Revelation

This is the summary outline of the Book of Revelation from James Jordan:

a   Prelude to the Seven Churches, ch. 1
     b   The Seven Churches, ch. 2-3
           c   Prelude to the Sealed Book, ch. 4-5
                d   The Sealed Book, ch. 6-7
                d'  The Trumpets, ch. 8-12
           c'  Postlude to the Trumpets, ch. 13-15
     b'  The Bowls, ch. 16
a'  Postlude to the Bowls, ch. 17-22

This structure suggests the centrality of the four sections of seven: seven churches (b), seven seals (d), seven trumpets (d'), and seven bowls (b').  Preludes to the sections on the seven churches and seven seals are matched by postludes to the sections on the seven trumpets and seven bowls.

The 'a' pattern links the prelude to the seven churches to the postlude to the seven bowls.  In both sections, we see John and Jesus, we consider Jesus as the First and the Last, his manifestation to all creation, repentant and unrepentant alike, and we consider the importance of John's writing.

The 'b' pattern links the seven churches to the seven bowls.  The seven churches are warned about the coming of God's wrath.  The seven bowls show the coming of God's wrath.

The 'c' pattern links the prelude to the seven seals to the postlude to the seven trumpets.  In the first section, a scene of righteous worship in heaven leads up to the opening of the seals.  In the second section, as a result of the dragon being hurled down, a scene of unrighteous worship on earth leads up to the pouring of the bowls of wrath.

The 'd' pattern is central, linking the opening of the seven seals to the seven angels blowing seven trumpets.  The seals open the book.  The trumpets are the proclamation of the contents of the book.