The Revelation of John

Audience This book was written to seven churches on the mainland of western Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (1:11; 2:13:22). Occasion The author tells us he has been banished for the testimony of Jesus Christ to the island of Patmos (1:9), just off the western coast of Asia Minor. The message was intended to encourage believers in the midst of persecution (1:9), by revealing that, despite the tribulations they faced, Jesus Christ was in control and would be the ultimate victor over the forces of evil in the world (17:14). Authorship Although the author identifies himself as John (1:1, 4, 9; 21:2; 22:8), there is no indication as to which John is meant. Tradition, dating back to the early 2nd century, has asserted that the author was the apostle who was also known as the Beloved, author of the Gospel and three epistles of John. Since the 3rd century, differences in language and style between Revelation and the Gospel of John have caused some to doubt this. The Book of Mormon identifies the author of Revelation as John the apostle (1 Nephi 14:1827; cf. Ether 4:16). Date The traditional (and still widely-accepted) date for the book is c. A.D. 9596, during the Christian persecutions under Caesar Domitian. Theme The message was intended to encourage believers in the midst of persecution (1:9), by revealing that, despite the tribulations they faced, Jesus Christ was in control and would be the ultimate victor over the forces of evil in the world (17:14). Structure (There are many ways to outline the book of Revelation; this is one possible approach.) Introduction (1:120). Prologue (1:13). Salutation (1:48). The vision of Christ and Johns commission (1:920). Messages to the seven churches in Asia (2:1 3:22). To Ephesus (2:17) To Smyrna (2:811) To Pergamum (2:1217) To Thyatira (2:1829) To Sardis (3:16) To Philadelphia (3:713) To Laodicea (3:1422). The vision of heaven (4:125:14). The throne of God (4:111). The book of the Lion of the tribe of Judah (5:114). The opening of the seven seals (6:18:1). The first seal: a white horse (6:12). The second seal: a red horse (6:34). The third seal: a black horse (6:56). The fourth seal: a pale green horse (6:78). The fifth seal: Christian martyrs (6:911). The sixth seal: signs in the earth and in the sky (6:1217). Digression: the sealing of the 144,000 (7:17:17). The seventh seal (8:1). The seven trumpet judgments (8:211:19). The first trumpet (8:27). The second trumpet (8:89). The third trumpet (8:1011). The fourth trumpet (8:1213). The fifth trumpet (9:112). The sixth trumpet (9:1321). Digression: The little book (10:114) and the two witnesses (11:114). The seventh trumpet (11:1519).

The war in heaven and on earth (12:114:20). The woman and the man child (12:16). The war in heaven (12:712). The woman flees into the wilderness (12:1318). The two beasts: one out the sea (13:110) and one out of the land (13:1118). The Lamb and the 144,000 (14:15). Three angels pronounce judgment against the whole earth (14:67), against Babylon (14:8), and against the worshippers of the beast (14:912). Martyrs blessed (14:13). The harvest of Gods judgment (14:1420). The seven bowl judgments (15:116:21). Preparation for judgment (15:116:1). The first bowl (16:2). The second bowl (16:3). The third bowl (16:47). The fourth bowl (16:89). The fifth bowl (16:1011). The sixth bowl (16:1216). The seventh bowl (16:1721). The fall of Babylon (17:119:10). The great whore (17:18). The interpretation of the whore and the beast from the sea (17:918). The fall of Babylon announced and lamented (18:124). Praise to God for destroying Babylon and calling the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:110).

Christ victorious (19:1120:15). Christ comes in power (19:1121). Satan bound (20:13). Christ and the martyrs reign for 1,000 years (20:46). The release of Satan and the final battle (20:710). The final judgment (20:1115). A new heaven and a new earth (21:122:5). The announcement of the New Jerusalem (21:18). The New Jerusalem described and measured (21:927). The river and the tree of life (22:15). Epilogue (22:621). The testimony of the angel (22:611). The testimony of Jesus (22:1217). The testimony of John (22:1821).
Adapted from Daniel B. Wallace, Revelation: Introduction, Argument and Outline (http://bible.org/seriespage/revelationintroduction-argument-and-outline) and footnotes in The New Oxford Annotated Bible (3rd ed., 2007), NT 42249.