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The book
of Revelation is divided into four major literary units. Each is identifiable by the entry of John “into the Spirit” and,
consequently, his relocation to a new visionary vantage point (i.e.,
Patmos, the Throne, the Wilderness, a “great high mountain”). Each of the
four divisions can be subdivided into smaller units, for example, the series of
seven trumpets or seven bowls of wrath (Revelation 1:9, 4:1-3, 17:3, 21:10).
The book
has a definite literary structure that serves its primary purpose – To the “servants
of God” what things must “soon come to pass” and, thus, prepare them
for the coming tasks and tribulations. However, it is a mistake to assign any strict
chronological sequence to its structure. There is often overlap between different
sections, and a final judgment scene is presented more than once.
The three
series of the sevenfold judgments all climax in a final judgment scene.
The Sixth Seal produces celestial and terrestrial upheaval on the “day of
the Lord” and the “wrath of the Lamb.” The Seventh Trumpet results
in the final judgment of the wicked, the “day of the Lord,” and the
consummation of the Kingdom of God. Finally,
the Seven Bowls of Fury “complete the wrath of God,” and the emptying of
the Seventh Bowl means the destruction of Babylon accompanied by celestial and
terrestrial upheaval. Yet, “Babylon” is not described in detail until the
chapters following its destruction (Revelation 6:17-21, 15:1, 16:17-21).
Several key
themes are repeated in the different literary sections, each time with a specific
emphasis. For example, the ascent of the Beast/Satan from the Abyss/Sea is
described at least three times (Revelation
11:7, 13:1, 20:1-7).
Likewise,
the final “battle” by Satan to annihilate the is pictured five times
and, in three of the cases, the description is based on the same clause from
the book of Daniel - “The
horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them” (Daniel
7:21, Revelation 11:7, 12:17, 13:7, 19:17-21, 20:7-9).
Key themes
are expanded with each new telling. In the vision of the Throne, John hears a
description of “lightning,
voices, and thunders” occurring around the Throne. Each time this set
of events is repeated another element is added to the sequence. Thus, for
example, an earthquake is added at the close of the Seven Seals (Revelation
4:5, 8:5, 11:18, 16:18).
The
employment of overlap and repetition between the several visions argues against
the visions and chapters being laid out in a neat chronological sequence. The
following outline is only one of several ways the Second Division can be
divided and subdivided.
Outline of the Second Division (4:1 – 16:21)
The Throne, Scroll and the Lamb (4:1-5:14)
- [The One Sitting on the Throne (4:1-11)]
- [Lightning, voices, thunders (4:5)]
- [The Sealed Scroll (5:1-5)]
- [The Victorious Lamb (5:6-14)]
The Lamb
opens the Seven Seals (6:1-8:1)
- [The sealing of God’s servants (7:1-8)]
- [The innumerable multitude (7:9-17)]
The Seven
Trumpets (8:1-11:19)
- [Silence in Heaven (8:2-6)]
- [Lightning, voices, thunders; an
earthquake (8:5)]
- [The first six trumpets sound (8:7-9:21)]
- [The little scroll (10:1-11)]
- [The temple and the two witnesses (11:1-14)]
- [The first six trumpets sound (8:7-9:21)]
- [The seventh trumpet sounds (11:15-19)]
- [Lightning, voices, thunders; an
earthquake (11:19)]
The Son
versus the Dragon (12:1-14:20)
- [The Woman and the Son (12:1-6)]
- [The Dragon and the Seed of the Woman (12:7-17)]
- [The Beast from the sea and the saints (13:1-10)]
- [The Beast from land, image, and mark (13:11-18)]
- [The Lamb and the 144,000 on Zion (14:1-5)]
- [The fall of Babylon announced (14:6-12)]
- [The winepress of the wrath of God (14:13-20)]
The Seven
Bowls of Fury (12:1-13:18)
- [The Sea of Glass (15:1-8)]
- [The Seven Bowls poured out (16:1-17)]
- [Lightning, voices, thunders, mighty
earthquake, hail (16:18-21)]
- [Downfall of Beast and Babylon (16:19-21)]
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