A Quick Guide to the Book of Revelation

PREFACE

This book is the result of several sessions of teaching Revelation and many years of research and study. No claim is made to originality as dozens of commentaries have been written on the Book of Revelation. This work is a culmination of sermons, notes, and the work of many men, which I have condensed and added my comments to.

The purpose is to assist new believers and those who would like help studying the book desiring to grasp the fundamentals. This is not an exhaustive study nor is it a commentary as such. It is a guide to assist in better understanding of the book of Revelation. It gives an overall view of the makeup and message of the book, along with an explanation of some of the keys to its understanding. I hope that it will inspire the reader to continue studying this fascinating book.

While Scripture has been provided, this guide is meant to be used as a lay-along-side study, with your Bible and other resources. All Scripture unless otherwise denoted is the New King James Version.

Gary M. Roberts

The Book

Revelation is written around the theme, That which cannot be redeemed from sin must be destroyed. Beginning with the presentation of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Revelation gives a history of the Church down through the centuries, pointing out the prevalence of sin in each period of history and urging repentance and a return to Christ and righteousness. With each message pointing out the sin, there is also a warning of impending judgment.

The Church is then seen in heaven, having been raptured out by Christ. He then proceeds to save out that which can be saved and redeem that which can be redeemed. It is followed by a preview of judgment, followed by actual judgments poured out on the earth. These judgments then force the hand of the Antichrist and he takes to himself his own. The righteous must then suffer for a season, and the sinful are persecuted, tortured, and slain. We then see the Antichrist’s church fall, his commerce destroyed, and his army defeated at Armageddon.

The book closes with Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet being cast into eternal fire, while redemption for believers is fulfilled. A New Heaven and a New Earth are made for those who are the redeemed.

Written With Understanding

The Book of Revelation can be understood. It is the Revelation to Man by Christ Jesus. To say it is without understanding is a contradiction to its very title. Study it carefully and prayerfully. Let the message sink deep in your heart. With Revelation comes hope and joy for the people of God.

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." - Revelation 1:3

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

The Author: John, the Beloved – One of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ.

Date: A.D. 95 - 100

Theme: Redemption of Destruction

Chapter 1 Christ – Qualifications of the Redeemer

1. Name of the Book – The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The term Revelation comes from the Greek word, Apocalupsis and is often called the Apocalypse. This term comes from two words - Apo, which means Away from, and Kalumma which is the word for A veil. The literal meaning is, taking away the veil – a revealing.

2. Christ is shown as God, Savior, Prophet, Priest, King, and Judge.

Chapters 2 – 3 The Church - Seven typical churches reveal the whole of Church history.

Chapters 4 – 11 Administration.

Chapters 12 – 16 Consummation.

Chapters 17 – 19 Destruction.

1. Satan’s Church (Chapter 17)

2. World Systems (Chapter 18)

3. Armies under Antichrist (Chapter 19)

4. Beast and False Prophet (Chapter 19)

Chapters 10 – 20 Christ Returned.

1. Marriage of the Lamb (Chapter 19)

2. Kingdom Set Up (Chapter 20)

3. Heirs of the Kingdom (Chapter 20)

4. Kingdom Cleansed ( Chapter 20)

5. Judgment of the Dead (Chapter 20:11-15)

Chapters 21 – 22 The Bride

1. New Heaven (Chapter 21)

2. New Earth (Chapter 21)

3. The Holy City (Chapters 21 – 22)

4. The Eternity (Chapters 22)

RULES FOR INTERPRETING REVELATION

Numerical terms are used extensively throughout the book of Revelation and must be understood before the message can be interpreted.

NUMBER MEANING

1 The number representing God.

3 The Trinity.

4. The world number

6 Number of Satan. Three sixes represent the Satanic trinity.

7 Number of completeness. The seven spirits – The Holy Spirit.

12 & 24 Number of the Redeemed.

10 Approximate number. Subject to change.

Two Kinds of Language Used

I. Literal –

1. Earthly – To be taken literally with the understanding that writers had to use words known to them to express things unknown to them.

2. Heavenly – Things in Heaven are real but are of a spiritual nature. Earthly words used to describe heavenly things.

II. Figurative or Symbolic –

1. Types are Interpreted by similar features:

a. Adam – Christ.

b. Eve – Bride of Christ.

2. Symbols - A given meaning with no reference to similar features.

a. Leaven – evil.

b. Good seed – Children of God.

c. Candlestick – Church.

d. Stars – Pastors of the churches.

Another Key To Remember

1. In symbolic language, the act is generally literal.

a. Revelation 6 – the Horsemen literally ride.

b. In Revelation 8 and 9 – the Trumpets are actually blown.

2. Descriptions of Christ in Chapter 1 are used to identify Him in the succeeding chapters.

a. 1:16 same as 2:1

b. 1:10 same as 4:1

c. 1:16 same as 19:15

3. Events numbered occur in succession and in order.

a. The seven Seals.

b. The seven Trumpets.

c. The three Woes.

d. The seven Vials.

e. The six Dooms.

4. Symbols Explained.

a. The Four and Twenty Elders represent the raptured Church.

b. The Seven Spirits Burning and the Seven Lamps represent the Holy Spirit.

c. The Four Beasts are the four living creatures.

d. Horns represent Kings.

e. Heads represent governments.

Chapter 1

THE REDEEMER

1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

It is the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. Not the revelation

of John. Nor is it Revelations, (plural). A revelation was given to Christ by God to reveal to His servants so that they may know what will come to pass.

2. who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

John not only heard what was to take place, he literally saw it in

the Spirit.

3. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The book begins with a blessing and ends with a curse,

(Revelation 22:18,19). While many say this book is too hard to

understand and some even say it can not be read by the average

man, God’s word says there is a blessing for those who read it. God

would hardly place a blessing on something that was too difficult to

receive.

"…for the time is at hand." Since the ascension of Christ, we have been living in the last days.

The Salutation

4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

Addressed to the seven churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These are not the only churches in Asia Minor. There were at least three others: Troas, Hierapolis, and Colosse. They are representative of the church through all the centuries, representing seven periods of clearly defined church history.

In these two verses, we find the Trinity. "Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come [God the