SURVEY OF REVELATION
Jesus — Judge of All and King of Kings
Introduction
The Book of Revelation concludes the canon of Scripture. John presents Jesus in His role as Judge and invites the unsaved to believe in Him for eternal life and encourages believers to overcome in life so as to rule with Him over a new heaven and a new earth.
Literary Structure and Content
The Book of Revelation has multiple facets of structure that are temporal, thematic, telescopic, and transpositional. Revelation 1:19 sets out the temporal facet where Jesus instructs John to write the things he has seen, the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. The thematic facet is developed throughout the book revealing Jesus as the Judge of all and the Lord of the new heaven and the new earth. The telescopic facet is seen in the progression of the seven seals in which the seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets, the seven trumpets in which the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls, and the seven bowls which are the culmination of the judgments. The transpositional aspect is an ascending and descending mirror structure with repeated themes in variation and development.
Prologue: Read, Hear, and Heed the Message of the Glorified Christ 1:1-20
A Jesus and the Church: The Present Struggle of the Church 2:1—3:22
Seven Letters to the Seven Churches – Promises Made to Overcomers
B Commission: Authority to Reclaim the Earth Extended 4:1—8:5
The Scroll with the Seven Seals
C Prosecution of War: The Warning Judgments 8:6—11:19
Seven Trumpets
D The Lamb at War with the Dragon and the Beasts 12:1—14:20
Figures and Angelic Messages
C’ Prosecution of War: The Wrathful Judgments 15:1—16:21
Seven Bowls of Wrath
B’ Elimination: Authority to Reclaim the Earth Exercised 17:1—20:15
Final Removals – Ejection of the Rebels from the Earth
A’ The Lamb and the Bride: The Future Residence of the Bride 21:1—22:5
New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem – Promises Fulfilled
Epilogue: Come and Overcome 22:6-21
I. Jesus is unveiled as the Judge of all (1:1-20).
A. The book of Revelation will be a blessing to those who read and obey the message from Jesus, the Judge of
all (1:1-3).
B. Jesus is the eternal World-King and Judge who is to come (1:4-8).
C. Jesus is unveiled as the glorious sovereign Lord who is Judge of all (1:9-20).
II. The Lord of the Church judges the seven churches of Asia which represent the possible state of churches of
any time (2:1–3:22).
A. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Ephesus that left its first love (2:1-7).
B. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Smyrna that suffers persecution (2:8-11).
C. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Pergamum that compromises in doctrine (2:12-17).
D. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Thyatira that tolerates immoral behavior (2:18-29).
E. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Sardis that is asleep (3:1-6).
F. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Philadelphia that is faithful (3:7-13).
G. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Laodicea that is materialistic (3:14-22).
III. The Lord Jesus receives the title-deed to judge and reclaim the earth (4:1–5:14).
A. The Eternal Father sits on the throne in heaven and receives the adoration of the four living creatures and
the enthroned elders (4:1-11).
B. The Eternal Father offers the title-deed of the earth to Jesus, the worthy redeemer (5:1-6).
C. Jesus, the worthy Lamb takes the title-deed to the earth (5:7).
D. The angels and the elders worship Jesus the rightful King of the earth and Judge of all (5:8-14).
IV. The Lord Jesus judges the earth (6:1–19:6).
A. The Wrath of the Lamb: Jesus opens six of the seven seals of the title-deed to the earth and unleashes
His beginning judgments (6:1-7).
B. In the midst of wrath, God provides an opportunity for people to believe (7:1-17).
C. Jesus opens the seventh seal and the six trumpets sound judgment on the earth (8:1–9:21).
D. Jesus prepares to take possession of the earth and clear it of unrepentant rebels (10:1-11).
E. The two witnesses carry out a ministry of warning and judgment (11:1-14).
F. The seventh trumpet sounds and Jesus is triumphant in the cosmic conflict of the ages involving men and
angels (11:15–14:20).
