Structure in Revelation 12-15

Much of Revelation is overtly structured by sequences of seven. Even when the seven sections are not enumerated, heptamerous structuring devices are prominent. It’s there in Revelation 12-15, for instance.

The section is enclosed by references to the opening of the heavenly temple (11:19; 15:6), and within that frame there is a seven-section chiasm:

A. Signs in heaven: The dragon, the woman, and the child, 12:1-17

B. Beast from the sea, 13:1-10

C. Beast from the land, 13:11-18

D. Lamb on Zion, 14:1-5

C’. Three angelic announcements, 14:6-11 (or 6-13)

B’. Harvest, 14:12-20 (or 14-20)

A’. Sign in heaven: Angels with bowls, 15:1-4

The parallels between A and A’ are clear enough: Signs in heaven. The connections between the other sections are not so obvious, but they are there. In B, the sea beast makes war on and overcomes the saints; in B’, the grain and grapes are harvested, which is just the beast-war from another camera angle. The beast from the land makes an image and forces people to wear his mark, and the last of the angelic announcements in C’ refers to the beast, his image, and his mark (14:10). Those who refuse to worship the image are killed (13:15); but those who do worship the image end up tormented by fire and brimstone (14:10-11).

At the center is the scene of the Lamb on Zion, surrounded by his 144,000. If we were inclined to link all these up with the days of creation, and we might well be, we’d notice that the Lamb is in the Day 4 position, the day of the creation of sun, moon, and stars; and that he is surrounded by 144,000 from the 12 zodiacal tribes of Israel. 

There’s a smaller seven at the end of chapter 14: Three angels fly in midheaven announcing the gospel, then the son of man appears on a cloud, harvesting, then three more angels appear carrying out a second harvest. Schematically:

1. First angel: Fear God, worship Creator (14:6-7)

2. Second angel: Babylon is fallen (14:8)

3. Third angel: Those who worship the beast end up in fire (14:9-13)

4. Son of man harvests (14:14-16)

5. Another angel (14:15)

6. Sickle angel (14:17, 19-20)

7. Fire angel (14:18)

If we were inclined to link these with the days of creation, which we might be, we’d observe again that the Day 4 position is occupied by the Son of Man. And we’d probably also notice that the final, seventh scene is a scene of harvest, and of wine-production – wine being the Sabbatical drink par excellence.