The Unveiling of Jesus Christ

An Outline of the Book of Revelation

This book is an unveiling, a revelation of Jesus Christ. It is not, nor is it meant to be, a mysterious book or a cryptic message; but rather, a complete disclosing of Jesus Christ. As you read the book, keep in mind the book is all about Jesus Christ. The book is also prophetic, looking into the future, and from the book we learn that the time of the second coming of Jesus Christ, along with His judgments, is at hand. We are also told that those who read the book, hear (study) the book, and do what the book says, will receive a blessing from God. It is no wonder Satan, the great liar, does not want us to read this book. He loves to deceive Christians and thereby rob us of God’s blessings. Therefore, he, Satan, tells us it is a scary book, hard or impossible to understand, or that John was just having a dream and it has no significant meaning.

We also learn from this book that in the proper time all living humans will see Him with the clouds. This means that His return is literal, not a metaphor, not an allegory, not a spiritual experience only in the imagination of a few, and not a fairy tale, but an actual event that will take place in view of the entire world. Every person in every nation will see Him. And, not only will they see Him; He will be their judge, their King, and the Ruler of the world. How are they all going to see Him? We don’t know how, but it will happen. It may be through supernatural means, it may be by satellite and television, internet, some other means not yet known to us, or there could be so many heavenly beings involved that the second coming may take 24 hours and therefore every living person may witness it live and first hand. But, “all”, every human that is living, will see and experience this colossal event.

 

 

  • I. Things Past - The Things Which Thou Hast Seen - (1:1-20)
    • A. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the unveiling of Jesus Christ, it was given by Christ, through His angel, to the apostle John, to share with His servants. God wants His servants to know what John saw. (Revelation 1:1)
      • NOTE: Verse one tells us explicitly that God wants us to know the future concerning the return of Jesus Christ, and the events surrounding His return. It is true that some of the details are ambiguous to us. This is probably because the time is not right. Think about this. Christ was presented in the Old Testament, but not made clear until He appeared in the New Testament. The church, the body and bride of Christ, was overlooked in the Old Testament, but the church is here and clearly understood now. The same is true of Christ’s second coming to Earth. Some of the details are difficult, sometimes impossible to understand, but when the time is right, when these things start to unfold, a person will be able to read the Bible, compare it with what is going on in the world, and be able to understand everything that is happening, down to the smallest detail.

    • B. John was to write the things he saw; the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all the events to which he witnessed. (Revelation 1:2)

    • C. Christ’s servants, the churches, are told to read, to hear (comprehend), and to keep the things (do something about) what they hear because the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

    • D. This book (letter) was given to seven local churches in Asia. John greets them with grace and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come (God), and from the seven Spirits who are in front of God's throne, and from the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, the ruler of all the kings of the world, Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood, Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:4-6)
      • Note: Christianity is the only religion based on grace and not based on works. In fact, most Christian “denominations” base their religion, in some way, on their works, rather than God’s grace alone.
      • Note: The purpose of all prophecy is to equip the reader or hearer to get prepared for an event before it happens. Therefore, the churches have been warned to get ready for what is about to happen.

    • E. His Return Will Be Witnessed by All (Revelation 1:7-8)
      • He Comes With the Clouds –
        • This is in the present tense; therefore, His coming is imminent, about to happen. He comes with the clouds, not in the clouds. The clouds are not those we see floating above us which are filled with water. They are the white robes of the saints returning with Him.
      • Every eye will see Him –
        • Every person in every nation will see Him. We don’t know how, but it will happen. Every living person will witness His second coming. Every human that is living, will see and experience this colossal event.
      • Even those who pierced Him -
        • Not only will the men that pierced His hands, feet, and side see Him, but every lost person in hell will also witness the event. Even though they may not have actually pierced Him, their heart agreed with those that did the piercing; therefore, they are just as guilty, and will witness the event.
      • So it will be, says the Lord God, the Almighty!

