A BRIEF OUTLINE OF REVELATION

Written by the Apostle John (circa A.D. 95), the Book of Revelation consists of twenty-two chapters; these chapters reveal the vision revealed to him while he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea, southwest of Ephesus.  According to Revelation 1:19, John's vision was divided into three parts:  John was to write what he had seen (Ch. 1); what was happening at the time of his vision (Ch. 2 & 3); and what was to occur in the future (Ch. 4 - 22).  John obviously recognized the glorified Jesus (1:10-18), for he had been one of three Apostles who had been with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-9; Mk. 9:2-10; Lk. 9:28-36).

In Chapters 2 & 3, the vision describes seven churches that existed at the time John was in exile.  They are described by how God views them, and at the end of each description, John wrote:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).  For those churches that needed to be rebuked, received it; the two which received only praise from the Lord, Smyrna and Philadelphia, were commended for their faithfulness.

Chapters 4 & 5 describe what John was shown in heaven.  Chapter 4:1 is viewed by many to be symbolic of the Rapture of the Church prior to the Tribulation.  It is important to note that John is present on earth during the first three chapters, but the rest of the vision is revealed to him in heaven.  Chapters 6 - 10 describe the first half of the Tribulation.  During this time, Israel lives in relative peace, according to the covenant they make with the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27; Mt. 24:3-15; Rev. 6 - 10).

But we also know from Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15, that the seven-year Tribulation will be divided into to halves.  Revelation 12-13 takes place at the mid-point in the Tribulation (three and a half years; 42 months; 1260 days), the second half begins with the Antichrist's "miraculous" healing from a mortal head wound (Rev. 13:3), and he being empowered by Satan himself (Rev. 13:2-4), commits the Abomination of Desolation (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15); that is, when the Antichrist (the son of perdition - 2 Th. 2:3, the first beast - Rev. 13:1-10) declaring himself to be god.  The second beast (Rev. 13:11-18), also known as the False Prophet (Rev. 16:13; 19:20), attempts to make all of humanity worship the Antichrist.

Chapters 13-18 describe the second half of the seven-year Tribulation, which ends with Christ returning (Ch. 19), and His establishing the promise Kingdom which will last 1000 years (Rev. 20:1-6).  During that time, Satan is bound so that he can not influence mankind, but after the 1000 years, he is loosed and persuades mankind to revolt against Jesus (Rev. 20:7-10).  Following the casting of the Antichrist and the False Prophet into the eternal Lake of Fire, God judges mankind at the Great White Throne Judgment; all whose names are not found in the Book of Life, will join the Antichrist and the False Prophet in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15)!

From Chapter 21-22, we get a glimpse of what eternity will hold for those who love and serve God.  Today, we are so close to the end of the Church Age, and the beginning of the Tribulation.  If you have not accepted Christ's offer of forgiveness for you sins, and called on Him to be your Lord, NOW is the time to do so. 

TIME IS VERY, VERY, SHORT - ACCEPT JESUS TODAY WHILE YOU CAN!