The Book of Revelation is remarkable, and the Tribulation will be a time like no other! The understanding of both is discovered in the chronological structure of the Book. When Revelation, and the Tribulation period detailed within, is seen this way (ie as it’s written), then the whole of “The End Times” comes into clear view.
The basis for the “chronological” hermeneutic is found in three points:
1. Revelation 1:19, where Jesus specifically tells John to write down what he saw and was about to see in regard to the present and the future, defining His revelation linearly:
Re 1:19 “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
2. The repeated use of the phrase, after these things (Grk: meta tauta)… a) implies sequence and chronology, and b) recurs 10 times throughout the Book – Rev 1:19, 4:1 (2x), 7:1, 7:9, 9:12, 15:5, 18:1, 19:1, 20:3
3. The specific structure of “the Tribulation (Seals, Trumpets, & Bowls) events” reveals a “nesting” characteristic, where… a) the 7th Seal includes the 1st-7th Trumpets, and b) the 7th Trumpet leads to the 1st Bowl. The “nesting” denotes sequence. NOTE: The “Great Tribulation” (in terms of the time of most intensity) begins with the Abomination of Desolation (Dan 9:27, Mt 24:15-22).
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“the things which you have seen”
Jesus is identified as the Alpha & Omega (Rev 1)
“the things which are”
Jesus’ letters to the churches (Rev 2-3)
“the things which will take place after this”
After the Church (implying after the Rapture)
View of God’s Throne (Rev 4)
Jesus takes the scroll with the 7 Seals (Rev 5)
The 7-year period of Wrath upon the Ungodly and Tribulation for the Jew (70th week of Daniel – Dan 9:27)
Seal 1 – White Horse (Rev 6:1-2)
Seal 2 – Red Horse (Rev 6:3-4)
Seal 3 – Black Horse (Rev 6:5-6)
Seal 4 – Pale Horse (Rev 6:7-8)
Seal 5 – White Robes given to early Tribulation Saints (Rev 6:9-11, 7:13-14)
Seal 6 – great earthquake, sun black, moon “blood”, stars fell, sky receded, mountains & islands moved (Rev 6: 12-17)
Seal 7 – 144,000 Jews sealed (Rev 7:1-8); silence for half-hour (Rev 8:1); 7 trumpets prepared to sound (Rev 8:6)
NOTE: The Trumpets appear to occur during the 2nd half of the Tribulation based upon the “42 months (Rev 11:1-2)” and “2 Witnesses / 1260 days (Rev 11:3-13)” prophesies.
Trumpet 1 – Hail & fire, with blood: 1/3 trees and all grass burned (Rev 8:7)
Trumpet 2 – Great mountain into the sea: 1/3 sea, creatures, ships destroyed (Rev 8:8-9)
Trumpet 3 – “Wormwood” star falls: 1/3 fresh water made bitter (Rev 8:10-11)
Trumpet 4 – 1/3 sun, moon, stars, day, & night darkened; “3 woes” announced (Rev 8:12-13)
Trumpet 5 – Woe #1 (Rev 9:12): Bottomless pit opened (Rev 9:1-12)
Trumpet 6 – Woe #2 (Rev 11:14): “Four Angels” released; 1/3 mankind killed 3 plagues – fire, smoke, brimstone (Rev 9:13-21); Mighty Angel with Little Book [pertaining to 7th Trumpet] (Rev 10); Temple measured, Holy City [Jerusalem] under foot 42 months (Rev 11:1-2); 2 Witnesses prophesy 1260 days (Rev 11:3-13)
Trumpet 7 – Woe #3 (begins with Rev 11:14, but is evident at Rev 12:12): Heavenly temple opens, Jesus begins His return (Rev 11:15-19); the devil “comes down” (Rev 12:12); parenthetic lesson regarding Satan & the Beast [Anti-Christ] (Rev 12-13); Jesus on Mt Zion with 144,000 Jews (Rev 14:1-5); 6 angels & one like the Son of Man (Rev 14:6-20: #1 (v6) Everlasting Gospel | #2 (v8) Babylon fallen | #3 (v9) Mark of the Beast = Wrath of God | PLUS: One Like The Son Of Man (v14) | #4 (v15) Cried [to the Son of Man], “Thrust in Thy sickle… harvest” | #5 (v17) With Another Sickle | #6 (v18) Cried [to the 5th angel], “Thrust in thy sickle… gather”, ie great winepress of the wrath of God (cf Joe 3:2-25, Zec 14:1-15); sign of the last plagues [Bowl Judgments] (Rev 15)
NOTE: The Bowls appear to occur during the 75 days following the 7-year Tribulation (Dan 12:11-12; “1290” & “1335” days), 30 + 45 days.
Bowl 1 – foul & loathsome sore on the Marked (Rev 16:2)
Bowl 2 – sea to blood, all creatures die (Rev 16:3)
Bowl 3 – rivers & springs to blood (Rev 16:4-7)
Bowl 4 – sun scorches, men blaspheme (Rev 16:8-9)
Bowl 5 – darkness over throne and kingdom of the beast, men blaspheme (Rev 16:10-11)
Bowl 6 – Euphrates dried, demonic activity, Armageddon staged (Rev 16:12-16)
Bowl 7 – “It is done” (Rev 16:17-19:4) – greatest earthquake, islands & mountains leveled, great hail (Rev 16:17-21); Mystery Babylon described & judged (Rev 17-19:4)
Upon Jesus’ return
Marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:5-10)
Jesus & the armies in heaven on white horses conquer, Beast & False Prophet cast into Lake of Fire (Rev 19:11-21)
Satan captured, thrown into Bottomless Pit (Rev 20:1-3)
1000-yr Reign, ending with Satan’s release and rebellion (Rev 20:3-9)
Satan cast into Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10)
White Throne Judgment, Death & Hades cast into Lake of Fire, unrighteous cast into Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15)
New Heaven & New Earth (Rev 21-22)
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Re 22:20 ¶ He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!