The Structure of the Book of Revelation
Scholars agree that the Book of Revelation has the following parts: Prologue, Angel, Letters, Baseline Story, Riddle of God, and Epilogue. The longest part, the Baseline Story, is confusing. On the one hand, the Baseline Story shows clear narrative intent with its
• specific time-expressions like what is due to flash and after these visions that signal successive sections[1]‑R
• serial telescoping-out sets of seven, such as Spirits, seals, horns and eyes, thunders, Angels standing before God, and Angels bearing seven afflictions[2]‑R
• many kais (and-s) that link serial events as the Hebrew vav consecutives (and-s) in the Old Testament do
• accumulating images that advance meanings.
On the other hand, the blatantly awkward jumpy style of the Baseline Story fails to follow the flow of its flow its forecasts faithfully as a proper story should.
As a result, as many proposals as scholars exist for the structure of the Baseline Story. One useful proposal identifies three interruptions as textual pillars cutting into the Baseline Story and supporting the structure of the Baseline Story.[3] As a result the following modified structure emerges for the entire Book of Revelation:
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1.1–8: Prologue: An unveiling |
1.1–8: John starts unveiling: |
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1.9–19.5: The Angel tells John to record: |
1.9–20: Whatever things you have seen—the Angel and his messages |
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2.1–3.22: Whatever things now are—his pending letters to the Seven-Churches |
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4.1–19.5: Whatever things are due to flash—the Baseline Story that follows |
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1.19–3.22: The Angel writes letters to the Seven-Churches |
2.1–2.7: To Ephesus |
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2.8–11: To Smyrna |
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2.12–17: To Pergamos |
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2.18–29: To Thyatira |
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3.1–6: To Sardis |
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3.7–13: To Philadelphia |
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3.14–22: To Laodicea |
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4.1–19.5: The Baseline Story: |
4.1–11: A Door opens to an Enthroned-One, to four Living-Beings, and to 24 elders |
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5.1–14: The Enthroned-One and the Ram address the Revelation scroll |
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6.1–17: The Ram breaks the first six seals of the scroll |
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First Interruption: |
7.1–8: Four angels endorse 144,000 for God 7.9–17: Martyrs praise God 7.15: The Temple appears |
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8.1–9.21: The Baseline Story continues: |
8.1–5: The Ram breaks the seventh last seal from which seven Trumpet-Angels appear |
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8.6–12: The first four Trumpet-Angels sound |
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8.13–9.12: The fifth Trumpet-Angel sounds as the First Trump-Ta-Ra |
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9.12–21: The sixth Trumpet-Angel sounds as the Second Trump-Ta-Ra |
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Second Interruption (Central Prophecy): |
10.1–11.11: The mighty Seventh Angel prepares to sound 11.1–14: Two witnesses appear, disappear, are revived, and are martyred 11.14–18: The seventh trumpet-angel sounds as the Third Trump-Ta-Ra 11.19: The Temple of God appears again |
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12.1–16.21: The Baseline Story continues: |
12.1–18, 13.1–10, 13.11–18, 14.1–5, 14.6–13, 14.14–20 & 15.1–4: Seven serial visions play out |
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15.5–8: The Temple of God appears again |
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15.6–15.8: Seven Pitcher-Angels appear |
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16.1–16.21: The seven Pitcher-Angels pour their pitchers |
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Third Interruption: |
17.1–18: The main Angel teaches how to interpret prophetic symbols 18.1–24: Babylon falls 19.1–5: People praise God for Babylon falling |
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19.4-5 & 19.6-22.5: The Riddle of God is explained, then fulfilled: |
19.4–5: People praise God for Babylon falling |
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19.6–10: The wedding banquet of the Ram |
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19.11–16: The Lord of lords and King of kings is proclaimed |
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19.17–21: God’s great banquet takes place |
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20.1–10: The Millennium |
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20.11–15: Spiritual life |
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21.1–21: New Jerusalem |
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22.1–5: The Tree of Life |
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22.6–21: Epilogue: An unveiling |
22.6–21: John finishes unveiling the One Religion of God |
People praising God and the Temple link the interruptions together. Internal links tie together the Central Prophecy as the most important second interruption. One party (Baha’u’llah) is simultaneously its mighty Angel, its seventh Trumpet-Angel, its rod like a cane, and its Third Trump-Ta-Ra. Its sevenfold 1260–day time-prophecy that predicts the year 1844, studs it simultaneously with joy, mourning, and striving.[4]‑R Revelation sets the Central Prophecy, its most important text, at its center in the style of Old Testament books, like Leviticus that sets its most important Yom Kippur text in its central Chapter 16. No wonder that Baha’i Writings interpreting Revelation focus on its central Chapter 11.[5]‑A
[1] Rev. 4.1; 7.9, 9.12, 15.5, 18.1 & 19.1; also in 1.1–2, 19
[2] Rev. 1.4 x 2, 1.12, 1.16, 5.1, 5.6, 10.4; also in 8.2, 15.1
[3] Ben-Daniel, The Apocalypse in the Light of the Temple 217–25 (modified)
[4] For the main Angel, vv. 10.1; 10.7 & 11.15; 11.2; & 11.15; for the 1260–day time-prophecy, vv. 11.3, 12.6; 11.2, 13.5; & 11.9, 11.11 & 12.14
[5] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SAQ 11.45–61
