Brothers and Sisters,

On Sunday afternoon we will be reading Revelation 1-11, then on Dec. 13th we will read, 12-22. Read it with a spirit of humility, as an epistle to the churches of all ages. But most of all, read it to see Jesus in His glory. His Majesty is revealed on every page.

As we read Revelation here is an outline to help you see how the book reads. Remember that this is a picture book of the victory of Jesus Christ over the powers and principalities. The pictures seen in the book, are pictures of hope in the midst of the dark days of persecution, war, death, famine. Here is my proposition for all who hold differing views of when these things are happening. Whatever has happened or will happen or is happening is subjected to the sovereign authority of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

As we read Revelation together and take a couple of years to ponder the message, I want you to consider that there are seven parallel sections that describe the conflicts that occur in the world during the church age, and the victory of Christ. The chapters are composed of seven historical cycles. Each of these cycles end in the second coming and final judgment. They do not present history chronologically. They are parallel pictures, running throughout the church age, from the resurrection to the final resurrection of the body, the final judgment. This outline is not original with me. Rather, it is a mash-up of the outlines of commentators, William Hendricksen, Joel Beeke, Gregory Beale, Grant Osborne, Voddie Baucham and others.

Seven churches, 1:1-3:22

The Lamb and the seven seals of the scroll, 4:1-8:1

Seven trumpets, 8:2-11:19

The war with the dragon, 12:1-14:20

The seven bowls of wrath, 15:1-16:21

The fall of Babylon and the whore, 17:1-19:21

The victory of Jerusalem the bride, 20:1-22:21

On Sunday Dec 6 I will delver an introductory message on 1:1-3, and then in the afternoon teaching time, we will read the first section of Revelation. We will appoint several men to read chapters 1-11. Then, the following Sunday (Dec 13) we will finish the reading with chapters 12-22.

Chapters 1-11 describe the trials and tribulations of the church during the church age

Chapters 12-22 describe the forces of evil behind those tribulations and the final destruction of those forces at the Second Coming of Christ ushering God's people to heaven and the disciples of the Devil, to hell.

Scott Brown,

The Lord Reigns