Prologue to the Book of Revelation – (Revelation 1:1-8 – The Prologue to the book of Revelation presents the basic themes of the book and anchors its visions in the past Death and Resurrection of Jesus)
The First Vision on Patmos – (Revelation 1:9-20 – The book of Revelation is addressed to seven actual churches in the province of Asia in the first century and sent by John from exile on the isle of Patmos on account of the Gospel)
Introduction to the Churches of Asia – (The visitation of Jesus to each of the Seven Churches prepares the reader to understand the visions that follow the letters to the churches of Asia)
The Church at Ephesus – (Revelation 2:1-7 – The messenger of the assembly at Ephesus is commended for rejecting false apostles but chastised for losing his “first love”)
The Church at Smyrna – (Revelation 2:8-11 – The church at Smyrna is promised more tribulation based on its past faithfulness in persecution)
The Church at Pergamos – (Revelation 2:12-17 – The church at Pergamos is corrected for tolerating the teachings of “Balaam”)
The Nicolaitans – (The “Nicolaitan” deception taught believers to compromise with the idolatrous rites of the surrounding society, including the Roman imperial cult)
The Church at Thyatira – (Revelation 2:18-29– The prophetess, “Jezebel,” deceived many saints at Thyatira into accommodating idolatrous practices)
The Church at Sardis – (Revelation 3:1-6 – The church in the city of Sardis receives no commendation, only warnings, and a summons to repent)
The Church at Philadelphia – (Revelation 3:7-13 – Like the church at Smyrna, Philadelphia receives no correction. She is faithful and, therefore, will be kept from the hour of trial)
Kept from the Hour – (Revelation 3:10 – Revelation nowhere describes the physical removal of the Church from the earth to escape the tribulation – overcoming saints remain faithful in tribulations)
The Church at Laodicea – (Revelation 3:14-22 – The church at Laodicea receives no commendation, only correction)
The Beginning of the Creation of God – (Revelation 3:14 – The Book of Revelation looks forward to the final victory of the Lamb in the New Creation, a reality inaugurated by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus)
The Throne at the Center of the Cosmos – (Revelation 4:1-11 – The image of the glorious Throne places God and His rule at the center of the created order and prepares the reader for the introduction of the Lamb)
The Scroll Sealed with Seven Seals – (Revelation 5:1-4 – The One Sitting on the Throne holds a Scroll sealed tight by seven seals. A search is made for someone in the Creation who is “worthy” to open the Sealed Scroll)
Worthy is the Lamb to Open the Sealed Scroll! – (Revelation 5:5-14 – The central figure of the book is the freshly slain Lamb who alone has the authority to open the Sealed Scroll, beginning with its seven seals)
THE SEVEN SEALS
The Seven Seals – An Overview – (Revelation 6:1-8:1 – Upon his arrival before the Throne, the Lamb commences immediately to open the Seven Seals of the Sealed Scroll)
The First Four Seal Openings – An Overview – (Revelation 6:1-8 – The Lamb begins to break open the first four seals in preparation for the unveiling of the contents of the scroll, a process that unleashes destructive forces against the covenant community)
The First Seal Opening – (Revelation 6:1-2 – The Lamb now breaks open the first seal, releasing a rider carrying a bow and riding a white horse)
The Second Seal Opening – (Revelation 6:3-4 – The second rider is on a fiery-red horse sent to “remove peace from the earth” by causing men to “slay one another”)
The Third Seal Opening – (Revelation 6:5-6 – The third seal releases a rider on a black horse. A voice from the Throne prohibits him from destroying what is needed for daily life)
The Fourth Seal Opening – (Revelation 6:7-8 – The fourth seal releases a rider named “Death” who is followed by “Hades” gathering up the dead in his wake)
The Fifth Seal Opening – (Revelation 6:9-11 – The fifth seal reveals the souls of martyrs underneath an altar where they cry out to God for vindication)
The Sixth Seal Opening – (Revelation 6:12-17 – The sixth seal opening ushers in the Day of the Lord, the time of wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth – No one can stand before the Lamb or the Throne)
The Seal of God – (Revelation 7:1-3– God’s servants are sealed before the “four winds of the earth” are unleashed by the four horsemen)
The Number of the Sealed Servants – (Revelation 7:4-8 – 144,000 males from the tribes of Israel are numbered and assembled for transit to the Promised Land)
The Innumerable Multitude – The Vision – (Revelation 7:9-12 – John now sees an innumerable multitude from all nations standing before the Lamb and the Throne)
The Innumerable Multitude – The Interpretation – (Revelation 7:13-17 – One of the “elders” interprets the vision of a vast multitude that “no man could number,” standing before the Throne )
The Seventh Seal Opening – (Revelation 8:1-6– The seventh seal ends with the seven angels prepared to sound their trumpets)
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