
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the New Testament book of Revelation.
There are basically 4 main approaches to interpreting the book of Revelation: Preterist; Historist; Idealist; Futurist. Different scholars and different commentators use different approaches. Make sure you know the difference and which approach the source you’re consulting takes.
See: Understanding Apocalyptic literature
Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **
Basics
- Author: John, the Apostle (Rev 1:1; Rev 1:4; Rev 1:9; Rev. 22:8)
- Audience: Clue comes from Rev 1:9 where the author calls himself “your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus.”
- Date: Main debate is about which Roman emperor’s persecution should be understood as the background for the book: Nero (60s AD) or Domitan (90s AD).
- Relation to John’s Gospel: deep harmony of outlook and expression (Examples: Jesus as Lamb of God; Jesus as the “beginning” of creation and “beginning and end”; metaphors of water, light and life associated with Jesus).
Important Literary Features
- hymns and doxologies (4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:9-12; 11:15-19; 15:3-4; 19:1-8)
- prophetic call and commissioning narratives (1:12-20; 10:1-11:2)
- seven blessings (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14)
- visions interpreted
- virtue and vice lists (9:20-21; 13:4-8; 14:4-5; 21:8; 21:27; 22:7; 22:14)
- use of common stock images in a creative way (e.g. thrones, white)
- pre-announcements (e.g. 14:6-20 announces what is developed in chapters 7-20)
- extensive cross-references (e.g. 1:9-20 with chapters 2-3, as well as 19:11-16; 7:17 and 21:4 on wiping away tears)
- dramatic contrasts (e.g beast vs lamb; great harlot vs bride of the Lamb)
- interludes (especially visions and hymns)
- use of numerical structures (e.g. 3 plague septets)
Structure
- 1:1-3 – General introduction
- 1:4-8 – Christological prologue
- 1:9-20 – prophetic commissioning
- Ch 2-3 – Prophetic oracles to 7 churches
- Ch 4-5 – Heavenly vision (fulfilled divine purposes)
- Ch 6-16 – Three cycles of sevenfold conflict
- Seven seals 6:1-8:5
- Seven trumpets 8:6-11:19
- Parenthesis: great conflict between the people of God and forces of darkness 12:1-14:20
- Seven bowls of wrath 15:1-16:21
- 17:1-19:10 The approach of the end (fall of the great city)
- Collapse of the world empire, Babylon Ch 17
- Lament over the collapse of Babylon Ch 18
- End of the kingdom of antichrist ushers in kingdom of God and marriage supper of the lamb Ch 19:1-10
- 19:11-20:15 – The advent of the kingdom of God (victory of Christ)
- 21:1-22:5 – New Jerusalem and River of life
- 22:6-21 – Epilogue: concluding exhortations
Some important themes
- Christ as victor (especially chapter 5)
- The church as a prophetic community bearing witness to Jesus
- Divine judgment – destruction of evil and blessing of eternal life
Genre: Understanding Prophecy
Background & Outlines
- Early Church Heresies
- Map of NT Churches
- Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
- Blue Letter Bible: Outline of Revelation
- Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
- John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
- ESV: Introduction to Revelation
- ESV: The Global Message of Revelation
- NIV: Introduction to Revelation
- David Malick (Bible.org): An Introduction To The Book Of Revelation
- David Malick (Bible.org): An Argument of the Book of Revelation (part 1); An Argument of the Book of Revelation (part 2)
- James van Dine: Intro to Revelation
Maps from Bible-History.com
- Israel in NT Times
- Kingdom of Herod the Great
- Herod’s Kingdom Divided
- New Testament Cities
- Apostles’ Journeys
- The 7 Churches in Asia Minor
- The Seven Churches of Asia
- Map of the World of the New Testament
Maps from Studylight.org
- The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I
- The Kingdom of Agrippa II
- Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora
- Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine
- Churches of the Revelation
- The Roman Empire ca. 117 CE
- Palestine from 73-135 CE
- The Bar Kokhba Revolt, 132-135 CE
- Hadrian‘s Jerusalem
- Christian Expansion in the 2nd & 3rd Century
Key Words
- Jesus (14x/12v); Christ (7v)
- Lamb (30x) – Strong’s G721b in Rev 5:6; Rev 5:8; Rev 5:12; Rev 5:13; Rev 6:1; Rev 6:7; Rev 6:9; Rev 6:16; Rev 7:9; Rev 7:10; Rev 7:14; Rev 7:17; Rev 8:1; Rev 12:11; Rev 13:8; Rev 13:11; Rev 14:1; Rev 14:4; Rev 14:10; Rev 15:3; Rev 17:14; Rev 19:7; Rev 19:9; Rev 21:9; Rev 21:14; Rev 21:22; Rev 21:23; Rev 21:27; Rev 22:1; Rev 22:3.
- Alpha & Omega – Rev 1:8; Rev 21:6; Rev 22:13; first & last – Rev 1:17.
