The Book of Revelation is a book shrouded in mystery -- or so it would seem. It must be prayed through and studied carefully, and the Bible student must have an adequate knowledge of the times in which he lives. There are a number of ways to interpret the text, but all cannot be correct, so there must be one correct way. One view says that the contents of the book only relate to what went on during the first century in the Roman Empire -- the Preterist view. Another view claims that the book is just a panorama of church history from the apostolic era till the final consummation -- the Historical view. Still another view says that it is not a representation of actual events, but is rather a symbolic depiction of the spiritual warfare between good and evil -- the Idealist view. But the most preferable view is the Futurist view. This view says that beginning in chapter four, Revelation describes future events that have not occurred but will occur accompanying the end of time. If this view is correct then the purpose of the book would be eschatological, for this gives a picture of end-time events and how they relate to the world at hand.

Written by John the Apostle sometime around AD 90 this book makes many contributions to New Testament theology. The sovereignty of God is seen throughout, and the vision of God on His throne in chapter four is unlike any other in the New Testament. The worship that God receives helps to see beyond the everyday circumstances that Christians face and is a reminder that God is ultimately worthy of praise, honor, and adoration. But this book also has a high Christology starting with chapter five. Both the Father and the Son are called the Alpha and Omega, and John, the writer of the vision, makes it clear that the sovereign God is accomplishing his purposes on earth through the Son, very God Himself.

In the opening chapter of the Book of Revelation there is a revealing of the end times given to Jesus by God and delivered by an angel to the Apostle John. John writes to the seven churches telling them to look at Christ for He is coming in the clouds and everyone will see him. John explains to the seven churches about the revelation given to him by the angel while he was on the island of Patmos. He was told to write down what he heard and saw so that he could give it to the seven churches.

What he saw first was Jesus Christ in a blaze of glory standing among the seven churches and holding the angels that represented each church. Jesus tells him to write down what has seen because it concerns what is present and what is to come. Each church was to benefit from John’s vision as given to him by Jesus Christ.

Chapters 2 and 3 deal with letters to the seven churches with various affirmations and warnings from Jesus Himself. The church in Ephesus is commended but told she had forsaken her first love; to Smyrna, Jesus encourages them to remain faithful even in light of the fact that this church was to suffer more persecutions very soon; to Pergamum, Jesus commends them and tells them to correct those in their church who hold to false doctrines from false prophets; to the church in Thyatira, Jesus tells them to stop tolerating the false teaching that is among them. Those who do are to repent; to the church in Sardis, Jesus says to wake up from their sleep and hold to the teachings of God. Those who don’t will die; to the church in Philadelphia, Jesus encourages them that they will be spared from the time of wrath because they kept His command to endure patiently; to the church of Laodicea, Jesus rebukes harshly and tells them to repent of their lukewarm ways. All of these churches are told that they will receive rewards after they overcome and will sit with Jesus on His throne when they come into His kingdom.

Chapter 4 is about God and chapter five is about Jesus. Chapter 4 is what follows after the messages to the churches, and it concerns the future. John is taken up into heaven and sees the throne of God and twenty-four elders along with the four living creatures who bow down and worship God day and night. Chapter 5 shows God with a scroll and seven seals in his hand. The only one worthy to open the scroll is Jesus Christ because He has triumphed over sin. When He takes the scroll He is worshipped by the 24 elders and the four living creatures. They played music and sang a song about the worthiness of Jesus to open the scrolls. John suddenly heard a multitude of angels and the entire earth singing and encircling the throne crying out about the worthiness of Jesus to open the scroll.

Chapter 6 begins with the opening of the seal judgments, and it details the wrath of the Lamb when He opens the scrolls. The time period here is the beginning of the seven-year tribulation, and the chapter reveals six of the seven seal judgments. As for the time period here, the chapter closes at the end of the first three and a half years of the tribulation.

Each seal, as it is opened, is more intense in its judgments than the previous one. One judgment is poured out on top of another, and in the end those who are still alive on the earth beg to be hidden from the Lamb who pours out His wrath.

As chapter seven opens it seems to freeze time. Four angels hold back the four winds of heaven while a fifth angel places a mark on all the tribes of Israel -- 144,000 of them. This takes place way at the beginning of the tribulation time period, so this chapter is not to be read chronologically with the ones leading up to it. Rather, this chapter goes back to the beginning, chapter six, and shows God’s mercy in taking out a people for Himself, namely, the Jews from all twelve tribes.

The seal, or mark, that they receive, is a seal that distinguishes them from unbelievers, for they are the servants of the Most High God. These are the ones who will spread the gospel to the whole world during the seven-year tribulation time period. As John beheld these people he looked and he also saw people from every nation and tongue standing before the throne of the Lamb wearing white robes, signifying their righteousness in Christ, giving praise to Him along with the elders and the four creatures spoken of in chapters four and five. These people are those who were saved during the Tribulation, and they stand to serve God day and night.

