Revelation: WEEKEND RECHARGE!

November 22, 2025

Monday, November 17—Revelation 4:1-11
Tuesday, November 18—Revelation 5:1-7
Wednesday, November 19—Revelation 5:8-14
Thursday, November 20—Revelation 6:1-8
Friday, November 21—Revelation 6:9-17

See explanations of premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism, and an outline of the Revelation following the Daily Devo Overview. 

THIS WEEK’S DAILY DEVO OVERVIEW: REVELATION 4:1—6:17

Revelation 4:1-11: A Door into Glory

• First Brush Stroke: An Open Door and an Invitation (Rev. 4:1)
  John sees “a door standing open in heaven,” symbolizing God’s invitation into his presence and his grace to reveal eternal truths.
  
  
• Second Brush Stroke: God on His Throne (Rev. 4:2–6)
  Immediately, John is “in the Spirit,” transported into the heavenly realm, where he beholds God’s unshakable throne, on which God sits in absolute power and sovereignty.  
  
  
• Third Brush Stroke: The Twenty-Four Elders (Rev. 4:4)
  Encircling God’s throne are twenty-four elders, seated on smaller thrones, clothed in white, and wearing victors’ crowns.
  
  
• Fourth Brush Stroke: The Four Living Creatures (Rev. 4:5–11)
  Around the throne are four living creatures—majestic, angelic beings who, along with the twenty-four elders, worship God for who he is and what he has done.

Revelation 5:1-7: The Lamb

• The Sovereign Scroll — God’s Perfect Plan for History (Rev. 5:1-4)
  John sees a scroll in God’s hand—written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. It symbolizes God’s complete and sovereign plan for the world’s destiny. Yet no one is found worthy to open it, reminding us that only God has the authority and knowledge to unfold history.
  
  
• The Conquering Lion — Jesus’ Worth Proven by His Victory (Rev. 5:5)
  The elder tells John to stop weeping because “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered.”
  
  
• The Slain Lamb — Power Perfected Through Sacrifice (Rev. 5:6-7)
  John looks—and instead of a roaring lion, he sees a Lamb standing as though slain. The Lamb bears the marks of sacrifice yet stands in authority, taking the scroll from God’s hand.

Revelation 5:8-14: Worthy is the Lamb

• Worship Before the Lamb — The Prayers and Praise of the Saints (Rev. 5:8)
  When Jesus takes the scroll, all of heaven bows in worship. The incense-filled bowls symbolize the prayers of God’s people rising before him.
  
  
• The Song of Redemption — The Lamb’s Worth and Work (Rev. 5:9-10)
  The new song celebrates the finished work of Christ. His blood has purchased people from every tribe, language, and nation, transforming them into a kingdom and priests who will reign with him.  
  
  
• The Chorus of Heaven and Earth — All Creation Praises the Lamb (Rev. 5:11-14)
  Heaven, earth, and all creation unite in one voice of adoration. The worship that begins with the elders expands until the entire universe resounds with praise.

Revelation 6:1-8: The Four Horsemen 

• The Beginning of the Tribulation (Rev. 6:1)
  The opening of the first seal marks the beginning of the tribulation. John sees the Lamb (Christ) open one of the seals (Rev 6:1a). God’s plan is unfolding according to his sovereign timing.
  
  
• The First Seal – The White Horse (Rev. 6:2)
  The rider brings false peace and rises as a world leader.
  
  
• The Second Seal – The Bright Red Horse (Rev. 6:3–4)
  The red color signifies bloodshed and war. The rider is given power to take peace from the earth. Humanity’s violence erupts unchecked—global warfare ensues.
  
  
• The Third Seal – The Black Horse (Rev. 6:5–6)
  The color black represents famine and economic collapse. 
  
  
• The Fourth Seal – The Pale Horse (Rev. 6:7–8)
  The pale (ashen) horse represents death. The rider’s name is Death, followed by Hades. One-fourth of the earth’s population perishes through war, famine, plague, and wild beasts.

Revelation 6:9-17: Who Can Stand?

• The Fifth Seal: Martyred Christians (Rev. 6:9–11)
  The faithfulness of God’s people in suffering is never forgotten. John sees the souls of martyrs “under the altar”—their deaths seen as a sacrifice before God.
  
  
• The Sixth Seal: Shaking and Shaken (Rev. 6:12–17)
  A great shaking of creation—earthquakes, darkened skies, falling stars—signifies the end of human security. Power, wealth, and status cannot shield anyone from God’s judgment. The powerful and poor alike cry out in terror, asking, “Who can stand?”
  
  
• “Who Can Stand?”
  The answer: No one on their own. All fall short before the holiness of God. Yet through Jesus Christ, who bore God’s wrath for sin, we can stand forgiven, redeemed, and secure. Those who stand with Christ need not fear the shaking of the world.

THE MILLENNIAL QUESTION
Revelation 20:1-6 indicates that there will be a millennial kingdom. The nature of this kingdom is a subject of debate. The timing of Christ’s second coming is often described in relation to the millennial kingdom. 

Premillennialism
This is the belief that Jesus will return before (pre-) the millennial kingdom is established. In fact, his coming will usher in the kingdom—a literal 1,000-year reign.[1] 

Amillennialism
This is the belief that there will be no millennial kingdom (the prefix “a” means “no”). Those who hold to amillennialism believe that the spiritual kingdom began after Christ’s resurrection and continues until his second coming. 

