Culminating Our Study: John the Revelator’s Book of Revelation

A group of friends and I studied the New Testament, including the Gospels, Book of Acts, the New Testament Letters of the Apostles, the General Letters (Epistles), and Revelation, using the chronological plan from the Bible Recap. Additionally, I found the Bible study resources from The Bible Project videos, the Faith Life Study Bible, and the book Revealing Revelation by Amir Tsarfati to be particularly helpful in this study. For understanding eschatological views, Christian Eschatology Explained by Ready to Harvest was invaluable. This article culminates our study with John the Revelator’s Book of Revelation.

Summary of Revelation:

The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is the final book of the New Testament. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ, divinely written by the apostle John. Composed of apocalyptic literature, it contains prophetic visions of the end times and rich symbolic language. The message is one of hope and encouragement to Christians, looking forward to the second coming of Christ. The book is filled with vivid imagery and symbolism, such as the recurring use of the number seven, symbolizing completeness or perfection. Written to seven churches, it depicts the cosmic battle between good and evil, the trials faced by believers, and the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom.

For The Bible Project’s summary of Revelation, watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the Book of Revelation Animated series overview.

Revelation: Chapters 1-3 – Jesus’s Message to the Seven Churches

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” Revelation 1:7

The seven churches mentioned in Revelation are in modern-day Turkey. I recently traveled to Izmir (formerly Smyrna) and Ephesus. Several aspects of these churches stood out to me. Ephesus, the first church mentioned, has remained Christian but is charged with forgetting its first love. This letter was written on the island of Patmos, by the hand of John under the divine revelation of the Holy Spirit to the seven churches existing at that time. But, the prophetic words transcend time and are still applicable.

Even though they are now surrounded by other religions (primarily Islam), Christianity remains a valid religion in Turkey today because the country still allows freedom of religion albeit for economic reasons. Ephesus is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World today because of the Temple of Diana, the goddess of fertility. Diana, also known as Artemis, attracted Gentile pagan worshippers from around the empire and involved temple prostitution and sexual immorality as part of worship. Ephesus was stained with sin and debauchery. Our tour guide referred to the historic Ephesus as the Las Vegas of Asia Minor.

The church of Pergamum has largely tried to keep the faith, but some there hold to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Nicolaitan means to “subdue or conquer (Nikos) people (Laos).” Various sources suggest that they were Christians who compromised by allowing pagan religious practices in the church to avoid persecution and social tension, thus straying from the gospel. It is Christianity that conforms to the world.

Sardis had very few remaining believers, but the promise remains for that small remnant. In Revelation 3:12-13, Jesus repeatedly says “My God,” which raises the question: why does Jesus, after His ascension and as part of the triune Godhead, use this phrase? My study Bible offered no commentary, but The Bible Recap has previously noted our tendency to blend the persons of the Trinity, neglecting to recognize the distinct roles of each: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I read something interesting in a book about the term “lukewarm” in Revelation 3:15, and then I saw it again in the commentary: “Revelation 3:15 (FSB): 3:15 you are neither cold nor hot. This imagery may allude to the water system at Laodicea. The city had no water supply of its own; it had cold water piped in from Colossae or hot water piped in from the springs at Hierapolis. When the water arrived in the city, it had become lukewarm. Like the water, the church at Laodicea was neither refreshing (like cold water) nor healing (like hot spring water).” I had always thought being “cold” referred to non-Christians, but in this context, cold is actually something refreshing, while hot is also useful. Lukewarm is tepid and not useful either way.

These first few chapters set up the rest of the Book of Revelation, with promises of eternal life for those who choose Jesus.

Revelation: Chapters 4-7 – Who is Worthy?

Revelation 4 and 5 are beautifully vivid in presenting the image of the throne room, with the angels crying out, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” In these chapters, St. John’s vision moves into the future events that will take place, with great descriptions of the throne room, the colors, the gemstones, and the glorious One seated on the throne. “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance” (Revelation 4:2-3). Also described are the twenty-four elders surrounding the throne, who cry out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.”

There is some debate about the rider of the white horse in Revelation 6. I never knew that. According to the Faithlife Study Bible, “Revelation 6:2: Christ Himself rides a white horse in 19:11–13, and it is sometimes argued that He is also referred to here. However, it is more likely that this rider represents evil in its pale imitation of Christ. In Mark 13:5–6, Jesus speaks of those who falsely come in His name, and the forces of evil in the New Testament are sometimes depicted as imitating Christ (compare Rev 13:1 with 19:12; and 5:6 with 13:3).” When we compare scripture with scripture, we see that in Revelation 19, the rider in that passage is named Faithful and True.