Chapter eight begins with the opening of the seventh seal, going back to the end of chapter six following the parenthesis of chapter seven. At the opening of the seal there is complete speechlessness as Jesus comes and stands before the alter. This seventh seal actually answers the question from 6:10 concerning how long God will wait before judging those who hate Him.

From this seal comes thunder, lightning, and an earthquake to the earth as one angel throws a golden censer to the earth filled with the prayers of the saints. Seven other angels who stand before God on His throne were given seven trumpets at this time for seven more divine judgments on the earth. As the first four sounded their trumpets terrible devastation came upon the earth and much of it was destroyed. The air and the water of the earth are severely damaged causing great difficulties for those left behind. The chapter closes with a terrible prediction about what the remaining three trumpet judgments have in store.

In chapter 9 the fifth angel sounds his trumpet and a mysterious being, possibly Jesus, possibly an angel, is given the key (symbolizing authority) to the Abyss, releasing more judgment from the Pit. Terrible creatures are let loose, headed by "the Destroyer" to torment those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads for five full months. Those tormented will hope for death but will not find it. Of the three woes that are predicted in chapter eight, this is the first woe.

When the sixth angel sounds his trumpet, four other angels are given power to release an army of two-hundred million in order to kill a third of mankind on the earth. These too are special created beings designed to bring about God’s judgment. Their power is three-fold, and they kill a third of mankind, but even though they prevailed over a third of mankind, those who lived still would not repent of their evil deeds.

Chapter ten reveals another angel who stands on the land and the sea. Going back to when Joshua crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, this signifies ownership of the land. One foot on the water and one on the land -- ownership of both. He is a precursor to the seventh trumpet, and he reads from a little scroll in his hand saying that once the final trumpet is sounded the mystery of God will be revealed as God had announced it to the prophets. John is told to take the scroll and eat it. It was sweet in his mouth but bitter when it came to his stomach.

Chapter ten is another chapter that is key to the chronology of Revelation. Verse eleven reveals John’s next task, and that is to give another prophecy regarding peoples, nations, languages, and kings. Up to this point John has only revealed judgments.

Chapter eleven, up to verse fourteen, is another chapter that is parenthetical in that it is not chronological with the previous chapters. Chapter ten is at the end of the seven year time period, but chapter eleven goes back three and a half years to the beginning of chapter six when two men, called "witnesses" appear who will prophecy for three and a half years right up to the end of the seven-year tribulation. They will speak God’s word at the Temple in Jerusalem, and they will kill anyone who comes against them. After 1,260 days they will be killed by the beast that comes up from the Abyss. They will lie dead in the streets for all to see for three and a half days without a burial while all their enemies rejoice over their deaths.

Following this time the Witnesses will rise up and follow the voice from heaven that tells them to come up to heaven. Right then the second woe of the sixth trumpet arrives and a severe earthquake occurs in Jerusalem while a tenth of the city collapses. Those who survive will give glory to God.

After this the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, and the third woe is under way. The actual damage done as a result of this woe is not recorded here, but the seven bowls of God’s wrath in chapter 16, in that it is parallel with the seal and trumpet judgments, gives the full details of what happened. The second coming of Jesus Christ was the judgment recorded in this chapter, and this is the third woe.

The 24 elders fall down in worship of the risen Lord because this is the second advent of Christ. The Davidic Covenant is inaugurated, but the specific judgment that this trumpet brings is not revealed until chapter 16. Jesus is seen in this chapter as reigning on the earth, and God’s temple in heaven is opened with the ark of the covenant being made visible. There was thunder, lightning, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. This is right at the end of the 7-year tribulation.

Chapters 12-15 are parenthetical. These chapters introduce seven personalities and views the prophecies of the end time from another perspective. The seven personalities are a woman clothed with the sun, representing Israel; the red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, representing Satan; the male child representing Jesus; the archangel Michael, casting Satan out of heaven; the offspring of the woman, persecuted by the dragon; the beast out of the sea, the future world dictator; and the beast out of the earth, representing the false prophet. These chapters do not advance the narrative chronologically but present events and situations that are concurrent with the soundings of the trumpets.

In chapter 16 the book picks up again where it left off in chapter 11. There are seven bowl judgments filled with God’s wrath poured out on the earth. These seven bowls of judgments are parallel accounts of the seal judgments and trumpet judgments. Where the first part of the book dealt with judgments, this chapter deals with people, for chapter 10, verse 11 states: "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings." This is the prophecy of the first part of the book told from a different perspective. This has to be because chapter 11 ends with the final trumpet and that is the Second Advent of Jesus Christ.

In this chapter there are seven angels who pour out God’s wrath over the land, people, and waters of the earth. The sun and the moon are darkened, and instead of repentance from the people God is attempting to reach, they curse Him. The beast’s throne is taken, and more people begin to curse God. When the sixth angel pours out his bowl the kings of the earth meet for battle at a place called Armageddon. The seventh angel then pours out his bowl of wrath upon the earth, and the reader can see more of what happened when the seventh trumpet was blown back in chapter 11. A severe earthquake followed, the earth swallowed up many of the mountains and islands from the sea, and a plague of hail began to rain down on the earth. Once again, the people who were suffering through this terrible time did not repent and turn to Jesus, rather, they curse God because the plague was so intense.

