The Book of Revelation:
A Guide for Understanding

by Vern S. Poythress

Prepared for use with the course NT 311, Hebrews through Revelation,
at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia

Version 2.2

Contents of NT 311 Revelation

	Studying Revelation	1.1
	Organization of the course
	Bibliography
	How to approach Revelation
	An Introduction to Revelation for Ordinary People
	Counterfeiting and Spiritual War	2.1
	Counterfeiting
	Satan’s role
	Role of the Beast
	The False Prophet
	The Prostitute
	Levels of Application
	Truth and Error
	Structure of Revelation: Appreciating the Tapestry	3.1
	Formal Structure: A Letter
	The Value of Outlines
	Rhetorical Structure
	Symbolic Characters
	Structures with Themes
	Other Structures
	Chronological Relation of the Scenes of Revelation
	Conclusion
	Interpreting Revelation	4.1
	Dangers and Rewards
	Four Major Views about Interpretation
	How the Four Major Views Work in Practice
	Clarity of Revelation
	Symbolism
	A Positive Approach

	Insight of the Roman Empire View
	Insight of the Final Crisis View
	Insight of the Repeated Pattern View
	The Historical Situation of Revelation	5.1
	Genre: Apocalyptic Literature
	The Seven Churches
	Troubles in Asia Minor
	Does Babylon Stand for Jerusalem?
	Author
	Date
	Theophany in Revelation	6.1
	Theophany in General
	Rev. 1:12-20
	Types of OT Theophanies
	Imaging in Theophanies
	Imaging and Spatial Structures
	Spatial Structures in Revelation
	Lessons from Theophany
	The Lamb and the Scroll
	The Millennium and Revelation 20:1-10	7.1
	Millennial Positions
	Distinctives of Millennial Positions
	Evaluating Millennial Positions
	Revelation 20:1-10
	Chronology in Rev. 20
	The First Resurrection
	Other Issues
	Attitudes
	The Consummation in Revelation	8.1
	The Importance of the End
	Absolute Judgment
	God’s Triumph
	Singing Revelation
	Worship in Revelation	9.1