Revelation Overview

Overview of the Book of Revelation

All scripture quotations are taken from the Authorized King James Bible. Any deviations are not intentional. All underlines, bold and words within brackets are the author's.

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How is the book to be interpreted?

When seeking to understand the book of Revelation, the first question we need to ask ourselves is this. How is the book to be interpreted? Some would suggest that we should interpret everything in the book literally and physically. They tell us that if the book speaks of a mountain, we must interpret it to be referring to a literal, physical mountain. If the book speaks of trees or fire, we must interpret it to be referring to literal, physical trees and literal, physical fire. Let’s try that shall we. Please consider the following passage.

Revelation 11:3-5

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

If one tries to take these symbols literally, then they must believe the following:

1. These two witnesses are two literal trees.

2. They are also two literal candlesticks (how can they be both?).

3. They (together) have only one mouth (the passage says "their mouth"), therefore, they must be joined at the head.

4. Literal fire comes out of their one literal mouth and literally burns people up.

Such an interpretation would be absolute nonsense. But nonetheless, many insist that these two witnesses are two literal people. But they can’t have it both ways. If we interpret the two witnesses to be two LITERAL people, then we must take everything else the passage says about them LITERALLY as well. But as we have seen, such an interpretation would be nonsensical. This is just one example of many which could be given from the book. Since we are clearly not to take these things literally and physically, how then should we interpret them? The book itself tells us how it is to be interpreted.

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Notice the word "signified" in the above verse. The first part of the word signified is the word "sign". The contents of this book were “signified” - communicated by way of signs (symbols). So, in order for us to properly understand what this book is saying, we must first find the meaning of these signs/symbols elsewhere in scripture and then plug those meanings back into the passage. Then we are to interpret the MEANING of the symbols literally, but not the symbols themselves. When we do this, we will then be able to understand what the book is saying. It is sort of like the decoder rings that we played with as children. Remember those?

Suppose that we were to set up the following code.

1 = A

2 = B

3 = C

If I were to send you a message that said "312", you wouldn’t think I was sending you a “literal” number. You would understand that it was a code that needed to be interpreted/ translated/converted in order to be understood. Once you looked up the meaning of each symbol, you would then correctly understand that “312” symbolized the word "cab". This is the same way that the book of Revelation is written. It is writing by means of symbols. We dare not take the symbols literally, lest we misinterpret the book. Instead, we must find the meaning of those symbols (elsewhere in scripture) and then plug those meanings back into the text. Then, will we be able to understand the truth the book is communicating.

As I said earlier, the book of Revelation tells us how it is to be interpreted. Consider the following verses.

Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...

Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...

Revelation 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Revelation 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Notice this oft repeated expression “He that hath an ear, let him hear”. This is a very important statement which is communicating a very important thing. What is the statement telling us? Well, let us ask ourselves, where else to we find this expression in scripture?

Matt 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:43 ...Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:9 ...He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:8 ...He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 14:35 ...He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What do the contexts of all of the above passages have in common? In all of them, Jesus is speaking in parabolic/symbolic language where the things being stated actually represent something else. The book of Revelation is written in the SAME parabolic/symbolic language. Therefore, it contains this same expression. These verses in Revelation are telling those in the churches that they are to take what is written in this book symbolically. Unless a person understands this, they will completely misunderstand and misinterpret the book because they are NOT taking it in the way the very book says it is to be taken.

What is the structure of the book?

Another thing which is helpful in seeing the “bigger picture” of the book of Revelation is to understand its structure. This book is structured around a series of “sevens”. In it we find:

1. Seven Churches (Rev. 2-3).

2. Seven Seals (Rev. 6-8).

3. Seven Trumpets (Rev. 8-11).

4. Seven Vials (Rev. 15-16).

In order for us to rightly understand these things and what is being communicated by them, we must first understand the symbolic meaning of the number “seven”. The number "seven" is often used in scripture to symbolize "completion". It is used to represent the “completeness” of whatever is in view. Here are a few examples.