In chapter 17 John is given a vision of the great harlot. This woman is a symbol of the religious system of Babylon. The "waters" she sits on represent many peoples and nations, and they signify all those with whom she has turned away with her false religion. She is drunk with the blood of the saints in that this religious system has no Christianity to it but rather is in the business of killing Christians during this time of tribulation. This chapter is most likely not in chronological order, and these events possibly take place at the beginning of the great tribulation (midway through the seven-year tribulation). What should be noted here in chapter 17 is that the harlot represents a spiritual entity (contrasted with chapter 18 where it is political). The woman sits on a beast, which comes out of the Abyss, that is a reference to the world government led by ten kings and seven prominent rulers. The beast which comes out of the Abyss, the place where Satan dwells (11:7), is obviously under the influence of Satan. The second half of this chapter is an interpretation of the first half which leads into the next chapter.

Chapter 18 concerns the judgment poured out on the harlot of chapter 17. Her end is definite, and those who were a part of her weep as she goes down in one hour. This signifies that the harlot not only represents a false religious system but also a political system. There is rejoicing from the saints at her destruction, but the peoples of the earth who did business with her were weeping. The final part of the chapter is the reason for her quick demise, namely, in her was found the blood of the prophets and saints who were slain on the earth.

In chapter 19 there is rejoicing in heaven over the events that transpired in chapters 17-18. The marriage feast of the Lamb with His bride has come and those who are invited rejoice and are called blessed. Following this the rider on the white horse, namely, Jesus appears with an army to rule over the earth. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The beast and the false prophet, together with the kings of the earth, go to make war with Jesus. This is the battle of Armageddon (16:16). The beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire which is burning with fire and brimstone. The kings of the earth who fought together with the beast and false prophet are killed by the sword and the birds of the air are filled with their flesh.

Chapter 20 opens with another angel having the key to the bottomless pit. He seized Satan, bound him for 1000 years, and placed a mark on him that he would not deceive the nations during that time period. Following this he is to be released "for a little while." During the 1000 years of Christ’s reign on the earth those who did not receive the mark of the beast lived with Jesus on the earth, and following this time period those who died "in Christ," as well as those who were not "in Christ" also rose again. Those "in Christ" did not see death again, but those who were not took part in the "second death." When Satan is finally released he goes out to battle against Jesus. He has a following of immense numbers, but he is defeated and thrown into the lake of fire with the beast and false prophet.

John then saw another vision of judgment. Books were opened by Jesus who sits on the throne and anyone’s name who was not found written in the book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. This death is the second death; this is judgment day in the strictest sense.

In chapters 21 and 22 all things are made anew, and there is a picture of heaven. God reveals what heaven will look like in its ideal human form. That is to say, it is spoken of in human splendor. This is the only place in the Bible where heaven is actually expounded on in some detail.

John writes about the importance of taking all the contents of the Revelation seriously, not adding anything to them, and not taking anything away. Jesus tells him that He is coming quickly, signifying the need for repentance from sin in order to avoid all that has been written in the prophecy.

The Book of Revelation is an incredibly powerful unveiling of the future. Why did God include it as part of His revelation to man? In one word: repentance. God sent seven letters to seven different churches in the first part of the book. Why? To commend them on what they were doing well and to bring to back from what they were doing poorly. One had forgotten her first love, another was lukewarm, and one was spiritually dead. God wanted to bring these back to repentance because of the coming wrath of His judgment. From chapters 6-19 God’s wrath is revealed -- the wrath that is coming. What other purpose could there be in recording this kind of tribulation than to bring people to repentance -- a turning away from sin? The terrible judgments and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule upon the earth for 1000 years are given to bring people to repentance. This book is not in the Bible just so believers will know about the end times as if merely knowing were God’s sole purpose. On the contrary, believers who read this fascinating book will not even be living during this terrible time due to the rapture which will occur seven years prior to these events. But the contents of the book are for believers in the sense that they preach and teach this book. Judgment is coming, the end of time is spelled out in great detail; non-believers must take heed and repent. Believers must listen to the rebukes of God on the seven churches in 2-3 because those sins are prevalent today, and they must be repented of. For believers and non-believers alike, the Book of Revelation is about repentance. To reveal Himself and the Son, bringing about repentance... that is God’s purpose in the Book of Revelation.

 WORKS CITED

Carson, D.A., Moo, D., Morris, L., 1992. An Introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan: Grand Rapids.

MacArthur, J., 1999. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Revelation. Moody Press: Chicago.

Pentecost, J.D., 1958. Things to Come. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, pp. 577-79.

Walvoord, J.F., 1966. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Moody Press: Chicago.

Walvoord, J.F., 1983. The Bible Knowledge Commentary.: USA, Canada, England: Victor Books.