Revelation 7 reveals that Jesus is the worthy Lamb who was slain, the only one who can reconcile us to God, and the only one who can open the seals of the scroll, this is in contrast to the graphic narrative of plagues, famine, and unimaginable pain for those who will endure the great judgments of tribulation. This should motivate us to action, to reach our family, friends, and others who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior. I almost imagine scenes from the Hunger Games series, where each set of judgments is more severe than the last. But there is still hope; some will find salvation during the tribulation; these will be the martyrs of the tribulation.

Revelation 7 speaks of the 144,000—there are varying theories on who the 144,000 represent. According to Amir Tsarfati in Revealing Revelation, a literal reading of the text reveals these are Jewish evangelists from each of the tribes of Israel. Meanwhile, Reformed theology presents the 144,000 as the church, based on the belief that the Church has replaced Israel, a concept known as replacement theology. We’ll see this number again in Revelation 14.

Revelation: Chapters 8-11 – Rapture and Judgment

Revelation 8 and 9 make me reflect on my stance on the pre-tribulation rapture. The wrath being poured out is for the unbelievers; some of them will make it through the tribulation, finding repentance and salvation. This does not sound like something to be poured out on believers. The Faithlife Study Bible commentary states, “Revelation 8:6–13 (FSB): The next wave of judgments begins; four of the seven trumpets are blown in this section. The attacks, which come against nature and the cosmos, are intended to lead sinful humanity to repentance, not totally destroy them.”

I can see how a case be made for a mid-tribulation rapture, especially in light of this commentary: “Revelation 8:13 (FSB): those who live on the earth. In Revelation, this phrase refers to unbelievers, not all earth’s inhabitants (compare Rev 3:10; 6:10; 11:10; 13:8). Whereas the first four trumpets affected everyone (or at least those in one-third of the earth), the final three are only for unbelievers. The seal mentioned in 7:3 protects the remaining believers from the demonic oppression of the final three trumpets (see 9:4).”

Revelation 9 reminds me of an amplified version of how God dealt with the unrepentant Israelites in the Old Testament, except now it’s with the whole world of those who refuse to believe, despite all the evidence and wrath right in front of them. These are people who are hell-bent on unbelief. The Tara Leigh Cobble Bible Recap commentary brings up the differing perspectives on the timeline that these prophecies are fulfilled. It all depends on when the writing occurred (before or after the 70 AD temple destruction), and if there will be a (literal interpretation) third temple erected versus us as the (symbolic) temple that the Holy Spirit indwells.

I found it interesting that The Bible Project states that the mark of the beast on the forehead and hand is in direct defiance of the Shema, which commands the Jewish people to bind God’s word on their heads and hands (Deuteronomy 6:4-8). In Revelation 10-11, John sees the destruction of the temple and the two witnesses. While I’ve always interpreted these events literally, there is a theory that the temple symbolizes God’s people rather than a physical structure. This theory gains traction from the fact that John refers to the two witnesses as “lampstands,” which symbolize churches, suggesting that the witnesses represent the church rather than two literal individuals. My issue with the symbolic interpretation lies in the detailed description of the two witnesses: they will prophesy in burlap, live for 3 1/2 years with supernatural powers, be unsuccessfully attacked, then be killed, lie in the street for three days, and rise again to ascend to heaven. This sequence closely parallels the life, death, and ascension of Christ, adding complexity to the symbolic interpretation.

Revelation: Chapters 12-18 – Spiritual and Earthly Battle

Revelation 12 doesn’t specify who the woman is, but the parallel between Satan’s attack against Eve in the garden and this “woman” is intriguing. I read in a commentary that the stars may refer to angels when a third are wiped out. The dragon is enraged and goes to make war with the woman’s children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold the testimony of Jesus. The TLC commentary suggests that the woman represents Israel, giving birth to the Messiah, and Satan comes to make war with her children, who fled to the wilderness.

Revelation 14 introduces the 144,000, which the commentary states are God’s troops. These are the ones who have not taken the mark or been defiled by women, representing holy war imagery of those who are ritually clean according to Mosaic Law. However, I’ve also seen a documentary that claims the 144,000 represent the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes.

