Podcast Summary: "The Beginner's Guide To The Book Of Revelation"
Jack Hibbs Podcast – January 29, 2026
Host: Jack Hibbs (JackHibbs.com)
Overview
In this episode, Pastor Jack Hibbs offers an accessible and enthusiastic introduction to the Book of Revelation, aiming to dispel fear and confusion surrounding its study. He provides listeners with a practical framework using "three buckets" to categorize the events and prophecies in Revelation, grounding the discussion in Scripture rather than denominational interpretation. Hibbs emphasizes that Revelation is meant to reveal Jesus Christ, not obscure Him, and that its study is not only possible but promises a blessing to the reader and hearer.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why Study the Book of Revelation?
- Revelation is the only book in the Bible promising a blessing to those who read and hear it (00:39, 14:10).
- Many avoid the book due to perceived complexity or denominational bias, which Hibbs argues is “exactly what Satan would want” (07:16).
- Understanding Revelation requires an understanding of the Old Testament (08:34):
“When somebody says I don’t understand the Book of Revelation, that’s because you don’t read your Old Testament.” — Jack Hibbs
2. The ‘Three Buckets’ Framework (Based on Revelation 1:19)
- Hibbs introduces a memorable framework for understanding Revelation:
- Blue Bucket: Things you have seen (the past)
- Yellow Bucket: Things which are (the present)
- Red Bucket: Things which will take place after this (the future)
- This built-in outline, given in Revelation 1:19, is “engineered by God” for clarity (10:15).
- He urges listeners to let Scripture interpret Scripture, rather than relying on human or denominational interpretation (12:10).
In-depth Look at Each Bucket:
- Blue Bucket (The Past):
- John’s vision of Jesus — “the Alpha and Omega,” the eternal Lord (14:10, 15:06).
- “The number one thing in the blue bucket is this: I’m the Lord — I am over all things, sovereign.” — Jack Hibbs (15:32)
- Yellow Bucket (The Present):
- Encompasses the seven letters to the churches (chapters 2 and 3)
- Each church represents both historical congregations and spiritual conditions present throughout church history and in individual believers (17:45).
- The state of the church in the last days is depicted by the Laodicean church—“apathetic, questioning, maybe not even believing in the word” (19:43).
- Red Bucket (The Future):
- Begins in Revelation 4:1 when John is called up to heaven (“Come up here…”)
- The perspective shifts to a heavenly vantage point to witness events that must occur “after this” (22:20).
- These depict the end-times judgments, Christ’s return, and eternal state.
3. Practicing Prophetic Interpretation
- Hibbs suggests categorizing other Bible prophecies (especially from the Old Testament) into these buckets to better understand God’s timeline (28:05).
- It’s okay to question or move passages between buckets as more understanding comes.
- “The first thing that you should do is, how does this fit into the built-in outline provided by God in Revelation chapter 1, verse 19?” — Jack Hibbs (28:40)
4. Purpose & Nature of Revelation
- The Greek word “apokalypsis” means “to unveil”; Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus in His glory—not to be feared, but anticipated (30:49).
- The portrayal of Christ in Revelation is distinct from the Gospels: His glory, power, and majesty are on full display (31:30).
- Parallels with Old Testament visions (e.g., Isaiah 6) help build anticipation for what’s to come and connect both Testaments (32:00).
5. Encouragement for Listeners
- Persevere in seeking God’s truth—“God has given us the Word of God to give us clarity, not to confuse us.” (29:48)
- The future described in Revelation is certain; believers will not be left ignorant if they take God’s Word seriously (32:51).
- “Ready or not, the future’s coming. And in Christ Jesus is the only way that we’re going to understand it.” — Jack Hibbs (33:09)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the Uniqueness of Revelation’s Promise:
“The Book of Revelation is the only book in the entire Bible that says you’re going to be blessed if you read it and you’re going to be blessed if you hear it be read. No other book of the Bible boasts that benefit.” — Jack Hibbs (14:10) - On Letting the Bible Interpret the Bible:
“You want to be a good Bible student? Let the Bible talk to you about the Bible. And the Book of Revelation is so powerful.” (12:10) - On the Laodicean Church:
“What kind of a church doesn’t have Jesus inside of it? A lost church.” (20:20) - On God Revealing Himself:
“God is saying the same thing. You want to find me? Well, here’s a hint. Here’s a little bit of me. If you pull back the veil, you’ll find all of me.” (30:20)
Important Timestamps
- 00:39 – Introduction to the promise of blessing in reading Revelation
- 07:16 – Discussion of why some avoid reading Revelation
- 10:15 – Introduction to the “three buckets” (blue, yellow, red) outline
- 14:10 – Description of John’s vision and “blue bucket”
- 17:45 – The seven churches and the present (yellow bucket)
- 19:43 – Diagnosis of the Laodicean church
- 22:20 – Transition to things “after this” (red bucket) in Revelation 4
- 28:05 – Applying the bucket method to OT prophecy
- 30:20 – On how God reveals Himself to seekers
- 30:49–32:00 – The meaning of “apokalypsis” and Jesus’ glory
- 32:51–33:09 – Final encouragement to study and anticipate the future
Structure & Study Tips
- Begin your study by reading Revelation 1:19.
- Keep the three-bucket framework in mind as you read both Revelation and prophetic passages elsewhere.
- Cross-reference with the Old Testament to understand the imagery and fulfillments.
- Remember: The book is about revealing Jesus, not hiding Him.
Final Thought
“Ready or not, the future’s coming. And in Christ Jesus is the only way that we’re going to understand it. … If you want to understand the Book of Revelation, you want to start reading the Old Testament.”
— Jack Hibbs (33:09)
For more resources or to access outlines from the episode, visit jackhibbs.com/podcast.