1. STRUCTURE OF THE APOCALYPSE

2. Meant to be understood on first hearing (1:3). Meant to be reread and studied. Tends to repeat itself; judgment and salvation…

3. Broad divisions of the Book Prologue 1:1-8 (describing the purpose of the book) Greeting (1:4-5a) Body (1:5b-22:5) Epilogue (22:6-21)

4. The importance of Rev 1:19 Poythress states that 1:19 divides the book into three sections: Past (1:9-1:18), Present (2:1-3:22), and future (4:1-22:5). He qualifies this by saying that this threefold division is only a rough one. Poythress, 57. three events mentioned in 1:19 are: Christ first coming, the latter-day church age, and the second coming. Meta tauta “after these things” (1:19; 4:1) refers to past, present and future realities in the NT.

5. Already and Not Yet The “end times” have begun, are continuing and will be consummated some time in the future. (e.g., Mark 1:15; Acts 2:17; Gal 4:4; 1 Cor 10:11; 2 Cor 6:2; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 3:1; 1 Pet 1:20; 2 Pet 3:3; Heb 1:2; 9:26; Jas 5:3; 1 John 2:18; Jude 18)

6. Chiasms and Revelation A. The People of God depicted with the imagery of light andcreation (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) 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 the Prostitute (17:1-6) E’. Babylon destroyed (17:15-18:24) E’. Babylon destroyed (17:15-18:24) D’. The Bride is blessed with marriage (19:1-10) 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)

7. Sevenfold Chiastic structure purposed by Fiorenza A. 1:1-8 B. 1:9-3:22 C. 4:1-9:21; 11:15-19 D. 10:1-15:4 C’. 15:1, 5-19:10 B’. 19:11-22:9 A’. 22:10-22:21

8. Order of Visions Chronological? Then we are moving chronologically throughout the book toward a future climax. Sequential? The order of visions doesn’t mean a chronological advance from 4:1 to 19.

9. Further Divisions of the book (1)1-3(1)1-3 (1)1-3(1)1-3 (2)4-7(2)4-7 (2)4-7(2)4-7 (3)8:1-11:14(3)8:1-11:14 (4)11:15-14:20(4)11:15-14:20 (5)15-16 (5)15-16 (5)15-16 (5)15-16 (6)17:1-21:8(6)17:1-19:10 (7)21:9-22:21 (7)19:11-21:8 (7)21:9-22:21 (7)19:11-21:8 (8)21:9-22:21 (8)21:9-22:21

10. Question: Are the literary divisions related to one another chronologically, thematically or both?

11. Does 4:1-22:6 represent a sequential forecast of events or do some segments overlap temporally and thematically?

12. More theories of structure. Non-Chronological A. Patchwork- the book is not logically organized B. Poetic theory- includes some repetition of themes C. Liturgical pattern theory- based upon a worship situation D. Recapitulation view- same time period but seen from different angles. Chronological A.Drama theory- it is a seven act play to be performed in Ephesus. B.Sevenfold Design theory C. Futurist Chronological view -structure of increasing severity of the judgments -existential hermeneutic; the things have not happened but will in our time.

13. Revelation’s dependence on Daniel 2 for its structure John seems to introduce the main sections of his book by alluding to Dan 2. 4:1-22:5 is to be seen as a broad unity. The visions of destruction (6-20) are bracketed by an overarching vision of God as creator and redeemer: chs 4-5 and 21:1-22:5 respectively.

14. (1) First allusion to Daniel that sets the stage for following these allusions as signals to outline the rest of the book (1:1). Introduction: 1:1-8 (2) Second allusion to Daniel that introduces the next section in the book 1:19-20 A. Church imperfect in the world (1:9-3:22) (3) Third allusion to Daniel in 4:1 4:1-8:1 Seven Seals 8:2-11:19 Seven Trumpets 12:1-14:20 Deeper conflict 15:1-16:21 Seven Bowls 17:1-21:8 Final Judgment B. Church is perfect in glory (21:9-22:5 (4) Fourth allusion to Daniel in 22:6 Conclusion: 22:6-21

15. “Daniel’s structure of five synonymously parallel visions (chs 2, 7, 8, 9, 10-12) may be the most influential on the structure of Revelation, since Daniel is used so much in the book and is used to signal broad structural divisions of the Apocalypse.” Beale, Revelation, 135.

16. “ Daniel’s five parallel visions are supplemental perspectives about the same general period of the future; it would be unexpected for a book like Revelation to model itself on Daniel’s parallel structure and yet have its parallel sections not also pertain to the same general period of the future. Rather, it would seem more natural for the parallels to reflect an “already and not yet” temporal perspective, especially since some of Daniel’s significant future visions have begun to be fulfilled in Christ’s first coming.” Beale, Commentary, 136.

17. The repetition of structural patterns in Revelation 7 churches 7 letters 7 seals 7 seven trumpets 7 seven bowls Seventh in each represents final judgment

18. Repetition of significant themes, images and phrases Repetition of “three and one-half years of persecution” in (11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; and 13:5) suggests that chs. 11 (vv1-13), 12, and 13 do not follow one another chronologically but refer to the same events. “‘gather them together for war’ in 16:14; 19:19 and 20:8 is a strong hint that 15:1-16:21; 17:1-19:10; and 19:11-21:8 refer to the same time and episode” “The battle” imagery in 19:17-18, 21 and 20:8-9 is all from the same eschatological battle in Ezekiel 39 (Ezek. 39:4, 17-20 and 1, 6) the fall of Babylon” 14:8; 16:19; 17:16; 18:2, 10, 17, 19-21; and 19:2-3 are not descriptions of different events but of the same cataclysmic judgment.

19. The Letters relation to the vision False prophet (2:2)Twelve true apostles 21:14 False Jews (2:9; 3:9)The names of the tribes of the true Israel 21:12 Christians dwell where Satan’s throne is (2:13) Christians dwell where God’s throne is (22:1) Some in the church are dead (3:1)All in the new Jerusalem are written in the Lamb ‘s book of life (21:27) The church is faltering, temporal lampstand (1:20; 2:5) God and the Lamb are the eternal lamps (21:23-24; 22:5) The church is filled with idolatrous impurities (2:12-15, 20) and liars (2:9; 3:9) There will be only purity and truth in the new creation (21:8, 27) Christians face persecution, hoping in God’s promises to overcomers (2:8- 10, 13) In the new creation they reign, having inherited these promises (2:7=22:2; 2:17=22:4; 3:5=21:27; 3:12=21:10 and 22:4; 3:21=22:1 and 22:5)

20. Each promise made to the overcomers is completely fulfilled in the final vision of the new creation Food: 2:7 and 22:2 The temple: 3:12 and 21:22ff Identification with an eternal city: 3:12 and 21:2, 10 A great name: 3:12 and 22:4 Eternal security: 3:5 and 21:27 Incorruptible clothing: 3:5 and 21:2, 9ff. (cf. 19:7-8) A bright stone and a luminary: 2:17, 28 and 21:11, 18-21, 23; 22:5, 16 A share in Christ’s kingly power: 2:26-27; 3:21 and 22:5 Exclusion from the “second death”: 2:11; 21:7-8

21. Repetition of Judgment-Salvation conclusions JudgmentSalvation 6:12-177:9-17 11:18a11:18b 14:14-20 and 15:2-416:17-21 and 19:1-10 20:7-15 and 21:1-821:9-22:5