According to the Faithlife Study Bible commentary, Revelation 14:14-20 speaks of two harvests and two judgments: “Revelation 14:14–20 (FSB): …The first harvest is performed by the Son of Man, the second by an angel. It is not entirely clear whether these harvests indicate salvation or judgment. The first harvest appears to be a harvest of salvation, and the second harvest appears to be a harvest of judgment.” The Believer’s Bible Commentary says the first harvest may refer to the gathering of tribulation believers into the millennium or it may be a harvest of judgment on the Gentiles. Meanwhile, the last terrible judgments will fall on the unbelieving portion of the nation of Israel. Either way, there will be tremendous judgment and a great deal of bloodied wrath. And this is before we even get to the great white throne judgment.

In chapters 15 and beyond, the sixth and seventh bowls of judgment are poured out. The bowls of wrath are judgments similar to the plagues of Egypt. We also see Satan’s counterfeit Trinity at play with the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. Both commentaries I’m reading refer to the great harlot and those under her as the religious and commercial systems with headquarters in Rome. It includes the apostate church, both Protestant and Catholic.

Just reading all of this makes me stop to ponder what we need to learn from the Israelites and those on whom God’s wrath was poured out, such as the Egyptians. History seems to be repeating itself. The Faithlife Study Bible commentary presents a preterist view, suggesting that these passages in Revelation were already fulfilled in Rome/Babylon, with multiple references to the historical events of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, Nero and the number of his name (666), and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in Pompeii as fulfillments of John’s prophetic vision. I struggle with this perspective as I don’t believe it’s correct. If all of this was fulfilled in 70 AD, that would mean we’re living in the tribulation now. Chapters 17 and beyond depict the fall of Babylon, the final battle, and the Millennial Kingdom.

Eschatological End Times Views

Below are two charts detailing eschatological views. The first one (pictured left) is from Ready to Harvest. I’ve found their video explanation of end time views to be very helpful. The second one (pictured right) was visually more helpful to me. You may need to click to enlarge for optimal viewing.

Revelation: Chapters 19-22 – The Final Victory and the New Jerusalem

The Faithlife Study Bible says that chapter 19 concludes the judgment on Rome, whereas the Believer’s Bible Commentary states that Jesus Christ establishes the millennial kingdom. Right between these sections (chapters 19 and 20) is where the rapture occurs. Check out this Got Questions? article about end times views. It holds to a pre-tribulation view but also links to other eschatological perspectives. Most reformers hold the amillennial view, which I find hard to accept because (1) Satan is not bound, (2) we are not living in a time of peace, and (3) God has not destined believers to wrath.

Here’s a short note on the word Hallelujah: “Revelation 19:1 (FSB): Hallelujah This is a Hebrew command meaning ‘Praise Yah.’ ‘Yah’ is a shortened version of Yahweh. Verses 1–3 are akin to the Hallel psalms (Pss 104–106; 111–118; 120–136; 146–150; from the Hebrew word halel, ‘to praise’). The Hallel psalms commemorate God’s deliverance via the exodus event, a theme echoed many times in Revelation.”

I love the imagery of Revelation 21. In it, we see the fulfillment of the promises we cling to. I remember as a kid hearing about this description of heaven, adorned in jewels, with streets of gold, and gates of pearls. It was only in recent years that I learned this passage is actually describing the literal city coming down onto the earth for the millennial reign. It’s not a place that we go up to. “Revelation 21:16 (FSB): The city is depicted as a cube of gold (v. 18). This is perhaps an allusion to the holy of holies (most holy place), the focus of God’s holy presence throughout the OT (see 1 Kings 6:20). In contrast with the holy of holies, which can only be entered by the high priest once a year, now all of God’s people will dwell in His presence.”

In chapter 22, we see Jesus’s words again, declaring, “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬. John’s vision goes on to describe a restored Jerusalem and an Eden-like paradise. “Revelation 22:1–5 (FSB): 22:1–5 During his final vision, John presents the new Jerusalem as a restored Eden, including the tree of life, the rivers that flowed from the garden, and the intimate relationship the first people enjoyed with God.”

