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===Visions of John (Chapters 4 and following)===

===Visions of John (Chapters 4 and following)===

The most common interpretation of this section is that the visions prophesy events to take place during the End Times.  These views frequently attempt to interpret current geo-political events in light of the text<ref>For example, the view that the European Union is a precursor to the forthcoming one-world government.</ref>.

The most common interpretation of this section is that the visions prophesy events to take place during the End Times.  These views frequently attempt to interpret current geo-political events in light of the text.<ref>For example, the view that the European Union is a precursor to the forthcoming one-world government.</ref>

Those primarily of the [[Preterist]] view postulate that the writing describes a period of persecution in the early church either during the reign of [[Nero]] (54 - 68) or [[Domitian]] (81 - 96) and therefore the events have already taken place.

Those primarily of the [[Preterist]] view postulate that the writing describes a period of persecution in the early church either during the reign of [[Nero]] (54 - 68) or [[Domitian]] (81 - 96) and therefore the events have already taken place.

Chapters 2 and 3 consist of seven letters written to congregations located in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey): the congregations at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Chapters 2 and 3 consist of seven letters written to congregations located in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey): the congregations at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Four of the seven churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira) are commended for their actions but also warned that if they did not repent of certain deeds done, punishment would come upon them.  The church at Philadelphia is commended only and not admonished; the churches at Sardis and Laodicea are not commended at all but only admonished (the wording for the Laodicean church differs from the others in that they are either told or warned of impending punishment -- the KJV says that he "would spew them out of his mouth", while other translations state that it was a warning of future punishment -- then told to repent).

Four of the seven churches (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira) are commended for their actions but also warned that if they did not repent of certain deeds done, punishment would come upon them.  The church at Philadelphia is commended only and not admonished; the churches at Sardis and Laodicea are not commended at all but only admonished (the wording for the Laodicean church differs from the others in that they are either told or warned of impending punishment—the KJV says that he "would spew them out of his mouth", while other translations state that it was a warning of future punishment—then told to repent).

==Prophetic Visions==

==Prophetic Visions==

===Tribulation===

===Tribulation===

The events of the Tribulation are outlined in Chapters 4 through 18.  However, it is commonly believed that Chapters 12-14 recount past events (such as the war in Heaven featuring Satan and his demons vs. Michael and his angels).<ref>For example see Matthew Henry's commentary: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/revelation/12.html </ref>

The events of the Tribulation are outlined in Chapters 4 through 18.  However, it is commonly believed that Chapters 12-14 recount past events (such as the war in Heaven featuring Satan and his demons vs. Michael and his angels).<ref>For example see Matthew Henry's commentary: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/revelation/12.html</ref>

There is wide disagreement among religious scholars as to the fate of Christians before the Tribulation period.<ref>The three main views are the Pre-Tribulation [[Rapture]] (where Christians are taken out of the world beforehand; the [[Left Behind]] series is based on this view); the Mid-Tribulation Rapture (where Christians are taken out when the Antichrist reveals his true nature; this view is the least-held), and the view that there will not be any Rapture at all and Christians will go through the Tribulation.</ref> Revelation itself does not discuss this topic.

There is wide disagreement among religious scholars as to the fate of Christians before the Tribulation period.<ref>The three main views are the Pre-Tribulation [[Rapture]] (where Christians are taken out of the world beforehand; the [[Left Behind]] series is based on this view); the Mid-Tribulation Rapture (where Christians are taken out when the Antichrist reveals his true nature; this view is the least-held), and the view that there will not be any Rapture at all and Christians will go through the Tribulation.</ref> Revelation itself does not discuss this topic.

What is understood is that, at the outset of the Tribulation, a figure called the [[Antichrist]] (or the Beast) will rise on the scene.  He will establish a one-world government to which all must pledge allegiance, by taking on themselves a mark consisting of the [[Number of the Beast]] (best-known by its numerical designation of '''666''') in order to buy or sell.  He is accompanied by a religious figure, the False Prophet, who will establish a one-world religion in direct opposition to Christianity, to which all must adhere.  Though there will be those who resist (notably the Two Witnesses and a group of 144,000 evangelists, often believed to be Jewish), the Antichrist will largely be successful in opposing and killing those who resist him.

What is understood is that, at the outset of the Tribulation, a figure called the [[Antichrist]] (or the Beast) will rise on the scene.  He will establish a one-world government to which all must pledge allegiance, by taking on themselves a mark consisting of the [[Number of the Beast]] (best known by its numerical designation of '''666''') in order to buy or sell.  He is accompanied by a religious figure, the False Prophet, who will establish a one-world religion in direct opposition to Christianity, to which all must adhere.  Though there will be those who resist (notably the Two Witnesses and a group of 144,000 evangelists, often believed to be Jewish), the Antichrist will largely be successful in opposing and killing those who resist him.

