{"id":39,"date":"2019-09-09T22:01:47","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T05:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/?p=39"},"modified":"2019-10-02T11:43:03","modified_gmt":"2019-10-02T18:43:03","slug":"the-sequential-nature-of-the-order-of-events-in-the-revelation-to-john","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/2019\/09\/09\/the-sequential-nature-of-the-order-of-events-in-the-revelation-to-john\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sequential Nature of the Order of Events in The Revelation to John"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nTHE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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, \u201cgenesthai en tachei.\u201d 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seal 5 is the\nshort break between these events when war and famine and disease have somewhat\nbut not entirely rolled back. The martyrs in heaven cry out, \u201cHow much longer?\u201d\nThis seems to fit the order of events quite appropriately at this point. It has\nbeen two thousand years!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nTHE RAPTURE FOUND IN REVELATION<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 6 part two,\nthe sequential order of events continues. Seal 6 seems to be the awaited event\nthat introduces the finale of end time events. It begins with a disastrous\nheavenly event. Stars fall from heaven causing great tectonic disruption and\natmospheric fallout. Some believe this to be a massive meteor strike or a super\nvolcano. An important event to note follows. Those in panic from the ferocity\nof these events see a vision of Christ in the heaven and call out for\nprotection from His presence. The appearing of Christ will take on special\nsignificance in the next chapter, remembering that there are no real chapter\nbreaks between here and the next nine verses to come. The somewhat stable world\norder is now toppled, and new leaders will come to the fore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nPARENTHESIS 1 (the view from the heavens)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 7, the\nevents continue. This is a short parenthesis taking us to the view from above.\nTime order is not disrupted here. The first event is the sealing on the\nforehead of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses. This is necessary before they can\ncomplete their ministry soon coming up as there will be a plague of stinging\nlocust in chapter 9. This seal will give protection for the five-month period\nof the swarm. This sealing for the coming events implies sequential order\nbetween chapters 7 through 9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE SAINTS HAVE\nBEEN CAUGHT UP TO HEAVEN<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201ca thief in the night.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nTHE FINAL SEAL. THE TRUMPETS ANNOUNCED. MORE WAR!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 8 opens\nwith seal 7 being announced. Events are now picking up the pace and becoming\nvery serious. The seven trumpets are revealed. The first four of these are\nfurther disasters originating from the heavens and wreaking havoc on a third of\nthe earth. Three woes are announced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nDEMONS FROM HELL?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE KINGS OF THE\nEAST<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is when\n200,000,000 men cross the Euphrates River to do battle to the death. A third of\nthe world is killed in this war. Now that the great war in chapter 9 is over,\nthe warm-up events leading to the tribulation are finished. This terrible war\ntook some time and 5 months before this was the locust invasion. Wars can be a\nmatter of months to a number of years. It\u2019s hard to say how long this period\nlasted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PARENTHESIS 2 (the view from the heavens)
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nNext in order of occurrence are the events of chapter 11. It\u2019s time for the\nseven-year period to begin. We do know that chapter 11 covers 1260 days which\nis 3 \u00bd years. This is the period in which God\u2019s two witnesses preach in\nJerusalem with His supernatural protection. They are martyred and taken to\nheaven at the end of this time period. There is a great earthquake in\nJerusalem. Trumpet 7 sounds. The world is enraged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PARENTHESIS 3\n(the view from the heavens)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 12 is a\npartial parenthesis in the story to reflect on the age-old saga of God vs.\nSatan, and this history of the nation of Israel. It concludes back at the\npresent time revealing the time, times, and half a time reaching back to the\nlanguage of Daniel\u2019s prophecy. This indicates the 3 \u00bd years of the reign of the\nantichrist which will be spelled out again in the next chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nChapter 13, the sequence continues. This the second half of Daniel\u2019s seventieth\nweek where the antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel. Now that the\nwitnesses are out of the picture, the beast, the antichrist can come and reside\nopenly in Jerusalem. He is given power for forty-two months which is 3 \u00bd Jewish\nyears. He is supposedly miraculously healed of a fatal wound about this time.\nThe world is amazed and worships him. He blasphemes God and His temple. He then,\nwith the help of a second beast has the everyone under his control receive the\nmark of the beast on their hand or forehead. Those who don\u2019t receive the mark\nare now under great persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


PARENTHESIS 4 – continues<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 15, the\nseven plagues are announced. These are more detailing of the events of the\nreaping in the overall sequence of events that culminate in The Battle of\nArmageddon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nChapter 16 is next. The plagues are poured out of bowls. The Battle of\nArmageddon results in a world war that is settled at the seventh trumpet with a\ngreat earthquake followed by the wrath of God being directed at Babylon the\nGreat. The first five bowls are plagues that cause man to curse God and grow\nangry. Now that the armies of the east are angry, the sixth bowl, in perfect\ntime, is poured out on the Euphrates to open the way for the battle to come.\nThese bowls again demonstrate order and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapters 17-18 the\nprevious chapter has directed out attention the whore of Babylon. Now it is\ntime to expound on the details of her immorality and her destruction by the\nbeast, Revelation 17:17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nChapter 19 ends with the destruction of the beast at the marriage supper of the\nLamb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nChapter 20 reveals the millennium on earth free from Satan\u2019s interference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nChapter 21 reveals the new heaven and the new earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nChapter 22 opens the way to the tree of life and the rivers of the water of\nlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


These last six chapters flow naturally in sequential order. The only variations were the short review of history of Satan\u2019s 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\u2019s nature is being exemplified. God pronounces Babylon\u2019s 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, \u201cas it is written, \u201cA FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU\u201d 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.\u201c God pronounced Abraham\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nIt is this order that is purposely disturbed by post-tribulationists when it\ncomes to chapter 7 where those who have come out of The Great Tribulation are\nrevealed. There is no indication in the passage that we are looking forward in\ntime to the end of the tribulation nor would there be any reason to do so at\nthis point. They simply refuse to allow it be considered in order as it fully\nsupports the pre-tribulation perspective. Attacks on the Greek interpretation\nof the term The Great Tribulation are useless. The definite article \u201cthe\u201d\nappears in Greek before not only the word \u201ctribulation,\u201d but also the word\n\u201cgreat.\u201d The strength of this distinction clearly identifies it with the great\ntribulation of Matthew 24:21. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 … Continue reading “The Sequential Nature of the Order of Events in The Revelation to John”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136,"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39\/revisions\/136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelation714.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}