10 Key Takeaways from the Book of Revelation:

Reading the New Testament without considering the context of the Old Testament might lead to different interpretations and key takeaways. However, it is crucial to recognize the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, as the Bible tells one cohesive story. Considering this fuller context, here is a list of 10 key takeaways:

1. Spiritual Battle: Revelation presents a vivid portrayal of the cosmic battle between good and evil, highlighting the reality of spiritual warfare. The visions of the dragon, the beast, and the final confrontation between Christ and the forces of darkness (Revelation 12-20) emphasize the ongoing spiritual struggle and the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom, which has been portrayed throughout the Bible (Ephesians 6:12). We know who wins in the end!
2. Fulfillment of Messianic Prophecies: Revelation emphasizes Jesus Christ’s role as the Sovereign Lord and King, fulfilling Old Testament messianic prophecies and affirming His divine authority (Revelation 1:5, 19:16). It highlights God’s ultimate judgment and Christ’s final victory over evil, consistent with prophecies about the Day of the Lord and final judgment (Daniel 7:13-14; Zephaniah 1:14-18). The vision of the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1) represents the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, confirming that Christ’s return will establish His eternal reign. Once Jesus has defeated death and placed all enemies under His feet, He will turn back all authority to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
3. The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding and empowering believers throughout Revelation. The Spirit is mentioned in the messages to the seven churches, urging them to heed what the Spirit says (Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22). The Spirit also plays a role in the prophetic visions given to John (Revelation 1:10, 4:2).
4. Sin Problem and Repentance: Revelation underscores the need for repentance and righteousness. The messages to the churches often call for repentance from specific sins (Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 2:21-22, 3:3, 3:19). The judgment scenes throughout the book also highlight the consequences of sin and the importance of turning away from evil (Revelation 9:20-21, 16:9, 16:11).
5. Normative Christian Behaviors: The messages to the seven churches in Revelation address normative Christian behaviors, such as faithfulness, love, perseverance, and rejecting false teachings (Revelation 2-3). Believers are called to endure trials and remain faithful, reflecting the New Testament’s emphasis on moral and spiritual vigilance (Revelation 14:12).
6. Perspective on Law and Covenant: Jesus is depicted as the Lamb who was slain, a powerful symbol of sacrificial atonement and redemption (Revelation 5:6-9). This imagery connects to the Old Testament sacrificial system and reinforces the New Testament’s teaching on Christ’s redemptive work (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 13:8).
7. God’s Holiness and Sovereignty: Revelation highlights God’s holiness and sovereignty through Jesus Christ’s role as the Sovereign Lord and King. This book assures believers that God will defeat the forces of darkness, consistent with Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Psalm 110:1-2) and New Testament promises (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:24-26). The ultimate triumph of good over evil in Revelation underscores God’s righteous judgment and justice (Revelation 20:10, 21:4-5). Although God is loving, He is also righteous and will judge justly, providing a powerful reminder of His holy and sovereign nature.
8. Relevance of Sabbaths and Biblical Feasts in the Millennial Kingdom: Revelation points to a physical millennial Kingdom where Christ will rule and reign. The law and word will pour forth from this Kingdom, Zion (Isaiah 2:3, Micah 4:1-2). We will no longer need a temple because God will be with us continually; He will be our light (Revelation 21:22-23). The Biblical Feasts and Sabbaths will be part of our normal activities (Isaiah 66:22-23; Zechariah 14:16-19). The biblical feasts prophetically point to fulfillment of key events: the spring feasts by Jesus’ first coming, and the fall feasts by events at Christ’s second coming, including the rapture, tribulation, and millennial kingdom.
9. Christian Unity: The book of Revelation emphasizes the unity of believers in the body of Christ. The vision of the multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and worshiping God (Revelation 7:9-10) highlights the universal and unified nature of the church.
10. Perseverance in Trials and Tribulations: Revelation encourages believers to persevere through trials and tribulations, viewing them as opportunities for spiritual growth and maturity. The messages to the seven churches often commend those who endure faithfully (Revelation 2:10, 3:10). Believers are called to remain steadfast despite challenges and are promised ultimate victory and reward (Revelation 21:7).

Conclusion

We’ve now covered the New Testament’s Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Letters from the Apostles, General Letters (Epistles), and Revelation. Our study of the New Testament culminated with the last book of the Bible, Revelation. This study has deepened our understanding of God’s redemptive plan and the hope we have in Christ’s return. The diverse interpretations and rich symbolism of Revelation remind us to stay vigilant, faithful and encouraged as we await the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. May we hold fast to the words of this prophecy and live in anticipation of the new heaven and new earth, where we will dwell with God forever (Revelation 21:1-4).