    • F. On a Sunday morning, John was transported in time to the Day of the Lord (the day of His second coming) where he saw all of these things. And so it will be! (Revelation 1:9-10)
      • Note: It is not known for a fact whether or not John was actually transported in time and/or on a Sunday. It is not known what actually happened to John or how he saw into the future because we have never had an experience like John’s; therefore, we must take God’s word for what it says. John was shown, in some way, what is going to happen during the days leading up to, and on the day of, Christ’s return to Earth.

    • G. John was told to write the things which he sees to these seven churches in Asia. (Revelation 1:11)
      • Note: There were more than seven churches in Asia at that time; however, John was instructed to write to these particular churches and in this particular order.

    • H. John’s vision:
      • “When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.” (Revelation 1:12-16 NLT)

    • I. John’s fear was calmed and he was comforted - (Revelation 1:17-18)

    • J. The Divisions of the Book - (Revelation 1:19)
      • John was told to write
        • the things which he had seen,
        • the things which are, and
        • the things which shall be hereafter.
        • In other words, John was to write of all of his experience.

    • K. The Mystery Explained - (Revelation 1:20)
      • NOTE: The seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches. Note that the angels are of the seven churches, not to the churches. These angels (messengers) are the human leaders of the churches.
      • NOTE: The seven lamp stands are the seven churches themselves.

  • II. Things Present - The Things Which Are - (2:1-29 - 3:1-22)

    • John was told to write the things which he had seen, the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. (Revelation 1:19) The “things which are” - seven local churches located in what is now Turkey. They were actual local churches, but they also symbolize periods of church development during the church age from the time of the apostles to churches of today. Every local church today can be described as being like one of these seven churches. Since a Christian is a part of the church, local and true, every Christian can also be identified by one of the characteristics of these seven Asian churches.

    • Christ tells each church what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. He also makes a conditional promise to each church, but they must make the necessary corrections.

    • As we look at each church, the following outline will be used to describe the characteristics of the church, its period in history, today’s local churches, and professing Christians.
    • 1. The Message to the Seven Asian Churches recounting the good in the church
    • 2. The Message to the Seven Asian Churches describing the church by its name
    • 3. The Message to the church periods through history – dates only approximate
    • 4. The Message to the local churches of today
    • 5. The Message to individual Christians
    • 6. The Solution to the problem
    • 7. The results of those overcoming

    • A. Ephesus - First Love Left - Revelation 2:1-7
      • 1. Ephesus: the church that rejects evil, perseveres, and has patience - Revelation 2:1-7
      • 2. Letter of Christ to the Asian church in Ephesus, a desirable church
      • 3. Letter of Christ to the church whose love for Christ is no longer fervent during the apostolic period c. 33AD-c. 100AD
      • 4. Letter of Christ to a local church of today that has sound theology, but no love for Christ and no fruit
      • 5. Letter of Christ to the Christian who is backslidden
      • 6. The Solution to the problem: remember what you once were and repent
      • 7. The result for those overcoming: the Tree of Life
      • Summary
        • The Church of Ephesus was a typical Apostolic Church. They were commended for their labor, patience, and discipline. They were also commended for their faithfulness and perseverance, but condemned for the loss of their first love and were called to repent. They were told to repent or perish. This particular church no longer exists. The present village located nearest its site is now an Islamic village without a single Christian living there.
        • The Nicolaitanes
        • The Revelation links the Nicolaitanes with Balaam and Jezebel. The Nicolaitanes were disciplined and expelled by the Ephesus church, but were encouraged by the church at Pergamum.

