Revelation: A Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Study Guide

The Book of Revelation can simultaneously be frightening, mysterious, and intriguing. This last book of the Bible is a book of prophecy. Despite some of the fearful things it contains, it is the only book of the Bible that promises a blessing to those who read it. But God’s Word is designed for study, not just casual reading, and Revelation is no exception.

This article summarizes Revelation, explaining it chapter by chapter, with links to each of the chapters. The links lead to the corresponding articles where each chapter is explained verse by verse for a comprehensive Bible study on Revelation. In addition, many of the articles explaining the Book of Revelation also include helpful and printable charts relating to the topic of that chapter.

Revelation Chapter-by-Chapter: Quick Reference

Chapter	Key Content	Printable Chart
1	Introduction; vision given to John	—
2	Messages to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira	—
3	Messages to Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea	Seven Churches Chart
4	Throne room of heaven; 24 elders, four living creatures	Four Living Creatures Chart
5	Seven-sealed book; the Lamb worthy to open it	Titles of Christ Chart
6	Lamb opens six seals; the Four Horsemen	Four Horsemen Chart
7	144,000 sealed; innumerable multitude	Twelve Tribes Sealed Chart
8	Seventh seal opens; first four trumpet judgments	Seven Seal & Trumpet Charts
9	Fifth & sixth trumpet judgments (locusts, Euphrates angels)	—
10	Mighty angel; John eats the little book	—
11	Two witnesses; seventh trumpet sounds	—
12	Woman, dragon, and war in heaven	Symbols of Rev. 12 Chart
13	Two beasts; mark of the beast (666)	Two Beasts Chart
14	144,000 on Mount Zion; three angels’ messages	Three Angels’ Messages Chart
15	Sea of glass; seven angels with seven vials	Symbols of Rev. 15 Chart
16	Seven vials poured out	Seven Vial Judgments Chart
17	Judgment of the great whore	Symbols of Rev. 17 Chart
18	Destruction of Babylon	—
19	Christ returns on a white horse; marriage supper of the Lamb	Two Feasts Chart
20	Satan bound; great white throne judgment	Two Resurrections Chart
21	New heaven, new earth, New Jerusalem	New Jerusalem Chart
22	River of life; Christ’s promise to return	Who’s Speaking Chart

Download a printable PDF of this Revelation chapter by chapter Bible study here.

Revelation Chapter 1 – John’s Vision Begins

Revelation chapter 1 introduces the Book of Revelation. As the title suggests, Revelation is the written vision given to the Apostle John. John faithfully related both what he saw and heard, and composed it into a letter specifically sent to seven local churches that were in Asia (modern Turkey) at this time in history.

Revelation Chapter 2-Messages to Four Churches

Revelation chapter 2 is the beginning of God’s message. In this chapter, He addressed four of the churches, specifically those at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira. God has both praise and rebukes for three of the four churches.

Revelation chapter 3 – Messages to the Last Three Churches

In Revelation chapter 3, God concludes His message to the seven churches. In this chapter, He speaks to the churches in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. This article includes a PDF chart of the Seven Churches of Revelation table. This Revelation chart names the seven churches and summarizes God’s message to each of them.

Revelation Chapter 4-God’s Throne Room in Heaven

In chapter 4 of Revelation, John is invited up into the throne room of heaven. In this fantastic place, John saw a throne that was surrounded by twenty-four elders. Also, he saw seven lamps of fire, a sea of glass, and four beasts. The sole purpose of these four beasts that John saw is to worship God continually. John described what he saw in great detail, and there is a printable PDF chart showing the description of the four living creatures.

Revelation Chapter 5-The Seven Sealed Book

Revelation chapter 5 shows God on His throne, and He is holding a mysterious seven-sealed book. The only One worthy to unloose the seals and open the book was “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David,” which appeared to John as a lamb “as it had been slain.” There are three distinct names of Jesus Christ in Revelation 5, and this article includes both a chart and a printable PDF of the Titles of Jesus Christ in Revelation chapter 5. With the knowledge of Jesus Christ being able to open this Book, there is universal rejoicing.

