In understanding the Book of Revelation, we have to understand that it is broken into 3 major categories or 3 groups of 7 judgments:

1. The Seven Seal Judgments
   Revelation 6:1-8:1-2
2. The Seven Trumpet Judgments
   Revelation 8:1-2-15:8
3. The Seven Golden Bowl Judgments
   Revelation 16:1-21

What is extremely important to understand is the order of events and not to take them out of context, for example, each group of judgments are written in a consecutive order; the seven seal judgments are written as 1st seal, 2nd seal, 3rd seal, 4th seal, 5th seal, 6th seal, 7th seal, and likewise the seven trumpet judgments, 1st trumpet, 2nd trumpet, 3rd trumpet, 4th trumpet, 5th trumpet, 6th trumpet, 7th trumpet and then the seven golden bowl judgments; 1st bowl judgment, 2nd bowl judgment, 3rd bowl judgment, 4th bowl judgment, 5th bowl judgment, 6th bowl judgement and 7th bowl judgment. Each does not supersede the other and the opening of the seventh seal brings forth or initiates the seven trumpet judgments.

1 WHEN HE [the Lamb] broke open the seventh seal, there was silence for about half an hour in heaven. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

And at the end of the events that take place at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the seven angels carrying the seven golden bowl judgments are called forth.

1 THEN I heard a mighty voice from the temple sanctuary saying to the seven angels, Go and empty out on the earth the seven bowls of God's wrath and indignation.

Now between each of the judgments, the Apostle John receives a vision or a series of visions and those visions are not to be taken out of context either, for example, at the opening of the first seal, John sees a rider on a white horse carrying a bow.

1 THEN I saw as the Lamb broke open one of the seven seals, and as if in a voice of thunder I heard one of the four living creatures call out, Come! 2 And I looked, and saw there a white horse whose rider carried a bow. And a crown was given him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer.

Therefore, this event takes place at the opening of the first seal and the same is true as we go along through the judgments. The vision that John receives at the sounding of the first trumpet means that the particular event is taking place at the sounding of the first trumpet and before the second trumpet sounds and so on through the trumpet judgments. When we come to the golden bowl judgments the same applies the event that John sees between the pouring out of the first bowl judgment and the second bowl judgment means that it is happening as a result of the first bowl judgment and before the second bowl judgment. This might all sound redundant but it is amazing that so many people pull all kinds of events out of context and out of sequence as to when and where John is seeing them. A prime example of this is the seven year tribulation period, many are of the assumption that the seven year tribulation begins with the opening of the first of the seven seals, and all of the events written in the Book of Revelation take place during this seven year time frame and that is simply not the case. So when does the seven year tribulation actually take place? When we leave things in context and the way that they are written in the Scriptures we can plainly see that the first 3 ½ years are marked by the ministry of the two witnesses.

3 And I will grant the power of prophecy to My two witnesses for 1,260 (42 months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth.

Their endowment with power takes place during the sounding of the sixth trumpet which is the second woe and lasts for 3 1/2 years. Their death and glorious ascension into heaven is the queue for the seventh angel to sound his trumpet (the seventh trumpet which is the last trumpet to sound), and this we see in Revelation 11:12-15.

12 Then [the two witnesses] heard a strong voice from heaven calling to them, Come up here! And before the very eyes of their enemies they ascended into heaven in a cloud. 13 And at that [very] hour there was a tremendous earthquake and one tenth of the city was destroyed (fell); seven thousand people perished in the earthquake, and those who remained were filled with dread and terror and were awe-struck, and they glorified the God of heaven. 14 The second woe (calamity) has passed; now the third woe is speedily to come. 15 The seventh angel then blew [his] trumpet, and there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The dominion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has now come into the possession and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)!

After the sounding of the seventh trumpet, we see that the antichrist is given the power of speech and he is given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his will for 42 months or 3 1/2 years.

5 And the beast was given the power of speech, uttering boastful and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his will during forty-two months (three and a half years).

The same goes for the "rapture" of the Church (or better described as the catching away of the Bride of Christ), some are of the understanding that there is nothing yet to happen or be fulfilled before Christ comes to gather the Bride and again this is false and it is not what the Scriptures reveal. In fact, it is setting the people of God up for a great fall anticipating that the rapture is about to take place at any given moment and before any trial or tribulation comes their way. So when does the rapture actually take place? If we turn to the Book of First Corinthians we learn that the "twinkling of an eye change" takes place at the sounding of the last trumpet, which is the seventh trumpet.

