Revelation, by itself, is the fourth of four major divisions of the New Testament. The other divisions, other than Revelation, are the Gospels (which includes Acts), the General Epistles and the Epistles of Paul.
Date Written, Location
The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John between 95 and 95 A.D. It was recorded on Patmos, an Aegean Sea island roughly thirty-seven miles (59.5 kilometers) southwest of ancient Miletus.
[See Map of Where Revelation Written]
The island on which Revelation was penned is tiny, with a land area of only about 13.15 square miles (34 square kilometers). Patmos, in modern times, boasts a population of 3,238 (2021). Although the island is relatively close to Turkey, it is part of the nation of Greece.
The Author
The Apostle John, at the time of writing Revelation, was the last of the original twelve apostles who were still alive. John was banished to Patmos by Roman Emperor Domitian, "because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 1:9, HBFV).
John, after writing Revelation, was freed in 96 A.D. by Emperor Nerva. He travels to Ephesus, after receiving his freedom, where he will spend his last years canonizing both the Old and New Testaments. John dies of natural causes around 100 A.D.
[Picture of John's Tomb in Ephesus]
Time Period
The book of Revelation begins with Jesus giving instructions to John and then offering a spiritual assessment to seven churches that existing in John's time (Revelation 1 - 3). Chapter 4 to the end of the book, however, delineates events, "which shall be hereafter" (Rev. 1:19) or those that will start to take place in the prophetic end times.
Revelation Chapter Outline
Chpt. 1: Introduction to Revelation. Jesus establishes who he is by stating he is the Alpha and Omega, the faithful Witness, the ruler of the kings of the world and so on. He commands John to write down all that he sees.
[What Does Alpha and Omega Symbolize?]
Chpt. 2: Jesus gives a spiritual evaluation of the churches existing in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira.
Chpt. 3: Jesus offers his evaluation of the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
[Map of Revelation's Seven Churches!]
Chpt. 4: Introduction to God's throne in heaven along with twenty-four enthroned elders who sit around it. Four spiritual creatures are also shown, each covered with eyes and possessing six wings, which serve God day and night.
Chpt. 5: A scroll with seven seals appears in God's right hand which only Jesus can open. Jesus is worshipped as God not only by those in heaven but also by all life on earth.
Chpt. 6: Jesus, as the Lamb of God, opens the first six seals of the scroll he received from God the Father.
The first seal of Revelation is opened and a rider on a white horse is shown who is given a crown and the power to conquer (Revelation 6:2). The second seal reveals a red horse which symbolizes the power to take away peace from earth (verse 4). The third seal shows a black horse that stand for famine (verses 5 and 6). The fourth seal reveals a pale horse that represents the death of 25% of all humans (verse 8).
[Who Are the Four Horsemen
of the Apocalypse?]
The fifth seal offers a view of the heavenly altar before God where the spirits of those martyred cry out for revenge (Revelation 6:9 - 11). The sixth seal causes a great earthquake that violently shakes the earth! The sun is darkening, the moon looks like blood and stars commonly seen in the sky disappear (verses 12 to 16).
Chpt. 7: 144,000 Israelites are called and become converted Christians. A far larger great multitude of people are also converted and die during the Great Tribulation period.
Chpt. 8: Opening of Revelation's seventh seal causes a short period of silence in heaven. Seven angels receive seven trumpets which represent God's judgment.
The first trumpet is blown which causes one third of all trees and all the grass to burn up. The second trumpet causes one third of all sea-based life to die as well as destroying one third of all ships. The third trumpet heralds a space object called Wormwood striking the earth and causing a third of all drinkable water to become poisonous.
When the fourth trumpet is blown a third of the sun, moon and stars are darkened. The last three trumpets to be blown are labeled "woes" (Revelation 8:13).
Chpt. 9: When Revelation's fifth trumpet is blown humans who have refused to repent will be tormented, and not allowed to die, for five months! The sixth trumpet causes four powerful demonic spirits to be set free and allowed to kill a third of all humanity. The army they will deceive will number 200 million fighters who will carry out the killing of humans (Revelation 9:16 - 18).
Chpt. 10: A little book (scroll) is opened which leads to "seven thunders" speaking. The words they speak, however, are not allowed to be written by John.
