Brief Summary of Revelation 1–15
Revelation 1 The Introduction: Scene:
Earth. Time: Past (ca. 95 AD).
John introduces the book of prophecy with
an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the Revelation. John was exiled
on the island of Patmos when Jesus sent and communicated the vision of things
which must soon take place. John is commanded to write and send the book to the
seven churches in Asia.
Revelation 2-3 Messages to the Angels of the Seven Churches
in Asia:
Scene: Earth. Time: Present (to original
readers in Asia).
Jesus sends a unique message to each of
the seven churches in the western part of the Roman province of Asia: Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The cities are listed in the order of the geographical circuit that the
messenger of the book would naturally travel as he delivered the letters.
Revelation 4–5 Prelude of Praise:
Scene: Heaven. Time: Future (Onset of the Great
Seven-Year Tribulation which will complete the present age, conclude with
Jesus’ return, and usher in the Millennium).
Revelation 4-22 records events that will
take place in the future. Three consecutive periods of judgment lead to the
second return of Jesus Christ: 7 Seals; 7 Trumpets; and, 7 Bowls. A prelude of
praise in heaven precedes the onset of each three sets of 7 consecutive
judgments. Revelation 4-5 records the initial heavenly prelude of praise that
will precede the opening of the 7 Seals of judgment in Revelation 6, ushering
in “a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the
world until now, nor ever will” (Matt 24:21).
Revelation 6 Seven Seal Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward.)
The seven seals contain the
judgments of the Great Tribulation, concluding with the return of Jesus. The
seventh Seal contains the seven Trumpet judgments, and the seventh Trumpet
judgment contains the final seven Bowl judgments. The Trumpet and Bowl
judgments are all contained within the seventh Seal, unfolding consecutively
through the seven-year Tribulation Period. Through judgment, Jesus becomes King
of all the nations.
Revelation 6 records John’s
vision of the Lamb breaking the first 6 of 7 Seals:
Seal #1: First
Apocalyptic Horseman (White Horse): Conqueror
Seal #2: Second
Apocalyptic Horseman (Red Horse): Removes Peace
Seal #3: Third
Apocalyptic Horseman (Black Horse): Famine
Seal #4: Fourth
Apocalyptic Horseman (Ashen Horse): Death and Hades (over ¼ killed)
Seal #5: Cries
of the Martyrs for Judgment and Vengeance
Seal #6: Earthquake,
Blackened Sun, Blood-like Moon, Falling Stars, Split Sky, Moving Mountains
and
Islands, Hiding Men, Great Day of Wrath
The seventh seal remains
unbroken at the end of Revelation 6. Before the Lamb breaks the seventh seal
(Rev 8), the foreheads of 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel are sealed.
Rev 7:1-8
Sealing of 144,000 from 12 Tribes of Israel: Scene: Earth.
Time: Future.
The
angels are commanded to refrain from harming the earth, sea, or trees until the
bond-servants of God are sealed on their foreheads with the seal of the Living
God. The 144,000 include 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Rev
7:9-17 Prelude of Praise by Multitude in Heaven: Scene: Heaven. Time: Future.
Before the Lamb breaks the
7th Seal, containing the 7 Trumpets and 7 Bowls, there is a prelude of praise
in heaven by a great, countless multitude from every nation, tribes, peoples,
and tongues. The multitude, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their
hands, stands before the throne and before the Lamb as they cry, “Salvation to
our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (7:10). The heavenly court
responds in worship. One of the elders explains to John that the multitude
came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, made white in the
blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 8–9 Trumpet Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward, Second Half of Tribulation)
After the sealing of 144,000 from the twelve tribes of
Israel and a prelude of praise by a great multitude in heaven, the Lamb breaks
the seventh seal. In response, heaven is silenced for half an hour. The seventh
seal contains the seven trumpets, the second of three 7-judgment series that
are consecutively released during the Great Tribulation. The seven bowls are contained
in the seventh trumpet. The seven trumpets are contained in the seventh seal. When
the Lamb breaks the seventh seal, He is actually initiating the seven trumpets.