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Here we see Jesus portrayed as a lamb, which of course represents His being the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). But notice that Christ is symbolized here as a lamb with “seven” horns. In scripture, horns are symbolic of power.

Daniel 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

When the ram above has his horns broken, he no longer has any power. So, horns represent power. Since horns represent power and the number seven represents completeness, then the picture of Jesus as a lamb with seven horns represents that Jesus has complete power (and authority).

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

So, we can see that the number seven represents completeness. The same is true in the symbolism of the seven eyes.

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

In prophecy, eyes have to do with seeing.

Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

These seven eyes upon the lamb represent that Christ being God is all seeing. He is ever-present and has all (complete) knowledge. The text also refers to "the seven Spirits of God".

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Are there literally seven spirits of God? - Of course not.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

As we have seen, the number seven is used in scripture to symbolize completeness. The number seven when applied to the one Holy Spirit symbolizes His “complete” work. So, the seven horns symbolize Christ's complete power and authority. The seven eyes symbolize Christ's complete vision (through being ever-present and having all knowledge). And the seven Spirits of God symbolize the complete work of the Holy Spirit.

Once we understand these things, these series of “sevens” begin to make more sense. Since seven is a symbol which represents completeness, here is what these series of sevens represent.

1. Seven Churches represent the complete church.

2. Seven Seals represent a complete unsealing.

3. Seven Trumpets warnings represent a complete warning.

4. Seven Vials of wrath represent God's complete wrath.

We will get into the actual timing of these events in future articles, but for now it is important to see the structure of the book.

What is the timing of these events?

The next question we need to ask ourselves in order to rightly understand this book is this. What is the timing of these events? When do they take place? Have most of these events already taken place as the preterists tell us, or are they all future as the futurists tell us? The answer is neither. Although many of the events in the book of Revelation do take place near the end of time (during the Great Tribulation), others are taking place now. We cannot go into all of these timeframes in this article, but let’s look at a couple of them so that you can see what I mean. Please understand that I will not be able to explain all of the symbols in these passages, we will only be looking at timeframes.

Two of the timeframes we see repeatedly mentioned in the book are the timeframes of 1260 days and 42 months. As with most everything else in the book of Revelation, these timeframes are not literal but are symbolic as we shall see.

1. The 1260 days began at the first coming of Christ

The two witnesses are said to prophesy for 1260 days.

Revelation 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

When did these 1260 symbolic days begin?

Revelation 12:1-2, 5-6

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The man child is Jesus Christ, for it is He who shall rule all nations with a rod of iron (Psa. 2:9; Rev. 2:27; Rev. 19:15). His catching up to God’s throne is Christ's ascension to heaven (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). And after Christ is caught up, the woman then flees into the wilderness for 1260 days. So the 1260 symbolic days BEGAN at the first coming of Christ.

2. The 42 months begin after the 1260 days

The two witnesses testify for 1260 days, then after the 1260 days, when they shall have finished their testimony...

Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

The 1260 symbolic days end when the beast arises and kills the two witnesses. And after his arising, the beast then continues for 42 months. So the 42 symbolic months immediately follow the 1260 symbolic days.

3. The 42 months end at the second coming of Christ.

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Revelation 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

The rider on the white horse is Christ and His riding forth is the second coming. And notice that the beast’s reign is put down by Christ at the second coming and the beast is cast into the lake of fire. So the time of the beast's reign (the 42 months) continues until the second coming.

So we have 1260 days which are then follow by 42 months and these two times together span the entire time from the first coming of Christ until the second coming of Christ. Clearly these timeframes are NOT to be understood literally but are symbolic. We will get into these things in more detail in future articles, but for now please understand that the events of this book span the time from the first coming of Christ until the second coming of Christ.

The chart below lays out the basic timetable of the book of Revelation.

We will explain these matters in much greater detail from scripture in future articles, but for now, this is the basic timeline of the book of Revelation. The 42 symbolic months is the time of the great tribulation. The reason the seven vials are not in this diagram is because it comes from a later section of Revelation which is filling in the details and is, therefore, not chronologically related to the other sevens.