Chronology of the Book
Of Revelation
Chapter 2
The Book of Revelations 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 and the two witnesses. 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 is 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 is 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.
The first five chapters are about our Lord, the seven churches and the Lamb of God who is worthy to open the book and the seals. Chapters six to fourteen deal with the testimony of the two witnesses. There are several times the rapture is mentioned:
· In Chapter 11 at the final trumpet and
· In Chapter 14 at the final harvest
· In Chapter 18, it is alluded to as the church is called “up and out” of Babylon.
The rapture is a single event. It is just referred to in various places in Revelation.
The next six chapters deal with the judgments, especially the judgment of that great nation we are in search of – Babylon the Great – in Chapters 17, 18 and 19.
Now, let’s go back to the seals and bring the chronology forward in some detail.
THE SEVEN SEALS
The first five seals deal with events that occur prior to the Abomination of Desolation and the Great Tribulation. They build up before the seventieth week begins and lead up to the mid point of the seven year period (at the end of the first three and a half years). The only way we will know when to mark the beginning of the final seven year period is when the Treaty of Hell and Death is signed (Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28:15, 18) – a defense pact between the antichrist and Israel.
But if we are talking about the church in tribulation, this is the time when the church will have to cope with a lot of problems:
First Seal The first seal depicts the antichrist riding a white horse going forth to conquer. He has a bow but no arrows so apparently there is great success without firing a shot! He goes forth to bring peace and prosperity but carries the threat (the bow). This and the second seal run parallel to the gospels cited above such as Mark 13:7 “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.” We are probably in this period right now. (Rev. 6:1-2)
Second Seal Then we come to the second seal, “a horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that the people should kill one another, and there was given to him a great sword.” (Rev 6:4) Again, this parallels the gospel version, for example, Matthew 24:7-8, ” For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,[b] and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. At this point, the antichrist has taken off the gloves – no more Mr. Nice Guy, no more white horse! Beware when the most powerful nation on earth starts to take over other nations for trumped up reasons!
Third Seal Revelation 6:5-6 speaks of scarcity, economic chaos, inflation and the concentration of wealth in a few. “A quart of wheat for a denarius and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and wine” refers to the average person working all day just for enough food to keep alive while the wealthy enjoy their excesses. We see the cracks in the foundation of our economy today which will lead to depression and a massive deflation of the value of the dollar. The gospels also spoke of famines and troubles.
Fourth Seal The pale horse, “and the name of him who sat on it was Death and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill with the sword, with hunger, with death and by the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:8) Again this parallels the chronology and description in the three gospels. For example, “ 10Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 23:10-11) Here we see the uncontested power of the antichrist.
Fifth Seal Here comes the persecution! – “the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” (Rev 6:9) Again, this parallels the three gospel accounts above, “9"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 14:9-12)
Sixth Seal This describes the abomination of desolations which we will see again in the third, fourth and fifth trumpets – a picture of the stars falling down from the heavens.
It is mentioned in the gospels, for example, 15"Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation,'[c] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand) (Matthew 24:15). This is also covered in the third, fourth and fifth trumpets (Revelation 8:10-9:12) as well as Revelation 13 where we see the beast rising up out of the earth, making war with the saints and instituting his mark.
Another confirmation of the timing is found in II Thessalonians 2 we see that the Lord’s return and our gathering with Him (considered to be the rapture) won’t occur “unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he sits as God in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.” (verses 3,4) The abomination of desolations is also discussed in Daniel 7:25, 8:25 and 11:36.Seventh Seal The seventh seal leads us into the seven trumpets and the seven trumpets parallel the seven bowls. The trumpet introduces the subject and the bowl finishes it off in judgment. Please note that the bowls of wrath of God are aimed at unbelievers, not the saints. Saints suffered and were persecuted above by the world and the enemy. During the trumpets, they are protected and are gone (raptured) before the bowls of wrath are poured out.
THE SEVEN SEALS AND THE SEVEN BOWLS OF WRATH
Below we see the parallel between each trumpet and bowl. The trumpet introduces a subject such as the earth, the sea, Satan, man, etc, and the bowl or vial of wrath is about the judgment of the same subject.
SUBJECT
COMMENTS
THE TRUMPETS
Revelation 8 & 9
THE BOWLS OF WRATH
Revelation 16
FIRST TRUMPET AND FIRST BOWL
The earth is affected.
Judgment of men who took the mark.
7The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth.[a] And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
2So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
SECOND TRUMPET AND SECOND BOWL
The sea is affected
Further judgment of man
8Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
3Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.
