Fourfold Structure
The book of Revelation is comprised of a prologue, the vision proper, and an epilogue. The vision falls into four recognizable divisions, and each commences when John finds himself “in the spirit” and is transported to a specific location. For example, the first vision begins with John on Patmos where he “comes to be in spirit” and sees a vision of the one “like a son of man.”
In the second literary unit, John sees “a
door opened in heaven,” and the voice from his first vision summons him to “come
up here.” The second division is characterized by three sevenfold series,
the seven seals, trumpets, and seven “bowls of wrath” - (Revelation
12:1-16:21).
In the first division, the local situation
in the province of Asia is viewed from the perspective of John’s exile on the
isle of Patmos. In the second, the vision is from the perspective of the Throne.
The third division begins with John “carried
away in spirit” to the wilderness by one of the seven angels who have the
seven “bowls of wrath.” A different Greek verb is used than in the first
two divisions - “carried away” instead of “came to be.”
Thus, for example, John finds himself “in
the wilderness” where he sees the “Great Whore,” Babylon - (Revelation
17:1-21:8).
In the third division, John witnesses the
judgment of the enemies of the “Lamb” unfolding, but in reverse order
from their introduction in the second division - Babylon, the “Beast from
the earth,” the “Beast from the sea,” and the “Dragon.”
In the fourth division, John is “carried
away in spirit” by one of the same seven angels, but this time to a “high
mountain” where he sees another “city,” New Jerusalem, descending
from heaven to the earth.
The four divisions form two distinct pairs.
The first pair is characterized by the clause “I came to be in spirit”; the
second pair by “he carried me away in spirit.”
The first pair looks at the present reality
of the churches in Asia; the second compares two cities - “Babylon” and “New
Jerusalem.”
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK
PROLOGUE -
(1:1-8):
The
Purpose of the Revelation - (1:1-3)
John’s Salutation to the Seven Churches - (1:4-9).
DIVISION
I – Inaugural Vision of the Risen Christ - (1:8-3:22):
Jesus
in the Midst of the Churches - (1:10-20)
Seven Messages for Seven Churches - (2:1-3:22)
DIVISION
II – The Church in Hostile Territory - (4:1-16:21):
The
Divine Throne and the Sealed Scroll - (4:1-5:14)
The
Seven Seals - (6:1-8:5)
The
Seven Trumpets - (8:6-11:19)
God’s
Victorious People vs. Satanic Forces - (12:1-14:20)
The Seven Bowls of Wrath Culminate in Final
Judgment - (15:1-16:21)
DIVISION III – The
Destruction of Gods’ Cosmic Enemies - (17:1-21:8):
The
Fall of Babylon, the Great Whore - (17:1-19:10)
The
Destruction of the Beast and False Prophet - (19:11-21)
The
Binding, Release, and Judgment of Satan - (20:1-10)
The
Great White Throne of Judgment - (20:11-15)
Transitional Passage: The Descent of New Jerusalem
- (21:1-8)
DIVISION IV – New
Jerusalem: Bride of Christ and City of God - (21:9-22:7)
EPILOGUE – Final
Warnings, Exhortations, Salutations - (22:8-21)