Once the seventh seal is broken, the seven trumpet judgments occur
consecutively. Revelation 8–9 records the consecutive release of six of the
seven trumpet judgments.
o
Trumpet
#1: Hail, Fire (upon earth)
o
Trumpet
#2: Burning Mountain (upon sea)
o
Trumpet
#3: Wormwood (upon waters)
o
Trumpet
#4: Sun, Moon, Stars (upon heavens)
o
Trumpet
#5: Demonic Locusts (upon people)
o
Trumpet
#6: Horsemen (upon people)
o
Trumpet
#7: Announces 7 Bowls
Summary of Revelation 10–15:
Transition from Trumpets (8–9) to Seals
(16)
Scenes: Earth (10-14) and Heaven (15) Time: Future
Just as chapter 7, which deals with the
144,000 sealed Israelites and great multitude from all nations, serves as a
transition between the Seal and Trumpet judgments, Chapters 10–15 serve as a
transition between the Trumpet and Bowl judgments. The interlude provides
background information pertaining to significant people, places, and events
during the Great Tribulation without advancing chronologically through the
judgment series.
Chapter 10 introduces an angel, perhaps Michael the
archangel, who announces the 7th trumpet, which contains the seven final Bowl
judgments leading to the return of Christ.
Chapter 11 records John’s measurement of the temple of
God and the altar, then it introduces the two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260
days (42 months) of the Great Tribulation. At the end of 3 ½ years, the two
witnesses die and their bodies are displayed for 3 ½ days before they are
brought back to life and ascend into heaven.
Chapter 12 is often considered the most symbolic chapter
in the Bible. Five of seven major tribulation personages are identified: (1)
the woman clothed with the sun=Mary/Judah (2) the red dragon (7 heads, 10
horns, 7 diadems)=Satan; (3) a male child=Christ; (4) Michael/angels; and (5)
offspring of woman persecuted by the dragon=Israel.
Chapter 13 introduces the final two of seven major
tribulation personages: (6) beast out of the sea=Antichrist; and, (7) beast out
of the earth=false prophet.
Chapter 14 reveals the Lamb standing on Mount Zion and
the worship of the 144,000 who have the name of the Lamb and the name of His
Father written on their foreheads. After a prelude of praise, angels announce
fallen Babylon and the reaping of the earth.
Chapter 15 records a heavenly prelude of praise in
preparation for the final series of judgment. Those who had been victorious
over the beast and his image sing the Song of Moses and Song of the Lamb. One
of the four living creatures gives to the seven angels seven golden bowls full
of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever, and the temple is filled with
smoke from the glory of God and from His power.
Brief Summary of Revelation 16
(The
Grand Finale)
Revelation 16 – Seven Plagues/Bowl Judgments
Scene: Earth. Time: Future (Chronology moves
forward.)
The seven seals (Rev 6, 8) contain
all the judgments of the Great Tribulation, concluding with the return of
Jesus. The seventh Seal (Rev 8) contains the seven Trumpet judgments (Rev 8–9,
11:15), and the seventh Trumpet judgment (Rev 11:15) contains the final seven
Bowl judgments (Rev 16). The Trumpet and Bowl judgments are all contained
within the seventh Seal, unfolding consecutively through the seven-year
Tribulation Period. Through judgment, Jesus becomes King of all the nations.
Revelation 16 brings the
terrible judgments of the Tribulation to conclusion through the pouring out of
the final seven Bowl judgments.
· Bowl 1 (upon earth) Boils
· Bowl 2 (into sea) Blood
· Bowl 3 (into rivers) Blood
· Bowl 4 (upon sun) Scorching
· Bowl 5 (upon throne of the beast) Darkness
· Bowl 6 (upon the Euphrates river) Dries Up
· Bowl 7 (upon air) Earthquake,
Hail
Brief Summary Revelation 17–18 (Interlude)
Scene: Earth
Time: Future
Revelation 17–18 form an interlude that describes the fall of
Babylon, involving the destruction of its ecclesiastical form (Rev 17) and its
political form (Rev 18).