- The One who is and who was and who is to come – Rev 1:4; Rev 1:8; Rev 4:8; Rev 11:18; Rev 16:5.
- The Lord God the Almighty (9v) – Rev 1:8; Rev 4:8; Rev 11:17; Rev 15:3; Rev 16:7; Rev 16:14; Rev 19:6; Rev 19:15; Rev 21:22.
- The One who sits on the throne (7x) – Rev 4:9; Rev 5:1; Rev 5:7; Rev 5:13; Rev 6:16; Rev 7:15; Rev 21:5.
- throne (35v) – Strong’s G2362 in Rev 1:4; Rev 2:13; Rev 3:21; Rev 4:2; Rev 4:3; Rev 4:4; Rev 4:5; Rev 4:6; Rev 4:9; Rev 4:10; Rev 5:1; Rev 5:6; Rev 5:7; Rev 5:11; Rev 5:13; Rev 6:16; Rev 7:9; Rev 7:10; Rev 7:11; Rev 7:15; Rev 7:17; Rev 8:3; Rev 12:5; Rev 13:2; Rev 14:3; Rev 16:10; Rev 16:17; Rev 19:4; Rev 19:5; Rev 20:11; Rev 20:12; Rev 21:3; Rev 21:5; Rev 22:1; Rev 22:3.
Commentaries & Study Bibles
- Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Revelation
- Tim Challies Best Commentaries: Revelation
- Commentary Reviews: Revelation
- Alford Exegetical: Revelation
- Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Revelation
- Matthew Henry: Revelation
- Albert Barnes Notes: Revelation
- Reformation Study Bible Notes: Revelation
- Geneva Study Bible: Revelation
- Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Revelation
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
- Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Revelation, Theology Of
- American Tract Society: Revelation
- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Revelation, Book Of
- Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Revelation, Book Of
- Fausset Bible Dictionary: Revelation of John, The
- Fausset Bible Dictionary: Revelation, the Book Of
- Holman Bible Dictionary: Revelation, the Book Of
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Revelation, Book Of
- Morrish Bible Dictionary: Revelation, The
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Revelation of John:
- McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia: Revelation, Book Of.
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Revelation, Book Of
- The Jewish Encyclopedia: Revelation (Book Of)
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology:
Author
- John – Holman Bible Dictionary
- John, the Apostle – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
- John, the Apostle – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
- John, the Apostle – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- John, the Evangelist – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
Gnosticism & Early Heresies
- Gnosticism – Holman Bible Dictionary
- Gnosticism – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
- Gnosticism – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
- Gnosticism – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- What is Docetism? – Zondervan Academic
- Early Church Heresies from ChurchHistory101
Articles
- J Daryl Charles: Imperial Pretensions and the Throne-Vision of the Lamb- Revelation 5
- David Cooper: Exposition of the Revelation – literal
- Trevor P Craigen: Eternal Punishment in John’s Revelation
- Robert Dean: The Meaning of Angels in Revelation 2 and 3
- Bob Deffinbaugh: Revelation 21:1-22:5 A Heaven to Seek
- Bob Deffinbaugh: The Purpose of Prophecy
- Charles Dyer: Revelation 18-19 – The Biblical Argument for the Rebuilding of Babylon
- Charles Dyer: The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18 Part 1
- Charles Dyer: The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18 Part 2
- Jonathan Edwards: Revelation 5:5-6 The Excellency of Christ
- Keith Essex: The Rapture and the Book of Revelation
- Jim Fletcher: Opposing Joshua—The Modern Evangelical War on Israel
- Gordon Franz: The King and I: The Historical Setting of Revelation 1:9 and the Apostle John on Patmos
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: The use of the Old Testament in the Book of Revelation
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: Premillennialism in the Old Testament (or here)
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: Israel’s Right To The Promised Land
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: The Prophetic Promise of the Land of Israel in the Abrahamic Covenant
- Tony Garland: Criticism of the Futurist Interpretation of Revelation
- Tony Garland: The Manchild of Revelation 12
- Tony Garland: Seven Spirits of God – Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6
- Tony Garland: What is the Chronological Order of Revelation 13 relative to chapters 17 and 18-
- Tony Garland: Critique of R C Sproul’s “The Last Days According to Sproul”
- Tony Garland: Critiquing R C Sproul’s Preterist Interpretation of Prophetic Passages
- Robert Gromacki: Revelation 20: A Premillennial Analysis
- Robert Gromacki: The Times of the Gentiles
- Robert Gromacki: Where is “the Church” in Revelation 4–19?
- Gregory H Harris: Can Satan Raise the Dead? Toward a Biblical View of the Beast’s Wound in Revelation 13 (or here)
- Gregory H Harris: Must Satan be Released? Indeed He Must Be: Toward a Biblical Understanding of Rev 20:3
- Gregory H Harris: What is New About the New Heaven and the New Earth?
