CHRONOLOGY

The Book of Revelation is presented in chronological order (Revelation 1:19). Notice the sequence: past – write the things which thou hast seen (chapter 1), present — write the things which are (chapters 2 and 3), and future — write the things which shall be hereafter (chapters 4-22).

In chapters 2 and 3, the panoramic historical view of the seven churches is presented. The churches of Philadelphia and Laodicea are both present in modern Christendom. Some portray the Laodicean church as merely professing Christians (Titus 1:15) while others believe they are simply lukewarm, lazy Christians who meet Christ “ashamed” (Revelation 3:16; 1 John 2:28). The church of Philadelphia is snatched away before the judgments begin (Revelation 6). The church is conspicuously absent after chapter 4 . . . a proof of a pre-tribulational Rapture.

In Revelation 4:1, we find that, “after this” (the events of chapters 2 and 3), a door opens in heaven and a voice (like a trumpet) calls, “Come up hither….” This is the Rapture, the snatching away (1 Corinthians 15:51-55), the call of the Bridegroom for His Bride.

The Bride (the Church) is then carried to heaven where the Judgment Seat of Christ takes place and the marriage of the Lamb occurs (Revelation 19:7, 8). This will transpire simultaneously with the Tribulation on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; Revelation 3:10).

The Tribulation, depicted in Revelation 6, begins after the Rapture and continues until the Battle of Armageddon when Christ returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to fight the armies of the world (Revelation 19:11-16). Christ brings His Bride back with Him for this battle (Revelation 19:14).

After Christ’s victory, pre- and post-Grace Age saints are raised (Daniel 12:2). They, like John the Baptist, are not part of the Bride, but friends of Christ, the Bridegroom. Their resurrection is at the conclusion of the Tribulation and they are present at the Marriage Supper which takes place on earth soon after (see Marriage Supper of the Lamb).

There is a further division to be made in order to make the Book of Revelation perfectly clear. Chapters 4-11 picture the seven-year Tribulation and chapter 11 portrays the return of Christ to earth (vs. 15-18). Chapters 12 to 19 depict the identical scene a second time and Christ’s return is again described in verse 11 of chapter 19.

Apparently there will be a 75-day interval of transition between

Christ’s return and the beginning of the Millennium (Daniel 12:11, 12). During this time Christ destroys the world’s armies (Revelation 19:14, 15; Isaiah 34:1-3), regathers Israel (Isaiah 43:5, 6; Ezekiel 36:28; Matthew 24:31), separates the sheep nations from the goat nations (Matthew 25:31-46), binds Satan (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:1-3), resurrects the Old Testament and Tribulation saints (Job 19:25,26; Isaiah 25:8; 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:4,5), and judges the fallen angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). (If those saints have to be at the Marriage Supper, then perhaps the Marriage Supper takes place during this interval???) Next comes the Millennium, 1,000 years of peace (Revelation 20). Then, after ten glorious centuries, Satan is loosed for a season allowing those born during that era to choose for or against Christ. Many rebel and follow Satan and are cast with him into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:9, 10).

Following this is the Great White Throne Judgment for the resurrected unbelievers of all ages (Revelation 20:11-15). Finally the present earth and heavens are destroyed (2 Peter 3:10, 11; Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 48:10) and God creates a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:2, 10). Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).

Robert all this information comes from Dr Van Impes book called Your Future An A-Z Index To Prophecy.