51 Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed) 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed). 53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death). 54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

This particular portion of Scripture directly speaks about the "twinkling of an eye" transformation, the catching away of the Bride, or better known as the rapture of the Church and it is quite specific about when this event occurs, "...at the sound of the last trumpet". If I were to take a piece of chalk and draw symbols of the three groups of judgments on a wall; seven seals numbered one through seven, seven trumpets numbered one through seven, and seven golden bowls numbered one through seven and then turn to a child and asked them to point to the last trumpet off they would go and put their finger on the seventh trumpet. It is so simple that a child can figure it out! So when does the rapture of the Church take place? At the sounding of the seventh trumpet! And this is exactly what John sees at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. The very first vision that John receives after hearing the seventh trumpet is the vision of the woman in Revelation 12:1-6. And it is a vision that concerns a great sign and wonder and is a vision of an event that has ominous significance.

1 AND A great sign (wonder)--[warning of future events of ominous significance] appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a crownlike garland (tiara) of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and she cried out in her birth pangs, in the anguish of her delivery. 3 Then another ominous sign (wonder) was seen in heaven: Behold, a huge, fiery-red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven kingly crowns (diadems) upon his heads. 4 His tail swept [across the sky] and dragged down a third of the stars and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to be delivered, so that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth. 5 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years).

Right now we are not going to go into detail on this chapter, however, if we look closely at verse six we get a snapshot of the rapture or catching away of the Bride of Christ.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The word, "woman" comes from the Greek word, "gune" which specifically means "wife", it is derived from the primary verb, "ginomai" which means, "to cause to be" that is, "to become or come into being" and carries with it the sense of, "arising and being assembled", "to have been brought to pass", "coming to pass", "to be completed and fulfilled", "to have caused to grow", and specifically refers to, "the one who is to be taken and married." Therefore, the complete understanding of the word "woman" is, "the wife that was caused to be and came into being, arose and became assembled, she came to pass (completed and fulfilled), the one who was caused to grow, the one who is to be taken and married." Therefore, with the complete understanding of the word, "woman" the Scripture verse now reads like this;

And the woman [the wife that was caused to be and came into being, arose and became assembled, she came to pass (completed and fulfilled), the one who was caused to grow, the one who is to be taken and married] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

So we see that the wife that was caused to be and came into being, arose and became assembled, she came to pass (completed and fulfilled), the one who was caused to grow, the one who is to be taken and married, "fled" into the "wilderness", where she has a place prepared for her from God and where she is to be "fed" for a thousand two hundred and threescore days or three and one-half years (this three and one-half years is the second half of the seven year tribulation, in other words she has been taken to be kept safe from the power and authority of the antichrist).

The word, "fled" is derived from the Greek word, "pheugo" meaning that the woman (the gune-the wife), "ran away, escaped or vanished" into the "eremos" (the cheder yichud, the bridal chamber); "eremos" is the Greek for "wilderness", and does not denote a wilderness as in a place void of the presence of God, but rather "a solitary place or room that was separated by a great chasm (a bridal chamber)", where she (the wife) is to be "fed" (cherished, pampered or "fattened") for a thousand two hundred and threescore days (1,260 days or the remaining three and one-half years of Daniel's seventieth week). In other words, the "eremos" is the place or "Room of Seclusion" where the consummation of the marriage takes place for a period of three and one-half years. (We have been using the term cheder yichud, for the "Room of Seclusion" because in following a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony, the term used is the cheder yichud.) When we insert our Greek definitions of each word into the Scripture here in the vision of Revelation chapter twelve, then we get a complete picture of the wife being raptured (vanishing) and entering into the place prepared for her in the heavenly places to consummate the marriage. So when we insert the original language definitions into the Scripture verse this is how it reads;

And the woman [the wife that was caused to be and came into being, arose and became assembled, she came to pass (completed and fulfilled), the one who was caused to grow, the one who is to be taken and married] fled [ran away, escaped or vanished] into the wilderness [solitary room that was separated by a great chasm in order to consummate the marriage (the bridal chamber)], where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

It is as Isaiah calls out, "Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the Lord's wrath is past."

Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the [Lord's] wrath is past.

Shall the Lord not bring Zion to the moment of birth and not cause Her children to come forth? Shall He cause Her to become pregnant and then close Her womb?

6 [Hark!] An uproar from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, rendering recompense to His enemies! 7 Before [Zion] travailed, she gave birth; before her pain came upon her, she was delivered of a male child. 8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Or shall a nation be brought forth in a moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the [moment of] birth and not cause to bring forth? says the Lord. Shall I Who causes to bring forth shut the womb? says your God.

The following timeline will give you an understanding of the order of events that take place in the Book of Revelation. When we have a revelation of each of the seven mysteries that are revealed as Christ unveils them at the opening of each seal, then the understanding of each brings us to a place where we see them intertwined in the visions of John and then we can properly discern each event, and if you notice in the timeline each event occurs just as it is written without taking things out of context.

The Opening of the First Four Seals and the Four Horses of the Apocalypse			read more >> read more >>
The opening of the first four seals (and the disclosure or unveiling of the first four divine mysteries) found in Revelation 6:1-8 are unique from the rest of the seals being opened; hence the unique description of the four horses. They are unique in the sense that the revelation of the first four divine mysteries directly revolve around a close relationship with Christ Himself, therefore the gracious and comforting words mentioned in the Book of Zechariah, "And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me with gracious and comforting words". I saw in the night [vision] and behold, a Man riding upon a red horse, and He stood among the myrtle trees that were in a low valley or bottom, and behind Him there were horses, red, bay or flame-colored, and white. Then said I, "O my lord, what are these?" And the angel who talked with me said, "I will show you what these are." And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, "These are they whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro through the earth and patrol it." And the men on the horses answered the Angel of the Lord Who stood among the myrtle trees and said, "We have walked to and fro through the earth [patrolling it] and behold, all the earth sits at rest [in peaceful security]." Then the Angel of the Lord said, "O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy and lovingkindness for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which You have had indignation these seventy years [of the Babylonian captivity]?" And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me with gracious and comforting words. So the angel who talked with me said to me, 'Cry out, "Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was but a little displeased, they helped forward the affliction and disaster. Therefore thus says the Lord: I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion (lovingkindness and mercy). My house shall be built in it, says the Lord of hosts, and a measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem [with a view to rebuilding its walls].'" Zechariah 1:8-16 Amplified Bible When we list the first four divine mysteries, we see that they go hand-in-hand and revolve around a direct relationship with Christ: The Mystery of Christ in You the Hope of Glory 25 In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you]--26 The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints), 27 To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory. Colossians 1:25-27 Amplified Bible The Mystery of the Perishable Putting on the Imperishable (The Twinkling of an Eye Transformation) 51 Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed) 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed). 53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death). 54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 Amplified Bible The Mystery of the Plan of Redemption 25 Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages, Romans 16:25 Amplified Bible The Mystery of the Oneness between Christ and the Church 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, 30 Because we are members (parts) of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:29-32 Amplified Bible Not only do the divine mysteries go hand-in-hand, but so do the associated judgments. The opening of the first seal speaks of the conquests of man (Revelation 6:1-2), the opening of the second seal speaks of peace being taken from the earth (Revelation 6:3-4), the opening of the third seal speaks of global economic collapse (Revelation 6:5-6), the opening of the fourth seal speaks of a fourth part of mankind being killed by the sword (war and rivalries), famine, plague (disease and pestilence) and with the wild beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:7-8). Jesus said, 9 And when you hear of wars and insurrections (disturbances, disorder, and confusion), do not become alarmed and panic-stricken and terrified; for all this must take place first, but the end will not [come] immediately. 10 Then He told them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be mighty and violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues: malignant and contagious or infectious epidemic diseases which are deadly and devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:9-11 Amplified Bible

The Opening of the Fifth Seal			read more >>
At the opening of the fifth seal the disclosure of the Mystery of the Unification of Israel comes forth; during this time frame the people of God (the saints, the Believers) come under great persecution and many are martyred because of their testimony (Revelation 6:9-11).

