Division 1: Chapter 1: This chapter is the prologue to the Book of Revelation. [See generally §§6–12]

Division 2: Chapters 2–3: These chapters contain letters to the seven churches in Asia, which offer encouragement and repeated admonitions for saints in all ages to overcome trials through faith and perseverance. [See generally §§13–37]

Division 3: Chapters 4–5: These chapters contain John’s vision of the celestial paradise in the postmortal spirit world as of 96 AD, when John had his vision on the island of Patmos. This vision of heaven gave hope to beleaguered saints anciently, and it should give hope to beleaguered saints today. [See generally §§38–50]

Division 4: Chapters 6–7: In these chapters, the first six seals symbolically open to show events from the earth’s temporal history since the fall of Adam until the latter (present) days. Revelation chapter 7 includes a vision of a great multitude of disembodied spirits in paradise as the sixth seal comes to a close and the Second Coming fast approaches with the opening of the seventh seal. [See generally §§51–94]

Division 5: Chapters 8–11: In these chapters, the seventh seal symbolically opens, and seven angels with trumpets herald seven trumpet plagues that lead to the Second Coming. The seven-year physical battle of Armageddon is the primary focus in chapter nine, including the last 3½ years before the Second Coming called the Great Tribulation. Chapter 10 describes John’s little book mission that he fulfills to prepare the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel to attend the gathering of saints at Adam-ondi-Ahman at the midpoint of Armageddon. Chapter 11 describes the ministry of the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem and their death and resurrection immediately before the Second Coming as the Second Woe (the physical battle of Armageddon) comes to an end. [See generally §§95–183]

Division 6: Chapters 12–14: Chapter 12 is a flashback to the church of God in the premortal existence followed by a history of the ancient church of Jesus Christ on earth after the Savior was crucified. These chapters set forth a continuous history of conflict between Christ and Satan from the premortal existence until the Second Coming. The chapters provide the historical context for understanding Christ’s Second Coming victory over Satan. [See generally §§184–251]

Division 7: Chapters 15–16: These chapters describe the final seven Vial Plagues of the seventh trumpet of the seventh seal. They are poured out at the end of the physical battle of Armageddon and during the spiritual cleansing of the earth called the spiritual battle of Armageddon. Both the physical and spiritual battles of Armageddon conclude at the time of Christ’s victorious Second Coming. [See generally §§252–279]

Division 8: Chapters 17–19: These chapters describe the last three Vial Plagues of the seventh trumpet in greater detail, including the physical fall of Modern Babylon and Christ’s glorious Second Coming in the company of his saints. [See generally §§280–322]

Division 9: Chapter 20: This chapter describes the millennium and various stages of the resurrection after the Second Coming when Satan is bound. This is followed by a description of the “little season” of wickedness after the millennium when Satan is loosed and the final judgment is rendered. [See generally §§323–350]

Division 10: Chapters 21–22: In these chapters, the earth is resurrected and becomes the celestial kingdom, followed by John’s final blessings, admonitions, and benediction. [See generally §§351–378]

The ten divisions in the Book of Revelation are probably not based on the symbolic number ten (10) that appears repeatedly in the Revelation. However, the Revelation consistently uses symbolic numbers to convey important concepts and ideas.²³ This form of expression is common throughout antiquity.²⁴ The following numbers have these symbolic meanings in the Revelation:

Three (3): Three is a divine number associated with the Godhead.²⁵ It symbolizes completeness²⁶ in both a sacred and secular context.²⁷ It is also the divine measure of time associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.²⁸

Three and a half (3½): Three and a half is an evil number because it is half of the perfect number seven.²⁹ Three and a half (3½) identifies an age of evil that ends in judgment.³⁰ This number has several forms, including: 42 months (3½ years), 1260 days (3½ years), and a time, times and half time (1 + 2 + ½ = 3½).³¹ All these represent the dominion of an evil power during the evil period of 3½ in its several forms.³¹

Four (4): Four is the world number used throughout the Revelation.³² It represents a geographical whole,³³ as measured by the four cardinal points of the compass.³⁴ The number is often expressed by four words grouped together, such as all (1) nations, (2) kindreds, (3) tongues, and (4) people.³⁵ There are four gospels in the New Testament as a testimony to the whole world.³⁶ The dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon identifies four world kingdoms.³⁷ The elect will be gathered from the four quarters of the earth, which is Modern (spiritual) Babylon.³⁸ Israel must be gathered from the four quarters of the earth and from the four winds.³⁹ Four also expresses the requirement to love God completely with the whole heart, might, mind and strength.⁴⁰

Six (6): Six is an evil number because it approaches, but falls one short of, the perfect number seven.⁴¹ Six is also evil because it is half of the perfect number twelve.⁴²

Seven (7): Seven represents perfection and fullness⁴³ in many ancient cultures.⁴⁴ It appears in many scriptures⁴⁵ and throughout the Revelation as seven seals, seven trumpets, seven Vial Plagues, etc.⁴⁶ Seven is the most sacred and most widely used number⁴⁷ in the Bible.⁴⁸ The number has been used in many religious practices⁴⁹ and also for secular purposes.⁵⁰ Among the Israelites, seven objects were used as an outward token or sign for covenant making.⁵¹

Eight (8): Eight represents a new era and new life, especially after the perfected age of seven is complete.⁵²

Ten (10): Ten is the universal number for wholeness and completeness, including the whole of a part or one part of the whole.⁵³ The number symbolizes the complete kingdom of God⁵⁴ and also worldly kingdoms and their power.⁵⁵ Ten can also express perfection, but not in a sacred sense like the number seven.⁵⁶ The Jews used ten and multiples of ten in their system of counting.⁵⁷ Ten has a history of use in many contexts.⁵⁸

Twelve (12): Twelve is a sacred number⁵⁹ rooted in the twelve tribes of Israel⁶⁰ and the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.⁶¹ The apostles are always twelve in number.⁶² Twelve is therefore called the priesthood number or church number.⁶³ It symbolizes perfection and exaltation⁶⁴ in the celestial kingdom.⁶⁵ In that kingdom, exalted people are numbered among the twelve tribes of Israel.⁶⁶ The patriarchal system of government in the house of Israel is also based on the number twelve.⁶⁷ This includes multiples of twelve such as twenty-four⁶⁸ and 144,000 (12x12x1000).⁶⁹

The foregoing numbers can be combined to enhance their fundamental meanings. For example, the perfect number seven is equal to the divine number three (3) plus the world number four (4).⁷⁰ The number seventy (70) is seven (7) multiplied by ten (10) to express a multitude⁷¹ or a prophetic period of years.⁷² Jerusalem was therefore destroyed in 70 AD.⁷³ This Abomination of Desolation occurred after a 35-year era of evil (3½ years x 10) from the time of Christ's crucifixion in about 34 AD.⁷⁴ Similarly, the imperfect number six is perfectly imperfect if three sixes are combined to form the number 666,⁷⁵ which describes the Second Beast in Revelation 13:18.⁷⁶ Finally, the priesthood number twelve squared (12x12 = 144), when multiplied by the superlative number of 1000 (10x10x10), becomes a symbol for the fullness of priesthood power and exaltation-worthy saints in the number 144,000.⁷⁷