One of the strange things about the self-titled last book of the Bible is that it doesn’t seemed to be aimed at giving a “Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1). Perhaps the title simple means a revelation from Jesus Christ.
But if what was intended is to make readers expect to find Jesus Christ himself revealed in a new way, then there is a puzzle. Jesus is revealed explicitly in chapter 1. He is a man dressed in gold and made of bronze shining like the sun with a sword for a tongue. He has been transfigured and he explains how: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore” (i17b-18a). Jesus suffered and died and now he has been glorified.
While the book goes on to describe Jesus at various points, it also describes other people, things, and events. Near the end of the book, however, we get a grand description of the Church as the Bride and New Jerusalem (21-22). While Jesus wore a gold sash and was among golden lamp stands (the seven churches), the New Jerusalem has streets of gold. While Jesus’ face shines like the sun, the New Jerusalem needs no sun because “the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb” (21:22).
Significantly, while Jesus starts a major vision by commanding John to “come up here” (4:1). At the end of the book that command is given by another’s voice: “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (22:17 ESV).
So the book ends with a Revelation of the Church and She speaks as her Husband speaks. Along with that vision we get a portrayal of the Great Whore (chapter 17).
The first book of Proverbs (chapters 1-9) parallels this structure. At first we get the words of Solomon to his son or sons. But in chapter 8, as Solomon again describes Wisdom as a sort of “goddess’ (not ultimately, of course, but it is hard to think of a better term), his voice gives way to her voice (8:4ff). Perhaps Solomon resumes the narrative in chapter 9, but it is hard to tell. Significantly, while Queen Wisdom is described, she is contrasted with another highly influential woman: Folly (9:13ff).
Proverbs as a whole reflect the pattern of the first book. It concludes with a royal mother giving wisdom to her sone (31:1) telling him to evade the wrong women and instead revere the godly wife. While there’s not a corresponding description of the whore in this passage, the previous chapter drops this gem: “This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done no wrong'” (Proverbs 30:20 ESV). Compare this to the Great Whore “holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality” (Revelation 17:4).
The point in Revelation is that the saints are faithful to Jesus through trials, and they become a glorious city/bride just like the bridegroom went through tribulations into glory. Otherwise, they become something horribly worse. Likewise, if sons pursue wisdom they become a glorious community that demonstrates the wisdom of God. But it they allow themselves to drift away unfaithfully, they become something far worse.