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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Revelation

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of whole text


1-1

1 Introduction (1:1-7)
  2 A Vision of Christ (1:8-20)
    3 The Message to Ephesus (2:1-7)
      4 The Message to Smyrna (2:8-11)
        5 The Message to Pergamum (2:12-17)
          6 The Message to Thyatira (2:18-29)
            7 The Message to Sardis (3:1-6)
              8 The Message to Philadelphia (3:7-13)
                9 The Message to Laodicea (3:14-22)
                  10 The Heavenly Worship (4:1-11)
                    11 The Scroll and The Lamb (5:1-7)
                      12 Praise to God (5:8-14)
                        13 The First Seal (6:1-2)
                          14 The Second Seal (6:3-4)
                            15 The Third Seal (6:5-6)
                              16 The Fourth Seal (6:7-8)
                                17 The Fifth Seal (6:9-11)
                                  18 The Sixth Seal (6:12-17)
                                    19 The 144000 of Israel Sealed (7:1-10)
                                      20 Seven Honors (7:11-12)
                                        21 People Who Wears White Robes (7:13-17)
                                          22 The Seventh Seal (8:1-5)
                                            23 The First Trumpet (8:6-7)
                                              24 The Second Trumpet (8:8-9)
                                                25 The Third Trumpet (8:10-11)
                                                  26 The Fourth Trumpet (8:12-13)
                                                    27 The Fifth Trumpet (9:1-12)
                                                      28 The Sixth Trumpet (9:13-16)
                                                        29 People Who don't Repent (9:17-21)
                                                          30 The Angel With The Little Scroll (10:1-3)
                                                            31 Seven Thunders (10:4)
                                                              32 There Shall Be No More Delay (10:5-7)
                                                                33 John Eats a Little Scroll (10:8-11)
                                                                  34 Count Those Who Are Worshiping (11:1-4)
                                                                    35 Power of The Two Witnesses (11:5-6)
                                                                      36 Testimony of The Two Witnesses (11:7-10)
                                                                        37 Resurrection of The Two Witnesses (11:11-14)
                                                                          38 The Seventh Trumpet (11:15-19)
                                                                            39 The Woman and The Dragon (12:1-5)
                                                                              40 Fight With Dragon (12:6-9)
                                                                                41 Voice In Heaven (12:10-12)
                                                                              42 The Dragon Is Thrown Down (12:13-14)
                                                                            43 The Woman Escapes (12:15-16)
                                                                          44 Rage of The Dragon (12:17-18)
                                                                        45 The First Beast (13:1-7)
                                                                      46 Endurance and Faith (13:8-10)
                                                                    47 The Second Beast (13:11-15)
                                                                  48 Number of The Beast (13:16-18)
                                                                49 The Lamb and The 144,000 (14:1-5)
                                                              50 The Message of The Three Angels (14:6-12)
                                                            51 Write This (14:13)
                                                          52 Reaping The Eatrh'S Harvest (14:14-20)
                                                        53 The Angel With The Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8)
                                                      54 The First and Second Bowl (16:1-3)
                                                    55 The Third Bowl (16:4-7)
                                                  56 The Fourth Bowl (16:8-9)
                                                57 The Fifth Bowl (16:10-11)
                                              58 The Sixth Bowl (16:12-16)
                                            59 The Seventh Bowl (16:17-21)
                                          60 Judgment on The Great Harlot (17:1-2)
                                        61 A Woman Seated on A Scarlet Beast (17:3-6)
                                      62 The Beast's True Colors (17:7-14)
                                    63 The Harlot's True Colors (17:15-18)
                                  64 Voice of The First Angel (18:1-3)
                                65 Voice of The Second Angel (18:4-8)
                              66 Sorrow of Kings (18:9-10)
                            67 Sorrow of Merchants (18:11-17a)
                          68 Sorrow of Sailors (18:17b-20)
                        69 Voice of The Third Angel (18:21-24)
                      70 The Rejoicing In Heaven (19:1-5)
                    71 The Marriage Supper of The Lamb (19:6-10)
                  72 The Rider on The White Horse (19:11-16)
                73 The Beast and Its Armies Defeated (19:17-21)
              74 Satan Is Imprisoned (20:1-3)
            75 The Thousand Years (20:4-6)
          76 Satan's Doom (20:7-10)
        77 The Dead Are Judged (20:11-15)
      78 The New Heaven and The New Earth (21:1-8)
    79 Vision of The New Jerusalem (21:9-22:5)
  80 Christ's Resurrection (22:6-16)
81 Epilogue and Benediction (22:17-21)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Introduction (1:1-7)
1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it,
Words of prophecy81 Epilogue and Benediction (22:17-21)
22:18 I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book:
2 A Vision of Christ (1:8-20)
1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega,"
Alpha, Omega80 Christ's Resurrection (22:6-16)
22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega,
3 The Message to Ephesus (2:1-7)
2:7To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God."'
Fruit of the tree of life79 Vision of The New Jerusalem (21:9-22:5)
22:2 down the middle of its street. On either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
4 The Message to Smyrna (2:8-11)
2:8The first and the last, who once died but came to life, says this:
The first and the last78 The New Heaven and The New Earth (21:1-8)
21:6I (am) the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
4 The Message to Smyrna (2:8-11)
2:11The victor shall not be harmed by the second death."'
