The Origin and Outline of Revelation

Revelations was written by John on the Isle of Patmos. As Jesus confirmed John as one of the Disciples and charged John along with the others to carry the word to the world, and having faith that God Himself has had a hand in keeping the Bible alive and protected through the ages, John is confirmed as the servant by an Angel of God.

Rev 1:1 ....and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: v2) Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

With John as a confirmed witness, He is given a series of letters for the Seven Churches and a series of Visions to be given to the people of the world, in order to understand the changes in history, to be able to know and read the signs of the times, and to be prepared for our own battles for the times in which we live.

The Outline of Revelation

The outline of Revelation is tough to figure at first because Revelation is segmented. First you have the confirmation of John the Servant of Christ in delivering it's message.  Next, you have the letters to the seven churches. The message to the seven churches is important to read and know what God expects from His people, and the many error's we tend to make. We are human, and as much as we may want to be Holy like God, we are not and can never be in this life. The letters to the seven churches are important, but the fact that those letters and the churches are not mentioned beyond chapter 4 does not mean the church isn't there nor does it mean a rapture has occurred. That is not taking Gods word literally, He doesn't say the church will be spared the tribulation, in fact Jesus said, it is for us to suffer tribulation, but not the wrath of God. I will show in the prophecies that they begin long before the tribulation, when the church is still on the earth.  I will probably get a lot of flack for this study, because people want to believe God will spare us this period of time. I think it is more important to listen to what God is telling us, not finding ways to make our wants be met in His word.

Next is a chronological outline of what can be expected from the time Christ enters into heaven until the end of time, or the end of the tribulation. After the chronological prophecies, John  has several other visions that shed light or further define events in history, as well as a metaphorical vision of the purpose of the creation and life on earth. This is very much like the way Genesis is written.  The first chapter details the chronological events of Creation, chapter two goes back over the creation, not in chronological order, but rather detailing some specifics of the creation and Gods relationship with man. Many of the added visions are exactly that, they enhance some of the specific area's of time, most of which we can place once you have an understanding of the time line.

Finally, the Book of Revelation reveals the destruction of the heavens and the earth, and a new heaven and earth created, upon which the new city will be placed and we will live forever in the light of the Son, Jesus Christ.

The Timeline of the Prophecies of Revelations