THIRD TRUMPET AND THIRD BOWL
The rivers are affected
Satan is cast down
Then is judged
10Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
4Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5And I heard the angel of the waters saying:
"You are righteous, O Lord,[a]
The One who is and who was and who is to be,[b]
Because You have judged these things.
6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
And You have given them blood to drink.
For[c] it is their just due."7And I heard another from[d] the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."
FOURTH TRUMPET AND FOURTH BOWL
The sun is affected
Again, unrepentant man is judged.
12Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
FIFTH TRUMPET AND FIFTH BOWL
The pit, the seat of the beast
The beast and fallen angels come out of the pit and torment fallen man (not the sealed saints)
The beast and his kingdom is judged
1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
SIXTH TRUMPET AND SIXTH BOWL
Euphrates refers to Armageddon
First gather to battle at the trumpet. Note: man does not repent.
Then the beast, demons and armies of unrepentant men are destroyed.
13Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19For their power[c] is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
20But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries[d] or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and[e] of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…
16And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.[f]
SEVENTH TRUMPET (Rev. 11:12-15) AND SEVENTH BOWL (Rev. 16:17-21
The seventh trumpet is the rapture of the church and return of the Lord and the beginning of the bowls of wrath.
The seventh bowl is the final judgment of God on the earth against the three part kingdom expanded upon in Chapters 17, 18 and 19.
Closing Comments:
You will notice that the two witnesses are given “power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over the waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they desire.” (Rev 11:6) This parallels the first three trumpets of earth, sea and waters. It also shows that God can empower and protect his two witnesses. When the locusts come out of the pit to torment man, it says to hurt “only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” (Revelation 9:4) In other words, before the bowls of wrath are poured out on the earth, the saints have a mark on their foreheads and are protected from any judgment of God. By the time of the bowls, immediately following the seventh trumpet, the church is gone.
Nearly all fundamental Bible scholars agree that the so-called rapture occurs at the final trumpet – the seventh trumpet. For those who believe in an earlier “secret rapture”, II Thessalonians 2 tells us that it can’t occur until after the abomination of desolations. Plus, we see it occurring at the final trumpet in Revelation 11:19, reinforced by the reaping of the harvest BEFORE THE WRATH IS POURED OUT. There are no “tribulation saints” after that – no more chance to repent. Time is up. In fact these judgments occur at the end of the seven year period during an additional 75 days.
I realize that this may seem very technical, but if you read and study these passages, the timing will become clear to you as well. The harmony of Scriptures is beautiful, as is the character of God. Yes, He will allow His people to suffer persecution and tribulation. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day”. (II Cor 4:16) “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”. (Romans 8:8) “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…(Phil 3:10) We have the exhortation of Peter, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (I Peter 5:9)
But God will not turn His wrath on His people! Persecution and tribulation have always had a way to refine Christians and to separate the real Christians from the false ones, the sheep from the goats and the wheat from the chaff. Can you imagine God allowing the lukewarm Western church that has fallen away in sin, the world, wealth and doctrinal error, etc. to get away free and clear without seeing what they are made of? I don’t think so and neither do you if you are honest with yourself. Considering that Christians around the world are suffering and dying like never before in history, we sit here comfortably in the west looking forward to an “early out” – escape by rapture! Shame on us! God will surely allow the fires of tribulation to test us. The higher the flame, the brighter it will shine. God knows what He is doing!
There is just one question. If, as it says in Matthew 21:21, “there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be,” shouldn’t we at least begin to consider the implications this has for the church, for us, today? Do you really think that the Western Church (practically the only part of the Body of Christ on the earth that isn’t being persecuted) has done something extraordinary to merit escape from suffering? Over the years many Christians have told me that “God would never allow His church to suffer” and I say “baloney!” That not only goes against 2,000 years of history, it defames the sacrifices made by the many martyrs of the faith (both great and small). If you have never read it, I would recommend Foxes Book of Martyrs.
In the next chapter we will examine the reasons why the church and Israel are critical to His plan and purpose in the Tribulation. I would encourage you to read and reread these passages and let the Lord enlighten you. It doesn’t matter what I say, but it does matter what God says. These are not small issues. A pre-trib rapture position denies God one of His two key players. A “pan-rapture” position saying everything will “pan” out, is an invitation to apathy and deception. Any insistence that a part of the church will suffer if they don’t physically leave Babylon (narrowly defined as America) or suffer the wrath of God, is false teaching , elitist and a slap in the face of the character of God. Christians should consider testimony and martyrdom the highest honor they can pay.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the
Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and
they did not love their lives to the death.”
Revelation 12:11