    • B. Smyrna - The Suffering Church - Revelation 2:8-11
      • 1. Smyrna: the church that gracefully endured under suffering - Revelation 2:8-11
      • 2. Letter of Christ to the Asian church in Smyrna, a church that was crushed
      • 3. Letter of Christ to the church under persecution by Rome during the period c. 100AD-c. 316AD
      • 4. Letter of Christ to the local church of today being persecuted by the world
      • 5. Letter of Christ to the Christian suffering persecution by the world
      • 6. The Solution to the problem: no problem, only encouragement to be faithful until death
      • 7. The result for those overcoming: the crown of life
      • Summary
        • The city of Smyrna gets its name from its principal product, myrrh. The word Smyrna means “bitter”. An interesting fact about myrrh is that it must be crushed into small particles to be useful. Note the appropriateness of the name for the church at Smyrna which represents the persecuted church during the second period of Church History. After the death of the Apostles, the church suffered more persecutions than ever before. This church was also a poor church, in terms of earthly goods, but rich in the things of God. Although, or maybe because, the church was poor, there was no word of reproof from the lips of their Lord. With false professors on the inside and persecutors on the outside, they were encouraged to be faithful unto death and were promised a crown of everlasting life.
        • They were commended for their works, and encouraged to regard their persecutors as mere instruments in the hands of Satan. Christ says, "Behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison." We can be assured that behind all opposition to godliness and behind all persecutors and persecution there will be found the dark shadow of Satan. They were commended by Christ and then called to endure. No word of condemnation is given.
        • The over-comers were promised that if they endured physical death rather than give up their Christ, their faith, and their hope, they would be exempted from a worse death, the Second death, which is the lake of fire.
        • An interesting note is that the church of Laodicea was rich, but without a word of praise from Christ; conversely, the church of Smyrna was poor, but without a word of reproof from Christ.

    • C. Pergamum - Idolatry and Clerisy Rising - Revelation 2:12-17
      • 1. Pergamum: the church that remained loyal to Jesus Christ - Revelation 2:12-17
      • 2. Letter of Christ to the Asian church in Pergamum, a church married to the world
      • 3. Letter of Christ to the church in the world during, and following, the period of Constantine c. 316AD-c. 500AD
      • 4. Letter of Christ to the local church of today that compromises with the world
      • 5. Letter of Christ to the Christian that lives the same as the people of the world
      • 6. The Solution to the problem: repent of your false doctrines
      • 7. The result for those overcoming: spiritual food and a stone with a new name
      • Summary
        • The word Pergamum means "to elevate." It means to elevate by marriage. The English words bigamy and polygamy come from the same root word as Pergamum. The church at Pergamum is an example of the union of the church and the world. Pergamum represents the third period of church history which was brought about chiefly by the conversion of Constantine. Persecution ceased, the church began to backslide, the world came in, and then the church became a part of the world. Satan is the god of this world (this age) and consequently is on his throne. Since true believers are not of the world, only in it, they are not under Satan’s rule.
        • The church at Pergamum was commended for holding fast the name of Christ and for not going into apostasy by denying Christ's name.
        • They were condemned for holding to the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. What were deeds at Ephesus was doctrine at Pergamum.
          • A Warning
            • I know where you live (Revelation 2:13)
              • God knows where you live. God knew where Peter lived and directed Cornelius to the street and house in which Peter was praying. God knew the name of the street and very house in which the converted Saul of Tarsus was pouring out his heart to heaven. God knows where I live. God knows where you live.
              • God is deeply interested in man. He knows the surroundings in which we are endeavoring to please Him. He knows the grace that we need in order to serve Him.
              • God knows and God cares.
          • A Blessing
            • Antipas, my faithful martyr (Revelation 2:13)
              • No passage in the Bible recognizes the faithful, private, obscure witness of an ordinary Christian as do these few words, “Antipas, my faithful martyr”. History tells us nothing of Antipas. The world has never heard of him. Even early Christian tradition says nothing concerning him. Antipas did not, like Paul, have thousands of converts in a hundred cities. He had no splendid record of shipwrecks and stripes. He was simply a private Christian, living in a large Godless city. He was just doing his trivial tasks and fulfilling the duties of life; but, when the time of testing came, he endured the arrest, the trial, the public scorn, and (according to later tradition) the iron image of a bull heated red-hot. Also, like the splendid hero that he was, hidden and unknown among the thousands in Pergamum. He had no grave to mark his ashes. In the eyes of the world he was nobody, nothing, just another face in the crowd, another soul passing through life. However, the Son of God knows him and calls out his name in love. God knows and God cares.
          • A Blending of Doctrine
            • “the doctrine of Balaam” (Revelation 2:14)
              • Balaam means “the destroyer of the people”. Balaam served God for profit and was among the first to advocate the marriage of saint with sinner, believer with unbeliever, Jews with Gentiles, which was fornication in God’s eyes. The story of how Balaam worked out his evil plan may be found in Numbers 25:1-9. Ungodly marriages destroyed God's people in Old Testament times. These marriages were the stumbling block which was cast before the children of Israel. Having mixed with the Moabites and then having married them, the next step of eating things sacrificed to Moabite idols was easy, but an abomination in the sight of the Lord.
              • The doctrine of Balaam resulted in a loss of separation from the world.
            • “the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes” (Revelation 2:15)
              • There is no direct information concerning the Nicolaitanes; however, the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes can be surmised from its name. The word Nico means “to rule”, and Lao means “the people”; therefore, Nicolaitanism means “to rule the laity”. This blending of doctrine caused permanent changes to the Church of Jesus Christ.
              • The doctrine of the Nicolaitanes set up a distinct class of men called clergymen, which removed the priesthood from all believers, except the clergymen.