Chpt. 11: John is given a measuring rod to measure God's temple except for the outer court. The Two Witnesses and their ministry are introduced.
Chpt. 12: Revelation 12 opens with highly symbolic people, animals and objects used to convey the protection of Jesus and the church by God (verses 1 to 6).
A spiritual war takes place in heaven between Michael and his angels verses the devil and his demons. The war leads to Satan and his demons being permanently banned from God's throne. The devil, after being cast down to earth, starts his fiercest persecution of Christians.
Chpt. 13: A great beast with seven heads and ten horns, with each horn having a crown, is revealed. Revelation's end time Beast (possessed by the devil) will rule the whole earth and institute a special "mark" to designate those who worship him. Those without this "mark" will be unable to "buy or sell" and will be eventually killed.
[What Is the Mark of the Beast?]
Chpt. 14: A group of 144,000 converted people, led by Jesus, sing a unique song of praise to God. An angel is then commissioned to preach the everlasting gospel to all humanity. Another angel then proclaims that Babylon has fallen. A third angel proclaims God's wrath on all those who continue to disobey him.
Chpt. 15: Those who overcome the Beast through obedience to God are revealed standing on a heavenly sea of glass. Seven angels are given seven golden vials which represent the seven last plagues to come upon the earth.
Chpt. 16: Revelation 15's seven angels pour out their vials of God's wrath upon the earth.
The first vial brings grievous sores on those who worship the Beast power. The second vial, emptied into the sea, causes all sea life to die. The third vial turns rivers and springs of water into blood.
The fourth vial is poured on the sun which causes it to burn humans. The fifth vial, dispersed over the Beast's throne, causes his kingdom to go dark.
The sixth vial, when poured into the Euphrates River, dries it up for the purpose of allowing a mighty army "from the east" to cross it. Three powerful demonic spirits are also freed and allowed to work miracles and deceive the world into battling a returning Christ at a place called Armageddon.
When the seventh vial is poured out an angel, from God's heavenly temple, shouts "It is Finished!" The vial also causes lightning, huge hail and the greatest earthquake humanity has ever experienced!
[Map of Where Euphrates River Located]
Chpt. 17: An angel reveals an image of a great whore riding a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns, as well as blasphemous names written on it. The woman riding the beast has written on her forehead, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS . . ." (Revelation 17:5). The remaining part of chapter 17 explains the meaning of the seven heads and ten horns.
Chpt. 18: An angel declares that Babylon the Great has fallen. Another angelic being pleads with humanity to repent so as to not experience the same punishments as Babylon.
Verses 6 to 19 of Revelation 18 then delineates the punishments of Babylon along with the loss the world's wealthy will experience when its world-ruling system is destroyed! The remaining part of the chapter describes how complete and eternal God's judgment upon Babylon the Great will be.
Chpt. 19: Great rejoicing is experienced in heaven when God finally judges the great whore of Babylon. Revelation then announces that the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place. Verse 11 to the end of the chapter heralds the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. After the Lord completely conquers earth's armies, he has the Beast and False Prophet destroyed in the lake of fire.
Chpt. 20: An angel grabs Satan the devil and throws him into a spiritual prison where he will be unable to deceive anyone for 1,000 years. Those who are in the first resurrection of the dead are shown receiving thrones. The chapter also reveals there will be a second resurrection of the dead which will take place 1,000 years in the future.
[What Does Satan the Devil Want?]
Satan is loosed after 1,000 years and allowed to deceive humanity one last time. After his failed attempt to destroy Jerusalem, he and his demons are thrown into the lake of fire.
After the devil perishes the Great White Throne Judgment takes place. The lake of fire, also known as the second death, is then used to destroy all those who are not in the book of life (see also Revelation 21:8). The last thing thrown into its fires is death itself.
Chpt. 21: God creates a new heaven, a new earth, and a New Jerusalem. An angel then gives the Apostle John a tour of the New Jerusalem.
[Will There Be Heaven on Earth?]
[Will We Know Our Loved Ones in Heaven?]
Chpt. 22: A crystal-clear river is revealed to John proceeding out of God's throne. On each side of the river will be the tree of life that will bear fruits for the healing of the nations. The Bible then reiterates that only those who obey God, meaning keeping the Ten Commandments (verse 14), will exist into eternity. God lastly offers one final appeal for humanity to come to him so that they may live.