# John's Revelation commentary

It is called the "book of vision" because it is a prophetic work.

- More commentary has been written about Revelation than any other book of the Bible.
  - This makes sense, since it explicitly describes what will happen next, and people hate [uncertainty](understanding-certainty.md).
- However, it is a bit foolish to pursue interpreting Revelation right away.
  - To start with, a solid foundation in John's prophecies requires closely examining the prophecies in Isaiah, Daniel, and the other prophets.
  - It also requires unthethering ourselves from the present-day circumstances. Donald Trump, for example, might have nothing to do with anything written in Revelation.
  - Without that basis, people start [predicting weird things](imagination-failedprophecies-0-1199.md).

## Chapter summary

1. prologue, John greets the seven churches, John's vision on Patmos
2. to the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyratira
3. to the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea
4. the throne in heaven, beings worshiping God
5. the Lamb takes the scroll, the Lamb is exalted
6. Seals 1-6 opened
7. 144,000 sealed, praise from the great multitude
8. Seal 7 opened, Trumpets 1-4 sounded
9. Trumpets 5-6 sounded
10. the angel and the small scroll
11. the two witnesses prophesy and are killed and raised, Trumpet 7 sounded
12. the woman and the dragon, the war in heaven, the woman persecuted
13. the beast from the sea, another beast from the earth, the mark of the second beast
14. the Lamb and 144,000, the three angels and Babylon's fall, the harvest of the earth
15. the song of Moses and the Lamb, preparation for judgment
16. Bowls 1-7 poured out
17. the woman on the beast, the mystery explained, the victory of the Lamb
18. Babylon is fallen, lament over Babylon, the doom of Babylon
19. rejoicing in heaven, the marriage of the Lamb, the rider on the white horse, defeat of the beast and false prophet
20. the devil bound and cast into the lake of fire, judgment before the Great White Throne
21. the new heaven and earth, the new Jerusalem
22. the river of life, Jesus is coming, nothing may be added or removed