The Revelation of Jesus Christ
The last book of the Bible to be written, was the Revelation of Jesus Christ (both as the subject and as the source). After a vision of the Lord Jesus in his majesty, John was required to write in it the things which he had seen (chapter 1), and the things which are (chapters 2 and 3), and the things which will take place after this (from chapter 4).
When he first came, the Lord Jesus had revealed some things to his disciples regarding future events (e.g. Mark 13), but this time he reveals much more to John. The book is addressed to God's and Christ's servants, and it puts in perspective most of unfulfilled prophecy, with a wealth of details concerning the last seven years of Daniel's prophecy, and adds information as to the state and history of the churches on earth, the New Jerusalem, the new heavens and the new earth. It is God's final word of prophecy to mankind (22:18-19).
As the Lord Jesus personally ensured that the book was written, and gave his seal of approval at the end (22:20), he is its Author, and, indeed, the perfection of its composition, style and language points to its divine authorship. Blessed is he who reads, those who hear its words and those who keep the things written in it (1:3, 22:7). The number seven is very evident through out the book - indicating its perfection.
There are more symbols in this book that in any other book of the Bible, and they are explained either in the book itself, or in other Scriptures: it was written to those who know (or ought to know) the Word of God, and therefore have spiritual discernment (Deuteronomy 29:29). It is particularly connected with the book of Daniel: the questions regarding the tribulation were "closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel12:9), but they were opened up again in the book of Revelation, and John was told "do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand" (Revelation 22:10).
The book begins with a greeting from the Holy Trinity: God the Father, eternal, the Holy Spirit in his sevenfold completeness (Isaiah 11:2), and Jesus Christ the perfect witness (as prophet), the firstborn from the dead (as priest), and the ruler over the kings of the earth (as king). Jesus Christ is praised for having loved us, washed us from our sins in His blood, and exalted us; when he comes again (in judgment ) all eyes shall see him, including those who pierced him (Israel) - as in Zechariah 12:10.
John says he was "in the spirit on the Lord's Day": the first day of the week, as seems to be indicated by Greek etimology, or the "day of the Lord" mentioned many times in Scripture, embracing the beginning of tribulation through to the final judgment before the "great white throne" (20:11-15), which is the main theme of the book.
The sound of the trumpet is significant in the Bible: it indicates the time when God intervenes (e.g. Ex. 19:16,19, Ps. 47:5, Is. 18:3, 27:13, Mat. 24:31, I Corinthians 15:52).
Seven churches indicate completeness: they were there at that time, they were typical of the variety of churches at any time, and, in that order, they indicate the predominance of each type of church throughout the "church age".
The lamp stands were of gold (each church is precious to the Lord, and operates by the power of the Holy Spirit, of which oil is a symbol, to bring light to the surrounding spiritual darkness). The description of the Lord Jesus contains seven aspects, repeated in the following letters to the churches, where their significance is made clear. The stars, angels of each church, are probably their leaders, to whom John was to address letters. The Lord Jesus is the Head of each individual local church - there is no case here for a nation-wide or world-wide "church".