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Name - According to the opening statements in this book, it purports to be “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” signified by the angel of God “unto his servant John.” This book belongs to the type of literature that is known as apocalyptic in which the predictive element is prominent; the symbols employed are arbitrary, and the visions become the vehicle of the message. This type of prophecy was common in Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah; the significance of some of the visions given in these earlier books is regarded as closely related to those given in the Book of the Revelation.
Theme - A background to this Revelation by John lies in the fact that he settled in Ephesus in A.D. 69 or 70, and he had charge of a number of churches in Asia. More important is the fact, however, that John wrote at the direct command of the Lord Jesus Himself (1:10, 13). The needs of the church in the day of fierce persecution and of the church at all times were doubtless behind the Lord’s command for the writing of this book. The purpose of the book is by the Holy Spirit himself declared to be: “to shew unto his servants the things that must shortly come to pass” (1:1).
Outline - The book may be divided into seven sections: I. Introduction (1:1-11) II. The Self-Revelation of Christ (1:12-20) III. Christ and the Church (2-3) IV. Christ and the Great Tribulation (4-19) V. Christ and the Millennial Reign (20) VI. Christ and the Eternal State (21:1-22:5) VII. Conclusion (22:6-21)
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