- Gale Heide: Interpretive Models for the Book of Revelation
- Greg Herrick: Interpretive Models for the Book of Revelation as a Whole
- Mark Hitchock: Debate on the Date of the Book of Revelation
- David Hocking: The Rapture in Revelation
- David Hocking: The Positive Aspects of Premillennial Theology
- Opeyemi Oladosu: The Use of the Old Testament in the Book of Revelation Revelation
- RC Sproul: The Last Days According to Jesus
- Richard Mayhue: New Covenant Theology and Futuristic Premillennialism
- Richard Mayhue: Why A Pre-tribulation Rapture?
GotQuestions.org
Treat like any commentary: Read carefully, read thoughtfully and require proof.
- Book of Revelation – Bible Survey
- How can I understand the Book of Revelation?
- Why is apocalyptic literature so strange?
- What is the futurist interpretation of the book of Revelation?
- What is the idealist interpretation of the book of Revelation?
- What is the importance of Patmos in the Bible?
- What are the seven blessings of Revelation?
- Are the ‘angels’ of the churches in Revelation 1–3 real angels, or are they human messengers?
- What do the seven stars represent in Revelation?
- What does it mean that Jesus will come in the clouds (Revelation 1:7)?
- What does it mean that Jesus is the alpha and the omega?
- What are the keys of death (Revelation 1:18)?
- What does it mean to have left your first love (Revelation 2:4)?
- What is the Jezebel spirit?
- Who are the Nicolaitans mentioned in Revelation 2:6, 14-15?
- What is the hidden manna mentioned in Revelation 2:17?
- Why is God going to give us a white stone with a new name (Revelation 2:17)?
- What are the seven candlesticks / lampstands of Revelation?
- What do the seven churches in Revelation stand for?
- What was Jesus’ message to the church in Ephesus in Revelation?
- What was Jesus’ message to the church in Smyrna in Revelation?
- What was Jesus’ message to the church in Pergamum in Revelation?
- What was Jesus’ message to the church in Thyatira in Revelation?
- What was Jesus’ message to the church in Sardis in Revelation?
- What was Jesus’ message to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation?
- What was Jesus’ message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation?
- What is the doctrine of Balaam?
- What is the Key of David?
- Why did Jesus speak so strongly against lukewarm faith?
- What is the synagogue of Satan in Revelation?
- What did Jesus mean when He said, “I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20)?
- Who are the four living creatures in Revelation?
- What does it mean that God is holy, holy, holy?
- What is the sea of glass mentioned in Revelation 4:6 and 15:2?
- Who are the four horsemen of the apocalypse?
- Who are the twenty-four (24) elders in Revelation?
- What is the verse about casting our crowns before the feet of Jesus?
- What are the prayers of the saints in Revelation 5:8?
- What does the Bible mean when it refers to the four winds?
- How should we understand the Lion and the Lamb passage?
- Why is there silence in heaven for half an hour in Revelation 8:1?
- What is the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1-12)?
- Who or what is Abaddon/Apollyon?
- What does Revelation chapter 12 mean?
- What does it mean that Satan is the accuser?
- What is the prophecy of 1,260 days in Revelation?
- What is the Great Tribulation?
- What is the meaning of wormwood in Revelation?
- Who is the beast of Revelation?
- Who is the antichrist?
- Who is the false prophet of the end times?
- What is the mark of the beast (666)?
- Who are the two witnesses in the book of Revelation?
- Why do Daniel and Revelation give varying counts of 1,260, 1,290, and 1,335 days for the tribulation?
- Who are the 144,000?
- What is the whore of Babylon / mystery Babylon?
- Who/what is the Lion of the tribe of Judah?
- What are the seven seals and seven trumpets in the Book of Revelation?
- What are the seven seals of Revelation?
- What are the seven trumpets of Revelation?
- What are the seven bowls/vials of Revelation?
- What are the three woes of Revelation?
- What do the seven thunders in Revelation 10:1-7 mean?
- What is the everlasting gospel in Revelation 14:6?
- What is the Apocalypse?
- What is the abomination of desolation?
- What is the battle of Armageddon?
- What does it mean that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords?
- What are Gog and Magog?
- What is the Second Coming and why is it important?
- Why is Jesus going to return on a white horse?
- Did Jesus have a tattoo (Revelation 19:16)?
- What is the marriage supper of the Lamb?
- Is the millennium literal or figurative?
- Who will occupy the Millennial Kingdom?
- Why is God going to release Satan after the 1000 years?
- What happens at the final judgment?
- What is the Great White Throne Judgment?
- What is the second death?
- What are the New Heavens and the New Earth?
- What does Revelation mean when it says, “There was no longer any sea”?
- What is the significance of the twelve gates in Revelation 21?
- Why will the nations need healing in the New Jerusalem?
- Will there be tears in heaven?
- What is the river of life?
- What is the water of life?
- Will there literally be streets of gold in heaven?
- Does the warning in Revelation 22:18-19 apply to the entire Bible or just the Book of Revelation?
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