The Book of Revelation is the last book of the Bible and the most talked about. It is a revelation “of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:1): a vision given to John that shows the risen Jesus, His message to the churches, the judgments that come on a rebellious world, His return, and the new heaven and new earth.
This guide is written for beginners. It covers who wrote Revelation, the four main ways Christians read it, and what happens in each section of the book. See where this fits on the interactive end times timeline.
Revelation chapter by chapter
| Chapters | What happens | On the timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John sees the risen Jesus among seven lampstands | Introduction |
| 2-3 | Letters to seven churches in Asia Minor | The Church Age |
| 4-5 | Worship before God’s throne; the Lamb takes the scroll | In heaven, after the rapture (pre-trib reading) |
| 6 | The first six seals, including the four horsemen | The tribulation begins |
| 7 | The 144,000 sealed; a great multitude in heaven | During the tribulation |
| 8-9 | The seventh seal and the first six trumpets | During the tribulation |
| 10-11 | The little scroll; the two witnesses; the seventh trumpet | Midpoint of the tribulation |
| 12-13 | The woman and the dragon; the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth | The Great Tribulation |
| 14 | The Lamb on Mount Zion; three angels’ messages; harvest | The Great Tribulation |
| 15-16 | The seven bowls of God’s wrath; Armageddon gathered | End of the tribulation |
| 17-18 | The fall of Babylon the Great | End of the tribulation |
| 19 | The marriage supper of the Lamb; Jesus returns on a white horse | The second coming |
| 20 | Satan bound; the thousand years; the Great White Throne | The millennium and final judgment |
| 21-22 | The new heaven, the new earth and the New Jerusalem | Eternity |
Four ways to read the Book of Revelation
How a reader approaches Revelation shapes almost everything else. Faithful Christians hold each of these views:
- Futurist: chapters 4-22 describe events still to come. This is the view behind the timeline on this site.
- Preterist: most of the book was fulfilled in the first century, especially the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.
- Historicist: the book unfolds across the whole of church history.
- Idealist: the book pictures the timeless struggle between Christ and evil, and His victory.
Revelation 1:19 is often read as the book’s own outline. Jesus tells John to write what he has seen, what is now, and what will take place after these things. Futurist readers see chapter 1, chapters 2-3, and chapters 4-22 in those three parts.
Key symbols in Revelation
| Symbol | Meaning | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Seven lampstands | Seven churches | Revelation 1:20 |
| Seven stars | The angels (or messengers) of the churches | Revelation 1:20 |
| The Lamb | Jesus, slain and risen | Revelation 5:6 |
| The dragon | Satan | Revelation 12:9 |
| The beast from the sea | The Antichrist | Revelation 13:1-10 |
| Babylon the Great | The world system opposed to God | Revelation 17-18 |
| The New Jerusalem | God’s eternal home with His people | Revelation 21:2 |
How to start reading Revelation
- Read it straight through in one or two sittings first, the way its first hearers did (Revelation 1:3).
- Notice the Old Testament background: Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah and Exodus echo on nearly every page.
- Let the clear passages guide the unclear ones, and hold your timeline with humility.
- Look for Jesus. The book is His revelation, and He is the hero of every chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Book of Revelation?
The author calls himself John (Revelation 1:1, 4, 9). Early church writers such as Justin Martyr and Irenaeus identified him as the apostle John, writing from exile on the island of Patmos.
When was Revelation written?
Most scholars date it to about AD 95, near the end of the emperor Domitian’s reign, following Irenaeus. Many preterist interpreters prefer a date in the late AD 60s, before the fall of Jerusalem.
Is the Book of Revelation literal or symbolic?
Both. Revelation itself explains some symbols: the seven stars are angels and the seven lampstands are churches (Revelation 1:20). Readers disagree on how much of the rest is literal, which is the main difference between the four approaches.
Why should I read Revelation?
Revelation opens with a blessing on the one who reads it and on those who hear and heed it (Revelation 1:3). It ends with an invitation: “Come” (Revelation 22:17).
What is the main message of Revelation?
Jesus wins. Revelation shows the risen Christ ruling over history, judging evil, and making all things new, so His people can stay faithful through hardship (Revelation 21:3-5).
The book behind this guide
This guide draws on Paul T. Barham’s upcoming book, The Bible’s Prophetic Timeline: A Beginner’s Guide to the End Times, the Rapture, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, and the Book of Revelation. The book walks through every event and every major person in Bible prophecy, sets out what each Christian tradition believes, and gives the pre-tribulation view a full chapter.
Join the email list on the home page to hear when the book releases. Until then, Paul’s book For the Love of God includes a Scripture-based appendix on the signs of the end times, and Salvation 101 explains how to be ready to meet Jesus.