Table of Contents
Preface 13
Part 1 The Interpretation of Revelation
Why study the book of Revelation? Why is it important? 17
What are the four main views of Revelation? 19
What are some of the keys to interpreting Revelation, especially all the symbols? 25
Are the numbers and time periods in Revelation literal? 33
What is the outline of the book? 36
Part 2 The Background of Revelation
Who was the human author of Revelation? 41
When was Revelation written? 42
Who were the recipients of Revelation? 51
What is Revelation about? 52
What are some of the key words in Revelation? 53
Was Patmos a penal colony in the first century? 55
Part 3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1)
What does the title "the Revelation of Jesus Christ" mean? 59
What are the names and titles for Jesus in Revelation? 60
What do "soon" and "near" mean in 1:1 and 1:3? 61
Who are the "seven Spirits of God"? 65
How can every eye see Jesus when He returns to earth (1:7)? 68
What does "Almighty" mean (1:8)? 69
What does "in the Spirit" mean (1:10)? 70
What is "the Lords day" (1:10)? 70
Who are the "angels" of the seven churches? Are they angelic beings or humans? 72
Part 4 The Churches (Revelation 2-3)
Why did Jesus address these seven churches? 77
Do the seven churches represent seven stages of church history? 78
Who were the Nicolaitans? 82
What does it mean to be an "overcomer"? 84
What are the "ten days" of tribulation (2:10)? 85
What is Satan's throne (2:13)? 86
What is the "white stone, and a new name written on the stone" (2:17)? 87
Can the names of believers be erased from the book of life (3:5)? 88
Does Revelation 3:10 support the pretribulation rapture view? 89
Who are the "earth dwellers" in Revelation? 91
What does it mean that Jesus is "the Beginning of the Creation of God" in 3:14? 93
What is meant by "hot," "cold," and "lukewarm" in 3:15-16? 95
Is Revelation 3:20 a gospel invitation? 98
Part 5 The Consummation (Revelation 4-22)
Section 1 The Scene in Heaven (4-5)
Is Revelation 4:1 a reference to the rapture? 107
Will believers see God in heaven? 109
Who are the 24 elders? 112
What is the seven-sealed scroll in Revelation 5? 114
Section 2 The Tribulation (6-18)
Why do the scenes in Revelation alternate back and forth between heaven and earth? 119
Who is the rider on the white horse in 6:1-2? 121
What are the "wild beasts" in 6:8 that kill one-fourth of the earth? 125
What's the relationship between the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls? 127
Who are the 144,000 in 7:1-8? 129
Why is the tribe of Dan omitted from the list of the 12 tribes of Israel in Revelation 7? 132
Who is the great multitude in 7:9-17? 133
Why is there silence in heaven for about 30 minutes (8:1)? 134
Are the trumpet judgments symbolic or literal? 136
Are the trumpet judgments the result of human actions or divine judgment? 137
Are the trumpets in the first or second half of the Tribulation? 138
What are the "locusts" in 9:1-12? 139
What is the army of 200 million in 9:16? 145
Who is the strong angel in chapter 10? Is this a reference to Jesus? 147
What is the "little book" in 10:2? 149
What are the "seven peals of thunder" in 10:3-4? 149
What does it mean for John to eat the book (10:9-10)? 150
What is the temple in Revelation 11:1-2? 151
Who are the two witnesses? 153
What will the two witnesses do? 158
Do the two witnesses minister during the first or second half of the Tribulation? 159
Is the seventh trumpet in 11:15 the same as the "last trumpet" in 1 Corinthians 15:52? 160
Who is the woman clothed with the sun in chapter 12? 161
Who are the dragon and the "third of the stars of heaven" in chapter 12? 163
What are the "two wings of the great eagle" given to the woman (12:14)? 163
Is the beast of Revelation 13:1-10 an empire or an individual? 164
Is the beast past or future? Could he be Nero? 165
Will the beast be assassinated and come back to life? 167
Will the Antichrist be a Jew or a Gentile? 170
What will the beast in 13:1-10 do? 171
Who is the second beast or "beast coming up out of the earth" in 13:11-18? 172
Will the second beast be a Jew or a Gentile? 174
What is the mark of the beast (666) 174
Is the scene in 14:1-5 in heaven or on earth? 176
What is the "eternal gospel" in 14:6? 177
Will hell really last for eternity (14:10-11)? 178
Will blood literally flow as high as the horses' bridles at Armageddon (14:19-20)? 181
Are the judgments in Revelation 14:14-16 and 14:17-20 the same? 183
What is the song of Moses in 15:1-3? 183
What does Armageddon mean? Is it a real place (16:12)? 184
What will happen during Armageddon? 185
Who are the kings of the east (16:12)? 185
Why will the kings of the earth gather at Armageddon? 186
What is Babylon in Revelation 17-18? 188
What do the seven heads (seven kings) in 17:9 represent? 195
Section 3 The Second Coming of Christ (19)
What and when is the marriage and marriage supper of the Lamb? 205
When Jesus comes, will He really ride on a white horse? 206
Is the rapture the same event as the second coming? 208
Section 4 The Millennium, Final Revolt, and Great White Throne (20)
What is the millennium? 213
What are the different views of the millennium? 213
Which view of the millennium best represents scriptural teaching? 216
"What is meant by "came to life" and "the first resurrection" in 20:4-6? 220
Where will believers be during the millennium, and what will they do? 221
Who is "Gog and Magog" in 20:8? 223
Why will God release Satan at the end of the 1000 years? 225
What is the Great White Throne Judgment in 20:11-15? 227
Section 5 The New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem (21-22)
Will this present heaven and earth be destroyed, or just renovated? 231
What's the relationship between the new heaven and new earth and the New Jerusalem? 233
What is the size and shape of the New Jerusalem? 234
What is meant by "the kings of the earth will bring their glory" into the heavenly city (21:24-26)? 235
Will people in heaven need to be healed (22:2)? 237
Are the gold, gems, and measurements of heaven literal or symbolic? 238
What does the warning about adding to or taking away from Revelation mean (22:18-20)? 239
How can I be sure that I'm going to heaven? 241
Recommended Further Reading on Revelation 243
Notes 245
