1. Revelation--chapter outline
1. John's story
1. loud voice behind him
2. turns and sees lamps and son of man; falls at his feet
3. son puts right hand on him and says do not be afraid and starts telling meaning of vision as letters to chruches
4. before his eyes a door opens and voice lures him up to heaven [ch. 4]; caught up by the spirit; stands in front of throne
5. elder turns to John, asks who white robed ones are, John doesnt know answer, elder replies: those are the saved who passed through the great ordeal; God will wipe all tears from their eyes--ch.7
6. Ch. 10 angel comes down holding little scroll; gives great shout; John about to write down what seven thunders said, he says dont write that down; says no more delay; now, when the seventh angel sounds trumpet, comes the big fulfillment of hidden purpose of God as he promised to his servants and prophets; gives John the scroll to eat--tastes sweet will turn sour in stomach
1. at end, breaks frame; reiterates command to spread prophecies
7. Ch. 21:5 God says "write this down: for these words are trustworthy and true. Indeed they are already fulfilled"
8. Ch. 22:
2. ch. 1--frame
1. God gave revelation to Jesus to show his servants what must shortly happen, who sent it with angel to his slave, John
2. happy is he who reads; hour of fulfillment is near NB
3. to seven churches in Asia
1. greetings from him who is and was and is to come, seven spirits before his throne, Jesus, faithful witness, first-born from the dead, ruler of kings of the earth
2. him who loves us and freed us from our sins with his life's blood, made of us a royal house, to serve as priests of his God and Father [use of Ariel as messenger]
3. he is coming with the clouds; every eye shal see him, and among them those who peirced him; and all the peoples of the world shall lament in remorse [he is coming; he will appear--prospero at end]
4. Alpha and Omega--applied to God 21.6 and Jesus 22.13--i.e. beginning and ending of the book
1. [Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters]
2. cf. also X as logos
4. John, was on the island of Patmos because I had preached God's word; caught up in the spirit; told to write down what you see
1. vision of "a son of man"--sword in mouth--applied to Jesus; from Dan. 7.13--priesthood, kingship, eternity, ominiscience, strength
1. words and swords--power of word
2. snow white wool hair
3. voice sound of rushing waters
4. face shone like sun
5. do not be afraid; i'm first and last
6. i hold keys of Death and Death's domain
2. Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand--angels and churches
1. Christ bringing symbols and interpreting them [with more symbols]
3. V.ch.2-3--to Angels at Churches
1. at Ephesus
1. I know all your ways, your toil and fortitude
2. NB-TEST: you've put to the proof those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3. youve lost your early love; repent [cf. Prospero's surveillance and testing; sending messages to men of sin]
2. Smyrna
1. you are hard pressed and poor--and yet rich [morale raising]
2. slandered by those who claim to be Jews and are not--cf. Paul, Romans--they're Satan's synagogue
3. you'll be put to the test...be faithful till death and I will give you the crown of life
3. Pergamum
1. you live where Satan has his throne
2. get rid of the Nicolaitans--who eat the meat that's been sacrificed
3. I'll give the victorious over temptation hidden manna and a white stone and on it a new secret name
4. Thyatira
1. you're doing good, but dont tolerate Jezebel, who claims to be a prophetess, lures my servants into fornication and eating food sacrificed to idols
2. threats against her and her children
3. My Father shall rule with iron rod and smash them to bits but if you're loyal you'll get authority NB
5. Sardis
1. wake up, you're dead
2. He who is victorious shall thus be robed all in white
6. Philadelphia
1. you're neither hot nor cold, i'll spit you out of my mouth
2. all whom I love I reprove and discipline NB--cf. Prospero with Miranda and Ferdinand and Ariel
4. Vision in heaven
1. In heaven stood a throne--pageant starts--ch. 4
1. jasper and cornelian
2. round throne a RAINBOW
3. other thrones surround it, elders in white and gold
4. flashes of lightning, peals of thunder [cf. EXOD--Sinai]
5. sea of glass, like sheet of ice [the water reservoir in the temple]
6. four living creatures [Ezekiel] covered with eyes: lion, ox, human, eagle, each with six wings and eyes all over surround central throne--they and elders give glory, falling down before throne--Imperial worship
2. Beginning of action
1. scroll with seven seals in right hand--ch.5
2. no one can open but a lamb with the signs of slaughter[paschal]
