PMT 2023-022 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
It has been said that wherever you find five Revelation commentaries, you will discover six different Revelation outlines. Outlining Revelation is a difficult task due to its cyclical and repetitive movement. For instance, in it appear cycles of seven: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials. But these appear to be rehearsing the same information.
Nevertheless, outlining Revelation is an important, though difficult, task that can be accomplished. The structuring of Revelation should emphasize its judicial character, since we see one judgment of God after another in its unfolding story.
The Structuring Device
Though Revelation may be outlined in several different ways, its most basic framework is structured around John’s four “in Spirit” (Greek: en pneumati) experiences (1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). This phraseology only appears four times in Revelation. And they highlight Revelation’s simplest, most basic structural feature, presenting the material in four primary visions, which point to four major transitions within the whole vision.
Rev 1:10 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.”
Rev 4:2 “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.”
Rev 17:3 “He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.”
Rev 21:10 “He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.”
This simple structuring of the book picks up on this distinctive phrasing that highlights John’s prophetic experience (1:10; 4:2) and Spirit-transport (17:3; 21:10).
Survey of the Book of Revelation
(DVDs by Ken Gentry)
Twenty-four careful, down-to-earth lectures provide a basic introduction to and survey of the entire Book of Revelation. Professionally produced lectures of 30-35 minutes length.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com
The Structuring Result
Associated with each occurrence of the “in the Spirit” phraseology, we find John appearing in a different location. Each location is radically different from the others.
In the context of Rev 1:10, we see John on the island of Patmos. In Rev 1:9 we read:
“I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos.”
In today’s context, the second “in the spirit” (Rev. 4:2) statement, we find John transported from Patmos on the earth to heaven:
Rev 4:1 “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.’ Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.”
The next appearance of “in the Spirit” occurs in Rev 17:3, where John is carried back down to the earth into a wilderness:
Rev 17:3a: “he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness.”
The final appearance of “in the Spirit” is in Rev 20:10, where John is moved from the low-lying wilderness to a great, high mountain:
Rev 21:10a “He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain.”
Thus, John’s “in the Spirit” experiences have him placed in different locations to receive different revelations from God.
The Structuring Significance
The “in the Spirit” movements have judicial implications that are significant for the judgment scenes of Revelation.
The first “in the Spirit” section
The first “in the Spirit” location appears in Rev 1:9-3:22. This one shows John under judicial censure on Patmos to where Rome banishes him. While there, Christ directs him to write Revelation and to send it to the seven churches (1:11). In the following seven letter-oracles Christ will engage an investigative judgment of the churches.
We may discern this from both Christ’s visionary appearance and his oracles. He appears as the Son of Man with flaming (i.e., dross-burning, searching) eyes and a two-edged (i.e., penetrating) sword (1:14, 16; 2:18, 23; cp. Heb 4:12); then he criticizes and warns the churches (2:4, 5, 14, 16, 20, 24; 3:2-3, 17, 19). Christ’s judicial criticism is designed to show “all the churches” that “I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according your deeds” (2:23).
So then, this first vision is designed to promote repentance and faithfulness in the seven churches by threatening judgment.
The Climax of the Book of Revelation (Rev 19-22)
Six lectures on six DVDs that introduce Revelation as a whole, then focuses on its glorious conclusion. Provides an important, lengthy Introduction to Revelation also.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com
The second “in the Spirit” section
The second “in the Spirit” experience escorts John into heaven (4:1-2a), where he sees God’s judgment throne and his heavenly judicial courtroom (4:2b-4). There we see the lightning and thunder (4:5) which signify the terrifying theophany from which the judgments flow out against God’s enemies (4:1-16:21). While there in the Spirit John witnesses a session of the divine council (4:1-5:14), which results in a seven-sealed judgment scroll being given to Christ (5:1-4), who will open the seals and unleash the judgments (5:9; 6:1ff).
The third and fourth “in the Spirit” sections
The third (17:1-21:8) and fourth sections (21:9-22:5) have strong introductory parallels, establishing a clear relationship between them and a climax to the whole judicial procedure. Note the parallels:
17:1: “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters…. [17::3] And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.’”
21:9-10: “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.’”
The third section has John “in the Spirit,” while one of the seven-judgment angels transports him into the wilderness. There he will hear the harlot’s sentence and witness her judgment. The harlot is drunk on the blood of the saints (17:6; 18:24) and intoxicates the nations with her passion to destroy (18:3), so that she deserves a double payback (18:6). Her destruction is sure because “the Lord God who judges her is strong” (18:8, 20). Heaven will praise God’s judgments against her (19:1-3). Her judgment ultimately comes from Christ who appears as the divine warrior (19:11-19).
The fourth “in the Spirit” section has one of the seven-judgment angels carrying John to a great high mountain. There he sees the vindication and reward of the saints (21:9-22:5). In their judicial reward they inhabit the strong, well-protected heavenly Jerusalem come down to earth.
