I find it helpful to review a few important reminders about Revelation before diving into it. No book of the Bible has been more misread than this one, but it deserves our very best attention. Revelation tells a world-changing story of the true King – a Savior who sustains us during this era of struggle. It paints a picture of the destruction of evil, but also gives us a taste of the perfection of eternity.

Style & Themes
John employs a style of literature not intended to be read literally. To read Revelation literally clouds its profound truths and dishonors the text (just like saying Psalm 23 demands we believe God’s actual job is to raise sheep). John describes heavenly visions which convey two magnificent themes: 1-Jesus defeats evil. 2-The faithful should persevere, even when things are unimaginably difficult.

Before, during, and after studying this book, the reader should feel overwhelmed by these two themes: Jesus wins and we can hang on until he returns. To be overwhelmed by struggles portrayed in the book or to become preoccupied by trying to figure out if John’s vision included some political figure who just so happens to be in the news during your lifetime is to completely miss the sweeping agenda of Revelation.

Key Figures
Jesus, The Son – a powerful lion, yet shockingly, also a sacrificial lamb

The Dragon is Satan, leading the rebellion against God, aiming to bring destruction to humanity

The Beasts are symbolic representations of powers, people, and empires that do the work of the Dragon.

The woman who gives birth could be Mary, or Israel, or the people of God, or a symbolic combination of all of the above. She is used by God to deliver Jesus into the world. This is BAD NEWS for the Dragon.

Last Days
Note that 3.5 years = 1260 days = 42 months
John’s readers knew exactly what this period of time meant – suffering! It’s how long Elijah hid after causing a drought, it was the length of the Maccabean War, it was the span of Jesus’ ministry, and it was the period of time in which Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.

Daniel propheceied about a season of suffering for God’s people that would last time, times & a half-time (1 + 2 + .5 = 3.5 years).

When you read about this span of time, think of how you feel when you hear September 11th.

The last days began with Jesus first coming and they will end when he comes again. We are in the thick of them.

Repetition
Revelation does not tell one long story, beginning in chapter 1 and ending in chapter 22.
It tells the same story,
multiple times,
from different perspectives,
and with different points of emphasis.

The dead giveaway that the particular story is finished is the phrase: “And there came flashes of lightning, thunder, earthquakes….” This language is always used to convey the final judgment. This is key. To miss this is to believe Revelation teaches that Jesus will return and judge us at least three different times.

So after the book opens with letters to churches (dripping with application for us today) and a picture of Jesus, here’s a simple outline, along with some verses to help you stay on track.

Rev. 8:6-11:19 – 7 Trumpets
11:18 – “It is time to judge the dead.”
11:19 – “And there came flashes of lightning, thunder, earthquake…” (judgment; story completed)

Rev. 12-14 – An interlude in which it is made clear who our struggle is really against. Evil is at work in a cosmic, Christmas story.

Rev. 15-16 – 7 Bowls
15:1 – “Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event…” (In other words, here’s another vision.)
16:15 – Behold, I come like a thief
16:17 – Angel poured out last bowl saying, “It is done”
16:18 – “Then there came flashes of lightning…” (judgment; another story completed)

Rev. 17-22 – Destruction of those warring against God (those opposed to God are destroyed in reverse order of when they were introduced), a fuller judgment scene and a glimpse of the life to come.

If you want to dig deeper into Revelation, I highly recommend the series of 20-minute teaching videos by Dr. Shane Wood. It’s the finest work you will find.

Bible study cheat sheet Revelation understanding