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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 #6)

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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THE INVITE TO JOHN TO AN EVENT IN HEAVEN

A.   The invite:  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 #7)

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 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 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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(Continued)

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