There are six reasons for a church to study Revelation of Jesus Christ:

1. Revelation is esteemed because we are commanded to study and proclaim the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).  The whole counsel includes the future.
2. Obedience is established.  Studying the future coming of Christ fuels our purity.
3. Hope is enlarged.
4. Sanctification and purity is empowered.
5. Evangelism is emboldened.  Our efforts to prepare and deliver the message of the gospel is more urgent, because time is short.
6. The study of end times strengthens us in discipleship.

Some other introductory points:

• The Apostle John wrote the book on the island of Patmos around 96 AD.
• The term “Revelation” means an uncovering or an unveiling.  Other passages that use the same Greek word:

Romans 2:5                Romans 16:25

1 Corinthians 1:7         Galatians 1:12

1 Peter 4:13                Colossians 3:4

• This revelation is:
  • About events to come.
  • By Jesus Christ from the Father
  • Of Christ at His second coming
• Clearly from the Apostle John, this book is, “About Christ from the Lord Himself” or said a different way, “It is the unveiling of Jesus Christ by the Father.”

Dr. Robert Thomas has a very helpful outline of the book and it can be found here:  https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Exegetical-Commentary-set-Wycliffe-ebook/dp/B01LX0FF91/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1.

In summary, this is our outline:

• Part 1:  Revelation 1:1-20 à The past dynamic
• Part 2:  Revelation 2:1 – 3:22 à The present work Christ is doing.
• Part 3:  Revelation 4:1 – 22:5 à Prediction of the future.
• Part 4:  Revelation 22:6-21 à The exhortation from Christ to His people for faithfulness.