The Structuring Outline
Part I. Introduction (1:1-8)
Part II. In the Spirit on Patmos (1:9-3:22)
Part III. In the Spirit in Heaven (4:1-16:21)
Part IV. In the Spirit in the Wilderness (17:1-21:8)
Part V. In the Spirit on the Mountain (21:9-22:5)
Part VI. Conclusion (22:6-21)
This judicial structuring fits nicely with Revelation’s judicial theme and movement.
THE TWO AGES AND OLIVET
I am currently researching a study of the Two-Age structure of redemptive history. My starting point is based on the disciples’ questions to Jesus in Matthew 24:3. Much confusion reigns among those unacquainted over the Two-Age analysis of history that was promoted by Jesus and by Paul. The Two Ages are not the old covenant and the new covenant, but world history since the fall and the consummate order following the Second Coming and the Final Judgment.
If you would like to support me in my research, I invite you to consider giving a tax-deductible contribution to my research and writing ministry: GoodBirth Ministries. Your help is much appreciated!
Tagged: Revelation's outline, Revelation's structure. in the Spirit
Postmillennial Worldview 
Outline should be amended as follows:
Part I. Introduction (1:1-8)
Part II. In the Spirit on Patmos (1:9-3:22)
Part III. In the Spirit in Heaven: Parallel Timeline One (4:1-11:19)
Part IV. In the Spirit in Heaven: Parallel Timeline Two (12:1-14:20)
Part V. In the Spirit in Heaven: Parallel Timelines Merge Into One (15:1-16:21)
Part VI. In the Spirit in the Wilderness (17:1-21:8)
Part VII. In the Spirit on the Mountain (21:9-22:5)
Part VIII. Conclusion (22:6-21)
I wish I could erase my previous comment and start again. I was wrong about the structure amendment that I made. I have learned a little more since then. Perhaps this will clarify:
Before the trumpet judgments began in Rev. 8:3-5, the angel of fire took the censer and filled it with fire and threw it to the earth. The trumpets blew in succession and the sixth trumpet brought forth the horsemen and their plagues. The angel of fire and horses are like “bookends” to the trumpet judgments. After that the nearly 2-chapter interlude took place, and then the seventh trumpet blew. However, the third “woe” failed to materialise. There was only rejoicing in heaven.
Chapter twelve follows as a kind of “flashback” in time for John and permits him to witness the beginnings of the spiritual war between the dragon and the Lamb. Leaving chapter twelve, the timeline diverges into two separate timelines which take place simultaneously: chapter thirteen belonging to the dragon and chapter fourteen belonging to the Lamb. We have to assume that the dragon’s timeline continues on even though we can’t follow it after chapter thirteen. On the other hand, the timeline of the Lamb continues on in chapter fourteen until it comes to verses 18-20. There, the angel of the fire is again mentioned and so are the horse’s bridles. This tells us that these three verses are actually a summary of the the first six trumpet judgments. They also tell us that the “flashback” has now come full circle and John is back to where he was in time when the sixth trumpet sounded and brought forth the plagues with horses.
Verse 20 of chapter fourteen also tells us that the total area affected by the trumpet judgments was 1,600 stadia, the length of Israel. The fact that it was “trodden outside the city” also shows that Jerusalem was not destroyed as a part of the trumpet judgments.
At this point I speculate because I don’t have enough information. I think the celebration of 11:15-18 is the same celebration as 15:1-4. Regardless, the timelines of 11:19 and 15:8, roughly, merge together somewhere around the point when the temple is opened, since it is mentioned in both timelines. Then, they both progress into Rev. 16:1 and following.
That means that it is not recapitulation that takes place, but rather a telescopic form of progression in dovetail fashion. In other words, The seventh trumpet contains the seven bowl judgments just as the seventh seal contains the seven trumpet judgments. I emphasize that chapter twelve is a flashback in time, so to speak, not a so-called recapitulation cycle. I know this sounds crazy, but trust me. Go and watch the Mel Gibson movie called “Maverick” and you will see exactly what I mean by “flashback.” This is precisely what happens at chapter twelve.
Are you familiar with “Recapitulation and Chronological Progression in John’s Apocalypse: Towards a New Perspective* by Marko Jauhianinen? I found it quite interesting and compellingly simple in its explanation of the progression of Revelation.
I have used the author’s material in various places, but I haven’t seen this material. I will have to check it out. Thanks.
Another interesting manuscript on this topic which is available on the internet to download is called The Structure of the Apocalypse: Recapitulation or Progression? by Robert L. Thomas. There are about 20 pages, but most of them are footnotes. The reading itself will only take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Question: How can it be that chapters 19-20, especially the final judgment, could take place “In the Spirit in the Wilderness”? Although it doesn’t say “In the Spirit in Heaven” after chapter 18, it does in fact appear that John’s location has changed. Chapter 19:1 says, “I heard a loud voice in heaven…” He did not say, “…from heaven.” It appears that his location changes several times in Rev. 19-20.
I am not sure what your condern is. The four in-Spirit announcements speak of where John himself appears as he receives the next stage of revelation.