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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Revelation

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 2


2-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Introduction (1:1-7)
1:2 who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
Witness of the word41 Voice In Heaven (12:10-12)
12:11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death.
2 A Vision of Christ (1:8-20)
1:9found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God's word and gave testimony to Jesus.
Called name (kalew)40 Fight With Dragon (12:6-9)
12:9 The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.
3 The Message to Ephesus (2:1-7)
2:1The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
Twice seven39 The Woman and The Dragon (12:1-5)
12:3it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.
4 The Message to Smyrna (2:8-11)
2:11The victor shall not be harmed by the second death."'
Judgment on dead38 The Seventh Trumpet (11:15-19)
11:18and the time for the dead to be judged,
5 The Message to Pergamum (2:12-17)
2:17 Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Spirit of God (pneuma)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.
6 The Message to Thyatira (2:18-29)
2:26 To the victor, who keeps to my ways until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
People of nations36 Testimony of The Two Witnesses (11:7-10)
11:9 Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days, and they will not allow their corpses to be buried.
6 The Message to Thyatira (2:18-29)
2:21 I have given her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her harlotry.
People don't repent36 Testimony of The Two Witnesses (11:7-10)
11:10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and be glad and exchange gifts because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth.
7 The Message to Sardis (3:1-6)
3:5 The victor will thus be dressed in white, 3and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels.
Person who keeps life35 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.
8 The Message to Philadelphia (3:7-13)
3:12 The victor I will make into a pillar in the temple of my God,
Standing in front of the LORD34 Count Those Who Are Worshiping (11:1-4)
11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
8 The Message to Philadelphia (3:7-13)
3:10 Because you have kept my message of endurance, 7I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
The time of trial34 Count Those Who Are Worshiping (11:1-4)
11:2who will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
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.
Spitting out from mouth / entering in mouth33 John Eats a Little Scroll (10:8-11)
10:10In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.
10 The Heavenly Worship (4:1-11)
4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming:
Living eternally32 There Shall Be No More Delay (10:5-7)
10:6 and swore by the one who lives forever and ever,
11 The Scroll and The Lamb (5:1-7)
5:1It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Seven, sealing31 Seven Thunders (10:4)
10:4"Seal up what the seven thunders have spoken,
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. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.
Holding a scroll30 The Angel With The Little Scroll (10:1-3)
10:2 In his hand he held a small scroll that had been opened.
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)
Horses29 People Who don't Repent (9:17-21)
9:17 Now in my vision this is how I saw the horses and their riders. They wore red, blue, and yellow breastplates, and the horses' heads were like heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.(9:17)
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.(6:4)
Slaughter28 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. (9:15)
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."
To harm, not to harm27 The Fifth Trumpet (9:1-12)
9:4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
16 The Fourth Seal (6:7-8)
6:7 When he broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature cry out, "Come forward."
Fourth26 The Fourth Trumpet (8:12-13)
8:12 When the fourth angel blew his trumpet,
17 The Fifth Seal (6:9-11)
6:9 When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God.
Killed person25 The Third Trumpet (8:10-11)
8:11 The star was called "Wormwood," and a third of all the water turned to wormwood. Many people died from this water, because it was made bitter.
18 The Sixth Seal (6:12-17)
6:12 Then I watched while he broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth and the whole moon became like blood.(6:12)
Blood24 The Second Trumpet (8:8-9)
8:8 When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a large burning mountain was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,(8:8)
19 The 144000 of Israel Sealed (7:1-10)
7:2 Then I saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea,(7:2)
Ruin of the earth23 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)
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."
Seven22 The Seventh Seal (8:1-5)
8:1 When he broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 8:2 And I saw that the seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets.

2-2

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
41 Voice In Heaven (12:10-12)
12:10"Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed.
Arrival of salvation81 Epilogue and Benediction (22:17-21)
22:20 The one who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
42 The Dragon Is Thrown Down (12:13-14)
12:13 When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
Expelled evil80 Christ's Resurrection (22:6-16)
22:15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit.
43 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.
Water, river79 Vision of The New Jerusalem (21:9-22:5)
22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
44 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.
Descendants, fight / victory78 The New Heaven and The New Earth (21:1-8)
21:7 The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.
45 The First Beast (13:1-7)
13:2To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with great authority.
Throne77 The Dead Are Judged (20:11-15)
20:11Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
46 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. Such is the faithful endurance of the holy ones.
Endurance / victory of the holy one76 Satan's Doom (20:7-10)
20:9 They invaded the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.
47 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.
Death / resurrection of person who don't worship beast75 The Thousand Years (20:4-6)
20:4and 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.
48 Number of The Beast (13:16-18)
13:18one who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.
True colors of evil74 Satan Is Imprisoned (20:1-3)
20:2 He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the Devil or Satan, and tied it up for a thousand years
49 The Lamb and The 144,000 (14:1-5)
14:1and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
Sign of God / Beast73 The Beast and Its Armies Defeated (19:17-21)
19:20 The beast was caught and with it the false prophet who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image.
50 The Message of The Three Angels (14:6-12)
14:10 will also drink the wine of Gods fury, poured full strength into the cup of his wrath, and will be tormented in burning sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb.
Wine of Gods fury72 The Rider on The White Horse (19:11-16)
19:15and he himself will tread out in the wine press 10 the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty.
51 Write This (14:13)
14:13"Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."
Write down71 The Marriage Supper of The Lamb (19:6-10)
19:9"Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb."
52 Reaping The Eatrh'S Harvest (14:14-20)
14:19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth's vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God's fury.
Vengeance of blood on the earth70 The Rejoicing In Heaven (19:1-5)
19:2He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her harlotry. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
53 The Angel With The Seven Last Plagues (15:1-8)
15:4All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
All the nations worship / are led astray69 Voice of The Third Angel (18:21-24)
18:23Because your merchants were the great ones of the world, all nations were led astray by your magic potion. 18:24 In her was found the blood of prophets and holy ones and all who have been slain on the earth."
54 The First and Second Bowl (16:1-3)
16:3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. The sea turned to blood like that from a corpse; every creature living in the sea died.
Sea68 Sorrow of Sailors (18:17b-20)
18:19"Alas, alas, great city, in which all who had ships at sea grew rich from her wealth. In one hour she has been ruined.
55 The Third Bowl (16:4-7)
16:5"You are just, O Holy One, who are and who were, in passing this sentence.
Judgment67 Sorrow of Merchants (18:11-17a)
18:14 "The fruit you craved has left you. All your luxury and splendor are gone, never again will one find them."
55 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."
Shed blood67 Sorrow of Merchants (18:11-17a)
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.
56 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.
Burnt66 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.
57 The Fifth Bowl (16:10-11)
16:11 and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their works.
Suffering65 Voice of The Second Angel (18:4-8)
18:7 To the measure of her boasting and wantonness repay her in torment and grief;
58 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.
Place of unclean spirits64 Voice of The First Angel (18:1-3)
18:2"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great. She has become a haunt for demons. She is a cage for every unclean spirit, a cage for every unclean bird, (a cage for every unclean) and disgusting (beast).
59 The Seventh Bowl (16:17-21)
16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, "It is done."
Fulfillment of the words of God63 The Harlot's True Colors (17:15-18)
17:17 For God has put it into their minds to carry out his purpose and to make them come to an agreement to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are accomplished.
60 Judgment on The Great Harlot (17:1-2)
17:2 The kings of the earth have had intercourse with her, and the inhabitants of the earth became drunk on the wine of her harlotry."
Kings62 The Beast's True Colors (17:7-14)
The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman sits. They also represent seven kings:

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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