If you read the book of Revelation straight through thinking that it is completely linear, there is such a long succession of events that it quickly becomes difficult to make sense of what is happening.
The book is not so simple to understand as a mere chronology. But it is not a hopeless jumble either. It is a multi-layered book – presenting a serial of perspectives – together they are remarkably intricate, overlapping, and interwoven. The book has to be approached with utmost respect – distilling the subtle transitions between these perspectives – mindful that every word and letter has significance – and that all of it – especially what seems most incomprehensible – is put just so … intentionally.
Second Advent #1.
Begin by noting the places where the second advent occurs. It occurs most blatantly at Revelation 19:11 – “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.“
Upon the return of Jesus Christ he destroys the kingdoms of this world and sets up his own eternal kingdom. This same event is clearly mentioned in many prior segments.
Starting in chapters 2 and 3, Jesus Christ’s letters to each of the seven churches mentions a statement that is relevant to the second advent:
- 2:7 “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
- 2:10,11 “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. … He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
- 2:17 “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
- 2:26-28 “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.”
- 3:4-5 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
- 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
- 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
Obviously the book of Revelation is not entirely chronological for beginning in these first three chapters we already have seven advance statements that pertain to the second advent! None of these things happen until the Lord Jesus Christ returns.
Second Advent #2.
Next, in Revelation chapter 5 we have a statement of universal adoration of Jesus Christ:
5:13 “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
Because this occurs in chapter 5, the “prophecy experts” will tell you that it must be an event that occurs early on during the tribulation period. That is nonsense! This event is a summation of victory – it is a final statement that pertains to the second advent and beyond. It is ridiculous to assume that because it occurs at 5:13 it is an early event when it is the end-game victory. See Isaiah 45:22-25 and Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“
Second Advent #3.
Next, in Revelation chapter 6 it says:
“14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
How is it possible that this day occurs even before the mark of the beast is given? How are all the kings of the earth hiding themselves in chapter 6 when they haven’t even yet started launching the many wars and persecutions that occur throughout the remainder of the book of Revelation? Clearly this passage is nothing else but yet another adumbration of the second advent.
Second Advent #4.
We have another one at Revelation 7:17 “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” This speaks far in advance of the events that do not happen until Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.“
Segments.
Now between these Second Advent markers are segments that each overlap. In other words, chapters 2-3 coincide with 4-5 which also coincide with chapter 6 which coincides with chapter 7. That right there it shows 4 layers or segments, and each one gives a different perspective on the entire tribulation.
(Of course, the first segment – chapters 2 and 3 – are unique. They have double application to the church age as well. In other words, the 7 churches represent stages in the 2,000 years of church history – but also indicate their institutional churches and church types which will go into the tribulation.)
Second Advents #5, #6, #7.
It appears that another second advent passages is at 10:7 and another at 11:15 and another at 12:10-12 and another at 14:20 and another at 16:20-21 and the the final at 19:11 (to the end).
Thus it appears in total that there are 7 segments to the book of Revelation – and each one of them describes a series of events that overlap each other. “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” Revelation 5:1.
Sorting the Information.
Some of the segments will describe completely unique information, but others will repeat the very same events that were elsewhere mentioned. This pattern should be recognized – it is how the Gospels are laid out as well. Just like in the gospels, it is not to be assumed that observed differences are irreconcilable inconsistencies or hopelessly contradictory – rather it is assumed that the one must apply the harmonization that fits to make both correct – and that that is the proper understanding of any event.
For example, one mighty earthquake is described several times in Revelation:
6:12 “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;”
8:5 “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”
11:13 “And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
We reconcile those earthquakes to be the same as the overthrow of Mystery Babylon:
16:18 “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.”
This probably describes the collapse of the North American continent which will shake the entire world when it happens toward the end of the tribulation period.
Matching and Adding.
So the key to understanding the Book of Revelation is taking the events that occur in each segment and comparing them to every other segment until a full picture appears with great detail. Care should be taken to not jamb dissimilar things together. For example, several of the vial judgements in chapter 16 match exactly with trumpet judgements in chapters 8 and 9 – but don’t assume that because some of them do match, that necessarily all of them do!
| Vial Judgments |
Trumpet Judgments |
| 16:3 – sea blood | 8:8 – sea blood |
| 16:4 – waters blood | 8:10 – waters bitter |
| 16:8 – sun scorching | 8:12 – days shortened (earth’s spin increased) |
| 16:10 – darkness | 9:2 – smoke from the pit |
| 16:12 – Euphrates dry | 9:14 – angels from Euphrates |
Although these 5 can be matched up, the first and last vials and trumpets don’t necessarily match.
There is also matching between the coloured Horsemen of Chapter 6 and the four beasts or antichrists that have roles further described in other chapters. For example, the white horse rider is the same as the “first beast” of Chapter 13:7 – and the pale rider is the same as the “second beast” who is also called the “false prophet” – who appears in Chapter 13:11. The Red horse is with the persecutions of Gog described in chapter 12:17. The Black horse is the political Mystery Babylon – chapters 17 and 18.
Conclusion.
If you follow these guidelines then you will be well on your way to understanding the book of Revelation. This same methodology is employed to match up the book to the remainder of the Old Testament prophesies (and stories which are “types) – for the all describe the very same things. Albeit the each add detail to the same drama – each in their different ways.
What is absolutely stunning to consider – I mean jaw dropping awe! – is that once you begin to fit these many pieces together in an overlap that makes one whole – it is mind-boggling to realize that they can’t fit perfectly even by planning it that way – yet that’s what happened! It was all so confusing for thousands of years – how could these authors have conspired to write the events that will now happen over the next decade or so? How is it possible? It is not possible humanly – it simply cannot be done! Yet they did it. In other words, it is much more than just the fact that they predicted future events – but they predicted future events together by supplying overlapping details. If you understand what I am talking about, and can see it, then you have to be absolutely stunned. Have an atheist describe how it happened – any smooth talking “philosopher” will do. It can’t be explained with an “explaining machine” running all day and all night for a thousand years – it is Divine. There is no other way to describe it. A book that was set into ink 400 years ago - King James Bible of 1611 - tells exactly what is about to happen on planet earth – and it does so in such an obscure manner that nobody could even say that the actors conspired to make it happen.
Isaiah 41
“21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.”
This study has been the product of King James Only Bible believing – do not alter the words in that Book! It is the …
MONARCH OF THE BOOKS: KING JAMES BIBLE
AV 1611
Posted on January 19