Placement in the Holy Bible:
- The twenty-seventh book of the New Testament
Author:
- John, the disciple of Jesus and author of the Gospel, is the writer of this book.
Intended Audience:
- The Christian community of the first century, specifically the believers in the seven churches of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
Purpose:
- To inform Christian believers about prophecies, divine judgement, and the events of the end times.
- To strengthen their faith and make them aware of God’s divine plans.
- To affirm the victory of Jesus and the final judgement of God at the end of times.
Key Themes:
- Prophecies and the End Times: Events of the end times, divine judgement, and prophecies delivered through Jesus.
- Messages to the Seven Churches: Special messages to the various churches and solutions to the challenges they face.
- Divine Victory: The victory of Jesus, divine judgement, and the arrival of the new heaven and new earth.
Major Sections:
- Prologue and Vision (Chapter 1): John’s vision of Jesus and the introduction to the Book of Revelation.
- Messages to the Seven Churches (Chapters 2-3): Special messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor, reviewing their spiritual condition.
- Heavenly Vision (Chapters 4-5): Description of heavenly scenes, worship of God and the Lamb (Jesus).
- Seven Judgments (Chapters 6-11): The seven judgments, the blowing of the trumpets, and the events of divine judgement.
- The Child and the Beast (Chapters 12-14): Protection of God’s saints, great conflicts, and the end-time events.
- Seven Bowls (Chapters 15-16): The pouring of the seven bowls, the culmination of divine wrath, and the final judgement.
- Fall of Babylon and Final Judgment (Chapters 17-19): The fall of Babylon, end-time events, and the final judgement.
- New Heaven and New Earth (Chapters 20-22): The final victory, the arrival of the new heaven and new earth, and God’s ultimate promise.
Structure:
- Chapter 1: Prologue and vision.
- Chapters 2-3: Messages to the seven churches.
- Chapters 4-5: Heavenly vision.
- Chapters 6-11: Seven judgments and the sound of the trumpets.
- Chapters 12-14: Protection of the saints and end-time events.
- Chapters 15-16: Seven bowls and divine wrath.
- Chapters 17-19: Fall of Babylon and final judgement.
- Chapters 20-22: New heaven, new earth, and God’s ultimate promise.
Characteristics:
- Prophecies: Detailed account of end-time events and prophecies.
- Divine Judgment: Emphasis on divine judgement, the final judgement, and the victory of Jesus.
- New Creation: The prophecy of the new heaven and new earth, and God’s ultimate promise.
