Structure

Revelation has some characteristics of apocalyptic literature (see on Apocalyptic). Like Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah, it contains visions with many symbolic elements. Using visual imagery as well as verbal promises and warnings, it weaves together into a vast poetic tapestry the themes of the whole rest of Scripture. Its depths are displayed through the multiplicity of its allusions.

The Prologue of Revelation (1:1-3) explains its basic purpose. 1:4-22:21 is a letter with greeting (1:4-5a), body (1:5b-22:20), and farewell (22:21). In formal features this arrangement parallels Paul’s letters.

1:19 provides a clue for dividing up the main body of the book. There are three clauses. “What you have seen” consists in the vision that John has already experienced (1:12-20). “What is” consists in the present state of the churches (2:1-3:22). “What will take place later” consists in the future-oriented section in 4:1-22:5. The propriety of this threefold division is confirmed by the close match between “what will take place later” in 1:19 and the description in 4:1: “what must take place after this” (in Greek, only one word differs). This threefold division, however, is only a rough one. 2:1-3:22 contains future-oriented promises, and 4:1-22:5 contains much information relevant to the present situation of the churches.

How do we proceed to divide the large section from 4:1 to 22:5? Interpreters continue to differ over the proper divisions. Revelation is like a tapestry, with many interwoven patterns. Choosing one pattern as the basic one may lead to an outline of one type, while choosing a different pattern leads to a different outline. It is wiser, then, to recognize that no one outline or structural analysis captures everything. We here present several outlines and structures, each focusing primarily on a different aspect of the total patterning.

We may begin with a focus on “formal,” grammatical patterning. Repeated phrases give us clues. The visions accompanying the opening of the seven seals belong together. Likewise, the seven trumpets belong together. Less obviously, major shifts of scene are indicated when John the seer is transferred to a new location. Each such transference takes place “in the Spirit,” and in each case after the first there is a statement, “I will show you … .” We obtain the following outline.

Formal Clues in Revelation

I. Prologue 1:1-3

II. Introduction of the Letter 1:4-5a

III. Body of the Letter 1:5b-22:20

    A. Body-Opening 1:5b-8

    B. Body-Middle 1:9-22:17

        1. Introduction 1:9

        2. Visions 1:10-22:5

            a. Vision of Christ (in the Spirit) 1:10-3:22

                (1) The meeting with Christ 1:10-20

                (2) Messages to the churches 2:1-3:22

                    (a) Ephesus 2:1-7
                    (b) Smyrna 2:8-11
                    (c) Pergamum 2:12-17
                    (d) Thyatira 2:18-29
                    (e) Sardis 3:1-6
                    (f) Philadelphia 3:7-13
                    (g) Laodicea 3:14-22

            b. Vision in heaven (in the Spirit) (I will show you) 4:1-16:21

                (1) Throne vision 4:1-11

                (2) Scroll 5:1-14

                (3) 7 seals 6:1-8:1

                    (a) 1st seal 6:1-2
                    (b) 2d seal 6:3-4
                    (c) 3d seal 6:5-6
                    (d) 4th seal 6:7-8
                    (e) 5th seal 6:9-11
                    (f) 6th seal 6:12-17
                    (g) parenthesis 7:1-17
                    (h) 7th seal 8:1

                (4) 7 trumpets 8:2-11:19

                    (a) 7 angels together 8:2-6
                    (b) 1st angel 8:7
                    (c) 2d angel 8:8-9
                    (d) 3d angel 8:10-11
                    (e) 4th angel 8:12-13
                    (f) 5th angel 9:1-12
                    (g) 6th angel 9:13-11:14
                    (h) 7th angel 11:15-19

                (5) the woman and the dragon 12:1-17

                (6) the beast 13:1-10

                (7) the lamb-beast 13:11-18

                (8) the 144,000 14:1-5

                (9) 3 angelic messengers 14:6-13

                (10) the son of man 14:14-20

                (11) 7 bowls 15:1-16:21

                    (a) the origin of the bowls 15:1-16:1
                    (b) 1st bowl 16:2
                    (c) 2d bowl 16:3
                    (d) 3d bowl 16:4-7
                    (e) 4th bowl 16:8-9
                    (f) 5th bowl 16:10-11
                    (g) 6th bowl 16:12-16
                    (h) 7th bowl 16:17-21

            c. Vision in the wilderness (in the Spirit) (I will show you) 17:1-21:8

                (1) the harlot Babylon 17:1-18

                (2) announcement of the fall of Babylon 18:1-24

                (3) joy in heaven 19:1-10

                (4) the last battle 19:11-21

                (5) the 1000 years

                (6) the great white throne 20:11-15

                (7) new heaven and earth 21:1-8

            d. Vision on the great high mountain (in the Spirit) (I will show you) 21:9-22:5

        3. Conclusion 22:6-17

    C. Body-Closing 22:18-20

IV. Conclusion 22:21

In a second approach, we look at content rather than formal clues. The most important event toward which history moves is the Second Coming of Christ. Visions that describe the Second Coming mark important transitions. When we go to Revelation with this concern in mind, we find descriptions of the Second Coming no less than seven times! There are seven cycles of judgment, each leading up to the Second Coming. A final, eighth vision shows the new Jerusalem, the consummate state on the other side of the Second Coming. Here is the resulting outline:

