Chapter 1
Chapter One starts off by introducing/identifying John as the writer (verse 4). Just prior to that John states that what he is about to write was revealed to him by an angel and that he has a solid reputation for being a dedicated leader of the Church and a man known for his honesty.
His reason for saying these things is to ‘prove’ the validity of what he is about to say. John also tells readers that those who hear it and take it to heart will be blessed because the end is coming.
The angel then addresses John as if he was writing a letter. He addresses John and prepares John to get ready to hear directly from God as God addresses seven churches in the province of Asia (minor). The seven churches addressed in the letter were seven actual churches in existence during that time.
While they weren’t the only churches that had been established, the seven that were addressed were all dealing with different spiritual problems or areas of concern. These problems still exist in our churches, making each ‘speech’ relevant and useful to this day.
After the angel gets John’s attention and informs him of what is about to take place, God himself speaks to John, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (1:8)
God then instructs John to write down what God tells him and to send it to the seven churches he lists. These instructions are literal and not difficult to understand. God told John to write and John wrote. John wrote, but not before he turned to see who was speaking to him.
Verses 12 through 17 of chapter 1 are John’s description of who he saw (1:17-18). It is important to note that he used the word ‘like’ several times in that description. For example, when John said he had eyes like blazing fire, he didn’t mean God’s eyes were actually a blazing fire.
He means they were intense and piercing. And when John said God’s voice was like the sound of rushing water, he didn’t mean it was inaudible and ‘whooshing’. He meant it was powerful and forceful.
John was obviously humbled and even a bit afraid of being in the presence of God, but God told him he had no reason to be afraid. He then told John it was time to get to work…
Chapter 2
Ephesus
Praises the church of Ephesus for standing up to false teachings and not allowing them to permeate the church or distract from the truth of the Gospel. The church in Ephesus has, however, become a bit stagnant and ‘dry’.
It appears they are falling into the habit of just going through the motions of Christianity rather than making it their passion and heart’s desire. God warns them against letting this go any further and encourages them to get back on track.
Smyrna
God comforts the people of Smyrna by telling them that he is aware of their lack of material possessions and of the persecution and suffering they are going through.. and that he hasn’t forgotten them. He tells them that things are going to get worse before they get better, but that when ‘better’ comes, it will be more than they could have imagined or hoped for.
Pergamum
God praises the church for being so steadfast—even though it has cost several of them their lives. He is grateful for their faith and their perseverance. But, God says, some of the Christians in Pergamum have allowed this mindset of compromise to taint their relationship with him.
They have turned a blind eye to sexual immorality and some forms of idol worship. Some are even participating in these sinful practices. God warns them to get back on track and devote themselves wholly to him before it is too late.
Thyatira
God once again begins his message to the church by complimenting them on their faithful perseverance. Or rather he compliments those who actually are remaining faithful and assures them they have nothing to fear as long as they remain faithful.
He then goes on to reprimand them for allowing a prostitute named Jezebel who is calling herself a prophetess in order to perform sexual acts with the men of the church. God says he has given her time to repent, but that his patience is gone.
She, along with her family and anyone who has had sex with her, will suffer severely. God does, state, however, that if those who are guilty of sexual sins with Jezebel repent, and if their repentance is genuine, he will spare them from suffering.
Chapter 3
Sardis
The church in Sardis is dying a spiritual death. They have the attitude that they’ve done their part and are now just going through the motions. This is not the way it is supposed to be. Christianity isn’t something we do. It is who we are from the day we confess Jesus as Savior and are baptized into him until the day we die. God warns the people of Sardis not to forget this.
Philadelphia
The church is commended for its faith and commitment to keeping God’s commands. Because of this, God tells the church in Philadelphia that he will spare them from great suffering and testing. He tells them that if they will continue to hold fast to the truth as they have and were currently doing, they would be abundantly blessed.
Laodicea
The church of Laodicea is not one God is pleased with. They are bland. Idle. Lukewarm. So because of their lukewarm¬ness, God says he is going to spit them out of his mouth; meaning he will not bless them or be in their presence. The people there have prospered and are putting their faith in material wealth and possessions.
