Revelation 12:10-12 "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”'
Introduction:
I thought in today's post we would attempt to allign the two visionary sequences given to the Apostle John in Revelation 1-3 and 4-11 to the third visionary sequence of Revelation 12-14. Whenever we study the book of Revelation, we can understand it as a series of seven visionary sequences that each begin with a scene in heaven, followed by an unfolding of what is decreed here on earth. In considering the three mentioned sequences above, we can note the following themes associated with each one:1. How Jesus relates to His church. 1-3
2. How Jesus will conquer the world. 4-11
3. How Jesus will destroy Satan's plots. 12-14
Yesterday's post featured an introduction to Revelation 12-14. Rather than rehearsing that introduction, I refer the reader by link to yesterday's post for review so as to get right into the main point of today's post (http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-kings-cradle-cross-crown.html ).
Today's aim is to focus particular attention on seeing how these three visionary sections line up with one another, with some insights from a few other passages of scripture. My prayer is that this post will aid the reader in walking their way through these sections of the Book of Revelation.
Today's aim is to focus particular attention on seeing how these three visionary sections line up with one another, with some insights from a few other passages of scripture. My prayer is that this post will aid the reader in walking their way through these sections of the Book of Revelation.
Lining up the three visionary sequences
of Revelation 1-3; 4-11; 12-14
with some other scriptures
As you look at the chart below, please note how different parts are color coded. The reader can also observe how the events fit in relationship and sequence to one another. I will provide a quick guide that describes the colors being used, with particular emphasis upon the Old Testament background passages that relate to the New Testament passages. The post will then end with the actual chart that attempts to connect relevant New Testament passages to what we see occurring in the book of Revelation. My hope is that you will find this information both edifying and informative to your own study of the book of Revelation.
A. Explanation of colors used in the chart at the end of this post
1. Red ink signifies the first visionary sequence of Revelation 1-3. We could advocate Revelation 1-3 covering this current age that we can call the church age.
2. Blue ink refers to the first 3 1/2 years of the final seven year period of time at the end of this age called "the tribulation period". Other passages that refer to this final seven period call it by other descriptions: Deuteronomy 4:26-31 (time of distress); Deuteronomy 30:1-3 (a period designated to prepare Israel for restoration); Jeremiah 30:4-11 (called time of Jacob's trouble); Ezekiel 20:33-38 (time of Israel's purification); Daniel 9:26b-27a (Daniel's seventieth week) and Matthew 24:15-20 (the whole period will follow the pattern of Jerusalem's past destruction in 70 A.D)
3. Purple ink refers to the latter half of the seven year tribulation period, last 3 1/2 years. More prophetic scripture focuses on this particular portion of the tribulation period than the first half. Jesus for example designates this second half of the tribulation by the term "great tribulation" in Matthew 24:21. Other scriptures which focus on the second half of the tribulation period, designating it by other titles are: Daniel 9:27b, 12:7; Revelation 11:2,3; 12:4 (specify the time by different phrases, all equaling 3 1/2 years); Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 24:21-25:30; 1 Thessalonians 5; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-12; Revelation 6-19 (specify the character of that final 3 1/2 year period).
B. Chart depicting the relationship between the first (Revelation 1-3), second (Revelation 4-11) and third (Revelation 12-14) visionary sequences in Revelation
Jesus Christ's relationship to his church
Revelation 1-3 The Church Age: 1st century to Falling Away
Ephesus - Laodicea. 7 literal churches, representing every church
throughout church history, in every place, or even types or traits
witnessed in each church of every place of every age
Tribulation / / Great
Tribulation
3 1/2 yrs 3 1/2 yrs
Daniel 9:26 Dan 9:27
Matt 24:15- Mt 24:21-
20 25:46 1 Th 5:1-11
2 Thessalon. 2:2-12
How Jesus will conquer
the world. 4-11
-The tribulation period
6:1-7:17; 8:6-11:19
-Answered prayer
8:1-5
-His word
10:1-11:19
How Jesus will destroy
Satan's plots
12-14
-Aggression
against Israel
12:1-17
-Anti-Christ/
Beast.
13:1-14:13
-Armies of men
14:14-20
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