Review

AUTHOR: Revelation 1:1,4,9; 22:8 

specifically identifies the author of the book of Revelation as John, who is generally identified as the apostle John, the author of the Gospel of John. DATE: The book was likely written between AD 90 and 95.

Revelation presents a glorious, reigning Christ. 

The Gospels present Him as a Savior, One who came to take the curse of sin; but in this last book we see no humiliation. In one way Revelation is the most remarkable book in the whole sacred canon. Revelation tells us about the reign of Christ on this earth, which Satan wants to control. It tells of Christ’s complete and eternal victory over Satan. It describes Satan’s defeat and punishment, first for a thousand years and then for eternity.

Revelation was written using symbols. 

The hard of hearing have a sign language, each gesture of which is filled with meaning. So it is with every symbol in Revelation: Each of the 300 symbols in this book has a definite meaning and signifies a great truth. This book was sent and signified by the angel to John, but it is the revelation of Jesus Christ, not the revelation of John.

More than 25 times in it we find Christ’s sacrificial title “Lamb.”

 In addition, we see a vision of the future of the Church and the world in relation to Christ—events yet to be fulfilled. It has been said that the saving blood of Christ runs through the entire Bible like a red cord. It has also been said that the second coming of Christ runs through the Bible like a golden cord. We are saved and washed clean in His blood so that we may be ready and eager for His return.

In Genesis the heaven and earth were created—in Revelation we see a new heaven and a new earth. 

• In Genesis we see the sun and moon appear—in Revelation we read that there is no need of the sun or moon, for Christ is the light of the new heaven. 

• In Genesis there is a garden—in Revelation there is a holy city. 

• In Genesis there is the marriage of the first Adam—in Revelation there is the marriage supper of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. 

• In Genesis we see the beginning of sin—in Revelation sin is done away with. 

• In Genesis we see the appearance of the great adversary, Satan, and sorrow and pain and tears—in Revelation we see Satan, sorrow, pain and tears destroyed.

God had determined from the beginning that His Son would be the ruler of this universe (see Isaiah 9:6-7)

. Revelation is the greatest drama of all time. The plot is tense throughout; the final scene is glorious, for Christ comes into His own. The hero is our Lord Himself; the villain is the devil. The actors are the seven churches. The characters unloosed by the seals of chapters 6 and 7 are introduced by four different horsemen. Then those summoned by the trumpets in turn leave the scene of action; and we see the Antichrist, the world ruler, stalking across the stage (see Revelation 13). This incarnation of the devil himself is determined to set up his own kingdom and be worshiped by people. But Christ brings all of Satan’s plans to nothing.

After all the struggle has ended and the beasts have been destroyed and the devil bound and “the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:4-5). This book brings to a climax the great story commenced in Genesis, and as all good stories should, it ends “And they lived happily ever after.” Notice the sevens in this book: • Seven churches • Seven signs • Seven seals • Seven plagues • Seven trumpets • Seven dooms • Seven new things

The Seven Golden Bowls When the seven trumpets sound, Satan releases his power to accomplish his objectives. The seven bowls are God’s power released against Satan. Even though God has revealed Satan’s utter evil, people still blaspheme God and do not repent (see Revelation 16:9,11).

bowls are God’s answer to the devil, blasting his dominion with plagues such as those of Egypt—blood, hail, fire, locusts, darkness, famine, sores, earthquakes, war and death. Satan has dared to challenge God’s power. God is now answering the challenge, unleashing the seven dooms of His wrath on a Christ-rejecting world: 1. Ecclesiastical—Revelation 17 2. Commercial—Revelation 18 3. Political—Revelation 19:11-19 4. The beast and the false prophet—Revelation 19:20-21 5. The nations—Revelation 20:7-9 6. The devil—Revelation 20:10 7. The lost—Revelation 20:11-15 Satan is forced into action. His kingdom is shaken to its foundations and he is undone. This ends in the battle of Armageddon (see Revelation 16:13-16), with Christ taking the leadership of His armies. This battle is fully described in chapters 17–19.