Analyzing the Cycles of the Book of Revelation
Revelation contains several cycles. It does not teach that Christ will return multiple times. It rather records His second coming multiple times due to how it provides various descriptions of the events leading up to His return which elaborate on one another.
Christ appears to the Apostle John in Revelation chapter 1. His estimation of the spiritual state of seven particular churches of Asia Minor is recorded in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. During the events in heaven which are recorded in Revelation chapters 4 and 5, the book with seven seals is introduced.
Revelation 5:5-6: “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
Jesus Christ is both the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Lamb who had been slain. He opens six of the seven seals in Revelation chapter 6. The sixth seal is somewhat of a leap forward in time from some of the events which happen in relation to the opening of the seventh seal. The sixth seal summarizes the terror of mankind in realizing that God’s terrifying judgment on its wickedness is on the verge of fully arriving.
The opening of the sixth seal sets the stage for the seventh seal to be opened. There is an interlude or break in chapter 7 which looks both backwards and forwards from the events which happened in relation to the sixth seal being opened. Chapter 8 of Revelation then records the opening of the seventh seal.
Revelation 8:1: “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.”
At this point we are introduced to the seven angels having the seven trumpets.
Revelation 8:2-4: “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.”
The second coming of Christ occurring is implied here.
Revelation 8:5: “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”
At this point, events which happen in relation to the seventh seal being opened will be explained in greater detail. The events which happen in relation to the sounding of the seven trumpets are all aspects of the opening of the seventh seal.
The first six trumpets are recorded in Revelation 8:6 through the end of Revelation chapter 9. There is another break or interlude at this point which is Revelation chapter 10.
The first thirteen verses of Revelation chapter 11 then provide a description of events which take place in the world, particularly within Jerusalem, before the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. Revelation 11:15 demonstrates that Christ will return to reign over the kingdoms of this world at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Otherwise, wicked authority would not be totally put down at this point as will obviously be the case. The following verses are indeed a description of Christ returning in person and putting down all authority that is opposed to Him. It is not the mid-point of the tribulation period nor the beginning of Him pouring out His wrath upon the world. His wrath had already been poured out to a notable extent through the judgments which occurred at the sounding of the first six trumpets. And in accordance with Revelation 8:13, the third woe’s arrival and the seventh trumpet sounding are one and the same event.
Revelation 11:14-19: “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”
Revelation chapters 12 through 14 contain another instructive break or interlude. Chapter 15 then introduces the seven last plagues.
Revelation 15:1: “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”
As the seven trumpets sounding elaborate on the events related to the seventh seal being opened, the pouring out of the seven last plagues elaborate on the events related to the seventh trumpet sounding.
Revelation 15:7-8: “And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”
Revelation chapter 16 then records the seven vials being poured out and the earth being plagued as a result. The seventh angel pouring out his vial corresponds with Revelation 8:5 and Revelation 11:15-19. Note the similarity in the following verses with Revelation 8:5 and Revelation 11:19.
Revelation 16:17-21: “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”
Revelation chapter 17 then shows this great Babylon mentioned in verse 19 of chapter 16 represented as a whorish woman who commits fornication with the kings of the earth, lives in luxury, promotes idolatry, and sheds the blood of faithful Christians. Those who say that this woman could not represent the Catholic Church have to disregard that it fits the description given of the woman in the first six verses of chapter 17. She is also connected to Rome in verse 18 of chapter 17. Revelation chapter 18 elaborates on her sudden judgment and gives several commandments in relation to her.
The most direct description of the return of Christ in Revelation 19:11-21 corresponds with Revelation 8:5, Revelation 11:15-19, and Revelation 16:17-21. This is because Revelation contains several cycles which give parallel (i.e. side by side) accounts that deal with the very same event which is the second coming of Christ. Revelation concludes with the things which are written in chapters 20 through 22 that deal with what happens after that.
Aaron’s email is: gospeltruth768@yahoo.com