev 5:1-5)
The Lamb Slain (Rev 5:6-14)
The Seven Seals (Rev 6:1; 8:1)
First Seal: The White Horse (Rev 6:1-2)
Second Seal: The Red Horse (Rev 6:3-4)
Third Seal: The Black Horse (Rev 6:5-6)
Fourth Seal: The Pale Horse (Rev 6:7-8)
Fifth Seal: The Souls under the Altar (Rev 6:9-11)
Sixth Seal: The Great Earthquake (Rev 6:12-17)
The Sealing of the 144,000 (Rev 7:1-8)
The Great Multitude (Rev 7:9-17)
Seventh Seal: Silence in Heaven (Rev 8:1)
The Seven Trumpets (Rev 8:2; 11:19)
Introduction (Rev 8:2-5)
First Trumpet: Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood (Rev 8:6-7)
Second Trumpet: A Mountain Thrown into the Sea (Rev 8:8-9)
Third Trumpet: The Star Wormwood (Rev 8:10-11)
Fourth Trumpet: A Third of the Sun, Moon and Stars Struck (Rev 8:12-13)
Fifth Trumpet: The Plague of Locusts (Rev 9:1-12)
Sixth Trumpet: Release of the Four Angels (Rev 9:13-21)
The Angel and the Little Scroll (Ch. 10)
The Two Witnesses (Rev 11:1-14)
Seventh Trumpet: Judgments and Rewards (Rev 11:15-19)
Various Personages and Events (Chs. 12-14)
The Woman and the Dragon (Ch. 12)
The Two Beasts (Ch. 13)
The Lamb and the 144,000 (Rev 14:1-5)
The Harvest of the Earth (Rev 14:6-20)
The Seven Bowls (Chs. 15-16)
Introduction: The Song of Moses and the Seven Angels with the Seven Plagues (Ch. 15)
First Bowl: Ugly and Painful Sores (Rev 16:1-2)
Second Bowl: Sea Turns to Blood (Rev 16:3)
Third Bowl: Rivers and Springs of Water Become Blood (Rev 16:4-7)
Fourth Bowl: Sun Scorches People with Fire (Rev 16:8-9)
Fifth Bowl: Darkness (Rev 16:10-11)
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River Dries Up (Rev 16:12-16)
Seventh Bowl: Tremendous Earthquake (Rev 16:17-21)
Babylon: The Great Prostitute (Rev 17:1; 19:5)
Babylon Described (Ch. 17)
The Fall of Babylon (Ch. 18)
Praise for Babylon's Fall (Rev 19:1-5)
Praise for the Wedding of the Lamb (Rev 19:6-10)
The Return of Christ (Rev 19:11-21)
The Thousand Years (Rev 20:1-6)
Satan's Doom (Rev 20:7-10)
Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15)
New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1; 22:5)
Conclusion and Benediction (Rev 22:6-21)
From the NIV Study Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, Revelation
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
click here / Chapter by Chapter