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A CHRONOLOGICAL OUTLINE
OF THE REVELATION

INTRODUCTION

A.   The Revelation of Christ, to shew us things that were to come to pass (1:1)

B.   Of the Apostle John's bearing record of what was revealed to him (1:2)

C.   Of blessing for regard of prophecy, for the things were about to begin (1:3)

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JOHN, TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA

A.   John's salutation to the seven churches which were in Asia (1:4-8)

B.   The setting of the experience he had while on the Isle of Patmos (1:9-10)

​C.   The instruction he was given to write what he saw to the seven churches (1:11)

D.    His seeing Jesus in the midst of seven candlesticks, holding seven stars (1:12-18)

E.   The mystery of the seven stars and seven candlesticks explained (1:19-20)

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THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (see Appendix #8)

LETTER #1---"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write..." (2:1-7)

  • The Message:  "I know thy works..."

  • The Call:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."

  • The Promise:  "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life..."

LETTER #2---"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write..." (2:8-11)​

  • The Message:  "I know thy works..."

  • The Call:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."

  • The Promise:  "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."

LETTER #3---"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write..." (2:12-17)​

  • The Message:  "I know thy works..."

  • The Call:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."

  • The Promise:  "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna..."

LETTER #4---"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write..." (2:18-29)​

  • The Message:  "I know thy works..."

  • The Promise:  "And he that overcometh...to him will I give power over the nations..."

  • The Call:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."

LETTER #5---"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write..." (3:1-6)

  • The Message:  "I know thy works..."

  • The Promise:  "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment..."

  • The Call:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."

LETTER #6---"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write..." (3:7-13)

  • ​The Message:  "I know thy works..."

  • The Promise:  "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God..."

  • The Call:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."

LETTER #7---​"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write..." (3:14-22)

  • The Message:  "I know thy works..."

  • The Promise:  "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne..."

  • The Call:  "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."

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JOHN'S INVITE TO A CEREMONY IN HEAVEN

A.   That he's to be shown what must be "hereafter" (4:1-2a)

B.    The appearance of God on His throne (4:2b-3)

C.   The twenty-four elders and four beasts (4:4-8a) (see Appendix #9)

D.    The worship of the beasts and elders toward God (4:8b-11)

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THE SEVEN SEALED BOOK AND THE LAMB'S RECEIVING OF IT

A.   The Seven Sealed Book and the search for one to open it (5:1-4)

B.   The prevailing of the Lamb of God to open the book (5:5-7)

C.   The praise to the Lamb by the beasts, elders, angels, and all (5:8-14)

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The Seven Sealed Book of The Revelation

THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SIX SEALS

SEAL #1---(6:1-2)

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 A rider with a bow goes forth upon a white horse/ DECEPTION

  • Satan's Church Age scheme to conquer truth by deceivers and false Christs

  • Compare---Matt. 24:4-5;  Mk. 13:5-6;  Lk. 21:8

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SEAL #2---(6:3-4)

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 A rider with a great sword goes forth upon a red horse/ WARS​

  • Satan's Church Age scheme to take away peace and bring about wars

  • Compare---Matt. 24:6-7a;  Mk. 13:7-8a;  Lk. 21:9-10

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​SEAL #3---(6:5-6)

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 A rider with a pair of balances goes forth upon a black horse/ POVERTY​

  • Satan's Church Age scheme to effect poverty for most, but luxury for some

  • Compare---Matt. 24:7b-8;  Mk. 13:8b;  Lk. 21:11a​

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SEAL #4---(6:7-8)

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 A rider named "Death" goes forth upon a pale horse with Hell following/ MARTYRDOM​

  • Satan's Church Age scheme to martyr Christians, but with a specified limit

  • Compare---Matt. 24:9-10;  Mk. 13:9-12;  Lk. 21:12-16​

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SEAL #5---(6:9-11)

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 John's seeing of the souls of Church Age martyrs under the altar

  • The cry for justice of those who have been martyred

  • Reassurance of nearing justice, after the fulfilling of further martyrdom

  • Consider---Rev. 11:7-10;  Rev. 12:11;  Rev. 13:7, 15;  Rev. 20:4

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​SEAL #6---(6:12-17)

CHRIST'S SIGN APPEARANCE AND THE RAPTURE---Compare Matt. 24:29-31;  Mk. 13:24-27;  Lk. 21:25-27;  Acts 2:19-20;  and I Thess. 4:13-5:11

  • A great earthquake, sun blackened, moon appears red, stars falling...