The Antichrist will establish a peace treaty with [[Israel]] for seven years, allowing Israel to rebuild its long-awaited Temple and restore the Jewish sacrificial system.  Once the Temple is completed at the mid-way point of the treaty, the Antichrist will reveal his true nature: he will enter the Temple and proclaim himself to be the awaited Messiah.  At this point, the world will be subject to a series of ever-harsher judgments.

The Antichrist will establish a peace treaty with [[Israel]] for seven years, allowing Israel to rebuild its long-awaited Temple and restore the Jewish sacrificial system.  Once the Temple is completed at the mid-way point of the treaty, the Antichrist will reveal his true nature: he will enter the Temple and proclaim himself to be the awaited Messiah.  At this point, the world will be subject to a series of ever-harsher judgments.

During the Tribulation period a total of 21 judgments are pronounced on the earth, grouped into three series of seven judgments each.  The first seven are announced by the breaking of Seals, the next seven announced by the blowing of Trumpets, and the final seven announced by the pouring out of Bowls.

During the Tribulation period a total of 21 judgments are pronounced on the earth, grouped into three series of seven judgments each.  The first seven are announced by the breaking of Seals, the next seven announced by the blowing of Trumpets, and the final seven announced by the pouring out of Bowls.

The first four seals are widely-known even in the secular world by their appearance as four horses and riders, commonly referred to as The [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]].  Traditionally they are referred to as Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death; however, the Bible itself only directly names Death.  The first horseman is believed by some to refer to the Antichrist (as it appears early in Chapter 3), while other interpretations (common among those holding to Postmillenial views) equate it to world-wide Gospel preaching.  Some scholars hold to a direct correlation between the events of the seals and the list of events found in the Olivet Discourse, as found in Matthew 24. According to this view, the first four seals are usually perceived as being the ''beginning of birth pangs'' (Matthew 24:4-8).

The first four seals are widely-known even in the secular world by their appearance as four horses and riders, commonly referred to as The [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]].  Traditionally they are referred to as Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death; however, the Bible itself only directly names Death.  The first horseman is believed by some to refer to the Antichrist (as it appears early in Chapter 3), while other interpretations (common among those holding to Postmillenial views) equate it to worldwide Gospel preaching.  Some scholars hold to a direct correlation between the events of the seals and the list of events found in the Olivet Discourse, as found in Matthew 24. According to this view, the first four seals are usually perceived as being the ''beginning of birth pangs'' (Matthew 24:4-8).

However, the sequence of the order of these plagues are disputed among prophecy teachers.  There are two main camps:

However, the sequence of the order of these plagues are disputed among prophecy teachers.  There are two main camps:

After the Tribulation period begins the events of the Millennial Reign, found from Chapter 19 through the end of the book.

After the Tribulation period begins the events of the Millennial Reign, found from Chapter 19 through the end of the book.

The period begins with a great feast known as the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb", where Jesus Christ is wed to his Bride <ref>The Bride is commonly believed to be the Church, defined in this context as all those throughout history who became Christians.</ref>. He then defeats the kings of the world, takes the Antichrist and the False Prophet and casts them alive into the '''Lake of Fire''' (commonly accepted to be [[Hell]]) while slaying the rest of the armies.  Satan is captured, bound, and cast into a bottomless pit for 1,000 years.  Only those who came through the Tribulation and did not receive the Mark of the Beast remain alive.

The period begins with a great feast known as the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb", where Jesus Christ is wed to his Bride.<ref>The Bride is commonly believed to be the Church, defined in this context as all those throughout history who became Christians.</ref>  He then defeats the kings of the world, takes the Antichrist and the False Prophet and casts them alive into the '''Lake of Fire''' (commonly accepted to be [[Hell]]) while slaying the rest of the armies.  Satan is captured, bound, and cast into a bottomless pit for 1,000 years.  Only those who came through the Tribulation and did not receive the Mark of the Beast remain alive.

After the 1,000 year period Satan is loosed for "a little season" (the duration of which is not specified in the text), whereupon he would deceive the nations in an attempt to overthrow God once and for all, only to see God Himself devour them.  Satan is then cast into the Lake of Fire, to receive eternal torment.  Then all persons who ever lived are raised one final time, the Books are opened (especially the Book of Life); those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Fire.  Death and Hades are also cast into the Lake of Fire, this is the Second Death.  At this point time as we know it on Earth ceases.

After the 1,000 year period Satan is loosed for "a little season" (the duration of which is not specified in the text), whereupon he would deceive the nations in an attempt to overthrow God once and for all, only to see God Himself devour them.  Satan is then cast into the Lake of Fire, to receive eternal torment.  Then all persons who ever lived are raised one final time, the Books are opened (especially the Book of Life); those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Fire.  Death and Hades are also cast into the Lake of Fire, this is the Second Death.  At this point time as we know it on Earth ceases.