Six parallels between Revelation and Paul’s letters
- Revelation 1.5 and Colossians 1.18 both refer to Jesus as the “firstborn from the dead†in contexts that speak of his rule.
- Revelation 3.3 and 16.15 say that Jesus will come like a thief. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5.2 and 5.4 say that the day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night.â€
- Revelation 3.12, 21.2 and 21.10 refer to a new Jerusalem that descends from heaven. Galatians 4.26 refers to “the Jerusalem that is aboveâ€.
- Revelation 17.14 and 1 Timothy 6.15 refer to Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.
- Revelation 18.4 calls its readers to come out of Babylon and not take part in her sins. 2 Corinthians 6.17 quotes Isaiah 52.11, which is also a call to come out of Babylon. In Ephesians 5.11 Paul tells his readers not to take part in the sins of darkness.
- In Revelation 21.4, a voice from the throne says that the old order of things has passed away, and in verse 5 God says “I am making everything new!†2 Corinthians 5.17 says if anyone is in Christ, the old has gone and the new has come.
Mark Wilson also has a chart containing eschatological topics that Revelation and Paul both write about, such as shouts, trumpets, crowns, and angels at the last day; Jesus coming on the clouds and ruling the nations; a day of vengeance and wrath; the nations being deceived; judgment and reward; exhortations to keep awake and to endure.
Sources: William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986), 47; Mark Wilson, Charts on the Book of Revelation. (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2007), 36-37.