Rhetorical Structure of Revelation

I. Prologue 1:1-3

II. Greeting 1:4-5a

III. Body 1:5b-22:20

    A. Thanksgiving 1:5b-8

    B. Main part 1:9-22:6

        1. What you have seen 1:9-20

        2. What is 2:1-3:22

        3. What is to be 4:1-22:5

            a. Cycle 1: 7 seals 4:1-8:1

            b. Cycle 2: 7 trumpets 8:2-11:19

            c. Cycle 3: symbolic figures and the harvest 12:1-14:20

            d. Cycle 4: 7 bowls 15:1-16:21

            e. Cycle 5: judgment of Babylon 17:1-19:10

            f. Cycle 6: white horse judgment 19:11-21

            g. Cycle 7: white throne judgment 20:1-21:8

            h. The 8th and culminating act: new Jerusalem 21:9-22:5

    C. Final instructions and exhortations 22:6-20

IV. Closing salutation 22:21

The cycles parallel one another. All cover the same period leading up to the Second Coming. But each cycle does so from its own distinct vantage point. Moreover, later cycles concentrate more and more on the most intense phases of conflict and on the Second Coming itself.

We may summary the focus of the different cycles as follows:

Commission:

    7 seals 4:1-8:1. Commission of covenant judgment in heaven. The origin of God's triumph.

The prosecution of war:

    7 trumpets 8:2-11:19 effects on earth

    7 symbolic histories 12:1-14:20 depth of conflict

    7 bowls 15:1-16:21 effects on earth, further intensity

Elimination:

    7 messages of judgment on Babylon 17:1-19:10 elimination of the seductress

    white horse judgment 19:11-21 elimination of the power source

    white throne judgment 20:1-21:8 elimination of all evil

New Jerusalem

In the cycle of 7 seals and in the cycle of 7 trumpets we see a common pattern. First John sees an opening scene, which depicts the origin of the judgments that will take place during the cycle. Then come 6 successive judgments. Then we have an interlude, focusing on a message of promise and comfort to the saints. Then follows the seventh judgment. The judgments are predominantly negative in character, but the interlude is predominantly positive. The origin of the judgments is both positive—a source of punishment to rebels and a source of comfort to saints. The structure can be represented as a pattern of a, b, a', bb. The a part is positive while the b part is negative. The double bb at the end represents a final, more intensive judgment. The prime on a' indicates that it is distinct from the original a.

1. Cycle 1: 7 seals 5:1-8:1

    a. Scene: the recompenser 5:1-14
    b. 6 judgments 6:1-17
    a'. Promise for the church 7:1-17
    bb. 7th judgment 8:1

2. Cycle 2: 7 trumpets 8:2-11:19
    a. Scene: recompensers 8:2-6
    b. 6 judgments 8:7-9:21
    a'. Promise for the church 10:1-11:14
    bb. 7th judgment 11:15-19

Since the pattern is so clear in cycles 1 and 2, it is natural to try to detect it in the remaining cycles. We obtain the following as a more complex analysis:

I. Introduction: the participants 1:1-11

II. Body: the message 1:12-22:5

    A. The judge 1:12-20

    B. Preliminary promises and warnings for the churches 2:1-3:22

    A'. Judgment for the world 4:1-21:8

        A. Scene: recompenser-creator 4:1-11

        B. 6 cycles of judgment 5:1-19:21

            1. Cycle 1: 7 seals 5:1-8:1

                a. Scene: the recompenser 5:1-14
                b. 6 judgments 6:1-17
                a'. Promise for the church 7:1-17
                bb. 7th judgment 8:1

            2. Cycle 2: 7 trumpets 8:2-11:19

                a. Scene: recompensers 8:2-6
                b. 6 judgments 8:7-9:21
                a'. Promise for the church 10:1-11:14
                bb. 7th judgment 11:15-19

            3. Cycle 3: 7 symbolic histories 12:1-14:20

                a. Scene: two poles; the woman and the dragon 12:1-6
                b. 6 symbolic histories 12:7-14:11
                    (1) The dragon's history 12:7-12
                    (2) The woman's history 12:13-17
                    (3) The (sea) beast 13:1-10
                    (4) The earth beast or false prophet 13:11-18
                    (5) The 144,000 14:1-5
                    (6) The angelic proclaimers 14:6-11
                a'. Promise for the saints 14:12-13
                bb. 7th symbolic history: the harvest of the Son of Man 14:14-20

            4. Cycle 4: 7 bowls 15:1-16:21

                a. Scene: the recompensers 15:1-8
                b. 6 judgments 16:1-14,16
                a'. Promise for the church 16:15
                bb. 7th judgment 16:17-21

