The Chiastic Structure of Revelation

First Septet — Seven Churches: A Look at the Beginnings of the Church that Christ is Building (2:1-3:22) The Church Militant
- Ephesus (2:1-7)
- Smyrna (2:8-11)
- Pergamos (2:12-17)
- Thyatira (2:18-29)
- Sardis (3:1-6)
- Philadelphia (3:7-13)
- Laodicea (3:14-22)

Introduction to the seven seals — Christ is on His throne and is governing all of history (4:1 - 5:14)
Second Septet — Seven Seals: Legal Judgments to be Executed Against Church's Persecutors (6:1 — 7:17) — Release of Court Judgments
Seal 1 - the white horse (6:1-2)
Seal 2 - the red horse (6:3-4)
Seal 3 - the black horse (6:5-6)
Seal 4 - the yellowish-green horse (6:7-8)
Seal 5 - the souls under the altar (6:9-11)
Seal 6 - the earthquake (6:12-17)

Interlude before the 7th seal: the 144,000 of the Jewish remnant and the innumerable multitude (7:1-17)

Seal 7 (8:1) introduces the seven trumpets and seems to comprise all of the third septet

Introduction to the seven trumpets — God ordains victory for the church through prayer (8:1-6)
Third Septet — Seven Trumpets: The War Against the Church's Persecutors (8:7 — 11:19) — Punitive Judgments & the End of the Old Covenant
Trumpet 1 - The land is set on fire (8:7)
Trumpet 2 - The sea is turned to blood (8:8-9)
Trumpet 3 - The rivers and springs become bitter (8:10-12)
Trumpet 4 - The heavenly bodies are dimmed (8:12-13)
Trumpet 5 - Demons released from the pit (9:1-12)
Trumpet 6 - Demons released from Euphrates (9:13-21)

Interlude before 7th trumpet: The closing off of prophecy & the nature of prophecy (10:1-11:14)

Trumpet 7 - The seventh trumpet (11:15-19) seems to comprise all of the fourth septet

Introduction to the seven visions — The invisible battles are the key to the earthly ones (12:1-17)
Chapter 12 as a Chiasm:
A: The Bride reflecting the glory of her husband (v. 1)
B: The Child of the woman (v. 2)
C: The Dragon tries to devour the Child (v. 3-5)
D: The woman flees to the wilderness (v. 6)
E: Dragon war in heaven (v. 7-9)
F: Victory of Christ & His people over the dragon (vv. 10-11)
E': Dragon war on earth (vv. 12-13)
D': The woman flees to the wilderness (v. 14)
C': The Dragon's mouth & the earth swallows the serpents flood (vv. 15-16)
B': The rest of the offspring of the woman (v. 17b)
A': The church reflecting the word of Christ (v. 17c)
Fourth Septet — Seven Visions: From Total Defeat to Victory (13:1 — 15:1) — Redemptive Judgments & the Advance of the New Covenant
The beast rising out of the sea (13:1-10)
The beast rising out of the land (13:11-18)
The 144,000 virgin (warriors) and the Lamb (14:1-5)
The seven angels (14:6-13)
The positive reaping of wheat (14:14-16)
The negative reaping of grapes (14:17-20)
The final "sign in heaven" (15:1) seems to comprise everything in the fifth septet and guarantees the eventual conversion of all nations (15:1-4)

Introduction to the seven plagues - angels preparing for warfare; temple filled with God's glory (15:2 - 16:1)
Fifth Septet — Seven Bowls of Wrath Containing the Seven Plagues (16:2-21) — Punitive Judgments shaking the very foundations
Bowl 1 - On the land (16:2)
Bowl 2 - On the sea (16:3)
Bowl 3 - On the waters (16:4-7)
Bowl 4 - On the sun (16:8-9)
Bowl 5 - On the throne of the beast (16:10-11)
Bowl 6 - On the Euphrates (16:12-16)
Bowl 7 - On the air (16:17) – note that this 7th bowl seems to introduce all of the next septet (cf. 16:17-21)

Introduction to the seven condemnations — Even with Roman support, Jerusalem is no match for Christ (16:18-21)
Sixth Septet — Seven Condemnations of Babylon (17:1 — 19:5) — God's Legal Court Condemnation
Blasphemy of the Harlot (17:1-6)
Harlots Pagan Alliance with Rome (17:7-18)
Spiritual fornications (18:1-8)
Ungodly statist/commercial alliance (18:9-20)
The finality of Babylon's fall (18:21-24)
All heaven agreeing with her judgment (19:1-4)
The death of the harlot is followed by the marriage of the Lamb (19:5-10)

Introduction to the seven New Covenant visions — Jesus proves that He is King of kings and Lord of lords (19:11-21)
Seventh Septet — Seven visions of the victory of Christ's Kingdom — The Church Militant & Triumphant
Satan's power bound (20:1-3)
Victory over death guaranteed (20:4-6) — reign in life and in death
Final judgment (20:7-15)
All things made new (21:1-8)
The New Jerusalem as the spotless bride (21:9-21)
Eternal dominion (21:22-27)
The river of life (22:1-5)

Double Covenant Structure

The Interludes: These two interludes 1) summarize the heart of the covenant, 2) explain two foundational issues in the transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant, and 3) help to explain the differences between court judgment, redemptive judgment, and punitive judgment.
Chiastic Context: This chiastic outline builds upon insights from over 20 scholars who see the book as following a chiastic structure but who have not been able to agree on 1) the relationship of apparently disparate features (highlighted above in blue and yellow) and 2) who are puzzled by the position of chapter 12. I believe this chart resolves that question.
Disclaimer: This chart can only highlight the big-picture structure of the book of Revelation. Revelation is so beautifully and intricately woven together that no one chart can possibly capture all of its complex interlacing themes and patterns.
Attribution Note: Chart taken from Beale, G. K. (1999). The Book of Revelation: a Commentary on the Greek Text (p. 636). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.