    • D. Thyatira – The Papacy in Power - Revelation 2:18-29
      • 1. Thyatira: the church that its love, service, and patience are growing - Revelation 2:18-29
      • 2. Letter of Christ to the Asian church in Thyatira, a church offering a continual sacrifice
      • 3. Letter of Christ to the church in idolatry during the Middle/Dark Age c. 500AD-c. c. 1516AD
      • 4. Letter of Christ to the local church of today that is wrong theologically, place more importance on things (their idols), ceremony, creeds, and music, than on God Himself
      • 5. Letter of Christ to the Christian who places more importance on things than on God Himself, and has a lack of morality
      • 6. The Solution to the problem: do My works
      • 7. The result for those overcoming: rule over nations and receive the morning star [Christ]
      • Summary
        • The word Thyatira means "continual incense" and has reference to the burning of incense to cause a fragrant smell. Here is a distinct hint that the Thyatira church represents the Roman period of church history. They are commended for their charity, service, faith, patience, and works.
        • They are condemned because they put up with a false prophetess in their midst. They are called to repentance and warned that refusal to change their ways will result in death to the church and death to their children. Spiritual and eternal death is always the result of departure from God and His Truth. The evil sowing of tares began in Ephesus. It became a system in Pergamum and was well established in Thyatira. There has been a gradual degeneration in the church as well as in the world, but Christ is not and cannot be satisfied with anything short of His Divine standard.
        • “The first fruits of an evil sowing are now reaped. Iniquity was ripening fast. The evolution of the church may be traced in Thyatira to its logical conclusion. In Ephesus, the believers lost their first love, became occupied with other things, and developed a class which was a sort of clergy, to whom the preaching of the Gospel was entrusted. These preachers lowered the doctrine to suite the coldness of their hearers. By the time of Smyrna, the doctrine of true grace had been diluted with legalism until the synagogue of Satan was in the midst of the church. Married to the world, Pergamum exalted clericalism to a doctrine and low levels of conduct became common.”
        • “In Thyatira, the last step to apostasy is taken. Jezebel is exalted in the church and from her throne ministers unto Satan.” – Revelation: An Expositional Commentary by Donald Gray Barnhouse 1971

