To read more of this free commentary on the book of Revelation, click Table of Contents.
Scope:
The chronology of Revelation chapter 6-22 is the subject of this subchapter. The events of the first three chapters of the book of Revelation are understood by virtually all to be in our past, even though they are still applicable to those living subsequent to the first century. Chapter four details who is in the throne room and contains no prophesies. Chapter five presents the one who is worthy to open the prophesies of the future chapters but makes no prophesies except to say that the saints (5:8) will someday reign on the earth (5:10). The chronological difficulties lie in the synthesis of the seals, trumpets, bowls, signs and thunders... the thunders being left concealed from our view and keeping an authoritative chronology out of reach. So, the best we can do is arrive at a tentative chronology, which we might substantially revise if we knew what was in the seven thunders. But, I have prayed that God will open my eyes to see... so that this tentative chronology will be accurate, to the extent that the chronology has been revealed in scripture.
Abbreviations:
Each event will have one of the following headings: SL, T, B, SN, standing for Seal, Trumpet, Bowl and Sign respectively.
SN1, SN2, T1, T2, B1, B2, etc. refer to Sign 1, Sign 2, 1st Trumpet, 2nd Trumpet, 1st Bowl, 2nd Bowl, respectively, etc.
Conventions:
The heading for each event will be followed by the scripture reference for the event in the book of Revelation. "v" indicates that the event is continuing down the page (continuing in time). As an example, here is the first event in the chronology:
SN2
12:17
Persecution
of Saints
begins
3.5 Years
After
Ascension
v
v
v
This event is from Sign 2, and is found in Revelation 12:17. Persecution of saints begins 3.5 years after Christ's ascension is the event. And the repeated v, below the event, shows that the persecution continues through time.
If the reference (12:17 above) was in gold, it would have a superscript and be a link that you may click to see supplemental commentary about chronology. The number in superscript is a footnote which guides you to the proper supplemental commentary. For example "8:71" means that the supplemental commentary on Revelation 8:7 is in footnote 1..Access to most of the commentary is through the link to the Table of Contents at the top of this page. But the supplemental commentary you will see by clicking the gold scripture reference on this page will be very beneficial, but especially to those who have read the Table of Contents page and the commentary available through links on the Table of Contents page.
Higher is earlier:
Chronology is show in the table below. Higher is earlier. The earliest event in the table is the birth of Christ, as seen in the first and second signs, in Revelation 12:1-6.
SEALS TRUMPETS BOWLS 2 SIGNS
SN1,2
12:1-6
Birth of
Christ
SN2
12:4
Satan
attempts
to kill
Christ
at birth
SN2
12:7-12
Satan
Thrown
To Earth
SN2
12:13-16
Saints
Nourished
3.5 Years
After
Ascension
SN2
12:17
Persecution
Of Saints
Begins
3.5 Years
After
Ascension
SL 1-5 v
6:1-11 v
Conquest v
War, v
Famine, SN2
Death, 13:1,17:183
Martyrdom 13:5,7,15,16,18
Resurrected
SL6 beast
7:1-81 appears
Sealing (666),
of the killing
144.000 saints
for 3.5
SL5 years
When a certain
number of
martyrs have
died, the 1st
trumpet will
blow!
SL6 T1 B1 v
Summary 1/3 of Plague v
of 7 TB earth on earth. v
Pairs trees Tumors v
v grass on those v
v burned with mark v
v of beast, v
v 666 v
B2
All
saints
are
killed
T6
11:1-14
2 Prophets
for 3.5
years
conversion of 144,000 Jews (14:1-5), the spreading of the Gospel (14:6-8), warning (14:9-11), the rapture (14:14-16), reaping of judgement at Armageddon (14:17-20).