They depend on their own wisdom and abilities rather than God’s. God goes on to say, though, that he still loves them and that if they repent and genuinely turn back to him, he will welcome them back with open arms.
NOTE: Do you see the relevancy of God’s messages to the seven churches? Are these still not the very things we need to guard against today? Are we still not called to be completely and wholly obedient to all of God’s commands?
Chapter 4
John is given just a small glimpse of heaven. His description is once again filled with comparisons (like this or that). John’s description also contains, however, direct or literal descriptions of things—things like a radiant rainbow encircling God’s throne and heavenly beings who continually sang praises to God (4:3-8).
While these things seem strange or even alien-like to us, what does it matter? Our faith leads us to believe that heaven is beyond our imagination, so why would we read this and think otherwise?
Chapter 5
In this chapter, John tells us how overcome he was with emotion when he experienced another small piece of heaven. What John sees and reveals to us is a foretelling of what is to come on the day of judgment. Jesus, the sacrificial lamb who died for our sins; is the only one worthy of opening the scroll described earlier in the chapter.
As for what is on the scroll, we don’t know. Most theologians compare it to a deed of trust for property—the ‘deed’ that declares God the creator and master of the universe. This makes sense due to the fact of what John sees next— countless angels and creatures singing praises to God.
What follows in verse 13 of this chapter is what definitively tells us that what. But it will happen.
Chapter 6
The imagery of the six seals opened by Jesus (the Lamb) and described by John is one of the visions God gave him for the purpose of writing this letter. The fact that John had these visions should not confuse or mystify anyone. God gave Daniel visions from which he prophesied.
God gave Joseph the ability to interpret the dreams/visions Pharaoh had. Peter had a vision in which God used creative imagery as a means to tell Peter he needed to share the message of the Gospel with the Gentile nations. So why not use visions to remind us of God’s unmatchable holiness and power and to give us a hint of what heaven will be like?
The seals clearly represent different world events, so to speak. The first most likely represents the fact that God is the supreme and all-powerful master of the universe. Images of war, peace, death, grief, famine, and even an image of those who remain faithful are seen. And finally, the sixth seal is clearly a vision of the second coming of Christ and the destruction of the earth.
Chapter 7
John’s vision of the seals continues without the opening of the seventh seal. Instead, an angel stops the destruction taking place to allow for a preview of the day of judgment for all mankind, dead or alive.
John describes how 144,000 people were to be sealed— 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. This number has been the root of a considerable amount of debate and disagreement over the centuries. Is it a literal number? If so; have those people already been chosen? If so, then what’s the use? If not, then…?
As you can see when looking at it from that perspective, AND to look at the Bible in its entirety (including the verses immediately following this section) the number 144,000 is most likely not a literal number, but rather a number that signifies perfection or completion, i.e. 12,000 from 12 tribes. This means that God’s chosen people will have finally come full circle and return to him.
It is impossible to logically believe that the number is literal—that only 144,000 will spend eternity in heaven because in verse nine, John’s vision reveals that countless people from every tribe of every nation are also standing before the throne of God singing his praises and worshipping him.
This is not something a multitude of people condemned to hell for all eternity would be doing. Add to that the numerous verses in the Bible that speak of God’s patience in waiting for more to be saved and the command given to us by Jesus that says we are to spread the Gospel to all the earth so that as many as possible can be saved.
The vision described in chapter seven ends with an elder or angel in heaven asking John if he knows who the white-robed people are. He then answers his own question by telling John they are the saved—the ones who have remained faithful to a) their dying day or b) Christ’s return. They are the ones who will spend eternity in heaven, where…
“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (7:16-17)
Chapter 8
This chapter talks about the opening of the seventh seal followed by a period of silence, which was then followed by four trumpet blasts. Each trumpet blast was followed by devastating events on Earth. An earthquake, thunder, hail, water turning to blood, horrendous forest fires, violent waters, violent deaths…
But these things were nothing, John was told, compared to the misery that would come after the blasts from the final three trumpets.
NOTE: The fact that there were seven trumpets is just another indication of the importance of the number seven. Seven is God’s number of completion. For example: God created the world in seven days. He rested on the seventh day.
