Revelation overview

Introduction to Revelation

1. Five Key Ideas

a. The book of Revelation is important for us to understand—(Rev 1:3) "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."

b. The book of Revelation is NOT hard for us to understand—because it is a revealing, not a concealing—Rev 1:1 “…The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place….”

c. The book of Revelation outlines itself (Rev 1:19) "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

d. The book of Revelation teaches (or interprets itself).

(1) The Prophet is directed where to look—

(a) (Rev 6:1) "Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see.""

(b) (Rev 6:3) "When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see.""

(c) (Rev 6:5) "When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand."

(d) (Rev 6:7) "When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see.""

(2) The book often defines its own meanings

(a) (Rev 7:13-14) "Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

(b) The Prophet, like Paul, is also told what NOT to write! (Rev 10:1-4) "I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.""

(c) John is given a “hands on” assignment—11:1 “… Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there…”

(d) Then John is told what TO write—(Rev 14:13) "Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.""

e. The meaning of the book of Revelation is best stated in one phrase: Jesus Wins!

2. What John Saw (in real time)

a. The Key Verses of Chapter 1

(1) Verse 1

(2) Verse 2

(3) Verse 19

b. The key concept—this book is about revealing Truth, not concealing Truth


3. What John Wrote in real time—Seven Letters to seven real churches.

a. The Cold Orthodox Church—(Rev 2:1) ""To the angel of the church of Ephesus… (Rev 2:4) "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."

b. The Persecuted Church—(Rev 2:8) ""And to the angel of the church in Smyrna …(Rev 2:10) ""Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

c. The Church Being Corrupted— (Rev 2:12) ""And to the angel of the church in Pergamos …(Rev 2:14-15) ""But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate."


d. The Corrupted Church (Rev 2:18) ""And to the angel of the church in Thyatira … (Rev 2:20-23) ""Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."


e. The (secretly) Dead Church— (Rev 3:1) ""And to the angel of the church in …"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead."

f. The Good, Strong Church—(Rev 3:7) ""And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia …8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name…”


g. The Apostate Church—(Rev 3:14) ""And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans…15-17) ""I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;"

4. What John Saw and wrote about what will happen in the future

a. What John saw in Heaven—Rev 4 and 5

b. What will happen on Earth, directed by Heaven—Rev 6-19

(1) The Judgments—there is a question about the pattern.

(a) Possible patterns

(i) Three consecutive period of time

(ii) Two consecutive periods, with the last one doubled up with the third one

(iii) My View—Three consecutive periods that build on one another, the first intensified by the 2nd, and the 2nd and 1st intensified by the 3rd

c. The Seals

(1) The First Seal: The White Horse, A Conqueror—(Rev 6:2)

(2) The Second Seal: A Red Horse—(Rev 6:4) a Warrior and ruthless killer

(3) The Third Seal: A black horse: famine

(4) The Fourth Horse—a pale horse, ridden by Death

(5) The Fifth Seal—6:9—the vision of the martyrs

(6) The Sixth Seal a great earthquake with an obstructed sun and with a moon that appears to be blood red because of the effects of the earthquake

(7) The Seventh Seal—Silence in Heaven—(Rev 8:1) "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."

d. Trumpets—As the Trumpets are sounded, the wrath of God increases in its expression

(1) The First Angel—a third of the trees and green grass are destroyed in the beginnings of a great ecological disaster—(Rev 8:7) "The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

(2) The Second Angel—the disaster extends to the seas—“…8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed…”

(3) The Third Angel—the ecological disaster extends to rivers and springs, making them poisonous and bitter—(Rev 8:10) "Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water."

(4) The Fourth Angel—the light from heavenly bodies is either eliminated or it is destroyed—(Rev 8:12) "Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night."

(5) The Fifth Angel—an army of demonic “locusts” come from the bottomless pit to attack all those who have not yet believed—(Rev 9:1) "Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit." Read Rev 9:2-11

(6) The Sixth Angel—an army of demonic forces will be released and begin to rampage that have been supernaturally held back by angels controlling the area—(Rev 9:13) "Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,"

(7) The Seventh Angel—the great declaration of victory (not yet fully accomplished, but from here on, the wrath of God intensifies—I11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

e. The Bowls of God’s Wrath

(1) The Sore—(Rev 16:2) "So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

(2) More ecological disasters—“… 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. …”

(3) More Ecological disasters, 2 “…4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood."

(4) Supernatural Intense Heat— (Rev 16:8) "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire."

(5) Supernaturally intense pain in darkness so deep that it makes the pain worse (Rev 16:10) "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain."

(6) God releases the demonic army which has been forming—(Rev 16:12) "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared."

(7) (Rev 16:17) "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!""


(8) Peripheral but important

(a) The Sealing of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists

(b) The Salvation of multitudes no man can number—Rev 7:9-14

(c) The Two Witnesses—chapter 11

(d) The Woman and the Dragon—Chapter 12

(e) The Beast

(f) Mystery Babylon

(g) Armageddon

(h) The Glorious appearing

f. What will happen in the Millennial Kingdom—Rev 20:1-10

g. What will happen at the Great White Throne—Rev 20:11-15

h. What will happen in Heaven—21 and 22