The Divine Outline
GRAND CANYON TRIP – look closely see the river and see it moving, but zoom out and see how small
Revelation is often looked at as a closed or cryptic book – hidden knowledge, hard to understand. Why bother? So many different views, how do you know which is right? How do you know?
Tonight going to take a 40,000 foot view of Revelation
Revelation 1:1–3 (NKJV)
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
REMEMBER:
1 Revelation, not multiple
Of Jesus (IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS)
given to Jesus to show us “things which must shortly take place”
“shortly – quickly take place”
Sign-ified
Testimony of Jesus
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Blessing for reading, hearing and keeping
The Time is Near
Revelation 1:7–8 (NKJV)
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
It’s about His coming!
260 chapters in the NT – 2nd coming comes up 318x.
Revelation 1:8 (NKJV)
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS!
REVELATION: “The Divine Outline”
Revelation 1:19 NKJV
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”
WRITE:
Things which you have seen (Rev 1)
Things which are (Rev 2-3)
Things which will take place after this (Rev 4-22)
22 actually a recap - epilogue
Revelation 22:7–10 (NKJV)
7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
NOT A SEALED BOOK!
Revelation 22:12–13 (NKJV)
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Revelation 22:20–21 (NKJV)
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
It begins with Jesus, it ends with Jesus, It’s all about Jesus!
ITS ALL ABOUT JESUS….
CHAPTER 1 – the Vision – WHAT JOHN HAS SEEN
CHAPTER 2-3 The 7 Churches – the things which are
7 churches – real churches at end of the first century – all in Turkey – a postal route
None still in existence today!
Turkey one of the most unreached areas for the Gospel!
Wikipedia: In modern times the percentage of Christians in Turkey has declined from 20 to 25 percent in 1914 to 3–5.5 percent in 1927, to 0.3–0.4% today
Evangelicals are .04% - 1 in 2500 homes
SLIDE 7 churches Letter Elements
1. To the angel of the church of _______
2. Title of Jesus (echo from Rev 1)
3. I know your works… (commendation)
4. Concern/Correction
5. Counsel/Exhortation
6. Reward/Promise
7. Close - He who has an ear (applies to all)
SLIDE: 7 church ages
Ephesus (port city – now 3 miles inland)
Ephesus (The Apostolic Church, ca. 32-100)
Smyrna (The Persecuted Church, ca. 100-300)
Pergamos (The Polygamist Church, ca. 300-600)
Thyatira (The Pagan Church, ca. 600-end)
Sardis (The Dead Church, ca. 1500-end)
Philadelphia (The Missionary Church, ca. 1750-end)
Laodicea (The Lukewarm Church, ca. 1900-end)
Beginning with Thyatira each church continues to the end
Thyatira – much like the Catholic church (still some saved in it)
Sardis – mainline protestants (rebranding church – “Alive but dead”
Philadelphia – churches on-fire today
Laodicea – lukewarm church, think they are rich, but lukewarm about the things of God.
REVELATION 4-22
Things which will take place after this (Rev 4-22)
RAPTURE NOT IN THE WHITE SPACE BETWEEN CHAPTERS 3-4
Revelation 4:1–2 (NKJV)
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
CHAPTER 4-5 picture of the throne room of heaven
24 elders- 12 tribes and 12 apostles
Revelation 4:6–8 (NKJV)
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Your appetite (for worship) grows as you feed it.
HOLY 3x
“Who was and is and is to come” – refrain 5x in Revelation, all connected with worship
CHAPTER 5 – THE 7 SEALED SCROLL
Revelation 5:1–4 (NKJV)
1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
SCROLL - Title deed - or last will and testament, sealed 7 times, roll, seal, roll, seal so couldn’t fabricate (NFT)
WHO IS WORTHY?
Revelation 5:5–6 (NKJV)
5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Jesus inheritance is the earth - ps 2
HEAVEN ERUPTS WITH PRAISE
Revelation 5:8–10 (NKJV)
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
REVELATION 6 – THE 7 SEALS
- SLIDE: Parallels Matthew 24
Revelation 6:1–2 White Horse (Antichrist)
1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
From Daniel 8, 9, 11, 12 – this is the Antichrist, comes making a peace with Israel
Lots of tribulations (7 churches,
TRIBULATION:
Revelation 1:9 (NKJV)
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Smyrna told
Revelation 2:9
9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Thyatira told
Revelation 2:22 (NKJV)
22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
John 16:33 (NKJV)
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Revelation 6:3-4 Red Horse (War)
3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
Revelation 6:5-6 Black Horse (Famine and Inflation)
5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
Argentina – inflation rate 71% this year (hiked interest rates to 69%)
Revelation 6:7-8 Pale/Green Horse (Death, plague)
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and there was a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following after him. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.
Covid – not the plague here (1/4 population dies from this plague)
Revelation 6:9–11
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Revelation 6:12–17
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
6th seal – earthquake and eclipses, kings hide in rocks and caves (bunkers of the wealthy)
Revelation 7 – interrupts the 7th seal judgment
Revelation 7:1–4 (NKJV)
1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
God sealing 144,000 Jews (Israelites – 12k from each tribe)
Revelation 7:9–11 (NKJV)
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
Great multitude in heaven – no one could count
What is this? Sounds like the rapture – great multitude appearing in Heaven?
