THE REVELATION SERIES 23

0. Introduction

a) Revelation is a complex book, and it has baffled interpreters for centuries. We can avoid a great deal of confusion by understanding the literary structure of this book. This approach will allow us to understand the individual scenes within the overall structure of Revelation and keep us from getting unnecessarily bogged down in the details of each vision. John gives hints throughout the book to indicate a change of scene, a change of subject, or a flashback to an earlier scene.

b) Key verse: Revelation 1:3

i) 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. (Revelation 1:3 NKJV)

1. The final three chapters of the book of Revelation catalogue the events that finalize Christ's victory over the enemy. An angel then gives John final instructions concerning the visions John has seen and what to do once he has written them all down.

a) Scripture text: Revelation 22:7-11

i) 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. ¹¹ He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:7-11 NKJV)