Previous Section: Overview of the Book of Revelation
STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Perhaps no single issue plagues the correct interpretation of book of Revelation than its structure. A prewrath understanding of the book of Revelation warrants a fuller discussion than the simple outline given in the introduction. The outline is re-printed below:
"REVELATION BEGINS"
Chapter 1 – Prologue
Chapters 2-3 – The Seven Churches
Chapter 4 – Heaven
Chapter 5 – The Large Scroll
Chapter 6 – The First Six Seals
"PARENTHESIS I – THE RESCUE HIGHLIGHTED"
Chapter 7 – Deliverance
"THE DAY OF THE LORD"
Chapter 8 – Seventh Seal Events [Trumpet Judgments 1-4]
Chapter 9 – Completion of 70th Week [Trumpet Judgments 5-6]
"POST 70TH WEEK EVENTS"
Chapter 10 – The Little Scroll
Chapter 11 – Daniel 9:24 Completed [Trumpet Judgment 7]
"PARENTHESIS II – COSMIC CONFLICT HIGHLIGHTED"
Chapter 12 – The Beginning
Chapter 13 – The Beginning of the End
Chapter 14 – The End of the Beginning
A. Deliverance of the elect
B. Decree to the wicked
C. Destruction of the wicked
"THE DESTRUCTION OF ANTICHRIST – FINAL WRATH OF GOD"
Chapter 15 – Prelude to Bowl Judgments
Chapter 16 – Bowl Judgments 1-7
"PARENTHESIS III – DESTRUCTION HIGHLIGHTED"
Chapter 17 – The Great Harlot
Chapter 18 – The Great City
Chapter 19 – The Great Army
"THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST"
Chapter 20: 1-6 – The Beginning of the Millennium
Chapter 20:7-15 – The End of the Millennium
"THE CONCLUSION"
Chapter 21 – New Heavens, New earth, New Jerusalem
Chapter 22 – Epilogue
The key to the structure of the book of Revelation can be discerned from the seventh chapter of Daniel and Matthew 24. There are conceptual, thematic, linguistic and theological parallels, which defy any serious Bible student to conclude otherwise. We shall look at these two chapters, respectively, first.
The Structure of Daniel Seven
The seventh chapter of Daniel introduces the second major section of the book of Daniel. The first six chapters are primarily historical and chronological in nature. The remaining six chapters are prophetic in nature. Therefore, chapter seven is a pivotal chapter. It serves to introduce the prophetic content of chapters 8-12.
Chapter 7 begins with a vision concerning four beasts. Daniel 7:1 reports,
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it.
The NASB’s translation includes the statement, "he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it." Since Daniel gives us a summary, this leaves room for more details to be added later, which is done in both Matthew 24 and Revelation 4-21. Chapter 7:2-14 continues,
Daniel said, "I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’ After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering great boasts. I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, and the books were opened. Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.
Contained in this rather long quote is an outline of the end time sequence that becomes the framework for both Matthew 24 and Revelation 4-21. By way of summary, Daniel indicates four beasts will arise out of the sea. The fourth beast will eventuate into ten horns. When the ten horns rule another horn will arise and destroy three of the ten original horns. After sometime, thrones will be set up. The Ancient of Days will take his seat. The court will be seated. The books will be opened. The boastful beast will be destroyed and the authority of his helpers will be suspended. One like a Son of Man will then receive dominion, glory and a kingdom. The reader must not miss the important fact that Daniel first gives a general overview of the events of the end time.
This general overview is then followed by a specific look at the fourth beast and his unparalleled persecution of the saints, which will terminate with his destruction. Notice Daniel 7:15-28:
As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’ Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.
The rest of the Daniel 7 is concerned with an explanation of the fourth beast, his persecution of the saints and the eventual kingdom the saints will receive after the beast is destroyed. A discernable pattern can be argued from the seventh chapter of Daniel. First, a general overview of the end times is given. Then a detailed look at the unparalleled persecution of the saints follows. The destruction of the beast is promised. The chapter ends with the promise that the saints will receive a kingdom ruled by the Highest One.
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