The opening verses of the book state that "John"wrote it (1:1, 4, 9; cf. 22:8). >From the first century to the present day almost all orthodox scholars have concluded that this means the Apostle John.1Two noteworthy exceptions were Luther and Zwingli.2Today many scholars who accept the divine inspiration of the book believe the Apostle John wrote it.
Some of the early church fathers (Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius, Irenaeus, and Victorinus) wrote that the Apostle John experienced exile on the island of Patmos during Domitian's reign.3They wrote that the government allowed John to return to Ephesus after this emperor died. Domitian died in A.D. 96. Consequently many conservative interpreters date the writing of this book near A.D. 95 or 96.
"Perhaps more than any other book in the NT, the Apocalypse enjoyed wide distribution and early recognition."4
Where did John get the revelation that he wrote down in this book? He said that he received it from Jesus Christ through angelic mediation (1:1). Most of the details of this revelation were undoubtedly new to John. However there are remarkable parallels between this revelation and the Lord Jesus' teaching in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21). The Book of Revelation clearly builds on that foundation.5The apocalyptic sections of certain books of the Old Testament--particularly Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Psalms--contain former revelation that God gave His prophets about the end times.6The revelation that Jesus gave in the Olivet Discourse and later to John on Patmos supplements that earlier revelation.
"Jesus in His [Olivet] discourse was clearly anticipating what He was to show John in much greater detail more than six decades later here on the island of Patmos."7
The subject of the Book of Revelation is Jesus Christ (1:1). It is an unveiling ("revelation") of Him. What does this book reveal about Christ? The Book of Revelation is the unveiling of the person of Jesus Christ, the power of Jesus Christ, and the program of Jesus Christ.
First, it is a revelation of the person of Jesus Christ. It unveils who He is and what He is. This book is the climax of Scriptural Christology.
Notice first what the Book reveals about who Jesus Christ is. Three emphases in the book clarify His essential being.
1. He is the same human Jesus Christ who was born on earth at His first coming. He is the same Jesus on whose chest John reclined (1:1, 2, 5). He is a "son of man,"possessing a full human nature (1:13). Moreover He will always be that (22:20).
2. He is also fully divine, one with the Father (1:12-18; 3:14). He reveals God fully (19:13). He will share the throne of the universe with the Father eventually (22:1, 3).
3. He is the eternal God (1:8; 21:6; 22:13).
Notice also what the book of Revelation reveals about what Jesus Christ is. Seven titles give us a fuller appreciation of His place in history.
1. In the past He proved to be the Root of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the promised Messiah (3:7; 5:5; 22:16). This became clear at His baptism (Matt. 3:17).
2. In the past, also at His first advent, He proved to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (5:6, 12-13; 6:1). This became clear at His death.
3. In the past He proved to be the First-born from the dead, the victor over death and Hades (1:5-6, 2:8). This became clear at His resurrection.
4. In the present He is the Lord of the churches (2:1; 3:1; cf. 22:20).
5. In the future He will prove to be the Judge of all mankind (2:12, 18; 3:14; 6:1; et al.). This is His primary role during the Great Tribulation.
6. In the future He will prove to be King of kings and Lord of lords (1:5; 17:14; 19:16). This is His primary role during the Millennium.
7. In the future He will prove to be the Morning Star (22:16; cf. 2:28). His second coming will signal the dawning of a new day in history. This will find its clearest revelation in the new heavens and earth. The Millennium will only be a foretaste of that day.
This book is also a revelation of the power of Jesus Christ. Individuals have various kinds of power. Jesus Christ has all kinds of power and all power of all kinds.
He has all personal power.
1. He has inherent power. We see this in His control of all other beings and forces (e.g., believers, unbelievers, Satan, the beasts, human armies, etc.). He wields the power Himself.
2. He also has acquired power. His Father has given Him this power (5:1, 6-7; cf. Matt. 28:18). He exercises all the power of the Godhead.
Second, He has all instrumental power. That is He has authority over all things as He executes His power. All things are His instruments or tools.
1. He has power over all material objects and forces. He controls the physical universe. We can see this in His using individuals, storms, earthquakes, and even the heavenly bodies to accomplish His will.
2. He also has power over all spiritual entities and authorities. He controls the angels, demons, and Satan. Every power in the universe is under His control (e.g., 13:15).
Third, He has all effectual power. That is He has power to accomplish anything. He can affect any changes He desires.
1. He has all destructive power. He can destroy anything that exists: individuals, systems (e.g., Babylonianism), objects, even the heavens and earth.
2. He also has all constructive power. He can create new human bodies (by resurrection), new systems (new religious and economic orders), and new cities (the new Jerusalem). He will even create new heavens and a new earth.
The Book of Revelation also reveals the program of Jesus Christ (1:19). It gives us much detail about God's program and how it will unfold in the future. However let me point out God's purposes that this program unveils.
Christ's immediate purpose is to defeat and destroy Satan and sin.
We see Him doing this in the church age in Revelation as He deals with believers in the seven churches (chs. 2-3). His purpose is to purify to Himself a people who will be a kingdom and priests to God (1:6).
We also see Him doing this in the Tribulation in Revelation. We see it in His judgment of those who have not believed on Him (chs. 4-18). His purpose is to pour out God's wrath on His enemies for their refusal to receive His grace (16:1).
Christ's ultimate purpose is to dwell among His people and experience intimate fellowship with them.