Chapter 9
The fifth and sixth trumpet blasts were followed by images of devastation that Satan and his minions would be allowed to inflict on the earth before its final destruction and the day of judgment.
This chapter is filled with ‘like’ phrases, i.e. “…they wore something like….” “…hair like…” “… the sound of their wings was like….”
These phrases indicate imagery—not actual acts taking place. God knows that these word pictures are the most effective means he has in depicting just how dreadful things will be. The evil, destruction, death, and devastation described in chapter nine are figurative in regards to how it happened (fiery horses with lion’s heads and scorpions with tails that tormented people).
It is, however, literal from the perspective of how emotionally, physically, and spiritually painful it will be.
The most tragic words spoken in chapter nine are found in verses eleven and twelve. They tell us that in spite of all the pain and suffering, there will still be people who refuse to stop worshipping demons and idols.
They will continue murdering, stealing, committing sexually immoral acts, and all kinds of other evil. They will refuse to repent. They will choose eternal suffering over eternal joy.
Chapter 10
In this chapter, John tells us that there were things he heard that he was instructed to omit from his writing. John gave no indication of what these things were, which is just one more piece of evidence as to the genuineness of his faith and his obedience.
Chapter 11
John’s vision in chapter eleven reminds us that God’s family consists of both Jews and Gentiles who recognize Jesus as the Savior of the world. This chapter is filled with references to Old Testament prophets, references to Sodom and Egypt which allude to the fact that the world is evil and overrun with idol worshippers, and references to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
All of these things are referred to as the ‘second woe’, with the third and final woe to come… the blast of the seventh trumpet followed by the second coming of Christ.
Included in the coming of Christ is unabashed praise for God, the Almighty.
Chapter 12
The signs that appeared in heaven were not actual events that were taking place, but rather signs or scenes being- played out before John’s eyes. You might even call them dramatic reenactments.
The first six verses seem to be a dramatization of Jesus’ birth and the events that followed, i.e. Herod searching for the Baby Jesus to kill him and God sending Mary, Joseph, and their newborn son, Jesus, to Egypt (the desert) to live until the danger had passed.
NOTE: It is estimated that the family stayed in Egypt for about three years, which is close to the 1,260 days mentioned in verse 6.
Jesus’ birth definitely brought out the absolute worst in Satan. Prior to Jesus’ birth, he had little trouble getting people to fall into temptation. It was somewhat easy to lure them away from the Old Law and to plant seeds of doubt in their minds that the prophets of so long ago were telling the truth about a coming Messiah.
But the arrival of Jesus on earth in human form once again caused Satan to go into ‘overdrive’. He was again called on his arm of demons to go to all-out war against God.
The description John gives us of a dragon trying to devour a child and the rage he displays is gruesome. But this is undoubtedly God’s perspective of what took place. The all-knowing, all-seeing God of the universe sees beyond outward appearances.
He sees straight into the hearts and minds of everyone—including Satan; making what John saw a dramatization of what these events looked like from the inside out.
As for the numbers (12 stars, 7 heads, 10 horns), there are all sorts of speculations as to what they mean or represent. Quite honestly it doesn’t really matter. This is one of those things we can’t really understand. But since our acceptance of salvation doesn’t hinge on our knowing, I am of the opinion that it isn’t worth wondering about or stressing over.
Beginning in verse 7, John begins telling us how Satan came to be. It is important to note that this is not a sign or a vision. He is telling us of an actual event. It is as if he has asked God or the angel talking to him the questions, “Why does Satan exist?” and “Where did Satan come from?”
In short, Satan was an angel created by God before the creation of the earth. Satan, along with some other angels who wanted to be equal to or greater than God (Isaiah 14), waged war against Michael the archangel (highest ranking angel) and those angels who remained faithful to God.
Satan lost. He and his angels were banished to earth where he was given power to lead people away from God.
For most people, this is by far the most perplexing aspect of God’s character. Why didn’t he just do away with Satan?
Why did he allow Satan to remain? Why did God give him the power to “…lead the whole world astray….”?
While this is something obviously only God can answer for sure, the general consensus is that:
Allowing Satan to remain is God’s way of executing free among mankind. While it is his heart’s desire that we submit to him in faithful obedience, he wants it to be our choice rather than an absolute or involuntary act.
