In order to understand the prophetic message of Revelation, it is important to realize a few significant truths about the book. First, Revelation is not sequential in time from chapter one to chapter 22. Second, it is divided into sections that convey specific messages about specific subjects. The book is divided into a series of three revelation messages, each of which is also divided into four sections (see the attached outline of Revelation). The first seven chapters of Revelation are clearly a message from the perspective of Jesus Christ. We see Him introduced in chapter one and speaking to His Church in the subsequent two chapters. We see Him on His throne in chapter 4, preparing to reveal the witnesses who will carry His message to the world. We see Him in chapter 6 as the Lamb, preparing to tell His Church of the conditions they will face in the coming age. As we study the book, it is evident that each of these sections mentioned above have their own message to convey, and all individually cover the broad timeline of the history of the Church.  Below is a brief discussion of each chapter.  For greater detail read the chapters of my book God’s Chessboard.  

• Chapter one is the resurrected Christ in the midst of His Church as part of His Kingdom, preparing to shepherd them through the coming age.
• Chapters two and three describe the condition of the Church throughout the coming age and the spiritual struggles the Church will face in the coming age (for us that means the past 2000 years).
• Chapters four and five show Christ commissioning/unsealing of the two witnesses that will carry His message to the lost world: the Church (body of believers) and the Word of God.
• Chapters six and seven describe the Seals that reveal the condition of the earthly world kingdom for the 2000 years in which the Church will be required to labor—a kingdom dominated by rule from sinful mankind under the leadership of evil forces.  The white horse represents the kings, rulers and autocrates that will dominate humanity throughout history.  The red horse represents constant wars.  The black horse represents famine, pestilence and plagues.  The pale horse represents death that will come from wars, famine and pestilence.  The fifth Seal speaks of the martrydom during the church age.  The sixth Seal speaks to God’s final judgment for the evil done during the previous five seals. (see Matthew 24:6-14)    

The second section of Revelation is chapters 8 through 14. In this seven-chapter section, we see a God who is prepared to intervene on behalf of the prayers of the Church and prepared to lead and guide them through the conflict they will face in the earthly kingdom (a work assigned to the Holy Spirit in John chapter 17). This section appears to take a more focused view of Church history near the latter part of the history of the Church.

• The Trumpets of Chapters 8–9 parallel in style the Seals of chapters 6–7. While before (Seals), we saw the 2000-year overview of the results of the rule of sinful mankind, now (Trumpets) we observe the direct destructive effects of the rule of mankind and the rule of Satan on both the physical universe and on the souls and spirits of all humanity.  The first four Trumpets are man’s destruction of the earth.  The fifth Trumpet is the loosing of Satan after the ‘thousand years” and his war on humanity.  The sixth Trumpet is the final confrontation or wars during the final tribulation of history.  
• Chapters 10–11 parallel chapters 4–5. Where we saw the commissioning of the two witnesses earlier, now we are told of the opposition of the earthly kingdom/Satanic kingdom to the work of the Church and the witness of the Word of God.
• Chapters 12–13 parallel chapters 2–3. In chapters 2 and 3, we are given an overview of the Church throughout the age (2000 years). Now we are given a overview of the Church’s arch enemy; a brief history of Satan, his defeat and casting out of heaven after the resurrection of Jesus, the nature of his earthly kingdom as a war against belivers, and his ultimate (but thankfully temporary) final war on the Church and victory over the Church.
• Chapter 14 parallels chapter one. Here we see Christ’s redemption and ongoing harvest of the Church (something that is still happening with the death of every saint), the announcement of the three angels of the conditions immediately prior to the return of Christ, and the gathering of the Church prior to the final reaping of the earth.

The third section of Revelation is from the perspective of a God who is about to mete out his justice and judgment of a rebellious earthly kingdom and world.

• Chapters 15 and 16 (Vials) are parallel chapters to 6–7 (Seals) and 8–9 (Trumpets). Here we observe the final Vial judgments of the almighty God. Where before we saw the earthly kingdom destructively and autocratically ruled by mankind (6–7) and the earth systematically destroyed by its own evil actions (8–9), now we see God’s direct and final judgment of this earthly kingdom.
• Chapters 17 and 18 are parallel to chapters 4–5 (Commissioning of the two messengers, Christian witnesses and the Word of God) and 10–11 (Proclamation of the Word of God, labor of the witnesses, war on the witnesses, and defeat of those proclaiming God’s message). Now in chapters 17–18 we observe God’s judgment of the two earthly evil influences that made war with the Church and opposed the two messengers of God’s Kingdom. These two evil worldly influences that oppose God’s people and God’s Word are described as the Harlot and Babylon (note: just as the Church and the Word of God cannot be separated—the Word resides in our hearts and comes out of our mouths, so the Harlot and Babylon cannot be separated. The Harlot is the worlds evil message and philosophy & Babylon her worldly residence.)
• Chapters 19 and 20 are parallel chapters to 2–3 and 12–13. Where as before we saw an overview of the history of the Church (2–3) and the history of Satan and his attack and defeat of the Church (12–13), now we see God’s destruction of the satanic kingdom, the antichrist, Satan, and all unbelievers —and the ultimate victory for the Church (marriage of the Lamb). Chapter 19 tells the story of the second coming of Christ, marriage of the lamb, and defeat of the satanic worldly kingdom and its leader, the antichrist. Chapter 20 tells the judgement of Satan himself, his restraint for a “thousand years”, the reign in heaven of the departed saints during this period (to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord) , Satan’s release and war against the Church & God, and Satan’s final defeat and casting into the lake of fire.  Finally the second resurrection and Great White Throne judgment of all of Satan’s followers.
• Chapter 21 is parallel to chapters 1and 14. Whereas before we saw Christ on his resurrected throne in heaven and Christ’s redeeming and harvesting of the Church (from his resurrection to his return), now we see Christ in eternity—a new heaven and new earth.
• Chapter 22 is conclusions and warnings.