Revelation Chapter 6-The Four Horsemen and the First Six Seal Jugements

In Revelation chapter 6, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, opens the seals of this book. Each seal that He opens unleashes one of the seven seal judgments of Revelation. The first four seal judgments release the four horse riders of Revelation, commonly known as the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” which brings death to the inhabitants of the Earth by various means. There is a printable PDF of these Four Horsemen of Revelation. Then the fifth seal shifts from earthly chaos to show the souls of martyrs who both cry for justice and are comforted. The sixth seal judgment is a great earthquake, which affects not only the entire globe, but also the heavens.

Revelation Chapter 7-The 144 Thousand Sealed

Revelation chapter 7 shifts from the chaos of Earth to a heavenly scene. John saw four angels holding the four winds of heaven and the 144,000 sealed saints of God. Besides these 144,000, there is an innumerable multitude of people from all nations who were joyfully praising both God and the Lamb. Included this article is a printable PDF of The Twelve Tribes of Israel Sealed in Revelation chapter 7.

Revelation Chapter 8-The Seventh Seal Judgment-The 7 Trumpet Judgements

Finally, in Revelation chapter 8, the Lamb opened the seventh and last seal of the seven-sealed book, which revealed seven angels with seven trumpets. The judgment of the seventh seal is the trumpet judgments. As each angel sounds their trumpet, God’s judgment is released on the Earth. This chapter describes the first four of the seven trumpet judgments in Revelation. The results of the first four trumpet judgments are a shower of hail, fire and blood, a burning mountain cast into the sea, the star Wormwood falling from heaven, and the sun, moon and stars are smitten. The chapter concludes with a threefold woe for the severity of the three trumpet judgments immediately following. Included are two PDFs: The Seven Seal Judgments and also The Seven Trumpet Judgments.

The 5th and 6th Trumpet Judgments

Revelation chapter 9 records the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments. The fifth trumpet judgment describes the opening of the pit, which releases a horde of devilish locusts. The sixth trumpet judgment is the loosing of four angels that have been bound in the Euphrates River. After they are released, they will lead an army of demonic horsemen throughout the world.

Revelation Chapter 10 – The Little Book

In Revelation chapter 10, a mighty angel descends to Earth and is holding a little book. The angel announces that time will be no longer. John hears the voices and words of seven thunders, but he is prohibited from recording their words. The angel gives John a little book and tells him to eat it. After John did, he got a commission to prophesy to many people.

Revelation Chapter 11-The Two Witnesses

Revelation chapter 11 introduces two witnesses that will prophesy for three and a half years. When that time is completed, they will be killed by the beast who will come out of the bottomless pit. After they die, they will only stay dead for three and a half days, and then they will ascend bodily into heaven. After heaven receives them, there will be a great earthquake that will kill 7,000 people. Then the seventh angel will sound his trumpet. The seventh trumpet judgment is that all the earthly kingdoms will become the kingdoms of Jesus Christ and He will reign forever and ever. All of heaven rejoices at this glorious fact.

Revelation Chapter 12-The Woman, The Dragon and War in Heaven

Revelation chapter 12 is symbolic, but also has elements in reality. John saw a pregnant woman clothed with the sun ready to give birth, but also a great red dragon waiting to devour the child. The woman gave birth to a son and God caught Him up to Himself while the woman flees into the wilderness. Also in this chapter, John sees war in heaven. The angel Michael fights with Satan, and Michael’s angels fight with the dragon and his angels, but Michael wins, and cast the devil out of heaven. After Satan is cast out of heaven, he tries to persecute the woman, but the Earth helped her. Included is the PDF printable of Symbols of Revelation Chapter 12.

Revelation Chapter 13-The Two Beasts and The Mark of the Beast

Revelation chapter 13 is an ominous chapter that describes two sinister beasts who work together. The first beast rises out of the sea and is allowed to live, be worshipped, and to blaspheme God. Also, he will both make war and prevail against the saints of God for a total of 42 months. Then, another beast appears in this chapter, who performs false miracles and puts the people of the Earth into bondage where they cannot buy or sell unless they have his number, which is 666, the mark of the beast. Here you can find the printable PDF of The Two Beasts of Revelation Chapter 13 chart.