3. voices of elders and then thousands of angels declare the lamb is worthy to open the seals because it was slain to receive power; then the voices of every created thing in heaven and on earth and under earth and in the sea
4. account of ritual worship; utterance of prayers of praise and falling down and worshipping--ch.6
3. The seven seals
1. lamb breaks first seal
1. living creature says come; white horse appears, rider holding bow is crowned and rides forth to conquer[defeat]
2. second seal
1. red horse--given a sword--power to take peace and make men slaughter one another[violence]
3. third seal
1. third creature says come; black horse; rider with scales--whole days wage for quart of flour [famine]--cf. Joseph and dreams
4. fourth seal
1. fourth creature: sickly pale horse--Death: given right to kill by many means
5. fifth
1. souls of those who had been slaughtered for Gods word cry--how long before you will avenge our blood? They are told to rest awhile longer [waiting for vengeance]
6. sixth
1. earthquake; sun turns black, moon red, stars fall, sky vanished as a scroll is rolled up; kings and rich hid in caves and crags, hiding from the vengeance
7. [a break]--ch 7 [suspense]
1. four angels at four corners holding four winds; another angel carrying seal says wait till seal is on foreheads of servants [cf. Exodus]
1. 144K from tribes of Israel--12K from each
2. a vast throng which no one could count from every nation, people, language; robed in white; shouted "victory"
2. elder turns to John, asks who white robed ones are, John doesnt know answer, elder replies: those are the saved who passed through the great ordeal; God will wipe all tears from their eyes--ch.7--passage prefigures ending
8. lamb breaks seventh seal--ch 8
1. silence of half an hour [suspense]
2. angels given seven trumpets; another came with golden censer and great quantity of incense--[more priestly ritual]
3. censer smokes; angel throws it down to earth with thunder and lightning.
4. Seven angels blow trumpets
1. first: hail and fire hurled upon earth
2. second: blazing mountain hurled into sea, a third turned to blood, a third of ships foundered
3. third: star falls on a third of rivers and springs, called Wormwood; it poisoned water and men died
4. fourth: third of sun and moon and stars are struck and go dark
5. Eagle breaks pattern, crying woe, woe, woe about the next three
6. fifth: fallen star given key to open shaft of abyss, smoke rises, out of smoke come locusts with powers of scorpions; they attack only those men without the seal whom they torment mercilessly for five months
1. locusts like horses equipped for battle
2. their king Abaddon, Apollyon, the Destroyer
7. sixth: voice from between horns of the altar--let loose cavalry to kill one third of mankind; two hundred million cavalry
1. breastplates in red blue and yellow; heads like lions, breathing fire; tales like snakes
8. another interruption--between six and seven
1. Ch. 10 angel comes down holding little scroll; gives great shout;
1. John about to write down what seven thunders said, he says dont write that down;
2. says no more delay; now, when the seventh angel sounds trumpet, will come the big fulfillment of hidden purpose of God as he promised to his servants and prophets
3. gives John the scroll to eat--tastes sweet,will turn sour in stomach
2. Ch. 11--told to measure temple--in outer court a drama of two prophets scorned and sent to heaven [Elijah and Moses?]
9. seventh trumpet and voices again shout and elders fall over and worship and say thanks for the vengeance; the temple is opened and the ark of the covenant is seen; and there's a great storm
5. Great Portents appear
1. Woman, dragon and child--Ch.12
1. woman robed with sun, moon, stars--pregnant and in anguish of labor, cried out to be delivered
2. red dragon--swept down a third of the stars and flung them to earth--stands in front of woman to devour child as its born
3. child is destined to rule all nations with iron hand; snatched up to God; she flees to wilds where place is prepared for her by God
2. War in heaven;
1. Michael and angels vs. dragon; dragon is Satan, serpent of old who led whole world astray; thrown down to earth with his angels
2. takes us back to Genesis
3. cf. the war in heaven and the war in Exodus
1. King James translation of "salvation" is "victory" in NEB
2. try out word complex: salvation, redemption, victory, conquest, deliverance
3. cf. Salvation Army; the Army of the Saints
4. idea of deliverance--cf. Frye--the myth of deliverance--the flood
4. Voice says: this is hour of victory for our God, the hour of his sovereignty and power, when his Christ comes to his rightful rule!