Second death78 The New Heaven and The New Earth (21:1-8)
21:8which is the second death."
5 The Message to Pergamum (2:12-17)
2:13where Satans throne is,
Throne77 The Dead Are Judged (20:11-15)
20:11 Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
5 The Message to Pergamum (2:12-17)
2:17a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it."'
Writing down a name77 The Dead Are Judged (20:11-15)
20:15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire.
6 The Message to Thyatira (2:18-29)
2:20the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, who teaches and misleads my servants to play the harlot and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
False prophet76 Satan's Doom (20:7-10)
20:10 The Devil who had led them astray was thrown into the pool of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
7 The Message to Sardis (3:1-6)
3:4 However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.
People who are with Christ75 The Thousand Years (20:4-6)
20:4I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image nor had accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
8 The Message to Philadelphia (3:7-13)
3:7'The holy one, the true, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shall close, who closes and no one shall open,
Person who has a key74 Satan Is Imprisoned (20:1-3)
20:1 Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a heavy chain.
9 The Message to Laodicea (3:14-22)
3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Out of a mouth73 The Beast and Its Armies Defeated (19:17-21)
19:21 The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
10 The Heavenly Worship (4:1-11)
4:1 After this I had a vision of an open door 2 to heaven,
Heaven is opened72 The Rider on The White Horse (19:11-16)
19:11 Then I saw the heavens opened,
10 The Heavenly Worship (4:1-11)
4:4 Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.
Crown72 The Rider on The White Horse (19:11-16)
19:12 His eyes were (like) a fiery flame, and on his head were many diadems.
11 The Scroll and The Lamb (5:1-7)
5:6 Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.
A lamb71 The Marriage Supper of The Lamb (19:6-10)
19:7For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready.
12 Praise to God (5:8-14)
5:8 When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.
Four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down70 The Rejoicing In Heaven (19:1-5)
19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying,
13 The First Seal (6:1-2)
6:2 I looked, and there was a white horse, and its rider had a bow. He was given a crown, and he rode forth victorious to further his victories.(6:2)
Victory69 Voice of The Third Angel (18:21-24)
18:21 A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea and said: "With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down, and will never be found again. (18:21)
14 The Second Seal (6:3-4)
6:4 Another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given power to take peace away from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And he was given a huge sword.
Fire68 Sorrow of Sailors (18:17b-20)
18:18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her pyre, "What city could compare with the great city?"
15 The Third Seal (6:5-6)
6:6"A ration of wheat costs a day's pay, and three rations of barley cost a day's pay. But do not damage the olive oil or the wine."
Business67 Sorrow of Merchants (18:11-17a)
18:12 their cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple silk, and scarlet cloth; fragrant wood of every kind, all articles of ivory and all articles of the most expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 18:13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human beings.
16 The Fourth Seal (6:7-8)
6:8They were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and plague, and by means of the beasts of the earth.
Authority / king66 Sorrow of Kings (18:9-10)
18:9 The kings of the earth who had intercourse with her in their wantonness will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her pyre.
17 The Fifth Seal (6:9-11)
6:10"How long will it be, holy and true master, before you sit in judgment and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?"
Judgment of the LORD65 Voice of The Second Angel (18:4-8)
18:8For mighty is the Lord God who judges her."
17 The Fifth Seal (6:9-11)
6:10"How long will it be, holy and true master, before you sit in judgment and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?"
Vengeance65 Voice of The Second Angel (18:4-8)
18:6 Pay her back as she has paid others. Pay her back double for her deeds. Into her cup pour double what she poured.
18 The Sixth Seal (6:12-17)
6:16"Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,
Rage of the LORD64 Voice of The First Angel (18:1-3)
18:3 For all the nations have drunk the wine of her licentious passion. The kings of the earth had intercourse with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her drive for luxury."
18 The Sixth Seal (6:12-17)
6:13 The stars in the sky fell to the earth
Falling from the heaven64 Voice of The First Angel (18:1-3)
18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority,
19 The 144000 of Israel Sealed (7:1-10)
7:9 After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
Large numbers of peoples, nations, and tongues63 The Harlot's True Colors (17:15-18)
17:15"The waters that you saw where the harlot lives represent large numbers of peoples, nations, and tongues.
20 Seven Honors (7:11-12)
7:12"Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Seven62 The Beast's True Colors (17:7-14)
17:7I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns.
20 Seven Honors (7:11-12)
7:11 All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.
People who are with God62 The Beast's True Colors (17:7-14)
17:14 They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful."
21 People Who Wears White Robes (7:13-17)
7:14"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Blood of martyr61 A Woman Seated on A Scarlet Beast (17:3-6)
17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the holy ones and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.
22 The Seventh Seal (8:1-5)
8:2 And I saw that the seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets.
