When it comes to understanding end-time prophecy, the Book of Revelation is often one of the most talked-about but least understood parts of the Bible. In this teaching, Chuck Missler walks through the Book of Revelation outline and its major themes, helping listeners grasp what he believes is the prophetic roadmap laid out in Scripture. This isn’t a full verse-by-verse study, but a high-level overview packed with insights that aim to clarify how it all fits together.
The video segment comes from the “Kingdom, Power, and Glory Weekend” commentary published by Koinonia House.
Book of Revelation Outline: Understanding the Structure
Missler emphasizes that to make sense of Revelation, you need to know its structure. The book begins with a vision of Christ (chapter 1), followed by seven letters to seven churches (chapters 2 and 3). These letters are not just historical messages; Missler believes they outline the entire Church Age in sequence. Each church, he suggests, represents a different phase in church history.
- Ephesus – the apostolic church
- Smyrna – the persecuted church
- Pergamos – the compromising church
- Thyatira – the medieval church
- Sardis – the reformation church
- Philadelphia – the missionary church
- Laodicea – the apostate church
Missler argues that we’re currently in the “Laodicean” phase—a period of widespread apostasy in the Church.
Jesus’ Letters to the Churches
Missler points out something often missed: the seven letters in chapters 2 and 3 are dictated directly by Jesus. That makes them unique—Jesus is personally addressing the Church. He even calls them “epistles” in a sense, just like Paul’s letters.
Each letter includes:
- A description of Jesus
- A commendation (except for Sardis and Laodicea)
- A correction or warning
- A promise to the overcomer
Missler notes an interesting pattern. In the first three letters, the promise to the overcomer is placed after the letter’s main body. But in the last four, it’s included in the body itself. And those final four letters also mention the Second Coming.
For example:
- Thyatira is warned it will go into the Tribulation unless it repents.
- Philadelphia is promised deliverance before the Tribulation begins.
This, he says, supports a pre-tribulation view—that faithful believers will be taken before God’s wrath is poured out.
The Rapture and Tribulation Timeline
One of Missler’s key points is the shift that happens in Revelation 4:1. John is caught up into heaven, and at that moment, the Church (symbolized by the lampstands) is no longer on Earth. This is where Missler places the Rapture—before the Tribulation begins.
He believes chapters 6 through 19 cover the seven-year Tribulation. The 24 elders mentioned early in chapter 4 are described as the redeemed and, in Missler’s view, represent the Church already in heaven before God’s judgments are unleashed.
Jesus’ Warning
Missler ends by reminding listeners of Jesus’ warning in Matthew: “Be ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes.” In other words, the less likely you think His return is soon, the more likely it actually is. So stay alert, dig into the Word, and don’t assume any part of Revelation is there by accident. It’s all part of a deliberate, divine design.
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Thanks for watching Book of Revelation Outline at Revelation Explained.
Start your study of the Book of Revelation with Session 1 by Chuck Missler.
Learn more about The 24 Elders.
Book of Revelation Outline from Highway 5 S Church of Christ
I. Christ Among the Lampstands. Chapter 1
A. Introduction. 1:1-5
B. Greetings. 1:4-7
C. Divine Seal. 1:8
D. Charge to Write. 1:9-11
E. Vision of One Like the Son of Man. 1:12-16
F. Charge Explained. 1:17-20
II. Letters to the Seven Churches. Chapters 2-3
A. Ephesus. 2:1-7
B. Smyrna. 2:8-11
C. Pergamos. 2:12-17
D. Thyatira. 2:18-29
E. Sardis. 3:1-6
F. Philadelphia. 3:7-13
G. Laodicea. 3:14-22
III. The Throne in Heaven.Chapters 4-5
A. God on His Throne. Chapter 4
1. God. 4:1-3
2. Twenty-four Elders. 4:4
3. Seven Spirits. 4:5
4. Four Creatures. 4:6-8
5. The Creatures & Elders Worship God. 4:9-11
B. Worthy Is the Lamb. Chapter 5
1. Who Can Open the Scroll? 5:1-4
2. The Lamb Takes the Scroll. 5:5-7
3. The Creatures & Elders Worship the Lamb (The New Song). 5:8-10
4. Angels, Living Creatures, & Elders Worship the Lamb. 5:11-12
5. All Creation Worships the Lamb. 5:13-14
IV. Opening the Seven Seals(Victory Over Judaism). Chapters 6-11
A. Opening the First Six Seals. Chapter 6
1. First Seal: White Horse. 6:1-2
2. Second Seal: Red Horse. 6:3-4
3. Third Seal: Black Horse. 6:5-6
4. Fourth Seal: Pale Horse. 6:7-8
5. Fifth Seal: Souls of Martyrs (How Long, 0 Lord). 6:9-11
6. Sixth Seal: The Great Day of His Wrath. 6:12-17
B. First Interlude (The 144,000 & the Great Multitude). Chapter 7
1. Four Winds Restrained. 7:1
2. Servants of God Sealed (144,000). 7:2-8
3. The Victorious Multitude (Numberless). 7:9-17
C. Opening the Seventh Seal. Chapters 8 – 9
1. The Seal Opened. 8:1-6
2. The First Trumpet. 8:7
3. The Second Trumpet. 8:8-9
4. The Third Trumpet. 8:10-11
5. The Fourth Trumpet. 8:12-13
6. The Fifth Trumpet (First Woe). 9:1-12
7. The Sixth Trumpet (Second Woe). 9:13-21
D. Second Interlude. 10:1 – 11:13
1. Mighty Angel, Little Book, Voice of Seven Thunders. 10:1-5
2. Voice of Seven Thunders Sealed Up. 10:4
3. No More Delay. 10:5-7
4. John Eats the Little Book. 10:8-11
5. The Temple Measured. 11:1-2
6. Two Witnesses. 11:5-13
E. The Seventh Trumpet (Third Woe). 11:14-19
(The Seven Seals & Seven Trumpets Are Now Complete, Judaism Is Defeated, and the Temple of God Is Now In Heaven.)
