Revelation: An Overview

Author
The author is simply identified as John.  In the Book of Revelation, John does not actually identify himself as the Apostle.  This has led some to doubt that the author is the Apostle John.  They also point to the difference in the style of Greek that is used in Revelation with the Greek that is used in the Gospel of John.  The Greek in John is smooth while that used in Revelation is rough.  But this could possibly be explained by the use of a scribe by John.  Early historical sources do point to the Apostle John as the author of the book.  Justin Martyr (A.D. 150) and Irenaeus (A.D. 185) both said that John the Apostle was the author of Revelation.  Their testimony has great weight because they lived very close to the time of the writing.  Early church tradition and the best evidence points to the Apostle John as the author of Revelation.  

Date
Irenaeus states that John received Revelation during the end of the reign of Domitian.  Domitian was the Roman emperor from (A.D. 81-96).  There are a few scholars who date the book during the reign of Nero (A.D. 54-68).  However most scholars date the book in the 90's.  It was written most likely around (A.D. 95).  

Literature Type
Revelation is an apocalypse and prophecy.  The term apocalypse means to unveil or reveal.  It is the revelation of Jesus Christ to John.  The book has many great visions and also uses much symbolism.  

Basic Outline
Chapters
1         Introduction
2-3       Letters To The Seven Churches
4-5       Heaven Opened
6-19      The Great Tribulation
19        The Second Coming Of Christ 
20        The Millennium
          The Great White Throne Judgment
21-22     New Heaven And New Earth

Four Millennial Views
Historic Premillennialism
Dispensational Premillennialism
Amillennialism
Postmillennialism

Four Interpretation Methods
Futurist
Preterist
Historicist
Idealist