Easter College
DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
Easter Rd., Guisad, Baguio City
CE 1: BIBLICAL STUDIES
LECTURE NOTES ON REVELATION
SY 2024-2025
REVELATION
The title of the book, Revelation, comes from the Greek word “apokalypsis” and refers
to an unveiling or a disclosure of something as yet unknown.
The Revelations is the final book in the New Testament and it belongs to the division
Apocalypse. The authorship is attributed to John, which is why the book is sometimes
referred to as the Apocalypse of John. At the opening of the paragraph, the author
identifies himself as John but it was not clear if he was the John in the Gospel books and
the author of the Letters of John or another leader in the early Church.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ was given to John by God “to show his final warning that
the world will surely end and judgment will be certain.
The events described in Revelation take place in Asia-minor to seven specific church
communities.
KEY EVENTS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
1. The Vision of the Glorified Christ
- John sees a vision of the resurrected and glorified Christ, who instructs him to write
letters to the seven Churches
- This was John’s first vision where he saw a vision of the risen Jesus standing among
seven burning lights. The seven burning lights symbolized the 7 local churches in
Asia Minor.
7 Churches in Asia Minor
1. Ephesus 5. Sardis
2. Smyrna 6. Philadelphia
3. Pergamum 7. Laodicea
4. Thyatira
Prophecy- a word from God spoken through a prophet to comfort or challenge God’s
people
2. Vision of the Heavenly Throne Room and First Judgment (Revelation4-5)
- John witnesses a heavenly scene with God on His throne, worshiped by heavenly
beings. A scroll with seven seals is introduced, symbolizing God’s plan/
3. Vision of the Lord’s Slain Servants (6-8a)
- This passage is part of the vision of the opening of the seven seals.
- The seals in this passage is the 5th to 7th seal
4. Visions of Judgment, the Temple, and Two Witnesses (Revelation 8b-11)
- This section includes the judgments of the seven trumpets and a vision of two
prophetic witnesses:
Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8-9): These bring a series of escalating judgments
(hail and fire, poisoned waters, darkness, demonic torment, and warfare). They
signify God's wrath against sin and a call for repentance.
Temple and Two Witnesses (Revelation 11): John is instructed to measure the
temple, symbolizing God's preservation of His faithful. Two witnesses, empowered
by God, prophesy for 1,260 days. They are killed by the Beast but are resurrected
and ascend to heaven, symbolizing God's ultimate victory.
5. Visions of the Dragon, Beasts, 666, and More (Revelation 12-16)
- This section portrays the cosmic conflict between good and evil.
The Dragon and the Woman (Revelation 12): A woman symbolizes God’s people or
the church, and the dragon (Satan) seeks to destroy her child (Christ) and wage war
against her descendants.
The Beasts (Revelation 13): Two beasts arise—one representing political power and
the other false religious authority. Together, they enforce worship of the Beast and
the infamous "mark of the Beast" (666).
God’s Wrath (Revelation 14-16): Angels proclaim judgment, and the seven bowls of
God's wrath are poured out, leading to devastating global plagues, representing final
divine judgment against the wicked.
6. The Final Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 17-20)
- This section describes the climactic conflict between God's forces and the forces of
evil:
Babylon the Great (Revelation 17-18): Symbolizing a corrupt world system, Babylon
falls as God executes judgment on its decadence and opposition to Him.
The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19-20): Christ returns as a victorious warrior,
defeats the Beast and its armies, and binds Satan for 1,000 years (the Millennium).
After Satan's final rebellion, he is cast into the lake of fire, and the final judgment
occurs.
7. The New Heaven and Earth (Revelation 21-22)
- This section reveals the ultimate hope and fulfilment of God’s promises:
New Creation (Revelation 21): A new heaven and earth replace the old, and the New
Jerusalem descends. God dwells with His people, and all pain, death, and sin are
eradicated.
Eternal Life (Revelation 22): The River of life and the tree of life symbolize eternal
sustenance and healing for God’s people. Worship and joy characterize this eternal
state in God's presence.
The "Seven Seals" in the Book of Revelation are described in chapters 5 through 8. These seals
secure a scroll in heaven, and only the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is worthy to open them. As each seal
is broken, different events unfold, revealing aspects of God's judgment and the end times. Here is
a summary of each seal and the events they unleash:
1. First Seal: The White Horse (Revelation 6:1-2):
o A rider on a white horse appears, holding a bow and given a crown. He goes out
as a conqueror bent on conquest. This figure is often interpreted as representing
conquest or possibly the Antichrist.
2. Second Seal: The Red Horse (Revelation 6:3-4):
o A rider on a red horse appears, given a large sword and granted the power to take
peace from the earth, causing people to kill each other. This symbolizes war and
bloodshed.
3. Third Seal: The Black Horse (Revelation 6:5-6):
o A rider on a black horse appears, holding a pair of scales. A voice announces high
prices for basic food staples (wheat and barley) but does not harm the oil and
wine. This represents famine and economic hardship.
4. Fourth Seal: The Pale Horse (Revelation 6:7-8):
o A rider named Death appears on a pale (ashen) horse, followed by Hades. They
are given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, plague, and
wild beasts. This symbolizes widespread death and devastation.
5. Fifth Seal: The Martyrs (Revelation 6:9-11):
o Under the altar, the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and
their testimony cry out for justice. They are given white robes and told to wait a
little longer until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters
are killed as they were. This seal highlights the suffering and vindication of the
martyrs.
6. Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances (Revelation 6:12-17):
o A great earthquake occurs, the sun turns black like sackcloth, the moon becomes
like blood, the stars fall to the earth, the sky recedes like a scroll, and every
mountain and island is moved from its place. People of all ranks hide in caves and
among the rocks, fearing the wrath of the Lamb. This seal describes dramatic
cosmic disturbances and the terror of the impending judgment.
7. Seventh Seal: Silence and the Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:1-5):
o When the seventh seal is opened, there is silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Seven angels with seven trumpets prepare to sound them. Another angel offers
incense with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before the throne. The
angel then takes the censer, fills it with fire from the altar, and hurls it to the earth,
causing thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. This seal
introduces the seven trumpets, which bring further judgments.
