Various arrangements of the sequence of events in The Book Revelation have been made. A popular one attempts to build overlapping of the seals, bowls, and trumpets through the chapters that allow for alternate interpretations of the order of events as they unfold. Proposing an overlap of events is one matter, but actually comparing the overlapping portions of scripture proposed and attempting to demonstrate the connections of events in them is a very strained matter leading to confusing results. It is far more logical to view the end time prophecies of The Book of Revelation as events which are revealed in sequence. This order is arranged according to seals, trumpets, bowls, and woes. The context and relationship of the events during each seal reveal this sequential order. All events are literal though described in somewhat symbolic form. This is similar to the literal fulfillment of symbolic language in Daniel for the four kingdoms of history and their conquests. The purpose of the following summary is to demonstrate the validity of this sequential order in the flow of the events as they unfold.
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE
The predicted events begin in Revelation 6. The four horsemen of the apocalypse, announced by seal number, begin the action. Horseman 1 is conquest. Revelation 1 reveals the events foretold were shortly to come to pass, “genesthai en tachei.” Rome was the ruling entity during John’s day. The conquests of the Roman Empire fit the fourth kingdom predicted by the prophet Daniel. Rome’s conquests continued for several centuries after the Revelation to John. In response to these conquests, many wars were fought as Horsemen 2 comes forth to direct these. Horseman 3 announces a crashing economy as prices increase. As a result of all these and natural causes directed by heaven, famines and disease break out. We are reminded of the Black Plague which ravaged Europe and part of Asian for over a thousand years. This is orchestrated by horsemen 4. Millions of lives perished throughout this era as the four horsemen repeated their mission over and over again in various portions of Europe and Asia through next two millennia. In chapters 9 and 12 of Daniel, he makes inferred connection of the Roman Empire to this lengthy span of history. The empire continued as the Holy Roman Empire until 1806 following the conquests of Napoleon. Following this, Rome remained in limbo with emperors ruling only in Germany and Austria for the next century. Other interpretations hold that the four horsemen cover a shorter period of time as an introduction to the Great Tribulation. One version has it that the twentieth century with its two great world wars represents the four horsemen. Others feel they fill a short span of a few years right before the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Regardless of the favored interpretation they, nevertheless, are introductory events to the seals that follow. The following seals will become more specific to the details of the seven-year portion of this Great Tribulation.
Seal 5 is the short break between these events when war and famine and disease have somewhat but not entirely rolled back. The martyrs in heaven cry out, “How much longer?” This seems to fit the order of events quite appropriately at this point. It has been two thousand years!
THE RAPTURE FOUND IN REVELATION
Chapter 6 part two, the sequential order of events continues. Seal 6 seems to be the awaited event that introduces the finale of end time events. It begins with a disastrous heavenly event. Stars fall from heaven causing great tectonic disruption and atmospheric fallout. Some believe this to be a massive meteor strike or a super volcano. An important event to note follows. Those in panic from the ferocity of these events see a vision of Christ in the heaven and call out for protection from His presence. The appearing of Christ will take on special significance in the next chapter, remembering that there are no real chapter breaks between here and the next nine verses to come. The somewhat stable world order is now toppled, and new leaders will come to the fore.
PARENTHESIS 1 (the view from the heavens)
Chapter 7, the events continue. This is a short parenthesis taking us to the view from above. Time order is not disrupted here. The first event is the sealing on the forehead of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses. This is necessary before they can complete their ministry soon coming up as there will be a plague of stinging locust in chapter 9. This seal will give protection for the five-month period of the swarm. This sealing for the coming events implies sequential order between chapters 7 through 9.
THE SAINTS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP TO HEAVEN
The second portion of the chapter deals with the identity of those who have come out of The Great Tribulation, a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. This event, known popularly as The Rapture, also contains evidence that it occurs before The Great Tribulation. In Thessalonians 4:15-18 and 5:1-3, we are told that the church is caught out of this world by Christ who comes like “a thief in the night.” This infers at a time just before The Great Tribulation when we would not be expecting it. Logical sequence is inferred in that the church, in Revelation 7, has escaped the wrath of God in Revelation 6 as promised in Revelation 3:10. This is the essential passage in determining the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Those in chapter 6 hiding from the face of the Lamb like see a massive image of Christ far up in the heavens while those who have just been raptured would likely only appear in the heavens as grains of sand even if they could even be seen.
THE FINAL SEAL. THE TRUMPETS ANNOUNCED. MORE WAR!
Chapter 8 opens with seal 7 being announced. Events are now picking up the pace and becoming very serious. The seven trumpets are revealed. The first four of these are further disasters originating from the heavens and wreaking havoc on a third of the earth. Three woes are announced.
DEMONS FROM HELL?
Chapter 9 begins. The first of these woes is trumpet 5, the plague of the stinging locust which was previously mentioned. The 144,000 witnesses are protected from the locust and can go about their task unimpeded to evangelize those remaining on the earth after the rapture of the church. The sequence continues. The structure of verse 12 is further evidence of sequential order of events. It reads, ” The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.” Once the first woe is past, and the locust are finished, it is now possible for the armies of the earth to initiate the second woe as trumpet 6 sounds.