            5. Cycle 5: 7 messages of judgment on Babylon 17:1-19:10

                a. Scene: symbolic actors (recipients) 17:1-6
                b. 6 messages of destruction 17:7-18:19
                    (1) 1st angelic message 17:7-18
                    (2) 2d angelic message 18:1-3
                    (3) 3d heavenly message 18:4-8
                    (4) The kings of the earth 18:9-10
                    (5) The merchants 18:11-17
                    (6) The seafaring men 18:18-19
                a'. Promise for the saints 18:20
                bb. 7th message of destruction 18:21-24

                a''. 7-fold joy in heaven 19:1-10 19:1-2, 3, 4, 5, 6-8, 9, 10

            6. Cycle 6: the white horse judgment 19:11-21

                a. Scene: the recompenser 19:11-16
                b. Angelic message of destruction 19:17-18
                a'. Promise for the saints 19:19c.
                bb. Final judgment of the beast and the false prophet 19:19-21

        A'. Promise for the saints 20:1-10

            a. Scene: recompenser 20:1
            b. Preliminary judgment 20:2-3
            a'. Promise for the saints 20:4-6
            bb. Final judgment of opponents and Satan 20:7-10

        BB. Cycle 7: the white throne judgment 20:11-21:8

            a. Scene: recompenser 20:(7-10)11
            b. Divine judgment 20:12-15
            a'. Promise for the saints 21:1-7
            bb. Exhaustive judgment 21:8

    BB. Final promised blessing of the consummation 21:9-22:5

III. Concluding remarks and exhortations 22:6-21

In addition to these patterns, still other patterns exist in the form of chiasms, that is, mirror-image patterns.

Symbolic personages are introduced into the drama one by one, and then their destinies are assigned in the reverse order, as follows:

A. The people of God depicted with the imagery of light and creation 12:1-2

  B. The Dragon, Satan 12:3-6

    C. The Beast and the False Prophet 13:1-18

      D. The Bride: The people of God in the imagery of sexual purity 14:1-5

        E. Babylon the prostitute 17:1-6

        E. Babylon destroyed 17:15-18:24

      D. The Bride is blessed with marriage 19:1-10

    C. The Beast and the False Prophet are destroyed 19:11-21

  B. The Dragon is destroyed 20:1-10

A. The people of God in the imagery of light and creation 21:1-22:5

There also seems to be a major chiasm involving themes:

Chiastic Thematic Structure in Revelation: Especially War

A. Leading into the visions: the seer, the revealers, and the audience 1:1-11
        1. Prologue 1:1-3
                a. Title 1:1a.
                b. The witness 1:1b-2
                c. Reading the prophecy 1:3
        2. Participants 1:4-11

    B. Christophany 1:12-20

        C. Recompense to the churches: church militant 2:1-3:22

            D. Throne vision 4:1-5:14

                E. 7 seals: rider judgments (1-4 focus on humans) 6:1-8:1
                        1. Content of the judgments 6:1-17
                        2. Preservation of the church 7:1-8:1

                    F. 7 trumpets: angelic judgments (1-4 focus on nature) 8:2-11:19
                            1. Judgment of the nations 8:2-9:21
                            2. Preservation of the church 10:1-11:13
                           3. Joy in heaven 11:15-19

                        G. The redeemed 12:1-6
                               (with intermixed strife 12:3-6)

                            H. Deceptive opponent (Satan) 12:7-17

                                I. Destructive opponent (Beast) 13:1-10

                            H. Deceptive opponent (False Prophet) 13:11-18

                        G. The redeemed 14:1-20
                               (with intermixed strife 14:6-20)

                    F. 7 bowls: angelic judgments (1-4 focus on nature) 15:1-19:10
                            1. Judgment of the nations 15:1-16:21
                            2. End of the pseudochurch Babylon 17:1-18:24
                           3. Joy in heaven 19:1-10

                E. White horse: rider judgment (focus on humans) 19:11-20:10
                        1. Content of judgment 19:11-21
                        2. Preservation of the church 20:1-10

            D. Throne vision 20:11-15

        C. Announcement of recompense to the churches: church triumphant 21:1-8

    B. Theophany 21:9-22:5

A. Leading out of the visions: the seer, the revealers, and the audience 22:6-21
        2. Participants 22:6-17
        1. Epilogue 22:18-21
                c. Reading the prophecy 22:18-19
                b. The witness 22:20
                a. Colophon 22:21

Many other thematic features unify the book (see on Major Themes). Repeated use of the number seven signifies completeness. God’s plan and power determine the outcomes. Praise to God rises from the angels and from the saints (see note on 1:6). Satanic counterfeits oppose God in a spiritual war of cosmic proportions. The present struggles of the church (2:1-3:22) contrast with its final rest. The church must maintain its witness and its purity. Everything moves forward to the victory of Christ at his Coming.

Because it is so important to pay attention to the larger picture, the accompanying notes do not attempt to explain every detail. For details students should consult a reliable commentary, such as the ones by Leon Morris, G. K. Beale, and Robert Mounce. Many details can be interpreted in more than one way. The notes seldom include a representation of all important options. Patience and humility are needed when we confront disagreements on these matters. In the meantime, Revelation has broad lessons from which all can profit.