    • E. Sardis - Dead “Protestantism” - Revelation 3:1-6
      • 1. Sardis: the church where some have remained faithful - Revelation 3:1-6
      • 2. Letter of Christ to the Asian church in Sardis with a believing remnant
      • 3 Letter of Christ to a dead church during the Reformation period c. 1516AD-c. 1850AD
      • 4. Letter of Christ to a local church of today that is spiritually dead
      • 5. Letter of Christ to a Christian living in a dead church
      • 6. The Solution to the problem: repent; strengthen those that remain
      • 7. The result for those overcoming: honored and clothed in white
      • Summary
        • The word Sardis means "to escape." It signifies an escaping from a very dangerous position or condition. "Come out" are the words that best suit this church. Its period in history was known as the Protestant Reformation. It was a time when the church, and the world, was coming out of the Dark Age.
        • This church is commended for the fact that there are a few within it who have not defiled themselves, but the church as a whole is severely condemned because of imperfection and false profession. They are called to repentance and watchfulness. Otherwise they will perish. They are promised fellowship with Christ and an open and public confession of their name before the Father, if they hear and heed the message of the Spirit.
        • Sardis escaped the peculiar corruptions of its own day and we are warned against the peculiar corruptions and evils of our day. This present age is an evil age and we are commanded to keep separated, holy and clean until Jesus comes.
        • God gave His estimation of the church at Sardis, and like the other churches, there was only a remnant of true Christians, the majority was dead. Even though, thousands of tongues professed to be Christians during the Reformation, they, like Sardis, had a name of being alive, yet they were dead spiritually.

    • F. Philadelphia - The Awakened Saints - Revelation 3:7-13
      • 1. Philadelphia: the church that perseveres in the faith - Revelation 3:7-13
      • 2. Letter of Christ to the Asian church in Philadelphia, a church of brotherly love
      • 3. Letter of Christ to a church in revival c. 1850-?
        • c. 1950 is my personal estimate of when the church of Sardis, in our timeline of church types, evolved into its successor, Laodicea. This is based on two factors. (1) 1948 was when the Jews went back to Palestine, and God’s clock of the end times started ticking again. (2) My personal observation of the decline of churches since the mid nineteen hundreds.
      • 4. Letter of Christ to a local church of today that cares about the salvation of lost souls
      • 5. Letter of Christ to the Christian living every day to please God
      • 6. The Solution to the problem: no problem; keep doing what you are doing
      • 7. The result for those overcoming: a place in God’s presence, a new name, and the New Jerusalem
      • Summary
        • Philadelphia means "brotherly love." This church is commended for keeping the Word of God and for holding steadfastly to the Name of Christ. It, therefore, had life, was obedient to the truth, and was devoted to Christ. They were commended for their patients in waiting for the consummation, and therefore they were promised immunity from the sorrows and sufferings during the time of tribulation. There is no word of condemnation, but they are called to hold fast their love, the Word, the Name, and the coming of the Lord. They are promised a part in and among the bride of Christ if they continue to be over-comers.

    • G. Laodicea - The Lukewarm Church - Revelation 3:14-19
      • 1. Laodicea: a lukewarm church where nothing good can be said - Revelation 3:14-19
      • 2. Letter of Christ to the Asian church in Laodicea, where the rights of the people prevail
      • 3. Letter of Christ to the church in its final state of apostasy during the final days – c. 1950AD or sometime after the end of the Reformation until the end of the age
      • 4. Letter of Christ to the church in the final days before the second coming of Christ that is more concerned about the rights of the people and human rights than of their obligations to God.
      • 5. Letter of Christ to the professing Christian that is not really a Christian
      • 6. The Solution to the problem: repent
      • 7. The result for those overcoming: share Christ’s throne
      • Summary
        • They were commended for their works but condemned because they were neither cold nor hot. They were rich, but wretched. They were mighty, but miserable. They were independent, but ignorant of their true state before God. After the commendation and condemnation they were counseled by Christ to a consecration (dedication) in order that they might receive and enjoy the holiness of heart, life, experience, and power that only comes from the Spirit of God.
        • The word Laodicea has reference to the rule of the people. Lao means “laity” and Dice means “rule”, or “the rule of the people”. Thus, in Laodicea we have a purely democratic Church in which the laity rules. Conversely, Nicolaitanism is the rule of the priest. Therefore, we have two opposite methods of ruling the church, but both are wrong. Both are contrary to God’s will. God is to rule. This democratic church was a Christless church. This people's church was a Christless church. They were nauseating to Christ, and they represent the last period of church history, which is Apostasy.
        • They are called to repentance, and although the hour is late, they are invited to accept and sup with Christ.


