Scofield Reference Bible
Revelation Introduction

The Revelation of St. John the Divine.

WRITER: The Apostle John (Rev 1:1).

DATE: A.D. 96

THEME: The theme of the Revelation is Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1), presented in a threefold way:

1. As to time: "which is, and which was, and which is to come" (Rev 1:4);
2. As to relationships—
   • to the churches (Rev 1:9 - Rev 3:22),
   • to the tribulation (Rev 4:1 - Rev 19:21),
   • to the kingdom (Rev 20:1 - Rev 22:21);
3. In His offices—
   • High Priest (Rev 8:3-6),
   • Bridegroom (Rev 19:7-9),
   • King-Judge (Rev 20:1-15).

But while Christ is thus the central theme of the book, all of the events move toward one consummation, the bringing in of the covenanted kingdom. The key-phrase is the prophetic declaration of the "great voices in heaven" (Rev 11:15), literally, "The world kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ has come." The book is, therefore, a prophecy (Rev 1:3).

The three major divisions of Revelation must be clearly held if the interpretation is to be sane and coherent. John was commanded to "write" concerning three classes of "things" (Rev 1:19):

1. Things past, "the things which thou hast seen," i.e. the Patmos vision, Rev 1:1-20.
2. Things present, "the things which are," i.e. things then existing—obviously the churches. The temple had been destroyed, the Jews dispersed: the testimony of God had been committed to the churches (1Ti 3:15). Accordingly we have seven messages to seven representative churches, Rev 2:1 - Rev 3:22. It is noteworthy that the church is not mentioned in chapters 5-18.
3. Things future, "things which shall be hereafter," literally "after these," i.e. after the church period ends, Rev 4:1 - Rev 22:21. The third major division, as Erdman (W.J.) has pointed out, falls into a series of six sevens, with parenthetical passages, making, with the church division, seven sevens.

The six sevens are:

1. The seven seals, Rev 4:1 - Rev 8:1.
2. The seven trumpets, Rev 8:2 - Rev 11:19.
3. The seven personages, Rev 12:1 - Rev 14:20.
4. The seven vials (bowls), Rev 15:1 - Rev 16:21.
5. The seven dooms, Rev 17:1 - Rev 20:15.
6. The seven new things, Rev 21:1 - Rev 22:21.

The parenthetical passages are:

1. The Jewish remnant and the tribulation saints, Rev 7:1-17.
2. The angel, the little book, the two witnesses, Rev 10:1 - Rev 11:14.
3. The Lamb, the Remnant, and the everlasting Gospel, Rev 14:1-13.
4. The gathering of the kings at Armageddon, Rev 16:13-16.
5. The four alleluias in heaven, Rev 19:1-6. These passages do not advance the prophetic narrative. Looking backward and forward they sum up results accomplished, and speak of results yet to come as if they had already come. In Rev 14:1, for example, the Lamb and Remnant are seen prophetically on Mount Sion, though they are not actually there till Rev 20:4-6.

The end of the church period (Rev 2-3) is left indeterminate. It will end by the fulfilment of 1Th 4:14-17. Chapters 4-19 are believed to synchronize with Daniel's Seventieth Week (Scofield Daniel 9:24, note). The great tribulation begins at the middle of the "week," and continues three and a half years (Rev 11:3 - Rev 19:21). The tribulation is brought to an end by the appearing of the Lord and the battle of Armageddon (Mat 24:29-30; Rev 19:11-21). The kingdom follows (Rev 20:4-5); after this the "little season" (Rev 20:7-15), and then eternity.

Interpreters of the Revelation should bear in mind two important passages: 1Pe 1:12; 2Pe 1:20-21. Doubtless much which is designedly obscure to us will be clear to those for whom it was written as the time approaches.