Revelation - The Apocalypse Project

This is one of the most avoided book in all the Bible today. Typically congregations will study the New Testament and get to the book of Jude and turn around and start Matthew again, completely avoiding the book. So much has been written and so much has been abused from this book. All sorts of […]

The Seven Churches-Literal or Figurative?
Most argue that the seven churches are figurative. Seven represents the divine, perfect number and so this passage is referring to all churches in general. Every church can find its condition within these seven churches is how this is argued. To prove that these churches are figurative many point out […]

Claim To Be Jews and New Jerusalem (3:9,12)
In Revelation 3:9 we read again about those who claim to be Jews but lie. We saw this very same problem concerning the Christians at Smyrna. The church in Philadelphia also had to deal with the persecution of the Jews during this time. The Christians in Philadelphia are […]

In Vision (1-2)
A powerful voice speaks to John like the sound like a trumpet. John is told that the things he will be shown must take place after this. When is “after this?” The things we will read in the future chapters will take place after the events recorded in Revelation 2-3. Revelation 2-3 described […]

The Scroll and the Time of the End (1-4)
Chapter 5 introduces us to the One seated on the throne with a scroll in his right hand. The scroll has writing on the front and back and is sealed with seven seals. The writing on both sides indicates the fullness and completeness of the message. We […]

The First Seal (6:1-2)
When the first seal is opened, one of the living creatures says “Come.â€? What answers the call of this command to come? Out comes a white horse and the horseman had a bow and a crown was given to him. The first four horsemen in this chapter have commonly been referred to […]

The Four Angels (vs. 1-3)
In chapter 7 we read about four angels holding back the four winds at the four corners of the earth, so that no wind could blow on the earth, sea, or tree. Wind is a common symbol used by God to depict judgment. Notice Jeremiah 49:36, “Against Elam I will bring […]

The Seventh Seal (vs. 1-6)
The seventh seal is opened and instead of hearing a voice like the other seals or seeing creatures, judgment, or horsemen, there is complete silence in heaven for about half an hour. It is the calm before the storm and is a pause before judgment is unleashed. Then the scene changes […]

The Fallen Star (vs. 1, 11)
The fifth angel blows his trumpet and John sees a star. Notice the star had already fallen, describing the action in the past tense. A fallen star symbolizes authority falling from power. Notice Isaiah 14:12, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are […]

The Mighty Angel (10:1-4)
Chapter 10 presents a fascinating scene with a mighty angel coming down from heaven, and John sees this angel in great heavenly splendor. He is surrounded by a cloud, a rainbow over his head, his face is like the sun, and his legs are like fiery pillars. These images simply show the […]

Measure the Temple (11:1-2)
John is told to measure the temple, the altar, and the people who worship there. But John is to exclude the courtyard outside the temple from measurement. Now before we go into the details of this figure, let us make a point. Many who try to prove that this book is written […]

We have come to a noticeable break in the book of Revelation. Up through chapter 11 we have seen the destruction of Jerusalem pictured. We noted in chapter 11 that the holy city is to be trampled upon by the nations, just as Jesus had spoken in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. We are now […]

The First Beast (13:1-10)
The dragon takes his stand on the seashore and coming out of the sea, John sees a beast. Remember John is still seeing a vision, these are not descriptions that are literally occurring on the earth. The beast is described as having ten horns, seven heads, and ten diadems. This description is […]

The Lamb on Mount Zion (14:1-3)
Chapter 14 contrasts chapters 12 and 13. John looks and he sees the Lamb standing on Mt. Zion. This is a contrast to chapter 12:1 where we saw the dragon take his stand on the seashore. With the Lamb are the 144,000. The 144,000 are the ones who had been […]

Those Who Conquered the Beast (15:1-4)
John witnesses another great and awesome sign in heaven where he sees seven angels with the seven last plagues. Seven has been a dominant number in Revelation, symbolizing completeness and fullness. With these last seven plagues God’s wrath will be completed. This is a similar statement to what we saw […]

The First Bowl (16:1-2)
The command is given to pour out these seven bowls of God’s wrath, which contain the seven last plagues on the earth. I think it is important to make a couple of points before we look at these plagues. The seven bowls have many parallels to the events that have already occurred […]

The seven bowls of God’s wrath have been poured out upon Babylon the Great, which is the beast from the sea which we saw in Revelation 13. Revelation 14:8-9 shows that the beast and Babylon the Great linked together. Revelation 17 will also link Babylon the Great and the beast together. The bowls which have […]

It Has Fallen! (18:1-8)
Chapter 18 is fairly self-explanatory so we will quickly move through this chapter. The cry goes out that Babylon the Great has fallen. Though Rome had not yet fallen, its fall is spoken of as if it already happened because of the surety of the event (see notes on Revelation 14:8). All […]

In chapters 17 and 18 we have seen the demise of Babylon the Great, which has been identified for us in Revelation 17:18 as “the great city that has an empire over the kings of the earth.” Now many consider these next chapters the most difficult of Revelation. I do not believe this to be […]

Satan Is Bound (20:1-3)
Now the question to the Christians must be: what about the dragon that we read about in Revelation 12? Will it continue to rule? Will it raise up another beast against us? What is to become of the dragon? Chapter 20 will give us the answer. We see the dragon seized, who […]

New Heaven and Earth (21:1)
John sees a new heaven and new earth for the first heaven and earth have passed away. This is the only time we see this phrase in Revelation. Further, this is the only description we receive about a new heaven and new earth. In verse 2 John sees new Jerusalem and […]

In Revelation 21 we noticed the description of new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven. Revelation 21:11-14 showed John the splendor and glory of this city. In Revelation 21:15-18 we able to see the strength and power of the city. In Revelation 21:19-21 we are shown the beauty of the city. Revelation […]