    • The Rise and Fall of the Church
      • Through these seven churches, we have presented to us the degeneration of the church from Ephesus (desirable) to Laodicea (nauseating).

    • These seven churches also present to us the seven types of professing christians.
      • 1. Ephesus - One who is a lover of God, but backslidden
      • 2. Smyrna - One who is persecuted for living to please God
      • 3. Pergamum - One who is caught up in worldly activities
      • 4. Thyatira - One who is interested in church more than God
      • 5. Sardis - One who is spiritually dead
      • 6. Philadelphia - One who is living to please God
      • 7. Laodicea - One who is uncaring towards God

    • These seven churches also present to us the seven types of churches today. Which church do you attend?
      • 1. Ephesus - going through the motions and caring about God, but not spiritual
      • 2. Smyrna - having to hide and is persecuted for God’s sake
      • 3. Pergamum - offering the pleasures and comforts of the world
      • 4. Thyatira - all about the building, pomp, numbers, and money
      • 5. Sardis - spiritually dead
      • 6. Philadelphia - alive and serving God
      • 7. Laodicea - having meetings, but God is not preset

    • These seven churches also present the ways back to Christ.
      • 1. Ephesus - Repent!
      • 2. Smyrna  - Endure!
      • 3. Pergamum - Repent!
      • 4. Thyatira - Repent!
      • 5. Sardis - Repent!
      • 6. Philadelphia - Hold Fast!
      • 7. Laodicea - Repent!
      • Notice a pattern? Except for the two who were doing what God asked of them, they were told that they needed to repent, turn about, change their ways. The same is true of Christians today. Unless we are of the churches of Smyrna or Philadelphia, we must repent!

    • H. The Final Word to the Churches - Revelation 3:20-22
      • “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
      • Open the door and let Him in!
      • At the beginning of the church age, Christ was walking in the midst of the church at Ephesus. He was their first love. Their love for Him was boiling hot, and He was the center of their lives. As time passed, their love for Him began to cool. By the time of Laodicea, their love had cooled until it became lukewarm. This lukewarm condition makes Christ sick. Indifference, carelessness, and sluggishness nauseate Him. As a result, He is now on the outside of the church. There are no more widespread revivals or multitudes of souls being saved through the church. However, because of His grace and love, Christ still speaks to those individuals that will open the door to their heart and allow Him to enter.
      • We possess the only keys to our own house, and not even God Almighty will force His way into our house/heart. The door is locked from the inside and the house of our soul cannot be entered, even by the Master of all, without our consent.
      • Tares are gathered and burned, the man without the wedding garment is cast into outer darkness, the unfaithful servant is appointed his share with the hypocrites, the foolish virgins are shut outside the door, those who neglected to enter in at the strait gate seek in vain to enter, those who refused the warning of Enoch and Noah perished in the flood, those who would not listen to Lot were destroyed in Sodom, and the lukewarm are spewed out to perish forever.
      • It is a mistake to think that a man must be a murderer or gangster or baby killer in order to be lost forever. The condemnation resting upon men comes only from their failure to accept Christ, and the condemnation resting upon the church comes from their failure to walk in the light and keep hot for God.

