The Book of Revelation appears to be a daunting book because it is full of imagery and seems to bounce all over time, but like an old friend, once you get to know it, it really isn’t that bad. Follow the parallels. Follow the themes. Previously, we put to rest the issue of the rapture. It is important to understand the order of events – what occurs and when. Revelation is not that hard to understand if you grasp the main theme – the testimony of Jesus Christ which is seen in his two peoples, the two witnesses: Israel and the church. Timing is important and this reinforces the timing of the rapture.

SUMMARY CHRONOLOGY OF REVELATION:

Chapter 1 The first chapter gives us a picture of the transformed, resurrected Son of Man walking among the churches. Here we see the revelation and testimony of Jesus Christ.

Chapters 2,3 The letters are to seven very different churches – both actual churches and historical prophetic churches on the earth with exhortations to each to hear what the Spirit says and to overcome.

Chapter 4 This gives us a picture of the heavens and the throne of God.

Chapter 5 It reveals the Lamb of God, the only one worthy to open the seven seals or scrolls. The scrolls reveal what is to happen in this revelation of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 6 The beginning of sorrows and the six seals deal with events which occur during the first half of the Tribulation.

Chapter 7 This shows us Israel and the Church before the throne. “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation.” (7:14) The seal protects them from the wrath of God even though they suffered and died. Israel is the first group of 144,000 (not an actual number but signifying the whole)

Chapters 8,9 The seven trumpets come out of the seventh seal.

Chapter 10 John eats the little book.

Chapter 11 This is the story of the two witnesses from the beginning of the Tribulation to the end when the final trumpet sounds, the Lord returns and the two witnesses are brought to life and caught up with the Lord.

Chapter 12 This is an expansion of what happens during the third and fourth trumpets as Satan and his minions are cast to earth.

Chapter 13 This chapter parallels the 5th trumpet (Rev. 9:1-12) describing the midpoint of the tribulation, the abomination of desolations as the beast and his minions from the underworld invade the earth and impose the mark of the beast. We see the beast coming up out of the sea. “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue and nation.” Let’s be very clear here. This is not the wrath of God, but the wrath of Satan directed against the church (as in Chapter 11)!

Chapter 14 The second group of 144,000 represents the church - “redeemed from among men.” (verse5) Here is another picture of the rapture as the earth is harvested just prior to God pouring out His wrath in the second half of the chapter.

Chapter 15 The angels prepare the final bowls full of wrath.

Chapter 16 The seventh trumpet introduces the bowls of wrath. The seventh bowl is the judgment of Babylon “Now the great city was divided into three parts and the cities of the nations fell.” (Verse 19). Babylon clearly refers to all the nations of the earth who are now under the dominance of the antichrist. The seventh bowl of wrath is the destruction of the three part empire which is covered in the next three chapters.

Chapters 17 Religious Babylon is seen riding the political beast which turns on her and destroys her.

Chapter 18 This covers the judgment and destruction of commercial Babylon.

Chapter 19 This is the final judgment of civil/political Babylon and the battle of Armageddon.

Chapter 20 This covers the Millennial reign of Christ, the final battle and then the final judgment of all mankind, the devil and his fallen angels.

Chapter 21 After judgment, we see the new heaven and new earth and the New Jerusalem.

Now, let’s go back to the seals and bring the chronology forward in some detail.

THE SEVEN SEALS:

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