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Coming: The Keys that Unlock Revelation
7 Introductory Sanctuary Scenes
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Revelation, which is heavily influenced by the Old Testament, is clearly divided and initiated by 7 temple scenes (see texts). These divisions also follow ancient Israel's annual holy days: Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement.
Revelation's ("X") Literary Structure
The book of Revelation is structured like an "X", referred to as a chiasm (based on the Greek letter "chi"). This structure allows for numerous parallels within the book, demonstrated through words and themes. Filled with allusions to the Old Testament, it's easy to see why the book was written in this Hebrew literary form. The chiasm serves many purposes. For example, since the material in the first and second halves mirror each other, we find another reason to believe that the conquering rider on the white horse in the seals (Rev. 6:1-2) is Jesus Christ (cf. Rev. 19:11-14). The chiastic structure also highlights the central message of the book--will we "worship" the Creator or the beastly world powers?