  • Of mankind's terror, frenzy, and fear of the wrath of God

  • Of those in Israel's hemisphere who glimpse Christ's Sign Appearance

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​INTERLUDE BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH SEALS

A.   The readying of the angels for the opening of the 7th Seal (7:1)

B.   The sealing of 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe (7:2-8)

C.   John's seeing of a great multitude (the Church) in Heaven (7:9-17)

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THE OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL

A.   The silence in Heaven after the opening of the 7th Seal (8:1)

B.   The giving of seven trumpets to the seven angels (8:2)

C.   The giving of a golden censer to another angel (8:3-5)

D.   The seven angels prepare themselves to sound the trumpets (8:6)

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The Seven Sealed Book of The Revelation Opened
The 1st Seal of the Seven Sealed Book or Scroll
The 2nd Seal of the Seven Sealed Book or Scroll
The 3rd Seal of the Seven Sealed Book or Scroll
The 4th Seal of the Seven Sealed Book or Scroll
The 5th Seal of the Seven Sealed Book or Scroll
The 6th Seal of the Seven Sealed Book or Scroll

THE SOUNDING OF THE SEVEN TRUMPETS

TRUMPET #1---(8:7)

  • Hail and fire mingled with blood is cast upon the earth

  • 1/3 part of trees and all remaining green grass burnt up

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TRUMPET #2---(8:8-9)

  • A great fiery mountain is cast into the sea (or ocean)​

  • 1/3 part of sea (or ocean) becomes blood and devastation

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TRUMPET #3---(8:10-11)

  • A great star (or asteroid) called "Wormwood" impacts Earth

  • 1/3 part of rivers and underground water is polluted

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TRUMPET #4---(8:12-13)

  • 1/3 part of day and night time illumination affected

  • Angel's announcement of three coming "WOES"

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TRUMPET #5---(9:1-12)

  • Five month locust torment / Earth can stabilize some

  • A description of the locusts and their king

  • First "woe" is past before Trumpet #6 is sounded

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TRUMPET #6---(9:13-21)

  • An army of 200 million allowed beyond Euphrates

  • A war wherein the third part of men are killed

  • Idol worship of Eastern religions alluded to

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INTERLUDE CONCERNING LITTLE BOOK NOW OPEN---DANIEL

A.   The stage is now reset for Daniel's 70th Week /Angel makes proclamation (10:1-6)

B.   The significance of the 7th Trumpet/ Of John's eating of the little book (10:7-11)

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TRUMPET #6---(Continued)---FOCUS BROUGHT TO BEAR UPON JERUSALEM (11:1-14)

  • Of the temple and the worship that is going on there

  • Of the Gentile nations' treading the Holy City under foot

  • First mention of TWO 3-1/2 YEAR TIME FRAMES (11:2-3)

  • The two witnesses / Compare Zech. 4:11-14 and Matt. 17:1-4

  • First explicit mention of the "beast" (11:7) or Antichrist

  • Second "woe" is past before Trumpet #7 is sounded

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TRUMPET #7---THE HERALDING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET PERIOD (11:15-19)​

  • The proclamation that all kingdoms belong to Christ

  • The praises to God for the exercise of His sovereignty

  • Of the Lord's reign and rewarding of His children

  • Of the Lord's wrath and judgment upon the ungodly

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DETAILS OF THE PERIOD HERALDED BY THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

(REV. 12)---SPIRITUAL REALM SCENE OF SATAN'S ACTIVITY DISCLOSED

  • Satan's activity against Israel (vs.1/ Gen. 37:9-11) leading up to this time (vss. 1-6)

  • The war in the heavenlies resulting in Satan being cast down unto the earth (vss. 7-9)

  • Satan's activity against Israel / Beginning of last half of Daniel's 70th Week (vss. 10-17)

  • OVERLAPS---(vs. 3 with 17:3);  (vs. 10 with 11:15);  (vs. 12 with 11:14)

(REV. 13)---PHYSICAL REALM SCENE OF SATAN'S ACTIVITY DISCLOSED​

  • Satan's rise in the political realm as the beast of his revived Babylon empire (vss. 1-10)