Revelation Chapter 14-The Lamb on Mt. Zion and the 3 Angels

Revelation chapter 14 shows the Lamb on Mount Zion with 144,000 redeemed souls of chapter seven. There are three angels, each with a different message in this chapter, and a printable PDF chart showing The Three Angels’ Messages. The Earth is reaped by two different individuals, and there are two very different outcomes of the souls being reaped in this chapter. One reaping results with individuals being cast into the wine press of God, in which God tramples them while their blood pours out.

Revelation Chapter 15-The 7 Angels With the 7 Vials

In Revelation chapter 15 shows the sea of glass with those who have become victorious over the beast and rejoicing before God in heaven. But this chapter also introduces seven angels who have seven vials, (or bowls) filled with the wrath of God, which will be the last seven plagues on the Earth. Included is a printable PDF chart of the Symbols of Revelation Chapter 15.

Revelation Chapter 16-Teh Seven Vial Judgments Poured Out

In Revelation chapter 16, the seven angels with the seven vials pour out their contents on the Earth. The result of the wrath of God is described in this chapter. These vial judgments include plagues on the people of the Earth, water turning to blood, sun scorching the people on Earth, the throne of the beast judged, a gathering of unclean spirits to lure the kings of the world to Armageddon, and thunderings, lightnings, and hail. Download the printable PDF chart of The Seven Vial Judgments here.

Revelation Chapter 17-God’s Judgment of the Great Whore

Revelation chapter 17 tells of God’s judgment of the great whore ─ a symbolic representation of the kingdom of the antichrist. This chapter also explains some of the symbolism in Revelation and includes the printable PDF chart: Symbols of Revelation 17 Decoded.

Revelation Chapter 18-The Destruction of Babylon

Revelation chapter 18 is about the warning and the sudden fulfillment of the complete destruction of Babylon. This chapter also records how the inhabitants of the Earth will mourn over its destruction.

Revelation Chapter 19-Christ Returns on a White Horse

In Revelation chapter 19, all those in heaven rejoice after the destruction of Babylon because of God’s just vengeance on the inhabitants of this wicked city. Then, in this chapter, heaven opens and Christ Jesus as the Word of God appears triumphant on a white horse with His armies following Him. This chapter also described two very different feasts: one glorious ─ the marriage supper of the Lamb ─ and the other gruesome ─ dead bodies for the birds of prey of those who attempted to destroy the armies of Christ Jesus. Download a printable PDF chart of the Two Feasts of Revelation 19.

Revelation Chapter 20-The Thousand Year Reign and the Great White Throne Judgment

Revelation chapter 20 records the events that will happen after the victory of Jesus Christ and His armies. Satan is shut up in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years, all who were beheaded during the reign of the antichrist will be resurrected and will both live and also reign with Jesus Christ. But after 1,000 years, Satan will be loosed to start the war of Gog and Magog, but he will be unsuccessful. Then, the great white throne judgment of the dead is described. At the great white throne judgment, all who are not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. Included is a printable PDF chart of Two Resurrections Vs. Two Deaths.

Revelation Chapter 21-The New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem

 In Revelation Chapter 21, the new heaven and the new Earth are described. In this chapter, John sees the New Jerusalem, which will come to Earth and where God will live with His people. Some of the glorious details of the New Jerusalem are described in this chapter with a printable PDF New Jerusalem By the Numbers chart.

Revelation Chapter 22-The River of Life and Christ’s Final Invitation

Revelation chapter 22, the final chapter of the Bible, shows the river of life and the tree of life. The angel says the time of fulfillment is at hand. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. In this chapter is the last invitation of the Bible, which is “Come,” For those who do, they will take of the water of life freely. Jesus Christ promises to come quickly, and John closes this book by inviting Him to return. Since there are multiple speakers in this last chapter, included is a printable PDF chart of Who’s Speaking in Revelation 22?

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