God’s love for his angels, even Satan, is such that he wanted to give Satan the opportunity to repent. But because he didn’t, his punishment is hell, because we know that God cannot and will not tolerate disobedience and blasphemy.
Spending eternity in hell is the worst possible punishment God could inflict on Satan. The time Satan is allowed to have power over the world is nothing compared to what eternity will be.
Following John’s explanation of how Satan came to be, his attention is then turned back to the visions of Satan’s pillaging of the earth. Seeing Satan at work from God’s perspective is both sad and frightening and should make us more keenly aware of our need to resist Satan and cling to God.
Chapter 13
There are two beasts described in chapter 13. The first is Satan, who blasphemes God, who wages war against anyone who follows Jesus, and who has been given authority (power) over the inhabitants of the earth. Those whose name is not found in the Lamb’s book of Life (saved through the acceptance of Jesus’ gift of salvation) worship this beast.
NOTE: It is important to note that Satan was given the authority he has; meaning it came from someone higher than him. That someone, of course, is God.
The other beast is the beast of the earth—false teachers. This beast (the false teachers) acts on behalf of the first beast (Satan). The beast that is false teachers is a deceiver. It appears to be good; even doing miraculous works at times. But it is not. It is of Satan.
The final portion of chapter 13 is arguably the most controversial in the entire Bible. Beginning in verse 16, the beast of the earth (false teachers) forces everyone to receive a mark on their hand or forehead. It is a mark that is the name of the beast or the number of his name. And then in verse 18, the last sentence tells us that man’s number is 666.
Much speculation has gone into the meaning of the number 666. Is it going to be a worldwide event? Is it something that will happen on the day of judgment to differentiate between the saved and the unsaved?
Has it already happened, i.e. the Holocaust? Was it something that was taking place in the Roman Empire? Or is it even an actual mark? Is the mark a figure of speech?
The answer is this: God only knows.
That’s enough for me and it should be enough for us all. Instead, we should focus on the first part of verse 18 which says, “This calls for wisdom….” The ‘this’ John is talking about is being aware of the beast, standing firmly against the beast, and refusing to allow the beast to invade your heart, soul, and mind.
Wisdom and knowledge are power and in this case, they are also the difference between joy and suffering for all eternity.
Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen brings quite a change of scenery. John isn’t seeing heaven or imagery depicting God’s perspective of things. John is seeing the future of an actual place—Mt. Zion. In viewing Mt. Zion John also sees things coming down from heaven—another indication that John is being given a supernatural view of an actual place.
John’s vision is also quite different in the fact that it is peaceful. No beast. No war. This would indicate that what he sees is what happens after the way—a war we already know the outcome of. God will be victorious over Satan.
The 144,000 are mentioned again as being redeemed because of their purity and faithfulness. They are singing a new song (a victory song). Who are these 144,000? We truly don’t know. They might be the remnant of Israel restored to Jerusalem. And if they are, so be it. Did God not promise over and over to restore them to greatness? Are they not his chosen people?
Who they are should not concern us because in reading further into the chapter we once again see God’s angels harvesting the earth; separating the faithful from the unfaithful. In other words, it shouldn’t matter to us what our status is in heaven. Only that we are residents should matter.
Chapters 15 And 16
These two chapters provide us with ‘visual aids’ as to what God has planned for the final stages of the end times.
John tells us there will be seven plagues put upon the earth. We are told what the plagues will be and that the people of the earth will never have seen anything like them.
We can read through the plagues as described in chapter 16 and compare them to things happening in our world today. But then they could do that several generations—even a century or more ago.
Yet here we are still waiting.
The point to be made is that while we are to be expectantly waiting for Christ’s return, we shouldn’t be analyzing current events in order to try to determine when that day might be. No, we are to be living with joyful expectations knowing that because of our obedience to Christ, we have nothing to fear. It should be enough for us to know that he is coming back and not worry about the when.
Chapters 17 And 18
In this chapter, an angel explains several things to John about the beast (Satan) and gives sin the embodiment of a woman—a prostitute.