  • III. Things Future - The Things Which Shall Be Hereafter - (4:1 - 22:21)

    • A. The Scene in Heaven (4:1 – 5:14)
      • 1. The Invitation – “Come up here” (Revelation 4:1)
      • 2. The Heavenly Throne (Revelation 4:2-3)
      • 3. The Four and Twenty Elders (Revelation 4:4-5)
      • 4. The Four Living Creatures (Revelation 4:6-11)
      • 5. The Seven Sealed Book (Revelation 5:1-4)
      • 6. Christ Opens the Book (Revelation 5:5-7)
      • 7. Christ Worshiped by the Living Creatures and the Twenty Four Elders (Revelation 5:8-10)
      • 8. Christ Exalted by the Angels (Revelation 5:11-12)
      • 9. Christ Worshiped Universally (Revelation 5:13-14)

    • B. The Seven Seals – The Tribulation - (6:1 - 8:5)
      • 1. First Seal – White Horse: False Christ (Revelation 6:1-2)
      • 2. Second Seal – Red Horse: War (Revelation 6:3-4)
      • 3. Third Seal – Black Horse: Famine (Revelation 6:5-6)
      • 4. Fourth Seal – Pale Horse: Death (Revelation 6:7-8)
      • 5. Fifth Seal – Martyred Remnant (Revelation 6:9-11)
      • 6. Sixth Seal – Mayhem (Revelation 6:12-17)
        • Parenthetic:
          • Jews and Gentiles Saved During the Tribulation (Revelation 7:1-3)
          • The Sealing of the 144,000 Jews (Revelation 7:4-8)
          • The Multitude of Gentiles Saved (Revelation 7:9-17)
      • 7. Seventh Seal – Composed of Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:1)
        • The Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:2-11:19)
          • 1. First Trumpet - Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood (Revelation 8:2-7)
            • NOTE: One third of all vegetation is destroyed
          • 2. Second Trumpet - Fire Hurled into the Sea (Revelation 8:8-9)
            • NOTE: Something resembling a mountain, blazing with fire, was hurled into the sea
              • One third of the water in the sea became blood
              • One third of all things living in the sea died
              • One third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed
            • NOTE: It resembles a mountain, but it was not a mountain
          • 3. Third Trumpet - Huge Star Fell from Heaven (Revelation 8:10-11)
            • NOTE: Fresh Water Destroyed
              • One third of the fresh water was turned bitter
              • Many people died from using the water
          • 4. Fourth Trumpet - Sun, Moon, and Stars Darkened (Revelation 8:12-13)
            • NOTE: One third of the daylight and one third of the night were darkened
              • One third of the sun was darkened
              • One third of the moon was darkened
              • One third of the stars were darkened
            • NOTE: The first four trumpets are literal, not figurative
          • Woe, Woe, Woe -
            A Warning is sounded by another angel after the fourth trumpet - “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”
          • 5. Fifth Trumpet - The First Terror (Revelation 9:1-12)
            • NOTE: This star is a being, not a literal star.

              The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!"

          • 6. Sixth Trumpet - The Second Terror (Revelation 9:13-21)
          • Parenthetic:
            • No Further Delay 10:1-11:14)
              • a. The Little Book (Revelation 10:1-11)
              • b. Times of the Gentiles (Revelation 11:1-2)
              • c. The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-14)
          • 7. Seventh Trumpet - The Third Terror (Revelation 11:15-19)

              "Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm."


    • C. The Seven Personages (12:1 - 13:18)
      • 1. The Woman: Israel (Revelation 12:1-2)
      • 2. The Red Dragon: Satan (Revelation 12:3-4)
      • 3. The Male Child: Christ (Revelation 12:5-6)
      • 4. The Archangel: Michael (Revelation 12:7-12)
      • 5. The Jewish Remnant: Attacked by Satan (Revelation 12:13-17)
      • 6. The Beast Out Of the Sea: a Political Power, a person (Revelation 13:1-10)
      • 7. The Beast Out Of the Earth: a Religious Leader (Revelation 13:11-18)
      • Parenthetic:
        • a. The Lamb on Mt. Zion (Revelation 14:1-6)
        • b. Angel Messengers
          • 1. First Angel: Everlasting Gospel (Revelation 14:6-7)
          • 2. Second Angel: Babylon to Fall (Revelation 14:8)
          • 3. Third Angel: Doom to Come (Revelation 14:9-12)
        • c. A Voice from Heaven: Blessed are the Holy Dead (Revelation 14:13)
        • d. Vision of the Harvest: Armageddon (Revelation 14:14-20)