  • Satan's rise in the religious realm as the false prophet of his harlot church (vss. 11-14)

  • Satan's despotic rule through the beast (Antichrist) and the false prophet (vss. 15-18)

  • OVERLAPS---(vs. 1 with 12:3);  (vss. 1-3ff with 17:7-12ff);  (vs. 7 with 12:11)

(REV. 14)---TRIUMPH OF THE 144,000 SAINTS DISCLOSED​

  • Scene of the 144,000 saints in Heaven, and a last call for world to turn to God (vss. 1-7)

  • The doom of all who worship the beast / The reaping of the earth, and God's wrath (vss. 8-20)

  • OVERLAPS---(vs. 7 with 11:18);  (vs. 8 with 16:19 and 18:2ff)

(REV. 15)---TRIUMPH OF DANIEL'S 70TH WEEK MARTYRS DISCLOSED​

  • Scene of Daniel's 70th Week martyrs in Heaven, and their song (vss. 1-4)

  • Preparation for the pouring out of the seven vials of God's wrath (vss. 5-8)

  • OVERLAPS---(vs. 2 with 13:15, 14:9-13, and 20:4);  (vss. 5-8 with 11:18 and 16:1-21)

(REV. 16)---SEVEN VIALS OF GOD'S WRATH DISCLOSED​

  • Angels instructed to pour out the seven vials of God's wrath upon the earth (vs. 1)

  • The results of the pouring out of God's wrath upon the earth (vss. 2-21)

  • OVERLAPS---(vss. 14-16 with 19:19);  (vss. 17-21 with 11:18-19);  (vs. 19 with 14:7-8, 20)

(REV. 17)---JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT WHORE DISCLOSED​

  • John's seeing of the woman upon the scarlet coloured beast, and his wonder (vss. 1-6)

  • The mystery surrounding the woman and the beast explained, and her fate (vss. 7-18)

  • OVERLAPS---(vs. 8 with 13:3-4, 8);  (vs. 14 with 19:11-14ff)

(REV. 18)---JUDGMENT OF BABYLON THE GREAT DISCLOSED​

  • The fall of Babylon the great, and the lament of those who were loyal to it (vss. 1-19)

  • The call to rejoice over the fall of Babylon / The finality of its destruction (vss. 20-24)

  • OVERLAPS---(vs. 5 with 16:19);  (vs. 8 with 16:17-21);  (vss. 10, 17, and 19 with 14:7-8)

(REV. 19)---THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST DISCLOSED​

  • Scene of rejoicing in preparation for Christ's return / The Second Advent of Christ (vss. 1-16)

  • The Battle of Armageddon, and the doom of the beast and the false prophet (vss. 17-21)

  • OVERLAPS---(vss. 1-6 with 11:15-17);  (vs. 15ff with 14:17-20)

(REV. 20)---CHRIST'S REIGN AND LAST JUDGMENT DISCLOSED​

  • The binding of Satan, Christ's thousand year reign, and Satan's ultimate doom (vss. 1-10) 

  • The "Great White Throne Judgment" and ultimate doom of the lost (vss. 11-15)

  • OVERLAPS---(vss. 4-6 with 11:15);  (vs. 12 with 11:18)

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JOHN'S SEEING OF HEAVEN / CONCLUSION OF THE REVELATION

A.   John's seeing of the New Sky, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem in God's Heaven (21:1-2)

B.    The declaration of God's presence with mankind and the making of all things new (21:3-8)

C.   Of the New Jerusalem of the New Earth in God's Heaven, and its magnificence (21:9-27)

D.   The River of Life, the Tree of Life, and other wonders characteristic of God's Heaven (22:1-5)

E.    Of the sureness of The Revelation, other promises, and related blessings and cursings (22:6-19)

F.    Of Christ's declaration, "Surely I come quickly," and John's concluding words (22:20-21)​​​​

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Chart Showing God's Judgment on the FAR WEST and FAR EAST
The 1st Trumpet of The Revelation
The 2nd Trumpet of The Revelation
The 3rd Trumpet of The Revelation
The 4th Trumpet of The Revelation
The 5th Trumpet of The Revelation: Woe #1
The 6th Trumpet of The Revelation: Woe #2
The 6th Trumpet of The Revelation: Woe #2 continued
The 7th Trumpet of The Revelation: Woe #3

(Continued)

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