1. this is the equivalent to song of Moses in Gen. 15 and Te Deum; victory chant
2. accuser of our brothers is overthrown...by the sacrifice of the Lamb they have conquered him, and by the testimony which they uttered, for they did not hold their lives too dear to lay them down
3. Rejoice then you heavens and you that dwellin them! But woe to you, earth and sea, for theDevil has come down to you in great fury, knowing his time is short
3. Defeated dragon comes to earth
1. Dragon chases woman; she flees to place prepared--[a second telling of this event];
2. tries to flood her out, earth comes to rescue;
3. furious, dragon goes off to wage war on rest of her offspring--that is those who keep commandments and maintain testimony to Jesus
4. takes stand on seashore
4. Dragon and beasts Ch. 13
1. beast rises out of sea--leopard, bear, lion
2. dragon confers power and rule and authority on it
3. whole world went after both in admiration [cf. Golden Calf, other gods]
4. beast mouths bombast and blasphemy; rules for 42 months [rule of Stephano?]
5. will rule and be worshiped by everyone except those Lamb keeps in roll of the living, written there since world was made [idea of worshipping idol; false god and Caliban, Trinculo, Stephano]
6. another beast, subject to the first, came to rule; forced people to worship image of the first beast; worked great miracles, deluded the inhabitants of the earth and made them erect an image in honor of the first beast; allowed to give breath to the image of the beast [is this Stephano coming out of the sea?; could Caliban be the dragon; offspring of devil?]
7. the image of the beast spoke, caused everyone to branded with the mark on right hand or forehead in order to buy and sell; numerical value of letters is 666.
5. The harvest of the damned vs. saved Ch. 14
1. On Mt. Zion stood Lamb and 144K who are the holy ransomed remnant with his name and Father written on their foreheads. [are these the Jewish remnant of Paul, who will be saved]
1. Sounds: rushing water, harps; a new song that only they could learn
2. Three angels
1. First flies by proclaiming to every tribe and language: Fear God and pay him homage; for the hour of his judgement has come
2. Second cries fallen is Babylon the great
3. Third: whoever worships the beast and has its mark "shall drink the wine of God's wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of his vengeance. He will be gormeneted insulpurous flames...forever and ever
3. White cloud; son of man; voice says earths crop is overripe; starts to reap harvest; more angels develop grape harvest image--people are gathered into the great winepress of God's wrath; for two hundred miles around blood flowed
6. Wrath of God consummated--the seven bowls and plagues Ch. 15
1. seven angels with seven plagues--the last of all
2. The saved with harps who'd won victory over the beast, singing the song of Moses [either Exod 15 or Deut. 32] and the song of the lamb
1. Moses victory over Pharaoh foreshadows victory over the beast cf. Psalm 145.17
3. Tent of Testimony opens and the seven angels come out; living creature gives them seven golden bowls of gods wrath; smoke fills sanctuary; voice says go and pour--Ch. 16
1. first: malignant sores
2. second: sea turned to blood and every living creature died
3. third: rivers and springs
4. interruption: this is just punishment
5. fourth: sun burned men with flames--no repentance
6. fifth: poured on throne of beast; kingdom in darkness; men gnawed tongues but didnt repent
7. sixth: Euphrates dried up
8. from mouth of dragon,beast, and false prophet come devils who muster the kings of the world for great day of battle with God at Armageddon
9. seventh: loud voice: It is over [sense of ending upon ending]
1. lightning , thunder, eathquake; city split in three; every island vanished; no mountains; huge hailstones
7. Judgement on the Great Whore Ch. 17:
1. One of the angels that held the bowls says he will take John to see
2. kings have committed fornication with her
3. carried into the wilds: woman mounted on a scarlet beast, clothed in purple, gold cup , written on forehead: name with secret meaning--mother of whores and of every obscenity on earth [sounds like Sycorax]
4. she was drunk with the blood of God's people
5. angel will tell secret of this spectacle
1. beast is he who once was alive and is alive no longer but has yet to ascend out of the abyss before going to perdition
1. [is this Nero, antichrist?]
