REVELATION: STRUCTURE AND INTERPRETATION
GENERAL STRUCTURE
The same period, between the first and second comings of Jesus, are seen through seven visions, each from a different perspective.Visions 1 to 3 deals with this period from the perspective of what is happening on the earth. Visions 4 to 7 takes a more behind-the-scenes look, from the heavenly (spiritual perspective), revealing what is really happening behind what is experienced on earth.
Notice how every vision ends with the final jugdment. Even vision 1, ending with the letter to Laodicea, ends with the hint of judgment by being spit out of God's mouth.
¤ The struggle on earth (Chapters 1-11)
· Vision 1: Chapters 1:1-3:22 - John's vision and greeting to the churches, Christ among the lampstands,and letters to the seven churches.
· · Chapter 1:1-8 - Introduction and greeting
· · Chapter 1:9-20 - Christ among the lampstands, His explanations and instructions to John
· · Chapter 2:1-3:21 - Letters to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pregamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea
(Vision 1 is firstly addressed to the seven churches of Asia Minor mentioned in it, and issues in these churches. But the churches are also symbolic of the Church through the ages, and the problems and threats she faces. Every letter contains seven essential elements:
· Address: "To the angel of the church in..."
· Title (attribute) of Author (Jesus): "These are the words of him..." (carefully chosen to describe an aspect of His character which that church needs to consider)
· Approval: "I know your deeds..."
· Accusation: "I have this against you..."
· Call to repent: "...consider/repent...or else/otherwise..."
· Assurance: "To him who overcomes..."
· Appeal: "Whoever has ears, let them hear..."
Five of the churches receives a call to repent, address the issues, and hold on to the faith. Only Smyrna and Philadelphia received unqualified praise from Jesus, and a call to hold on to the faith.)
· Address: "To the angel of the church in..."
· Title (attribute) of Author (Jesus): "These are the words of him..." (carefully chosen to describe an aspect of His character which that church needs to consider)
· Approval: "I know your deeds..."
· Accusation: "I have this against you..."
· Call to repent: "...consider/repent...or else/otherwise..."
· Assurance: "To him who overcomes..."
· Appeal: "Whoever has ears, let them hear..."
Five of the churches receives a call to repent, address the issues, and hold on to the faith. Only Smyrna and Philadelphia received unqualified praise from Jesus, and a call to hold on to the faith.)
· Vision 2 : Chapters 4:1-8:5 - The vision of heaven and the seven seals
· · Chapter 4:1-5:14 - Vision of heaven
· · Chapter 6:1-2 - Jesus on His white horse conquers
· · Chapter 6:3-8 - The "Church Militant" is persecuted and troubled
· · Chapter 6:9-11 - The faithful are martyred
· · Chapter 7:1-8 - The "Church Universal" is sealed (144 000)
· · Chapter 7:9-17 - The "Church Victorious" worships
· · Chapter 6:12-17; 8:1-5 - The wicked are judged
· Vision 3: Chapters 8:6-11:19 - The seven trumpets of judgment and warning
· · Chapter 8:6-9:24 - Judgement against (1) the land, (2)the sea, (3) the rivers. (4) the sky; Woe of (5) demonic torment, (6) three plagues
· · Chapter 10:1-11 - The "Church Militant" is encouraged
· · Chapter 11:1-2 - The "Church Universal" is protected
· · Chapter 11:3-14 - The "Church Militant" witnesses
· · Chapter 11:15-19 - The woe of final judgment (3rd woe)
¤ The deeper spiritual background (the battle in the heavenlies) (Chapters 12-22)
· Vision 4: Chapters 12:1-14:20 - The persecuting dragon and his beasts
· · Chapter 12: The dragon (Satan), the woman (Church, all God's people through the ages),and the Child (Jesus)
· · Chapter 13: The persecuting beast from the sea (national powers) & the persecuting beast from the land (false religions)
· · Chapter 14:1-13 - The "Church Universal" is sealed (144 000)
· · Chapter 14:14-20 - The final judgment
· Vision 5: Chapters 15:1-16:21 - The seven bowls of God's wrath
· · Chapter 14:1-16:16 - Wrath through (1) diseases, (2) the oceans, (3) the waters, (4) the heavens, (5) darkness, (6) warfare
· · Chapter 16:17-21 - Wrath (7) of final judgment
· Vision 6: Chapters 17:1-19:21 - The fall of Babylon and the beasts
· · Chapter 17 - The prostitute Babylon (worldliness) and her persecuting beast (national powers)
· · Chapter 18 - The fall of Babylon
· · Chapter 19:11-21 - The final judgment (Jesus on His white horse)
· · Chapter 19:1-10 - The marriage supper of the Lamb (Post judgment)
· Vision 7: Chapters 20:1-22:21 - The big picture: Victory through Christ
· · Chapter Rev 20:1-3 - Satan is bound
· · Chapter 20:4-6 - The departed saints reign with Jesus in heaven
· · Chapter 20:7-16 - The final judgment (White Throne)
· · Chapter 21:1-22:15 - The new heavens and earth
(This structure based on diagrams and teaching of pastor Clinton Stone, Honeyridge Baptist Church, Johannesburg, South Africa.)
SCHOOLS OF INTERPRETATION
There are various approaches to the interpretation of Revelation, influencing how we approach the book, and how we lay out its structure.¤ Futurist: Views most of the book as prophecy yet to be fulfilled (mainly) in the future, particularly in a future period of tribulation, Christ's second coming, and the establishment of His millennial kingdom.
¤ Historicist: Interprets Revelation as a symbolic representation of the history of the church from the apostolic age to the end times - fulfilled in stages and specific events in church history.
¤ Preterist: Believes that most of Revelation was mainly (or entirely) fulfilled in the 1st Century AD, particularly with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the persecution of the early church.
¤ Idealist (Symbolic): Fundamentally symbolic, being fulfilled generally throughout the Church Age (Timeless Principles/Spiritual Realities), rather than predicting specific historical events.
¤ Progressive parallel (Modified Idealist): Fulfilment consists in both specific past historical events (1st Coming) as well as specific future events (2nd Coming)... but it is also symbolical of the unfolding of world history in-between, described in Seven Parallel Visions. In other words, the seven parallel visions describe the same period, between the first and second coming of Christ, seen from different perspectives. This is the view we follow for these notes.
Back to Revelation Background Notes To Top
This guide is provided for personal and educational use. For questions or additional Bible study resources, please consult your local church or Christian education ministry.
© 2025 ccm.co.za · Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations indicated by (NET) are quoted are from the NET Bible® https://netbible.com Copyright ©1996, 2019. Used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved
© 2025 ccm.co.za · Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations indicated by (NET) are quoted are from the NET Bible® https://netbible.com Copyright ©1996, 2019. Used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved