Passage: Revelation 1:19; 22:12-20

The Big Idea

Many people avoid Revelation because it seems confusing. But it’s meant to reveal, not confuse. Read it with confidence, knowing you can understand its heart, and with romance, because it’s the longing promise of a Bridegroom who said, “I will come to you.” Jesus Himself gave us its outline: the things John has seen (the risen Christ), the things that are (the churches), and the things that will take place after this (the judgments, His return, the new creation). It ends with the Spirit and the bride saying, “Come!” and Jesus answering, “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Confidence and Romance

Confidence: you can, and should, understand the heart of this book.
Romance: Revelation is like the last, heartsick promise of a Lover who had to go away for a while. Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). Read John 14 alongside it.

People get nervous about the confusion Revelation can create. But only this book fully answers two questions: How is Jesus going to fix everything that’s wrong with the world? And how does the story end?

Revelation isn’t meant to be impossible:

Its wild imagery is largely explained by the Old Testament.
Study Daniel alongside it.
It’s called a revelation: it’s meant to make things clear.
Jesus gives us the outline.

The Divine Outline (Revelation 1:19)

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”

I. The things you have seen: the risen Jesus (chapter 1)

John saw Jesus among seven golden lampstands: clothed in a long robe with a golden sash, hair white as wool and snow, eyes like a flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze, a voice like rushing waters, seven stars in His right hand, a sharp two-edged sword from His mouth, and a face shining like the sun at full strength (Revelation 1:12-16).

This is no longer the humble Man dying on the cross, or the baby in the manger.
This is the mighty, glorious God of the universe, risen and reigning in heaven.

II. The things which are: the churches (chapters 2-3)

The letters to seven churches can be read four ways:

Historical: real churches in real cities.
Personal: what God is saying to me.
Congregational: what God is saying to our church.
Prophetic: many Bible teachers also see the seven letters as a preview of the church’s story through history.

From that last angle, some have traced a pattern like this:

Ephesus, the loveless church: the apostolic era.
Smyrna, the persecuted church: the era of Roman persecution.
Pergamos, the compromised church: the era after Constantine, when church and state became entangled (from AD 313).
Thyatira, the corrupt church: the medieval era, when much error and immorality crept in. “Until I come.”
Sardis, the dead church: churches that came out of corruption in the Reformation era, but often settled into formality. “Until I come.”
Philadelphia, the faithful, sending church: the great missionary movements of the 1800s and 1900s. “Until I come.”
Laodicea, the lukewarm church: the church of the last days. “Until I come.”

Whatever you think of that pattern, every church in every age can hear what the Spirit says to all seven.

III. The things that will take place after this (chapters 4-22)

The phrase “after this” (Greek meta tauta) opens chapter 4.

The open door in heaven (4:1). Many see the rapture of the church alluded to here.
The throne in heaven.
The twenty-four elders, often understood to represent the redeemed church in heaven.
The four living creatures.
The scroll with seven seals, like the title deed to the earth.

Jesus purchased the earth and humanity when He died on the cross. But He hasn’t yet moved into His purchased property. Anyone who’s bought a house knows the problem when the former occupants won’t leave! Now Jesus prepares the earth for His return and removes the rebellious “squatters” who refuse to leave His rightful possession.

The Great Tribulation (chapters 6-19): seven years of judgment on the earth, which many connect with Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:24-27), God’s final dealings with the nation of Israel before the kingdom.

The seven seals (6:1-8:5): Jesus taking back control

White horse: a conqueror, often seen as the Antichrist (compare Matthew 24).
Red horse: war.
Black horse: famine.
Pale horse: death.
The martyrs under the altar.
Cosmic upheaval.
– Interlude: the sealing of the 144,000 (7:1-8) and the great multitude washed in the blood of the Lamb (7:9-17).
The seventh seal opens into the seven trumpets.

The seven trumpets (8:6-11:19): Jesus going to war against evil

Vegetation struck.
The sea struck, as something like a great burning mountain falls into it.
Fresh water struck by a star called Wormwood.
Sun, moon and stars struck.
Locusts from the bottomless pit: demonic torment.
A vast army kills a third of humanity.
– Interlude: the little scroll and the two witnesses (often suggested to be Moses and Elijah, or Enoch and Elijah).
The seventh trumpet: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (11:15).