Brief Introduction to
Revelation 19-22
Revelation 19 – The Second Return of Jesus Christ
After the fall of Babylon, a great multitude praises God and
announces the marriage of the Lamb. Then John sees heaven open and a white
horse on which was sitting Jesus, the Word of God, whose eyes are a flame of
fire and on His head are many diadems. Jesus returns with the heavenly army to
strike the nations over which He will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire, and the rest
are killed with the sword that comes from the mouth of Jesus.
Revelation 20 – The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ
After the angel descended with a chain to bind the devil for a
thousand years, Jesus reigns with the resurrected saints for a thousand years.
At the conclusion of the thousand years, Satan will be released from prison and
will deceive the nations to gather them for war against the saints and the
beloved city. Afterwards, the devil is thrown into the lake of fire and
brimstone and the dead are raised to stand before the Great White Throne for
judgment. Death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire, and anyone whose
name is not found in the book of life.
Revelation 21 – The New Heaven and New Earth
After the Great White Throne Judgment, John’s attention turns to
the new heaven and the new earth which appear after the first earth has passed
away. One of the seven angels shows John the new Jerusalem, the bride of the
Lamb. The holy city, Jerusalem, comes down out of heaven from God.
Revelation 22 – Epilogue
The angel shows John a river of the water of life coming from the
throne of God and of the Lamb, and the tree of Life on either side of the
river, bearing twelve fruits. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of
the nations. There is no longer a curse or night, for the Lord God illumines
them. Jesus testifies that He is coming quickly. He is the Alpha and the Omega,
the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
Rev. 22:1 Then he showed me a
river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and
of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of
the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding
its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne
of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve
Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will
be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night;
and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun,
because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
1.
What is John shown? Where does it come
from? What is on either side of the river? Describe it. (22:1-2) What is the
significance of the tree of life? (Gen. 2:9; 3:22-24; Prov. 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Rev. 2:7 )
2.
What will there no longer be? What will
be in it? Who will serve Him? What will they see? What is on their fore heads?
(22:3-4)
3.
What happens to night? Why will they no longer have need of the light of
a lamp nor the light of the sun? How long will they reign? (22:5)
4. What
do you learn about God from Rev. 22:1-5? How could it truth transform your life?
Rev. 22:6 And he said to me,
“These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of
the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must
soon take place.
Rev. 22:7 “And behold, I am
coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this
book.”
Rev. 22:8 I, John, am the one
who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to
worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But
he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a
fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed
the words of this book. Worship God.”
Rev. 22:10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the
prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
11 “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong;
and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous,
still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself
holy.”
1.
What are faithful and true? Who sent His angel to show to His
bond-servants the things which must soon take place? (22:6)
2.
Who is coming quickly? Who is blessed? (22:7)
3.
Who is the one who heard and saw these things? What happened when John
fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed John these things? Who
does the angel say that he serves? Who does the angel tell John to worship?
(22:8-9)
4.
Why does the angel tell John not to seal up the words of the prophecy of
this book?? (22:10)
5. What does the angel say about the one who
does wrong and is filthy? What does the angel say about the one who is
righteous and holy? (22:11)
6. What do you learn about God from Rev.
22:6-11? How could this truth transform your life?
Rev. 22:12 “Behold, I am coming
quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to
what he has done. 13 “I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Rev. 22:14 Blessed are those who
wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may
enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the
immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and
practices lying.
Rev. 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent
My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the
descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Rev. 22:17 The Spirit and the
bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is
thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Rev. 22:18 I testify to everyone
who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God
will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and
if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take
away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written
in this book.
Rev. 22:20 He who testifies to
these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Rev. 22:21 The grace of the Lord
Jesus be with all. Amen.
1.
How is He coming? What is with Him? How
will He render to every man? (22:12)
2. Who is He? (22:13)
3. Who is blessed? Who are outside the city?
(22:14-15)
4. Who
sent His angel to testify? How does Jesus describe Himself? (22:16)
5. Who says, “Come”? Who is permitted to come?
(22:17)
6. What will happen if anyone adds or takes away
from the words of this book? What does He who testifies to these things say?
What is the response? (22:18-21)
7. What do you learn about God from Rev.
22:12-21? How could this truth transform your life?
Write a prayer response to Revelation 22.
Write a prayer response to the study of Revelation.
