Revelation

Author: John

John, on Patmos, writes what he was shown to seven churches in Asia, a vision of the Lamb’s victory and of a new heaven and a new earth.

Outline

  1. The seven churches (1–3)

    A vision of the risen Christ introduces letters to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

  2. The throne, the seals, and the witnesses (4–11)

    Heaven’s worship centers on the Lamb who opens the scroll, and the trumpets follow the seals.

  3. The conflict and the fall of Babylon (12–19)

    A woman, a dragon, beasts, and a city drunk with the blood of the saints give way to the rider on the white horse.

  4. The city of God (20–22)

    Judgment, a new heaven and a new earth, and the invitation of the Spirit and the bride close the book.

Key verses

  • Revelation 1:8

    The Lord God calls himself Alpha and Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come.

  • Revelation 5:12

    Heaven ascribes power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing to the Lamb that was slain.

  • Revelation 21:3–4

    God will dwell with his people, and death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be no more.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass, was signified by an angel to his servant John, who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ. John is on the isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus. He writes to seven churches in Asia. Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand. The book calls itself a revelation, a prophecy, and a letter. It is not a puzzle dropped from nowhere. It is sent to named congregations, and it blesses the one who keeps what it says.

John turns and sees one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, his eyes as a flame of fire, his voice as the sound of many waters, and he falls at his feet as dead. The speaker says, Fear not. I am the first and the last. I am he that lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. The seven letters follow. Ephesus has left her first love. Smyrna is poor and faithful and is told not to fear the things she shall suffer. Pergamos holds fast the name and tolerates the doctrine of Balaam. Thyatira has works and charity and suffers the woman Jezebel. Sardis has a name that she lives and is dead. Philadelphia has a little strength and has kept the word. Laodicea is lukewarm, rich in her own account and wretched in his, and is told to open the door. Each letter ends with a promise to the one who overcomes and with the same appeal: he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. The visions that follow are for these people, not for a later audience that has replaced them.

A door opens in heaven. A throne stands, and no one is able to open the scroll in the hand of the one who sits there until the Lion of the tribe of Judah is seen as a Lamb that had been slain. Heaven sings that the Lamb has redeemed people out of every kindred and tongue. The seals and the trumpets follow, and the seventh trumpet announces that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.

A woman brings forth a child, and a dragon stands ready to devour him. Beasts demand worship. Babylon, drunk with the blood of the saints, is judged, and a voice says, Come out of her, my people. A rider called Faithful and True, whose name is the Word of God, judges and makes war in righteousness. The dead are judged. Death itself is cast out.

John sees a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. The holy city, new Jerusalem, comes down from God, prepared as a bride. A great voice says, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. The city has no need of the sun or of the moon, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation was written to churches that were being asked to worship what was not God, and it answers with a slain Lamb who is worthy, a call to come out of Babylon, and a city where God dwells with his people.

Chapters