The Book of Revelation
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The purpose of the Book of Revelation is to reveal events which will take place immediately before, during, and following the second coming of Christ. In keeping with this purpose the book devotes most of its revelation to this subject in chapters 4-18. The Second Coming itself is given the most graphic portrayal anywhere in the Bible in chapter 19, followed by the millennial reign of Christ described in chapter 20. The eternal state is revealed in chapters 21-22. So the obvious purpose of the book is to complete the prophetic theme presented earlier in the prophecies of the Old Testament (e.g., Daniel) and the prophecies of Christ, especially in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25).
In addition to passages that suggest practical application of prophetic truth, chapters 2-3 are especially important for they consist of messages to seven local churches which appropriately represent the entire church. The pointed message of Christ to each of these churches is the capstone to New Testament Epistles dealing with the practical life of those committed to the Christian faith. On the one hand believers are exhorted to holy living, and on the other hand unbelievers are warned of judgments to come. The book provides solid evidence that the righteous God will ultimately deal with human sin and bring to consummation the salvation of those who have trusted in Christ. A solemn warning is given to those who are unprepared to face the future. A day of reckoning, when every knee will bow to Christ (Phil. 2:10), is inevitable in the divine program. Because of its broad revelation of events to come as well as its pointed exhortation to righteousness, the book pronounces blessing on those "who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near" (Rev. 1:3).