Seven angels60 Judgment on The Great Harlot (17:1-2)
17:1 Then one of the seven angels who were holding the seven bowls came and said to me,
23 The First Trumpet (8:6-7)
8:7 When the first one blew his trumpet, there came hail and fire mixed with blood, which was hurled down to the earth. A third of the land was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all green grass. (8:7)
A third of59 The Seventh Bowl (16:17-21)
16:19 The great city was split into three parts, and the gentile cities fell. But God remembered great Babylon, giving it the cup filled with the wine of his fury and wrath.(16:19)
24 The Second Trumpet (8:8-9)
8:9 a third of the creatures living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were wrecked.(8:9)
Three objects58 The Sixth Bowl (16:12-16)
16:13 I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet.
25 The Third Trumpet (8:10-11)
8:11 The star was called "Wormwood," 7 and a third of all the water turned to wormwood. Many people died from this water, because it was made bitter.
Death caused by pain of tongues57 The Fifth Bowl (16:10-11)
16:10and people bit their tongues in pain 16:11 and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their works.
26 The Fourth Trumpet (8:12-13)
8:12 When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them became dark. The day lost its light for a third of the time, as did the night.
Disaster of sun56 The Fourth Bowl (16:8-9)
16:8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun. It was given the power to burn people with fire.
27 The Fifth Trumpet (9:1-12)
9:6 During that time these people will seek death but will not find it, and they will long to die but death will escape them.
Giving a pain55 The Third Bowl (16:4-7)
16:6 For they have shed the blood of the holy ones and the prophets, and you (have) given them blood to drink; it is what they deserve."
28 The Sixth Trumpet (9:13-16)
9:15 So the four angels were released, who were prepared for this hour, day, month, and year to kill a third of the human race.
Angel is sent for punishment54 The First and Second Bowl (16:1-3)
16:1 I heard a loud voice speaking from the temple to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of God's fury upon the earth."
29 People Who don't Repent (9:17-21)
9:20 The rest of the human race, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, to give up the worship of demons and idols made from gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
Image and idols53 The Angel With The Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8)
15:2On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image and the number that signified its name.
29 People Who don't Repent (9:17-21)
9:20 The rest of the human race, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, to give up the worship of demons and idols made from gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
Disaster53 The Angel With The Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8)
15:1seven angels with the seven last plagues,
30 The Angel With The Little Scroll (10:1-3)
10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven wrapped in a cloud, with a halo around his head;
Person who is in cloud52 Reaping The Eatrh'S Harvest (14:14-20)
14:14 Then I looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
31 Seven Thunders (10:4)
10:4"Seal up what the seven thunders have spoken, but do not write it down."
Write down / don't write down51 Write This (14:13)
14:13"Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."
32 There Shall Be No More Delay (10:5-7)
10:6"There shall be no more delay. 10:7 At the time when you hear the seventh angel blow his trumpet, the mysterious plan of God shall be fulfilled,
The time has come50 The Message of The Three Angels (14:6-12)
14:7for his time has come to sit in judgment.
32 There Shall Be No More Delay (10:5-7)
10:6 and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them,
Creator50 The Message of The Three Angels (14:6-12)
14:7Worship him who made heaven and earth and sea and springs of water."
33 John Eats a Little Scroll (10:8-11)
10:9It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet 6as honey."
Mouth49 The Lamb and The 144,000 (14:1-5)
14:5 On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
34 Count Those Who Are Worshiping (11:1-4)
11:2for it has been handed over to the Gentiles, who will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
Trampled by foreigners48 Number of The Beast (13:16-18)
13:16 It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads, 13:17 so that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image of the beast's name or the number that stood for its name.
34 Count Those Who Are Worshiping (11:1-4)
11:3 I will commission my two witnesses to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth."
Sixty48 Number of The Beast (13:16-18)
13:18His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
35 Power of The Two Witnesses (11:5-6)
11:5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain.
Persecution47 The Second Beast (13:11-15)
13:15 It was then permitted to breathe life into the beast's image, so that the beast's image could speak and (could) have anyone who did not worship it put to death.
36 Testimony of The Two Witnesses (11:7-10)
11:7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.
Martyr46 Endurance and Faith (13:8-10)
13:10 Anyone destined for captivity goes into captivity. Anyone destined to be slain by the sword shall be slain by the sword.
37 Resurrection of The Two Witnesses (11:11-14)
11:11 But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them.
Three and half of duration45 The First Beast (13:1-7)
13:5 The beast was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies, and it was given authority to act for forty-two months.
37 Resurrection of The Two Witnesses (11:11-14)
11:13 At that moment there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell in ruins. Seven thousand people were killed during the earthquake; the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Seven, ten45 The First Beast (13:1-7)
13:1 Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous name (s).
38 The Seventh Trumpet (11:15-19)
11:18 The nations raged, but your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to recompense your servants, the prophets, and the holy ones and those who fear your name, the small and the great alike, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
Anger, time of conclusion44 Rage of The Dragon (12:17-18)
12:17 Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus.
39 The Woman and The Dragon (12:1-5)
12:4 Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.
Dragons attack43 The Woman Escapes (12:15-16)
12:15 The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current.
40 Fight With Dragon (12:6-9)
12:6 The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.
Woman escapes42 The Dragon Is Thrown Down (12:13-14)
12:14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year.

Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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