THE KINGS OF THE EAST
This is when 200,000,000 men cross the Euphrates River to do battle to the death. A third of the world is killed in this war. Now that the great war in chapter 9 is over, the warm-up events leading to the tribulation are finished. This terrible war took some time and 5 months before this was the locust invasion. Wars can be a matter of months to a number of years. It’s hard to say how long this period lasted.
PARENTHESIS 2 (the view from the heavens)
Chapter 10, John deals with certain secret issues not to be revealed to the world. He is told the seventh and final angel is about to sound his trumpet. In other words, we are still in the sequential order of events.
Next in order of occurrence are the events of chapter 11. It’s time for the
seven-year period to begin. We do know that chapter 11 covers 1260 days which
is 3 ½ years. This is the period in which God’s two witnesses preach in
Jerusalem with His supernatural protection. They are martyred and taken to
heaven at the end of this time period. There is a great earthquake in
Jerusalem. Trumpet 7 sounds. The world is enraged.
PARENTHESIS 3 (the view from the heavens)
Chapter 12 is a partial parenthesis in the story to reflect on the age-old saga of God vs. Satan, and this history of the nation of Israel. It concludes back at the present time revealing the time, times, and half a time reaching back to the language of Daniel’s prophecy. This indicates the 3 ½ years of the reign of the antichrist which will be spelled out again in the next chapter.
Chapter 13, the sequence continues. This the second half of Daniel’s seventieth
week where the antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel. Now that the
witnesses are out of the picture, the beast, the antichrist can come and reside
openly in Jerusalem. He is given power for forty-two months which is 3 ½ Jewish
years. He is supposedly miraculously healed of a fatal wound about this time.
The world is amazed and worships him. He blasphemes God and His temple. He then,
with the help of a second beast has the everyone under his control receive the
mark of the beast on their hand or forehead. Those who don’t receive the mark
are now under great persecution.
PARENTHESIS 4 (the view from the heavens)
Chapter 14 views the situation from heaven. The 144,000 are now with Jesus. God now turns His sights on the destruction of Babylon the Great. He will use the antichrist as His tool to complete this work, Revelation 17:17. He exhorts the new saints to persevere. A vision of the end and God’s reaping of the wine press of His wrath is foretold. The angel with the sickle is sent forth and puts in his sickle to reap. This is essentially the introduction from the heavenlies what is taking place at The Battle of Armageddon in chapter 16. Here again is sequence. There is a spiritual action in the heavenlies and then a result on earth.
PARENTHESIS 4 – continues
Chapter 15, the seven plagues are announced. These are more detailing of the events of the reaping in the overall sequence of events that culminate in The Battle of Armageddon.
Chapter 16 is next. The plagues are poured out of bowls. The Battle of
Armageddon results in a world war that is settled at the seventh trumpet with a
great earthquake followed by the wrath of God being directed at Babylon the
Great. The first five bowls are plagues that cause man to curse God and grow
angry. Now that the armies of the east are angry, the sixth bowl, in perfect
time, is poured out on the Euphrates to open the way for the battle to come.
These bowls again demonstrate order and purpose.
Chapters 17-18 the previous chapter has directed out attention the whore of Babylon. Now it is time to expound on the details of her immorality and her destruction by the beast, Revelation 17:17.
Chapter 19 ends with the destruction of the beast at the marriage supper of the
Lamb.
Chapter 20 reveals the millennium on earth free from Satan’s interference.
Chapter 21 reveals the new heaven and the new earth.
Chapter 22 opens the way to the tree of life and the rivers of the water of
life.
These last six chapters flow naturally in sequential order. The only variations were the short review of history of Satan’s persecution of Israel until completion at the end time in chapter 12. Chapter 14 might seem to disturb chronological order at first, but if a closer look is taken we find that a common aspect of God’s nature is being exemplified. God pronounces Babylon’s destruction as though it is already accomplished in chapter 14. This form of pronouncement before the fact is similar to God speaking to Abraham in Romans 4:17, “as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU” in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.“ God pronounced Abraham’s destiny as though it already were fact two millennia before Christ. After taking account of all the various situations in the unfolding drama, Revelation is clearly revealed in order by the sequence of events and the outline of the seals, trumpets, bowls, and woes declared among its pages.
It is this order that is purposely disturbed by post-tribulationists when it
comes to chapter 7 where those who have come out of The Great Tribulation are
revealed. There is no indication in the passage that we are looking forward in
time to the end of the tribulation nor would there be any reason to do so at
this point. They simply refuse to allow it be considered in order as it fully
supports the pre-tribulation perspective. Attacks on the Greek interpretation
of the term The Great Tribulation are useless. The definite article “the”
appears in Greek before not only the word “tribulation,” but also the word
“great.” The strength of this distinction clearly identifies it with the great
tribulation of Matthew 24:21.
Mid and Post tribulation followers have to rely on piecing together the snippets of the end time events found throughout the Book of Daniel, the gospels, Revelation, and letters of the New Testament. This method of interpretation allows any of the three positions to be taken. Revelation was the last book to be written. It clearly was given to us to make clearer the picture of the sequence and scope of the end time events. We, as good stewards of the word, should not be shaken by vain attempts by others to self-organize these events in any other manner than that which our Lord Jesus Christ intended.