We see Him doing this in the Millennium to an extent never before attained in history (20:6).
We see Him doing this in the new earth perfectly and eternally (22:3-5). This has always been God's ultimate purpose (e.g., Adam, Noah, the patriarchs, Israel, the church, the Millennium). He will achieve it completely in the new earth.
The Book of Revelation then is an unveiling of Jesus Christ--His person, His power, and His program--for the rest of history. This is the message statement. We must never forget that He is the subject of this book as we seek to understand what He has revealed here.
I. The preparation of the prophet ch. 1
A. The prologue of the book 1:1-8
1. The preface 1:1-3
2. The address and doxology 1:4-6
3. The theme 1:7-8
B. The commission of the prophet 1:9-20
1. The first commission to write 1:9-11
2. The source of the commission 1:12-16
3. The amplification of the commission 1:17-20
II. The letters to the seven churches chs. 2-3
A. The letter to the church in Ephesus 2:1-7
1. Destination and description of Christ 2:1
2. Commendation 2:2-3
3. Rebuke 2:4
4. Exhortation 2:5-6
5. Promise 2:7
B. The letter to the church in Smyrna 2:8-11
1. Destination and description of Christ 2:8
2. Commendation 2:9
3. Exhortation 2:10a
4. Promise 2:10b-11
C. The letter to the church in Pergamum 2:12-17
1. Destination and description of Christ 2:12
2. Commendation 2:13
3. Rebuke 2:14-15
4. Exhortation 2:16
5. Promise 2:17
D. The letter to the church in Thyatira 2:18-29
1. Destination and description of Christ 2:18
2. Commendation 2:19
3. Rebuke 2:20-23
4. Exhortation 2:24-25
5. Promise 2:26-29
E. The letter to the church in Sardis 3:1-6
1. Destination and description of Christ 3:1a-b
2. Commendation and rebuke 3:1c, 2b
4. Promise 3:4-6
F. The letter to the church in Philadelphia 3:7-13
1. Destination and description of Christ 3:7
2. Commendation 3:8
G. The letter to the church in Laodicea 3:14-22
1. Destination and description of Christ 3:14
2. Rebuke 3:15-17
3. Exhortation 3:18-19
4. Promise 3:20-22
III. The revelation of the future 4:1-22:5
A. Introduction to the judgments of the Tribulation chs. 4-5
1. The throne in heaven ch. 4
2. The Lamb on the throne ch. 5
B. The first six seal judgments ch. 6
1. The first seal 6:1-2
2. The second seal 6:3-4
3. The third seal 6:5-6
4. The fourth seal 6:7-8
5. The fifth seal 6:9-11
6. The sixth seal 6:12-17
C. Supplementary revelation of salvation in the Great Tribulation ch. 7
1. The sealing of 144,000 Israelites 7:1-8
2. The salvation of the great multitude 7:9-17
D. The first six trumpet judgments chs. 8-9
1. The first four trumpet judgments ch. 8
2. The fifth and sixth trumpet judgments ch. 9
E. Supplementary revelation of John's preparation for recording the remaining judgments in the Great Tribulation ch. 10
1. The appearance of the mighty angel 10:1-4
2. The announcement of the mighty angel 10:5-7
3. The instruction of the mighty angel 10:8-11
F. Supplementary revelation of the two witnesses in the Great Tribulation 11:1-14
1. The temple in Jerusalem 11:1-2
2. The ministry of the two witnesses 11:3-6
3. The death of the two witnesses 11:7-10
4. The resurrection of the two witnesses 11:11-13
5. The end of the second woe 11:14
G. The seventh trumpet judgment 11:15-19
H. Supplementary revelation of Satan's activity in the Great Tribulation chs. 12-13
1. The activity of Satan himself ch. 12
2. The activity of Satan's agents ch. 13
I. Supplementary revelation of preparations for the final judgments in the Great Tribulation chs. 14-15
1. Judgment at the end of the Great Tribulation ch. 14
2. Preparation for the bowl judgments ch. 15
J. The seven bowl judgments ch. 16
1. The commencement of the bowl judgments 16:1
2. The first bowl 16:2
3. The second bowl 16:3
4. The third bowl 16:4
5. Ascriptions of angelic and martyr praise 16:5-7
6. The fourth bowl 16:8-9
7. The fifth bowl 16:10-11
8. The sixth bowl 16:12-16
9. The seventh bowl 16:17-21
K. Supplementary revelation of the judgment of ungodly systems in the Great Tribulation chs. 17-18
1. Religion in the Great Tribulation ch. 17
2. Commerce in the Great Tribulation ch. 18
L. The Second Coming of Christ ch. 19
1. The praise of God in heaven 19:1-10
2. The return of Christ to earth 19:11-16
3. The destruction of the wicked on earth 19:17-21
M. The millennial reign of Christ ch. 20
1. The binding of Satan 20:1-3
2. The resurrection of tribulation martyrs 20:4-6
3. The final judgment of Satan 20:7-10
4. The judgment of the wicked 20:11-15
N. The eternal state 21:1-22:5
1. The vision of the new heaven and earth 21:1
2. John's first vision of the New Jerusalem 21:2-8
3. John's second vision of the New Jerusalem 21:9-22:5
IV. The epilogue to the book 22:6-21
A. The testimony of the angel 22:6-7
B. The testimony of John 22:8-11
C. The testimony of Jesus and John's response 22:12-20
D. The final benediction 22:21