G. The seven bowls of the wrath of God are poured out on the earth (15:1–16:28).
H. Babylon is judged and falls and all those in heaven give praise (17:1–19:6).
V. The Lord Jesus returns to the earth (19:7-21).
A. Jesus and His bride will soon celebrate with a great wedding feast (19:7-10).
B. Jesus returns to rule the earth (19:11-16).
C. Jesus rids the earth of rebels (19:17-21).
VI. The Lord Jesus reigns on the present earth for 1,000 years (20:1-10).
A. The Millennium begins with the banishment of Satan (20:1-3).
B. Jesus reigns for a thousand years with those who take part in the resurrection of believers while the
resurrection of unbelievers will take place after the completion of the Millennium (20:4-6).
C. When the thousand years are completed Satan will be released to lead the nations in a final rebellion which
will be met with fiery judgment (20:7-10).
VII. The Lord Jesus judges the unsaved of all ages (20:11-15).
A. The unbelieving dead of all ages are raised and judged according to their deeds and thrown into the lake of
fire (20:11-14).
B. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire (20:15).
VIII. Jesus is the Lord of the new heaven and new earth (21:1–22:5).
A. John sees a new heaven and a new earth (21:1).
B. John sees the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven (21:2).
C. God will dwell among His people and establish a new order (21:3-4).
D. He who overcomes will inherit these things while the part of the unbelieving in their myriad states of sin will be
in the lake of fire (21:5-8).
E. The New Jerusalem in all her beauty will be the abode of the bride, the wife of the Lamb, while the nations
and their kings live by its light and bring their glory into it (21:9-27).
F. God’s bondservants will serve Him in a new paradise with the river of life and the tree of life whose leaves are
for the well-being of the nations (22:1-5).
IX. You are invited to come and to overcome (22:6-21).
The final words of Revelation provide the theological and practical applications for the book and all of Scripture:
If we have believed in Christ for eternal life, we will live with Him forever. That issue is settled. A question now to ask is “Will I be a part of that future group of believers who will rule with Him forever?” The answer is: if you overcome and keep His deeds to the end you will (Rev 2:26). Come and overcome.
Jesus — Judge of All and King of Kings
Introduction
The Book of Revelation concludes the canon of Scripture. John presents Jesus in His role as Judge and invites the unsaved to believe in Him for eternal life and encourages believers to overcome in life so as to rule with Him over a new heaven and a new earth.
Literary Structure and Content
The Book of Revelation has multiple facets of structure that are temporal, thematic, telescopic, and transpositional. Revelation 1:19 sets out the temporal facet where Jesus instructs John to write the things he has seen, the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. The thematic facet is developed throughout the book revealing Jesus as the Judge of all and the Lord of the new heaven and the new earth. The telescopic facet is seen in the progression of the seven seals in which the seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets, the seven trumpets in which the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls, and the seven bowls which are the culmination of the judgments. The transpositional aspect is an ascending and descending mirror structure with repeated themes in variation and development.
Prologue: Read, Hear, and Heed the Message of the Glorified Christ 1:1-20
A Jesus and the Church: The Present Struggle of the Church 2:1—3:22
Seven Letters to the Seven Churches – Promises Made to Overcomers
B Commission: Authority to Reclaim the Earth Extended 4:1—8:5
The Scroll with the Seven Seals
C Prosecution of War: The Warning Judgments 8:6—11:19
Seven Trumpets
D The Lamb at War with the Dragon and the Beasts 12:1—14:20
Figures and Angelic Messages
C’ Prosecution of War: The Wrathful Judgments 15:1—16:21
Seven Bowls of Wrath
B’ Elimination: Authority to Reclaim the Earth Exercised 17:1—20:15
Final Removals – Ejection of the Rebels from the Earth
A’ The Lamb and the Bride: The Future Residence of the Bride 21:1—22:5
New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem – Promises Fulfilled
Epilogue: Come and Overcome 22:6-21
I. Jesus is unveiled as the Judge of all (1:1-20).
A. The book of Revelation will be a blessing to those who read and obey the message from Jesus, the Judge of
all (1:1-3).
B. Jesus is the eternal World-King and Judge who is to come (1:4-8).
C. Jesus is unveiled as the glorious sovereign Lord who is Judge of all (1:9-20).
II. The Lord of the Church judges the seven churches of Asia which represent the possible state of churches of
any time (2:1–3:22).
A. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Ephesus that left its first love (2:1-7).
B. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Smyrna that suffers persecution (2:8-11).
C. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Pergamum that compromises in doctrine (2:12-17).
D. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Thyatira that tolerates immoral behavior (2:18-29).
E. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Sardis that is asleep (3:1-6).
F. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Philadelphia that is faithful (3:7-13).
G. The Lord Jesus judges the church at Laodicea that is materialistic (3:14-22).
III. The Lord Jesus receives the title-deed to judge and reclaim the earth (4:1–5:14).
A. The Eternal Father sits on the throne in heaven and receives the adoration of the four living creatures and
the enthroned elders (4:1-11).
B. The Eternal Father offers the title-deed of the earth to Jesus, the worthy redeemer (5:1-6).
C. Jesus, the worthy Lamb takes the title-deed to the earth (5:7).
D. The angels and the elders worship Jesus the rightful King of the earth and Judge of all (5:8-14).
IV. The Lord Jesus judges the earth (6:1–19:6).
A. The Wrath of the Lamb: Jesus opens six of the seven seals of the title-deed to the earth and unleashes
His beginning judgments (6:1-7).
B. In the midst of wrath, God provides an opportunity for people to believe (7:1-17).
C. Jesus opens the seventh seal and the six trumpets sound judgment on the earth (8:1–9:21).
D. Jesus prepares to take possession of the earth and clear it of unrepentant rebels (10:1-11).
E. The two witnesses carry out a ministry of warning and judgment (11:1-14).
F. The seventh trumpet sounds and Jesus is triumphant in the cosmic conflict of the ages involving men and
angels (11:15–14:20).
G. The seven bowls of the wrath of God are poured out on the earth (15:1–16:28).
H. Babylon is judged and falls and all those in heaven give praise (17:1–19:6).
V. The Lord Jesus returns to the earth (19:7-21).
A. Jesus and His bride will soon celebrate with a great wedding feast (19:7-10).
B. Jesus returns to rule the earth (19:11-16).
C. Jesus rids the earth of rebels (19:17-21).
VI. The Lord Jesus reigns on the present earth for 1,000 years (20:1-10).
A. The Millennium begins with the banishment of Satan (20:1-3).
B. Jesus reigns for a thousand years with those who take part in the resurrection of believers while the
resurrection of unbelievers will take place after the completion of the Millennium (20:4-6).
C. When the thousand years are completed Satan will be released to lead the nations in a final rebellion which
will be met with fiery judgment (20:7-10).
VII. The Lord Jesus judges the unsaved of all ages (20:11-15).
A. The unbelieving dead of all ages are raised and judged according to their deeds and thrown into the lake of
fire (20:11-14).
B. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire (20:15).
VIII. Jesus is the Lord of the new heaven and new earth (21:1–22:5).
A. John sees a new heaven and a new earth (21:1).
B. John sees the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven (21:2).
C. God will dwell among His people and establish a new order (21:3-4).
D. He who overcomes will inherit these things while the part of the unbelieving in their myriad states of sin will be
in the lake of fire (21:5-8).
E. The New Jerusalem in all her beauty will be the abode of the bride, the wife of the Lamb, while the nations
and their kings live by its light and bring their glory into it (21:9-27).
F. God’s bondservants will serve Him in a new paradise with the river of life and the tree of life whose leaves are
for the well-being of the nations (22:1-5).
IX. You are invited to come and to overcome (22:6-21).
The final words of Revelation provide the theological and practical applications for the book and all of Scripture:
- These words are faithful and true and will soon take place (22:6).
- Jesus is coming soon (22:7a, 12, and 20).
- We who heed are blessed (22:7b-10, 14).
- Whatever our future state, it is permanent (22:11, 15). The time to believe is now, before our final state is fixed for all time.
- Jesus is coming with rewards (22:12).
- Jesus is God (22:13).
- Jesus is the Messiah (22:16).
- Come to Christ and get the water of life freely (22:17).
- Don’t mess with the book (22:18-19). Don’t add to it. Don’t take away from it.
- The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all (22:21). Amen.
If we have believed in Christ for eternal life, we will live with Him forever. That issue is settled. A question now to ask is “Will I be a part of that future group of believers who will rule with Him forever?” The answer is: if you overcome and keep His deeds to the end you will (Rev 2:26). Come and overcome.
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