Revelation Structure

Edgar Mayer – Toowoomba, February 2012 (www.livinggracetoowoomba.org)

The Structure of Revelation

I (1:1-20) Introduction : “The revelation of Jesus Christ … Blessed is the one who read the words of this prophecy … and take to heart what is written in it.”

[II-II’ (2:1-3:22) Jesus desires his people’s first love and warns against sexual immorality and idolatry.]

II (2:1-7) The church in Ephesus had forsaken her first love and was in danger of being removed from God’s presence.

III (2:8-11) The church in Smyrna was suffering persecution and was not confronted with any weaknesses.

IV (2:12-17) The church in Pergamum had remained true to Jesus’ name but some compromised their faith.

V (2:18-29) The church in Thyatira was commended for her deeds, love, faith, service and perseverance but her toleration of sexual immorality and idolatry would lead to a chastisement which would serve as a warning to all the churches.

IV’ (3:1-6) The church in Sardis had compromised their faith but some remained “unsoiled”.

III’ (3:7-13) The church in Philadelphia was suffering persecution and was not confronted with any weaknesses.

II’ (3:21-22) The church Laodicea had become lukewarm in her love and was in danger of being “spat out” of Jesus’ mouth.

[II-II’ (2:1-22:5) The bridegroom Jesus desires the consummation of marriage with the righteous as his bride and judges immorality and idolatry.]

II (4:1-11) John was shown a throne in heaven and before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass (like crystal). The twenty-four elders had crowns of gold on their heads.

III (5:1-14) The presentation (seeing and describing) of the Lamb for the first time.

IV (6:1-9:21) Worship in heaven, then the seventh seal.

A (6:1-17) The first six seals.

B (7:1-8) The sealing of the servants from all tribes of Israel.

C (7:9-17) The countless multitude from every nation and language, standing before the throne and in front of the lamb, cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” All the angels worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

B’ (8:1-5) The seventh seal.

A’ (8:6-9:21) The first six trumpets.

IV’ (10:1-14:20) The seventh trumpet, then worship in heaven.

A (10:1-11) John saw the angelic Christ (robed in a cloud) coming down from heaven. He was not to write down what the seven thunders spoke but was to prophesy to many peoples, nations, languages and kings that on the day of the seventh trumpet the mystery of God will be accomplished.

B (11:1-14) Christ gave authority to two witnesses.

C (11:15a) The seventh trumpet.

D (11:15b-18) Loud voices in heaven said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ., and he will reign for ever and ever.” The twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name – and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

C’ (11:19-12:17) The proclamation from heaven in a loud voice.

a (11:19-12:1) The dragon attacked the pregnant woman and prepared to devour her child but the woman was rescued. (God’s temple in heaven was opened and the ark of the covenant, which contained the commandments and testimony, was seen)

b (12:7-12) There was war in heaven but the dragon was hurled down to the earth. A loud voice declared that now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.

a’ (12:13-17) The dragon attacked the woman who had given birth but the woman was rescued and the dragon went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – (those who obeyed the commandments and held to the testimony of Jesus).

B’ (13:1-18) The dragon gave authority to two beasts.

A’ (14:1-20) The 144,000 (offered as first-fruits to God and the Lamb) sang a new song that no one could learn but an angel proclaimed the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people. John saw the angelic Christ (seated on a cloud) who was reaping the harvest of the earth and throwing the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath.

IV’’ (15:1-16:21) Worship in heaven, then the seven angels with the seven last plagues and seven bowls of God’s wrath.

A (15:1) John saw seven angels with the seven last plagues.

B (15:2-4) And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

A’ (15:5-16:21) The seven angels poured out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth. (In heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.)

IV’’’ (17:1-21:8) Worship in heaven, then the coming down of the bride (Jerusalem) but the punishment of the great prostitute (Babylon).

A (17:1-18:24) The punishment of the great prostitute (Babylon).

B (19:1-8) A great multitude in heaven was shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne: And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great.” A great multitude was shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.”

A’ (19:9-21:8) The coming down of the bride (Jersualem).

a (19:9-10) Then the angel said to me: “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”.

b (19:11-16) Heaven was standing open for Jesus to judge and condemn the wicked.

c (19:17-21) The beast and the kings of the earth and their armies made war against the rider of the horse and his army. They were defeated and the the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur..

d (20:1-7) An angel bound Satan for a thousand years. Those who had been given authority to judge and those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God came to life and reigned with Christ.

c’ (20:8-10) After the thousand years, Satan will deceive and gather all nations for battle against God’s people, the city he loves. However, they were defeated and the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown..

b’ (20:11-15) Books were opened for judging the dead and condemning the wicked.

a’ (21:1-8) John saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

III’ (21:9-27) The presentation (seeing and describing) of the wife, the bride of the Lamb (Jerusalem), for the first time.[1]

A (21:9-11) Holy City (bride, the wife of the Lamb): glory of God.

B (21:12-13) Twelve gates.

C (21:14) Foundations.

D (21:15-18) Dimensions of the Holy City.

C’ (21:19-20) Foundations.

B’ (21:21) Twelve gates.

A’ (21:22-27) Holy City: glory of God.

II’ (22:1-5) John was shown the river of the water of life (bright as crystal) which was flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The servants of God will reign for ever and ever.

I’ (22:6-21) Conclusion: “These words are trustworthy and true … if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life … Come, Lord Jesus.”