2. seven heads are seven hills and seven kings...they all will wage war on the Lamb, but the lamb will defeat them
3. the woman is the great city that holds sway; their populace will turn against her
6. Ch. 18--more voices from heaven
1. angel announces: fallen fallen is Babylon the great...merchants thw world over have grown rich on her bloated wealth
2. voice: come out from her my people, lest you take part in her sins and share in her plagues. Kings and merchants will mourn--at great length
1. [Prospero attempting to warn the men of sin through Ariel]
2. cf. Noah and Abraham with Sodom, Jonah in Nineveh, etc.
3. But heaven and the righteous will exult, for in judgment of her God has vindicated your cause
4. More vaunting over future fall of Babylon
7. Ch. 19. rejoicing over destruction of Babylon
1. Alleluia [hallel] the smoke goes up former for ever and ever.
2. elders and creatures fell down and worshipped
8. Shift now via alleluia to celebration of the wedding day of the Lamb 19: 6
6. Transition to final section
1. Angel says write this: Happy those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb [comedy ending--cf. wedding supper of Miranda and Ferdinand]
7. The final battles
1. Heaven opens revealing white horse and rider--Faithful and True
1. garment drenched in blood
2. Word of God
3. armies of heave follwed on white horses
4. sharp sword from mouth
5. King of King and Lord of Lords
2. Beast and kings do battle with Rider
1. beast taken prisoner along with prophet; thrown in lake of fire; the rest killed; the birds gorge themselves
3. Dragon chained up by angel for 1000 years
4. First resurrection
1. those who had no mark of best and who were beheaded rule with Jesus--those are priests of God
5. Final battle 20:7
1. Satan let loose, will come out to seduce nations; leads Gog and Magog; besiege city that God loves.
2. Fire comes down and consumes them; Devil flung into lake of fire and sulphur, there to be tormented forever with the beast and false prophet
8. Resurrection--the second 20:11
1. earth and heaven vanish; dead stand before throne; books opened; dead judged on the record of hteir deeds
2. sea gave up its dead; so did Death and Hades
3. Death and Hades and any whose names were not found in book of living were flung into the lake of fire--this is the second death
9. New Heaven and New Earth
1. No longer any sea
2. Holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven made ready like a bride adorned for husband
3. Voice: Now at last, God has his dwelling among men. He will dwell among them and they shall be his people and God himself will be among them.
1. [Is this what Prospero is doing at end?]
2. He will wipeevery tear from their eyes
3. Old order has passed away; no more death, mourning, crying, pain
4. God speaks to John
1. I am Alpha and Omega--cf. opening of book
2. All this is the victor's heritage. But as for the cowardly, faithless, vile...their lot will be the second death in the lake...
5. The bride: the holy city of Jerusalem
1. One angel who held bowl addresses John
1. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb
1. [contrast to showing him Babylon ch. 17]
2. holy city of Jer. coming down
1. radiance, wall, gates
3. angel carries gold measuring rod; precise measurements; streets of translucent gold; jewels everywhere
4. no temple in city; temple was lord; no need of sun or moon; glory of god gave it light [cf. Exodus]; no night; nothing unclean will enter [Noah]
5. river of water of life; tree of life; twelve crops of frutit one for each month of the year [cf. Prospero's wedding masque]
5. Final frame
1. John wants to worship angel; told no; he's a fellow servant
2. I am coming soon; I am Alpha and Omega--third time
3. I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches
4. I am the scion and offspring of David
5. Come say the Spirit and bride/ Come let each hearer reply/ Come forward yuou who are thirsty; adccept the water of life; a free gift to all who desire it [cf. Herbert Love III]
6. Curse on anyone who adds to subtracts from words of this book.