Ch. 1:The book is
addressed to the seven churches of the Roman province called Asia—a part of the
Roman Empire, which would soon be ruled over by a man named Domitian.John has a vision of Jesus, and the book
indicates right away that it is a book of symbols (verse 20).
Ch. 2:Jesus has
personal messages for Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamum and
Thyatira.Included is the prophecy that
persecution was about to come (verse 10).Later chapters reveal that this persecution would come from Domitian.
Ch. 3:Jesus has
personal messages for Sardis, Philadelphia
and Laodicea.Prophesied here, too, is Domitian’s coming
persecution [“the hour of testing” (v. 10 NASB)].
Ch. 4:History notes
that Domitian was addressed with the words, “Worthy are you our lord and our
god.”But in Revelation 4, John sees the
true God being addressed with the words, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God”
(verse 11 NASB).
Ch. 5:John sees a
Lamb—Jesus—who is also “worthy” (verse 9).Specifically, He is worthy to break the seals on a scroll.
Ch. 6:The first six
seals are broken, revealing both the difficulties that Christians would face
under Domitian, as well as the fall of Rome
(fulfilled in 476 A.D. when Rome
was overthrown by the Germans).
Ch. 7:Blessings are
described for those “who had come out of the great tribulation” (verse 14 NASB)
caused by Domitian.
Ch. 8:The seventh seal
is broken, introducing the sounding of seven trumpets.Dan Winkler summarized these well: “Just as
seven trumpets sounded the fall of Jericho
(Josh. 6:6ff), seven trumpets were about to portray the fall of Rome.”
Ch. 9:A continuation of
the sounding of the seven trumpets that portray the fall of Rome.
Ch. 10:Like Ezekiel
before him (Ezekiel 2:8-3:4), John is told to eat God’s Word and then proclaim
it (cf. 1 Timothy 4:6).
Ch. 11:Two witnesses, a
symbol of Christians, are killed by “the beast” (verse 7 NASB), who is later
identified as Domitian.But ultimately
the witnesses are victorious.Also, this
chapter concludes the sounding of the seven trumpets that portray the fall of Rome.
Ch. 12:John has a vision
of a dragon, which is identified as Satan, and his hostility toward a woman,
who represents God’s people.
Ch. 13:John has a vision
of the beast from the sea, representing Domitian; as well as a beast from the
earth (later in Revelation called “the false prophet”), representing Domitian’s
priesthood.
Ch. 14:Doom is presented
for Babylon, a symbol of Rome, as well as all worshippers of the beast
(i.e., Domitian).
Ch. 15:This short
chapter introduces the “last plagues” (verse 1).As Dan Winkler said, “They were called ‘the
last plagues’ because they represented the final judgment of God against Rome.”
Ch. 16:The last plagues
are presented, each of which is symbolically poured from a bowl.Included here is the famous battle of
Armageddon—a symbolic battle God fought against, as verse 13 states, “the
dragon” (i.e., Satan), “the beast” (i.e. Domitian), and “the false prophet”
(i.e., Domitian’s priesthood).
Ch. 17:In my opinion,
this is the most important chapter in Revelation.Here “Babylon”
is clearly identified as Rome
(verses 9 and 18); and here “the beast” is clearly identified as Domitian
(verse 11).Furthermore, as Howard
Winters wrote, the statements in verse 14 “sum up the whole message of
Revelation.”This key verse says, “They
will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of
lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful”
(ESV).
Ch. 18:Babylon,
i.e., Rome, is
pictured as fallen.
Ch. 19:There is a
celebration over the fall of Babylon (i.e., Rome).John also sees the beast (i.e., Domitian) and
the false prophet (i.e. Domitian’s priesthood) thrown into the lake of fire.
Ch. 20:Those who “had
not worshipped the beast” (verse 4), that is, Christians who had not worshipped
Domitian, are pictured as reigning with Christ for 1,000 years. Meanwhile, Satan is said to be bound.At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan is
loosed.In Dan Winkler’s view, the 1,000
years represents the time between Domitian’s persecution and the persecutions
that would follow under later Emperors.John then sees all people judged and the lost thrown into a lake of
fire.
Ch. 21:As Homer Hailey
said, “To most believers, the next section, 21:1-22:5, is a portrayal of
heaven.”
Ch. 22:In the last chapter of Revelation, John is
told not to seal up the book (in contrast to the last chapter of Daniel, where
Daniel is told to seal up his book for a while).In addition, warning is given not to add to
or take away from the book.
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