The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The book of Revelation is a book of prophecy and is straightforward and linear in regards to how the chapters appear. Contrary to the various doctrines of some men that seek to interpret the book, Eph 4:14, with ulterior motives.

Revelation 22:18-19 KJVS
[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Apostle John was instructed by our Lord to write down In a specific order the vision he received in this book.

Revelation 1:19 KJVS
[19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The first chapters is what John had seen at the start of the vision. The things which are in the next two chapters are what is presently taking place at that moment in time as John is receiving the vision. They cover the seven churches of that time and their spiritual condition and Apostle Paul was instructed to write to them. Chapter 4 and chapters that follow chronicle events which shall be hereafter in time, describing end time events surrounding the tribulation. Throughout the chapters that follow, the narrative is interspersed with cut scenes, using motion picture parlance, in various places. Often between what is taking place on earth and cut scenes to what is taking place in heaven. Sometimes Apostle John is in a few of these scenes in heaven wherein explanations are given to him on what he is observing in the vision. Similar to the book of Daniel and some of his visions. The 10th chapter is one example. Some schools of theology displace some of the chapters in this book to support their specific view of when the rapture takes place. The 12th chapter in the book of Revelation is one. They use the term parenthetical chapters to justify this action. Based on the literary device called parentheses. A short definition of this term from Google.

“Parenthesis is a stylistic device that comes from the Greek word meaning “to place,” or “alongside.” Parenthesis is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause, or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage. … However, the overuse of parenthesis may make sentences look ambiguous and poorly structure.”

As you can see this device is not intended to be used to displace entire chapters. Context is useful in establishing truths in the Bible. Point in fact scripture shows that the 12th chapter of Revelation cannot be displaced from its position in the book.

Revelation 8:13 KJVS
[13] And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

The three woes are linked to the last three (5-7) trumpets, first woe takes place when the bottomless pit is opened.

Revelation 9:1,11-12 KJVS
[1] And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. [11] And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. [12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

The second woe takes place after the two witnesses are killed by the beast. To be honest, I have never been able to find where it states the sixth trumpet has sound. But the following verses mentions the second and third woe.

Revelation 11:7,13-14 KJVS
[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. [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. [14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

Notice the third woe comes quickly after the second woe.

Revelation 12:9,12 KJVS
[9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

The three woes linked to the last three trumpet entails that the 7th through the 12th chapter in the book of Revelation are linear. I have had some that argued that the third woe happen later in the book of Revelation rather than the woe mentioned in Revelation 12:12. It is a simple matter to use the Strong’s Concordance and see if that is true. I’ll leave that up to the reader. Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy to study to show himself approved 2 Ti 2:15. That is good advice to all Christians. At this point there is no need for me to go overly long regarding the book of Revelation, I already wrote a article concerning the rapture timeline that covers some of the book.

Rapture timeline

I just wanted to give a bit of a overview of the book of Revelation to help the readers get a handle on it.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 YLT
[7] and to you who are troubled — rest with us in the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with messengers of his power, [8] in flaming fire, giving vengeance to those not knowing God, and to those not obeying the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ; [9] who shall suffer justice — destruction age-during — from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his strength, [10] when He may come to be glorified in his saints, and to be wondered at in all those believing — because our testimony was believed among you — in that day;