Maybe people recommending books could explain what they say by making a point from them.
William Hendriksen's overview:
"1. Christ in the midst of the lampstands (i: 1-3: 22) The central theme of the first three chapters of Revelation seems to be Christ in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. These lampstands represent the seven churches (1: 20). To each church John is directed to write a letter (see chapters 2 and 3). As this number seven occurs again and again in the Apocalypse and is everywhere symbolical of completeness, we may safely take it for granted that such is the case here, and that it indicates the entire Church throughout the full span of its existence to the very end of the world. Thus interpreted, each individual church is, as it were, a type, not indicating one definite period in history, but describing conditions which are constantly repeated in the actual life of the various congregations. Therefore this section appears to span the entire dispensation, from Christ’s first coming to save His people (1: 5) to His second coming to judge all nations (1: 7). The last of these seven letters is written to the church at Laodicea. It is evident that chapter 4 introduces a new— though closely related—subject.
2. The vision of heaven and the seals (4: 1-7: 17) Chapters 4-7 constitute the next natural division of the book. Chapter 4 describes the One who is sitting upon the throne and the worship of those who surround Him. In the right hand of the Lord there is a book sealed with seven seals (5: 1). The Lamb takes this book and receives adoration. From chapter 6 we learn that the Lamb opens the seals one by one. Between the sixth and the seventh seals we have the vision of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were sealed and of the countless multitude standing before the throne. It should be carefully noted that this section also covers the entire dispensation, from the first to the second coming of Christ. The very first reference to Christ pictures Him as having been slain and as now ruling from heaven (5: 5, 6). Towards the end of this section the final judgment is introduced. Notice the impression of the second coming on unbelievers. ‘And they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb! For it came, the day, the great one, of their wrath; and who is able to stand? ’ (6: 16, 17). Now notice the bliss of believers. ‘They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any heat; for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall lead them to life’s springs of water; and God shall wipe away every tear out of their eyes’ (7: 16, 17). This is a picture of the entire Church triumphant, gathered out of all the nations and thus, in its entirety, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, an ideal which is not realized until the day of the great consummation. We have again spanned the entire gospel age.
3. The seven trumpets (8: 1-11: 19) The next section consists of chapters 8-11. Its central theme is the seven trumpets that affect the world. What happens to the Church is described in chapters 10 and 11 (the angel with the little book, the two witnesses). Also at the close of this section there is a very clear reference to the final judgment. ‘The dominion over the world became the dominion of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. ’.. And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged... ’ (11: 15, 18). Having reached the end of the dispensation, the vision ends.
4. The persecuting dragon (12: 1-14: 20) This brings us to chapters 12-14: the woman and the Manchild persecuted by the dragon and his helpers. This section also covers the entire dispensation. It begins with a very clear reference to the birth of the Saviour (12: 5). The dragon threatens to devour the Man-child. The Child is caught up to God and to His throne. The dragon now persecutes the woman (12: 13). As his agents, he employs the beast coming up out of the sea (13: 1) and the beast coming up out of the earth (13: 11, 12) and the great harlot, Babylon (14: 8). This section, too, closes with a stirring description of Christ’s second coming in judgment. ‘And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.... And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped’ (14: 14, 16).
5. The seven bowls (15: 1-16: 21) The next section comprises chapters 15 and 16 and describes the bowls of wrath. Here, too, we have a very clear reference to the final judgment and events that will take place in connection with it. Thus we read in 16: 20, ‘And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. ’
6. The fall of Babylon (17: 1-19: 21) Next comes a very vivid description of the fall of Babylon and the punishment inflicted upon the beast and the false prophet. Notice the picture of Christ’s coming unto judgment (19: n if. ). ‘And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he judges and does battle.... ’
7. The great consummation (20: 1-22: 21) This brings us to the final section, chapters 20-22, for Revelation 20: 1 definitely begins a new section and introduces a new subject. This new subject is the devil’s doom. A comparison, moreover, with chapter 12 reveals the fact that at the beginning of chapter 20 we are once more standing on the threshold of the new dispensation. While in 12: 9 we are told that in connection with Christ’s ascension and coronation the devil is cast down, here in 20: 2, 3 we read that he is bound for a thousand years after being cast into the abyss. The thousand years are followed by the little season during which Satan is loosed out of his prison (20: 7). This, in turn, is followed by a description of the final overthrow of Satan in connection with Christ’s coming in judgment (20: 10, 11 if. ). At this coming the present universe, fleeing away, makes room for the new heaven and earth, the new Jerusalem (20: n if. ).
A careful reading of the book of Revelation has made it clear that the book consists of seven sections, and that these seven sections run parallel to one another. Each of them spans the entire dispensation from the first to the second coming of Christ. This period is viewed now from one aspect, now from another."