V. Victory Over Pagan Rome. 12:1 – 19:11
A. War in Heaven. Chapter 12
1. The Woman in Child Birth. 12:1-2
2. The Great Red Dragon. 12:5-4
3. The Male Child. 12:5
4. The Woman in the Wilderness. 12:6
5. Satan Cast Out of Heaven. 12:7-12
6. The Dragon Persecutes the Woman. 12:15-17
B. The Two Beasts. Chapter 15
1. The Beast Out of the Sea. 15:1-10
2. The Beast Out of the Earth. 15:11-18
C. Judgment of the Earth. Chapter 14
1. The Lamb the 144,000 on Mt. Zion. 14:1-5
2. The Gospel Preached to All Nations. 14:6-7
3. Babylon,s Doom Decreed. 14:8
4. Those Who Worship the Beast Condemned. 14:9-11
5. The Saints Blessed. 14:12-15
6. The Harvest of the Earth. 14:14-20
D. The Seven Bowls of Wrath. Chapters 15-16
1 . The Seven Angels. 15:1
2. The Victorious Saints Praise God for His Judgments. 15:2-4
3. The Angels of the Seven Golden Bowls Appear From Heaven with Seven Plagues. 15:5-8
4. The Command to Pour Out the Bowls of Wrath. 16:1
5. The First Bowl: Foul & Loathsome Sore. 16:2
6. The Second Bowl: The Sea Becomes as Blood. 16:5
7. The Third Bowl: The Rivers & Springs of Water Become Blood. 16:4
8. The Angel of the Waters & the Martyrs Praise the Lord,s Righteous Judgments. 16:5-7
9. The Fourth Bowl: The Sun Scorches Men with Fire. 16:8-9
10. The Fifth Bowl: The Kingdom Of the Beast Becomes Full of Darkness & Pain. 16:10-11
11. The Sixth Bowl: The Euphrates Dries Up (Gathering Together to Armageddon). 16:12-16
12. The Seventh Bowl: It Is Done! 16:17-21
E. The Fall of Babylon the Great Harlot. 17:1 – 19:10
1. The Great Harlot Described. 17:1-6
2. The Great Harlot Identified. 17:7-18
3. Babylon the Great Is Fallen, Is Fallen! 18 :1-20
4. The Violent Overthrow & Ultimate Destruction of Babylon. 18:21-24
5. Those in Heaven Rejoice at Her Fall. 19:1-10
VI. Victory Over the Dragon. 19:11 – 22:5
(Ultimate Victory of Christ & the Saints Over Satan & the World)
A. Christ, the Glorious, Conquering King. 19:11-16
B. Victory Over the Beast & the False Prophet. 19:17-21
C. Victory Over the Dragon. 20:1-10
1. Satan Bound. 20:1-3
2. The Martyred Saints Reign With Christ 1000 Years. 20:4-6
3. Satan Cast Into the Lake of Fire. 20:7-10
D. The Final Judgment. 20:11-15
E. Heaven. 21:1 – 22:5
1. New Heaven & New Earth. 21:1
2. New Jerusalem. 21:2 – 22:5
VII. Conclusion: The Divine Seal. 22:6-21
A. Blessed Is He Who Keeps This Book. 22:6-7
B. Worship God. 22:8-9
C. The Time Is At Hand. 22:10-12
D. Authority of Christ to Judge. 22:13-16
E. Invitation. 22:17
F. Authority & Finality of Revelation. 22:18-19
G. Come, Lord Jesus! 22:20
H. Benediction. 22:21
Thanks again to Highway 5 S Church of Christ for this Book of Revelation outline!
