To really understand the book, one needs to thoroughly and completely understand the writings of the Old Testament prophets for it is from these writings that all the symbolism used in the book of Revelation is found and identified. But there are short cuts.

I would like to share with you one way to understand and make sense of this important book. It involves merely reading straight through the book several times, each time asking one specific question.


1. First read the book, looking for and noting down as many contrasts as you can find. For example there is the woman in white and the woman in red. There are two cities, Jerusalem and Babylon. There are two contrasting animals - the lamb and the beast. There are two forms of worship, one that is forced and one that is free. You should be able to find at least 20 contrasts without much difficulty. Write them down. Spend a little time and you will find many more.

2. Now, go back and read the book just looking for names or titles for Christ. Write them down. You'll be absolutely amazed.

3. Next, read the book and divide it into two parts. A colored marker will help with this read through. Mark with one color the part has to do with action that takes place on earth and with another color the parts where the action centered in heaven. Now go back and just read the heavenly action section as a whole, looking at the content of the heavenly choir's message.

4. Do you understand "political cartoons"? Do you understand how a picture can both portray and caricature people and places, policies and ideas? View the book of Revelation as a series of word pictures or cartoons which it truly is! Attempt to isolate and imagine various word pictures.

5. On your next read through notice the use of numbers Revelation. Especially the number 7. There are 7 visions, seven blessings, seven beatitudes, seven vials, seven churches, seven trumpets, seven plagues, seven trumpets, seven horses, etc. Make a chart listing each of the above and then as you read through find and list each of these

6. We westerners write stories in linear fashion, beginning, middle and end. Revelation does not follow that format. It is much more like a depiction of a modern televised football game. It shows a play, then it re-shows it from a different angle and then it gives an instant replay. So the same action and events are pictured repeated from different perspectives. Be conscious and aware of these repetitions

7. Resist the temptation to get bogged down into the details. The wonderful thing about Revelation is, it is just that, a revelation. It reveals the cosmic struggle between good and evil. It maintains that Good is already victorious and the Evil will be eventually eliminated. This book ties up all the lose ends of the entire Scripture. It identifies for the first time the Serpent in Genesis. It portrays Christ as the ultimate High Priest. It is FULL of Sanctuary language. It acknowledges God as having conducted the great experiment in rebellion in a just, fair and equitable manner. "God, your righteous acts have been made evident… The way you have handled this war was just and fair and you have earned the loyalty of your created beings." Revelation 15.

8. Enjoy. Don’t be intimidated. The Spirit inspired the writer and the same Spirit will inspire you as you read. Copy down all passages that comfort and give reassurance.