How Revelation is Organized
The Four Judgments in the Tribulation
Note: The interludes between the judgments help explain the judgments. Time only moves forward during the time of judgments
Interludes in Revelation
| Rev. 1 | Introduction |
| Rev. 4 | The Heavenly Throne |
| Rev. 5 | The Scroll and the Worth Lamb |
| Rev. 7 | The 144,000 Sealed and Multitudes Saved |
| Rev. 10 | The Little Scroll |
| Rev. 11 | The Two Witnesses |
| Rev. 12 | Israel, Satan, and the Christ Child |
| Rev. 13 | The First and Second Beast |
| Rev. 14 | The 144,000 Redeemed and the 3 Angels |
| Rev. 15 | Prelude to the Seven Final Plagues |
| Rev. 17 | Mystery Babylon and the Beast |
| Rev. 18 | Babylon’s Fall |
| Rev. 21 | The New Heaven, Earth, & Jerusalem |
| Rev. 22 | The Tree and River of Life |
Note: The chapters not listed on this chart are when the judgments are described. See the charts above and below for those chapters.
The Tribulation Judgments in Chronological Order
Chapters 2 & 3 tell us about the Church Age, from the coming of the Holy Spirit until the rapture, which ends the Church Age. The tribulation begins sometime after this with the signing of a peace treaty.
Chapter 6 details what happens on earth during the seven seals judgments and brings us to the midpoint of the tribulation, 1260 days, 42 months, or 3.5 years.
Chapters 8-9 details what happens on earth during the seven trumpet judgments and brings us to a brief time before Jesus’ Second Advent, 3.4 (approximate) years.
Chapter 10 glimpses the seven thunders judgments before the angel hides those judgments for now. These follow the trumpet judgments a brief time before Jesus returns.
Chapter 16 details what happens on earth during the seven bowl judgments that fall in rapid succession. Jesus returns after them, ending the seven-year tribulation.
Chapter 20 details the judgments that happen before and after the Millennium (the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth).
Time Progression in Revelation
| Revelation 1 | Revelation 2-3 | Revelation 4-19 | Revelation 20 | Revelation 21-22 |
| Prologue Ends with: Church Letters | Church Age> Ends with: Rapture | Tribulation> Ends with: Second Coming | Millennium> Ends with: Final Rebellion | Eternity Never ends! |
| Now | 7 years | 1,000 years | Forever |
Judgements in the Tribulation
| 7 Seal Judgments | 7 Trumpet Judgments | 7 Thunders Judgments | 7 Bowl Judgments |
| First 3.5 months | Second 3.4 months | Just before the bowls | Shortly before 2nd Coming |
| Revelation 6 | Revelation 8 & 9 | Revelation 10 | Revelation 16 |
Judgements After the Tribulation and the Millennium
| Verses and Time | Who’s Judged and Why? | Ultimate Fate |
| vv. 1-3 End of tribulation | Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. | Then he’s released for a little while to lead a final rebellion. |
| vv. 4-6 End of tribulation | Faithful saints who didn’t take the mark of the Beast | These saints reign with Christ for 1,000 years. |
| vv. 7-10 End of Millennium | Satan is freed and gathers the deceived in a final rebellion by attacking God’s City, Jerusalem. | Fire comes down from heaven and devours the rebels and they’re cast into the lake of fire. |
| vv. 11-15 End of Millennium | God judges all unbelievers by their works. | Since they’re not in the Book of Life they’re cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity. |
Improvements of New Jerusalem over “Babylon”
| Unbelievers refused the free water of life, and as enduring beings their place is in the lake of fire where they remain forever impure (Rev. 21-5-8). | While believers, though undeserving on their own merits, are graciously cleansed and purified for eternity (Rev. 22:11, 17). |
| Unbelievers cast their fate with the condemned city of Mystery Babylon (Rev. 21:9-27). | While believers share in the New Jerusalem, the city of God (Rev. 22:14-15). |
| Unbelievers wear the name or sign of the Beast (Rev 13:15-17), | While believers share in the river of life, the tree of life, and wear God’s name on their foreheads; (Rev. 22:1-5). |
| And best of all, especially for those that conquer in Jesus’ blood and are persecuted in this life Jesus promises, “I am coming soon!” and John says, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20). |
Contrasts Between Unbelievers and Believers
| Unbelievers | Believers |
| Refuse the Water of Life | Share in the River of Life |
| Eternal Destiny: Lake of Fire | Eternal Destiny: Live with God |
| Forever Impure | Forever cleansed and purified |
| Share Babylon’s Fate | Share in the New Jerusalem |
| Suffer the Second Death | Share in the Tree of Life |
| Wore the Sign of the Beast | God’s Name is on Their Forehead |