    • D. The Seven Bowls Filled with the Wrath of God (15:1 - 16:21)
      • The Scene in Heaven: (Revelation 15:1)
      • The Sea Of Glass and Fire (Revelation 15:2-4)
      • The Tabernacle of Testimony (Revelation 15: 5-8)
      • 1. First Bowl: Sores (Revelation 16:1-2)
      • 2. Second Bowl: Death in the Seas (Revelation 16:3)
      • 3. Third Bowl: Rivers and Fountains Turned to Blood (Revelation 16:4-7)
      • 4. Fourth Bowl: Earth Scorched with Fire (Revelation 16:8-9)
      • 5. Fifth Bowl: Darkness (Revelation 16:10-11)
      • 6. Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River Dries Up (Revelation 16:12)
      • Parenthetic:
        • Armageddon (Revelation 16:13-16)
      • 7. Seventh Bowl: Earthquake and Hail (Revelation 16:17-21)

    • E. The Doom of Babylon (17:1-18:24)
      • 1. The Harlot: The Apostate Church during the Tribulation (Revelation 17:1-18)
        • a. The Great Harlot Riding the Beast (Revelation 17:1-6)
        • b. Wild Beast Destroys the Great Harlot (Revelation 17:7-13)
        • c. Victory of the Lamb (Revelation 17:14-18)
      • 2. Political and Commercial Babylon Judged (Revelation 18:1-24)
        • a. Announcement of the fall of Commercial and Political Babylon (Revelation 18:1-8)
        • b. Anguish in the World because of Babylon’s Judgment (Revelation 18:9-19)
        • c. Anticipation of joy in heaven because of judgment on Babylon (Revelation 18:20-24)

    • F. Marriage of the Lamb and the Return of Christ in Judgment (Revelation 19:1-21)
      • 1. Rejoicing in Heaven over the Destruction of the Harlot (Revelation 19:1-6)
      • 2. Bride of the Lamb and Marriage Supper (Revelation 19:7-10)
      • 3. Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-16)
      • 4. Armageddon (Revelation 19:17-19)
      • 5. Doom of the Beast and False Prophet (Revelation 19:20)
      • 6. Doom of Kings and their Armies (Revelation 19:21)
      • 7. Satan Bound for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3)

    • G. The First Resurrection Completed (Revelation 20:4-6)

    • H. The Final Judgment (Revelation 20:7-15)
      • 1. Satan Loosed After 1000 Years and His Final Revolt (Revelation 20:7-9)
      • 2. Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire Forever (Revelation 20:10)
      • 3. Great White Throne and the Second Death: lost are judged and follow Satan into lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15)

    • I. The Eternal State – Eternity Unveiled (21:1 - 22:5)
      • 1. The New Heaven (Revelation 21:1-8)
        • NOTE: The Bible mentions three heavens.
        • (1) The atmosphere of gas that surrounds the earth.
        • (2) The moon, planets, and stars.
        • (3) The dwelling place of God.
        • The one referred to here is the atmospheric heaven surrounding the earth.
      • 2. The New Earth (Revelation 21:1-8)
      • 3. The New inhabitants (Revelation 21:9)
      • 4. The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-27)
      • 5. The new temple
      • 6. The new light (Revelation 21:23-25)
      • 7. The New Paradise (Revelation 22:1-5)
        • a. The River of Life
        • b. The Tree Of Life

    • J. The Completion of the Unveiling
      • 1. The Final Message (Revelation 22:6-15)
      • 2. The Final Testimony (Revelation 22:16)
      • 3. The Final Invitation (Revelation 22:17)
      • 4. The Final Warning (Revelation 22:18-19)
      • 5. The Final Promise (Revelation 22:20)
      • 6. The Final Prayer (Revelation 22:20)
      • 7. The Final Provision (Revelation 22:21)