Introduction
There are some End Times teachers that try and cover Revelation in sequence from Revelation chapters 1 to 22. However this leads to all sorts of gymnastics and interpretations that are disjointed and have insurmountable problems. It is very understandable that we make these mistakes as the imagery and Old Testament scriptures used are not familiar. If you come at Revelation with certain doctrines like the pre-tribulation rapture the sequence of the book is even harder to understand.
The 7 Seals, Trumpets and Bowls of Revelation are numbered so that we know these happen in that sequence. However all the other things described outside of these events do not necessarily fit into that sequence. The Trumpets do not follow the Seals nor the Bowls follow the Trumpets as we shall see.
Some will say why did John to write it like this and not just include each event in sequence so we can understand. The answer really is I don’t know. Knowing Father God and Jesus there is an important reason why it is written in this sequence with more details and explanation when needed for the readers.
The book of Revelations fulfils all prophecies of the bible related to Israel’s rebellion, destruction and then restoration. This leads to judgements and a catastrophe like the world has never seen.
God makes sure keeps His covenant with Israel down to the last tittle. Those in the world that have rejected Jesus will know that God is real and that Jesus was His Son through which they could have had salvation from sin.
Chapters that are not part of the main sequence of events.
Christ’s return called the Day of the Lord or the second coming is depicted 4 times:
a. At the 6th seal Revelation 6:12-17
b. At the 7th Trumpet Revelation 11:14-18
c. The two harvests in Rev 14
d. The 7th bowl, fully described in Rev 19
We know that Jesus is not coming back 4 times. So these chapters are being used to give us more information and allow us see that the Seals, Trumpets and Bowl judgements run parallel to each other in some way. This all makes logical sense. If we use this structure and understanding Revelation becomes easier to see the sequence as we know that the second coming occurs at the end.
The Apostle John actually uses a well known Jewish technique of writing by first laying the big picture and then going back and giving more information where it is needed.
Whole sections (chapters) back up to give further details
a. Revelation 7 is parenthetical and is placed between the 6th and 7th seal. It gives details about the 144,000 Israelite’s from each tribe that are sealed before the 4 horsemen are released by the seals 1-4. They are not 144,000 witnesses as many believe. Is also covers the harvest of Gentile from nations.
b. Revelation 10:1 – 11:14 is more detail between the 6th and 7th Trumpets. It is an Interlude stating John will testify again in the end times with another witness who is Elijah.
c. Revelation 17-18 are elaborating on the destruction of Mystery Babylon which had been mentioned in Revelation 14:8. They are placed between the 7th Bowl & 2nd coming.
These parenthetical chapters answer some obvious questions that the 7 Churches would want answered.
Revelation 7 is the parenthetical portion between 6th & 7th Seal (the 144,000 Jewish remnant), answers the natural question:-
“How will the remnant of Israel that Paul spoke about in Romans 11 survive the 7 Seals?”
Revelation 10-11:13 parenthetical portion between 6th & 7th Trumpets (the rebuilt Temple, the worshippers {144,000} and the two prophets, answers the question:-
“How can Israel repent and God take away their sins and restore “all [12 tribes of] Israel” which Paul spoke about in Romans 11?”
Revelation 12-14 is the parenthetical portion that answers the natural question:-
“How will God spare the Christians {both Jew and Gentile} from His wrath during these plagues?”
Conclusion
We can understand the order of the events when the parenthetical chapters and the further detail chapters are taken into account. Knowing that Jesus does not come back 4 times allows us to at least synchronise the Seals, Trumpets and Bowls to end with the King Jesus returning to destroy the armies of the world and take His seat on the throne in Jerusalem.
Living as a Christian in this World 