Introduction – Scripture states that there is a blessing for each individual who reads this book, as well as for those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it. The purpose of the Book of Revelation is to reveal events which will take place immediately before, during, and following the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The New Testament opens with the Four Gospels which describe the First Coming of Jesus Christ. While most of the world did not notice His First Coming, His Second coming will be seen by the entire world. Chapters 1 - 3 deal with the description of Christ in His glorified body and then His Church, Chapters 4 & 5 move up to the God’s Throne in Heaven. Chapters 6-18 describe the last seven years preceding the Second Coming of Christ and particularly emphasize the Great Tribulation, occurring in the last three and one-half years before His coming. The Second Coming itself is given the most graphic portrayal anywhere in the Bible in Chapter 19, followed by the millennial reign of Christ described in Chapter 20. The eternal state is revealed in Chapters 21-22. So the obvious purpose of the book is to complete the prophetic theme presented earlier in the prophecies of the Old Testament. Specific knowledge and anticipation of God’s future program is an incentive to holy living and a commitment to Jesus Christ.

I. THE PROLOGUE (Chapter 1) – still in the Church age era, the age of the Gentiles. There is no need for a temple. The believers in Jesus Christ have God’s Holy Spirit living in them and can approach God directly through the blood of Jesus Christ anywhere, anytime. Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)

The book’s own introduction to itself (Revelation 1:1-7)

First Vision – a vision of our glorified Jesus Christ (Rev 1:8-20)

SEVEN CHURCHES (Chapters 2 & 3)

1.Ephesus 2:1-7            2.Smyrna 2:8-11             3.Pergamum 2:12-17      4.Thyatira 2:18-29

5.Sardis 3:1-6               6.Philadelphia 3:7-13       7.Laodicea 3:14-22

SEVEN SCENES IN HEAVEN (Chapters 4&5)

1.The elders around the throne 4:1-5                  2.The Four living creatures 4:6-11)

3.The sealed scroll 5:1-4                                      4.The worthy Lamb 5:5-7

5.Song of the creatures & elders 5:8-10             6.Song of the angels 5:11-12

7.Song of the universe 5:13-14

II. TIMES OF TRIBULATION (Chapters 6-11) - the church is not mentioned after chapter 3. The church age is past. Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 9:20-27), concerning the last 7 years of God dealing with Israel, restarts and the temple is rebuilt. The 7 year time span of God’s Judgment and Wrath on the earth begins.

SEVEN SEALS OPENED

1.White horse of earthly conquest and dominion 6:1-2

2.Red horse of slaughter and bloodshed 6:3-4

3.Black horse of commerce and economic crisis 6:5-6

4.Pale horse of death 6:7-8                    5.The little while 6:9-11

6.The day of God’s wrath 6:12-17         144,000 sealed &the multitudes of saved 7:1-17

7.Seventh Seal Broken 8:1-5                 silence in heaven for half an hour

SEVEN TRUMPETS SOUNDED

1.Scourge of 1/3 of the earth 8:6-7              2.Scourge of 1/3 of the sea 8:8-9

3.Scourge of 1/3 of the rivers 8:10-11         4.Scourge of 1/3 of the heavens 8:12

Eagle announces three woes 8:13           coming out of the bottomless pit 9:1-2

5.1st woe, Plague of locust 9:3-12                6.2nd woe, The killing horses 9:12-21

The little book 10:1-11                                 The two witnesses prophesy 11:1-6

the two witnesses killed 11:7-13

7.3rd woe, God’s wrath and the Eternal Kingdom 11:14-19

III. THE JUDGMENT OF THE BEASTS (CHAPTERS 12-20)

SEVEN SIGNS (Chapters 12-14)

1.A splendid woman gives birth to a man child 12:1-4

2.The dragon appears from the sky 12:4            The man child’s ascension 12:5-6

The dragon’s defeat in heaven 12:7-9              Overcoming Satan, Heaven’s victory song 12:10-12

The woman’s escape 12:13-17

3.The Beast

Appears from the sea                                         Has dragon’s authority

4.The False prophet

Appears from the earth 13:11                            Has beast’s authority 13:12

His great deception 13:13-14                            The image he made live 13:15

The mark of the beast 13:16-17, 14:9-11         The number of the beast 13:18

5.The Lamb on Mount Zion 14:1-5                        6.Three angelic messengers 14:6-13

7.The two reapers 14:14-20

SEVEN PLAGUES – The bowl judgments – God pouring out his wrath on the world (Chapters 15 & 16)

The heavenly singers 15:1-8                                   The bowls of God’s wrath 16:1-21

1.Putrid sores with mark of the beast                     2.Sea turned to Blood

3.All fresh water turned to blood        4.Scorching Heat           5.Absolute Darkness

6.3 Demon Gatherers go forth           7. Worldwide Earthquake & Immense Hailstones

SEVEN FINAL VISIONS (Chapters 17-20)

1.The atrocious woman, Mother of Harlots 17:1-6         An angel explains 17:11-18

2.Seven songs of woe to “Babylon”                         The angel from heaven 18:1-3

Second voice from heaven 18:4-9                        Kings of earth 18:9-10

The merchants 18:11-16                                        The sailors 18:17-20

A mighty angel 18:21-24                                        Multitude in heaven 19:1-6

3.The wedding supper announced 19:7-10         4.King on a white horse 19:11-21

5.The Abyss and thousand years 20:1-10           6.The dead are judged 20:11-15

IV. THE BEAUTY OF HEAVEN (CHAPTERS 21-22)

7.Heaven for the saved                          New heavens and new earth 21:1-8

The heavenly city 21:9-27                      The heavenly Eden 22:1-5

EPILOGUE                 The last words of Jesus, invitation and warning 22:6-21

SPECIAL WARNING

Rev. 13:15 He (the beast) was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.

16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,

17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Rev. 14:9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand,

10 he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

11 And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name."

INVITATION

Revelation 22:17 The spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.