Some suggest modern causes for these judgments, like meteors or nuclear war. We can’t be dogmatic about the details. What’s certain is that God is judging evil and calling people to repent.

The seven characters (12:1-13:18): the cosmic story behind the gospel

The woman clothed with the sun: Israel.
The dragon: Satan.
The male child: Jesus.
Michael the archangel.
The remnant of the woman’s offspring.
The beast from the sea: the Antichrist.
The beast from the earth: the false prophet.
– Interlude: the Lamb on Mount Zion, the three angels’ messages (see “What’s in That Drink?” in the Topical notes) and the harvest of the earth.

The seven bowls (15:1-16:21): the final outpouring of wrath on the unrepentant

Painful sores.
The sea turned to blood.
Rivers and springs turned to blood.
Scorching heat from the sun.
Darkness and pain on the beast’s kingdom.
The Euphrates dried up, preparing for Armageddon.
– Interlude: three unclean spirits gather the kings of the earth (16:13-16).
The greatest earthquake ever.

The seven dooms (17:1-20:15): everything opposed to God comes to an end

Religious Babylon (the false religious system) destroyed.
Commercial Babylon (the world’s economic system) destroyed.
– Interlude: the great “Hallelujah!” of heaven, the marriage supper of the Lamb, and Jesus’ return on a white horse with the armies of heaven. The enemy forces gather against Him, and He defeats them with the sword from His mouth.
The beast and false prophet cast alive into the lake of fire.
The rebellious nations at the end destroyed.
– Interlude: Satan bound for a thousand years, the first resurrection, and the Millennium, Jesus reigning on earth for a thousand years. Then Satan is released for a final rebellion.
Gog and Magog destroyed by fire.
Satan cast into the lake of fire forever.
The great white throne judgment of the unbelieving dead.

The seven new things (21:1-22:5)

A new heaven: one the enemy has never set foot in.
A new earth: one that has never known death or sorrow.
A new city: never scarred by sin and selfishness.
The nations: people still distinct, but all united around Jesus.
The river of life: total access to the Source of life.
The tree of life: eternal, ever-growing, never-ending joy.
The light of God and the Lamb: everything seen as it truly is, forever.

Jesus’ Final Message to the Church (Revelation 22:12-17)

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.”

I’ve been keeping track. Your life matters.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

I’m what it’s all about. Nothing else compares to Me.

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”

Remember the tree Adam and Eve were barred from? Now it’s open to all who belong to Him. (Many early manuscripts read, “Blessed are those who wash their robes.”)
Abide in Him. Abide in His Word. Love.
You’re a real citizen of heaven. You don’t have to sneak in.

“But outside are dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”

No pretenders. Those who are only playing at faith won’t be there.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Jesus gave this book to be read in the churches. It was His idea!
He’s the answer to every prophecy, the fulfillment of every promise. Wait until you see Him!

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

The Spirit longs for Jesus to come. The church longs for Him to come.
And every thirsty soul can be satisfied in Him, for free!

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20).

Grace Takeaway

Are you longing for Jesus to show up in your life today? Do you need a Savior, a fountain, something real and alive, something that matters? Ask Him to come. He loves to be asked. One day He will be revealed to everyone. I’d much rather know Him as my Savior than meet Him as my Conqueror.

Pray with me: Lord Jesus, come back soon. Come into our marriages, families, jobs and church. Do Your work of grace. Give us love for God and love for people. Make Your Word alive in our daily lives. Make all things new in us. Help us recognize the spiritual battle around us and abide in You. Make us faithful to Your Word and Your heart, and bring revival to our city. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

For Discussion

What do you want the next ten years of your life to be like?
If Jesus came back in 45 days, what would you want to do with that time? What about 45 years?
Read Revelation 1:3. Why do you think it’s important to study the book of Revelation?
Read Revelation 3:14-22. This letter describes many of the issues in the church today.
– Can you identify a few problems Jesus Himself brings up?
– What does Jesus tell them to do to fix them?
– Where is Jesus in relation to this church? What do you think that means?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11, then go back a few verses. What discussion is Paul concluding with this encouragement? Has studying end-times events always brought comfort to your life?
The future is largely unknown, but knowing some things about it gives us wisdom. How can we use that wisdom today?

All Revelation notes | Ephesus: Coming Home to Your First Love →

Revelation Overview: Reading with Confidence and Romance