Revelation 7:13–14 (NKJV)
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
When did the tribulation start? Revelation 6 Antichrist
Revelation 8:1–2 (NKJV)
1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
7th Seal = 7 Trumpets
#1 Hail and fire mixed with blood - “upon the earth”
Revelation 8:7 and Rev 16:2 (although trumpets burn up 1/3 of earth and Bowl focuses on sores upon those with the mark)
#2 Mountain burning with fire into Seas Blood
Revelation 8:8 and Revelation 16:3
#3 Star from heaven - Rivers Spring polluted
Rev 8:10-11 and Rev 16:4
#4 Sun/Moon/stars darkened
Rev 8:12 and Rev 16:8-9 (Trumpets darken sun/moon/stars; bowls cause Sun scorching)
Revelation 8:13 (NKJV)
13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
REVELATION 9
#5 Darkness (and torture of beast’s kingdom)
Rev 9:1-4 and Rev 16:10;
Revelation 9:1–6 (NKJV)
1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
#6 Euphrates and army of Armageddon
Rev 9:13-16 and Rev 16:12-16
200 Million man army –
1/3 of mankind killed
Revelation 9:20–21 (NKJV)
20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
THE NEGATIVE REFRAIN – “they did not repent”
REVELATION 10-11
MIGHTY ANGEL
Revelation 10:5–7 (NKJV)
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
END?
John eats the book – sweet in mouth but bitter in stomach
Revelation 11 – The temple and two witnesses
Temple exists (part of antichrist peace treaty)
Revelation 11:3–6 (NKJV)
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
2 witnesses – fire of Elijah and the Plagues of Moses – final witness to a fallen world
3.5 years (42 months, 1260 days)
Revelation 11:15–17 (NKJV) 7th trumpet
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
#7 The End/It is done "flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake...hail”
Rev 11:15-19 and Rev 16:17-21 (identical wording of lightning/thunder/etc)
THE END? YES!
v. 15 “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (v. 15)
Revelation 12 begins a reboot! Looking from a different angle
Revelation 12:1–6 (NKJV)
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Debate – woman is Israel – gives birth to a son, Jesus – caught up to Heaven
2017 This “sign” appeared in heavens – in the constellations
Virgo (virgin, had king planet (Jupiter) appear in abdomen area (
Of constellation), and clothed with sun (during day) and moon at her feet – not visible except through special software
GOD GIVES SIGNS AND WARNINGS BEFORE THINGS HAPPEN
Revelation 12 – Satan thrown out of heaven, Israel and saints persecuted
REVELATION 13 – THE BEAST 7 HEADS – ANTICHRIST
SATANIC TRINITY
Satan (The Dragon)
Antichrist (The Beast)
False Prophet (Another Beast w/2 Horns like a lamb)
Learn lots about the beast – but learn he sets up an image of the Beast
Revelation 13:15–18 (NKJV)
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Revelation 14
144,000 AGAIN
Sealed with the name of God on their forehead (contrasting the beast- 666)
3 angels warning (evangelism, Babylon fallen, worship beast = damnation)
Then 2 harvests!
Revelation 14:14–19 (NKJV)
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
No blood, earth reaped.
Revelation 14:17-19
17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
2nd harvest sent to the winepress of he wrath of God
Revelation 15
Revelation 15:1–3 (NKJV)
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
Revelation 16 – The 7 Bowl Judgments
Parallel the 7 Trumpet judgments
SLIDE
REVELATION REBOOT
Rev 1-3 (churches) 4-6 (7 Seals, Trib) 7 (144k, rapture) Rev 8-11 (7 Tpts, 2 witness)
Rev 12-13 (Antichrist, False worship, Mark) 14-15 (144k, reaping) Rev 16-19 (7 Bowls, Babylon)
Revelation 17 -18
17 – Woman riding the beast – mystery Babylon (false religion)
Contrast the Bride of Christ
18 – Economic Babylon destroyed
Revelation 19 – Marriage of the Lamb and Return of Jesus!
(Really coincide with end of 11)
Worship in Heaven,
Armies of Heaven come with Jesus on white horses
War with Jesus
Revelation 20
Satan bound and the millennium
Satan released for a final rebellion, then thrown in Lake of Fire
Revelation 21
New Heavens, New Earth, New Jerusalem (the Bride)
Revelation 22:1–2 (NKJV)
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Bible ends as it begins – in a garden with the Tree of Life and life restored – Paradise restored
Revelation 22:6–7 (NKJV)
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:20–21 (NKJV)
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Spurgeon: “Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. If you don’t learn heaven’s language on earth you cannot learn it in the world to come.”
It’s all about Jesus!
Bottom Line:
Are you in a relationship with Jesus? You can’t say “I hope so.”
That is like someone asking, “Are you married?” and answering “I hope so.”
Application