Postmillennialism
Those who adhere to this belief think that the gospel will ultimately transform the world. After a long period of time, during which people become more just and peaceful (not necessarily 1,000 years), Jesus will return. 

Outline of the Book of Revelation
(adapted from the Bible Knowledge Commentary, NT, pp. 927–963)

I. Introduction: The Things Which You Have Seen (Rev. 1:1–20)
A. The Prologue (1:1–3)

1. The chain of communication—from God → Christ → angel → John → servants.
2. The promise of blessing for those who read and heed.

B. The Salutation (1:4–8)

1. Greetings to the seven churches of Asia.
2. The doxology to Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, and ruler of kings.
3. Prophetic announcement of His coming in glory.

C. The Commission to Write (1:9–11)

1. John’s circumstances on Patmos and his divine commission.

D. The Vision of Christ in Glory (1:12–16)

1. The seven golden lampstands and the Son of Man.
2. Description of Christ’s majesty and attributes.

E. The Reassurance and Command (1:17–20)

1. “Fear not, I am the First and the Last.”
2. The keys of death and Hades.
3. The mystery of the seven stars and seven lampstands.

II. The Things Which Are — Messages to the Seven Churches (Rev. 2–3)
Each letter follows a pattern: address, Christ’s description, commendation, rebuke, exhortation, promise to overcomers.

1. Ephesus — The Loveless Church (2:1–7)
2. Smyrna — The Persecuted Church (2:8–11)
3. Pergamum — The Compromising Church (2:12–17)
4. Thyatira — The Corrupt Church (2:18–29)
5. Sardis — The Dead Church (3:1–6)
6. Philadelphia — The Faithful Church (3:7–13)
7. Laodicea — The Lukewarm Church (3:14–22)

III. The Things Which Will Take Place After This (Rev. 4–22)
A. The Scene in Heaven: The Throne and the Lamb (Rev. 4–5)

1. The Throne of God (4:1–11)
• The heavenly throne room; twenty-four elders; four living creatures; constant worship.
2. The Lamb and the Scroll (5:1–14)
• The sealed scroll; only the Lamb is worthy; worship and praise resound in heaven.

B. The Seal Judgments (Rev. 6:1–17; 8:1)

1. First Seal — the rider on the white horse (false peace).
2. Second Seal — red horse (war).
3. Third Seal — black horse (famine).
4. Fourth Seal — pale horse (death).
5. Fifth Seal — martyrs under the altar.
6. Sixth Seal — cosmic disturbances; people hide from God’s wrath.
7. Interlude: The Sealed of Israel and the Multitude of Gentiles (Rev. 7:1–17).
8. Seventh Seal — silence in heaven, introducing the trumpet judgments.

C. The Trumpet Judgments (Rev. 8:2–9:21; 11:15–19)

1. First Trumpet — vegetation burned.
2. Second — mountain in the sea (sea life destroyed).
3. Third — star “Wormwood” poisons waters.
4. Fourth — sun, moon, and stars darkened.
5. Fifth — demonic locusts torment mankind (first woe).
6. Sixth — demonic cavalry slays a third of mankind (second woe).
7. Interlude (Rev 10–11:14):
• The mighty angel and the little scroll (ch. 10).
• The two witnesses (11:1–14).
8. Seventh Trumpet — proclamation of Christ’s coming kingdom (11:15–19).

D. The Conflict of the Ages (Rev. 12–14)

1. The Woman and the Dragon (12:1–17).
2. The Two Beasts — Antichrist (13:1–10) and False Prophet (13:11–18).
3. The Lamb and the 144,000 (14:1–5).
4. Three angelic proclamations (14:6–13).
5. The Harvest and Vintage of the Earth (14:14–20).

E. The Bowl (Vial) Judgments (Rev. 15–16)

1. Preparation for the bowls (chap. 15).
2. Seven bowls poured out (chap. 16):
• 1st: sores; 2nd: sea to blood; 3rd: rivers to blood;
• 4th: scorching sun; 5th: darkness;
• 6th: Euphrates dried up, kings of the east;
• 7th: great earthquake and hail.

F. The Fall of Babylon (Rev. 17–18)

1. Religious Babylon — the harlot woman (chap. 17).
2. Commercial Babylon — the city’s destruction (chap. 18).

G. The Second Coming of Christ (Rev. 19:1–21)

1. Heavenly rejoicing (19:1–10).
2. Christ’s glorious return (19:11–16).
3. The defeat of the beast and false prophet (19:17–21).

H. The Millennial Kingdom and Final Judgment (Rev. 20:1–15)

1. Satan bound for a thousand years (20:1–3).
2. Christ’s millennial reign (20:4–6).
3. Satan’s final rebellion and doom (20:7–10).
4. The Great White Throne judgment (20:11–15).

I. The Eternal State (Rev. 21–22:5)

1. The new heaven and new earth (21:1–8).
2. The new Jerusalem — the bride, the Lamb’s wife (21:9–27).
3. The river and tree of life; no more curse (22:1–5).

J. The Epilogue: Final Exhortations and Promises (Rev. 22:6–21)

1. The trustworthiness of the revelation (22:6–9).
2. Christ’s imminent return (22:10–16).
3. The invitation to come (22:17).
4. The warning against alteration (22:18–19).
5. Final assurance and benediction (22:20–21).

Summary of the Structure (Rev. 1:19):

“Write therefore the things which you have seen [ch. 1],
the things which are [ch. 2–3],
and the things which shall take place after these things [ch. 4–22].”