The angel continues by explaining that those whose names are not found in the Lamb’s book of Life are going to be astonished and perplexed when they see what has become of the beast—how he has been brought down and that they, too, are going to share his destiny (hell).
Chapter 18 sees John meeting another angel. John is now in the present again. No visions. No imagery. ‘Just’ angels speaking the truth as instructed by God. This angel describes the fall of Babylon and what it was like for the people who experienced it.
In doing so the angel is also warning Christians that the same thing is going to happen to the Roman Empire because of its godless leadership and way of life.
Remember…John is writing this to warn the Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire to resist the ideas of compromising between worshipping God only and emperor worship. So in sharing the angel’s message with them, John is telling them to “Come out of her…so that you will not receive any of her plagues….” (18:4)
These two chapters are just as relevant for us today as they were for the Christians back then. Sadly the Church has allowed worldly views, i.e. sin, to become benign, harmless, just the way things are. We have allowed ourselves to water down the truth and the commands of God to make life easier for us. We’ve conformed to the world instead of reforming it —which is exactly what the angle and John are warning us against.
Chapter 19
The coming of Jesus Christ! John is allowed to see into the future—-what it will be like when Jesus comes to finish what he started the night he was born in that dark, dank, stable.
The choir of angels and the songs of praise were overwhelming to John. He fell at the feet of the angel to give praise, but the angel immediately refused to accept John’s praise by reminding him (John) that they were fellow servants of Jesus Christ and that he was not worthy of John’s praise.
John then describes Jesus’ appearance and seeing Satan, his demons, and the beast of the earth being thrown into a lake of burning sulfur, where they will spend eternity.
Chapter 20
This chapter continues with John’s continued vision of the second coming and judgment. He speaks about a period of one thousand years in which Satan is locked up and powerless over the earth. It is almost utopia-like.
During this time John says that those who died because of their faith in Christ were raised from the dead and lived with him for thousands of years.
After the thousand years have passed, Satan is going to be released onto the earth again for a short time before being thrown back into hell for good.
There is much discussion as to when this thousand years is going to take place. Will it be after Jesus’ initial return and prior to the final judgment and destruction of the world? Is it taking place now or in the future before Jesus actually makes his appearance?
After Satan is locked back into the Abyss, everyone who was dead from the time the world began to whatever day it is God chooses for this to take place, will be raised back to life and stand before God to be judged. Those who were faithful will be saved. Those who were not will be thrown into the lake of fire which is the second death. (20:12-15)
These questions have come from preconceived notions and as a result of not taking the Bible in its entirety. But when you read John’s words, and look at the book of Revelation as a whole, you will see that the events in chapters 19 and 20 are all part of the second coming.
Jesus appears and his name is the WORD OF GOD (19:11-13)
The beast is captured and locked in the Abyss for 1,000 years. The name given to the beast is Satan. (19:19-20 and20:l-3)
Christian martyrs are raised from the dead—something that we are told will not happen until Christ’s return. (20:4-6)
Chapter 21
Chapter 21 opens with John seeing heaven and earth pass away and is given instructions to be sure and write down what he is about to see. It is also during this time that those who are still living on earth when all of this takes place will be judged (21:6-8). And then life as we have known it for centuries is over. Eternity has begun.
John is then given what has to have been the most magnificent of all his visions. John sees heaven! His description doesn’t do it justice, we know, but it whets our appetite for wanting to be there. But if you will notice, the description doesn’t answer the question everyone asks: “What will we do in heaven?”
It is my personal opinion that we will do many things in heaven. God is far too creative and has far too good of an imagination for it to be anything but exciting and good. But whatever we do we can be sure that praising God for his amazing grace, goodness, and love will be a part of it.
Chapter 22
This final chapter of the book of Revelation opens with John’s last little look at heaven. Following these few verses Jesus speaks to John telling him that he is coming soon and that those who keep the words of this prophecy (the one just given to John) will be blessed for all eternity.
John ends the book by reiterating that what he has written is true and that what he says he saw he actually saw. What he says he heard he actually heard. And lastly, John implores us to remain faithful unto death so that we can spend eternity in the holy city described in this letter. The city of heaven.