The Opening of the Sixth Seal			read more >>
At the opening of the sixth seal the disclosure of the Mystery of Lawlessness comes forth; during this time frame there is a great earthquake and the sun grows black as sackcloth and the moon blood red (Revelation 6:12). The events of the sun turning black and the moon blood red are the same events that are described in Joel chapter 2 as God pours out the latter rain and the gift of prophecy comes to the forefront (Joel 2:28-32). A plumbline is drawn across the Household of God and the 144,000 are sealed (Revelation 7:1-17).

The Opening of the Seventh Seal			read more>>
At the opening of the seventh seal the disclosure of the Mystery of Christ comes forth and the seven angels carrying seven trumpets come forth and stand ready to sound them one at a time (Revelation 8:1-5).

The First Four Trumpets			read more >>
The opening of the seventh seal, brings forth seven angels which are then given seven trumpets (Revelation 8:1-2). The angels prepare to sound each trumpet but NOT before the manifestation of the outpouring of the latter rain associated with the opening of the sixth seal and NOT before the associated manifestation of the sun turning black and the moon to blood red (Revelation 6:12). The sounding of the first four trumpets is a continuation of the Lord shaking everything in heaven and on earth as described at the opening of the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12-17). When reading the first four trumpet judgments we need to consider that up to this point the 144,000 have been sealed for divine protection from all of the judgments on the earth and they are beginning their journey (or ministry). Their sealing and journey is much the same as what we see in the Exodus when Moses was sent to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and the hand of Pharoah, with this in mind we see the similarity of the judgments that were called down upon Egypt in the judgments of the first four trumpets. When we look closely at what the events that took place during the Exodus we begin to see the Lord continuing to state His case for the first four trumpet judgments.

The Fifth Trumpet-the First Woe			read more >>
During the sounding of this trumpet, the Abyss is opened and a five month military campaign begins which escalates into the war called Abaddon (Revelation 9:11; Job 31:12) and takes place between the Mediterranean Sea and the Great River Euphrates (Revelation 9:1-12); "the beast or monster" created is the beast having seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 17:8; Revelation 11:7) and arises on the world stage as a result of the Abyss being opened.

The Sixth Trumpet-the Second Woe The Seven Years Begin			read more >>
There are three main events that take place during this time frame; the war called Abaddon has now escalated to include 200 million troops in the region of the Mediterranean Sea and the Great River Euphrates (Revelation 9:13-21), the angel with the rainbow halo makes his declaration (Revelation 10:1-11), and simultaneous to the full scale war called Abaddon the Lord's two witnesses are endowed with the power of their prophecy (Revelation 11:1-14) for three and one-half years (Revelation 11:3). The sounding of the sixth trumpet (the second woe) marks the beginning of the seven year period (Daniel's 70th week), and covers three and one half years, the death and glorious ascension of the Lord's two witnesses brings about the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:7-15); which is the last trumpet judgment to sound. [There are three and one half years between the sounding of the sixth trumpet (the second woe) and the seventh trumpet (the third woe) as dictated by the length of the ministry of the two witnesses. (Revelation 11:3)]

The Seventh Trumpet-the Third Woe			read more >>
The sounding of the last trumpet brings about significant events; the first most spectacular event that takes place is the "rapture" or the "catching away" of the Bride of Christ by the Groom (Revelation 12:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55), the antichrist rises from among the beast having seven heads and ten horns and is permitted to exercise his authority and will for the remaining three and one half years (Revelation 13:5-7) during which Jerusalem is trampled (Revelation 11:2), and the antichrist wages war with the Believers that were left behind (Revelation 13:7) after the "rapture". At the end of the remaing three and one half years [1,290 days after the "rapture" (Daniel 12:11-12)], with the help of the false prophet, a statue in the image of the beast is set up on the wing of the temple ruins and the mark of the beast is instituted so that no one can buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:11-18). In resisting the mark, we see the ingathering of the full number of the Gentiles coming in (Revelation 14:12-16; Romans 11:25) followed by the nation of Israel (Revelation 14:17-20). The full implementation of the mark and the reinstatemnet of Israel into the Kingdom of God brings about the seven bowl judgments (Romans 11:12).

The First Five Bowl Judgments			read more >>
After the implementation of the mark of the beast and the ingathering of both Gentile (Revelation 14:12-16) and Jew (Revelation 14:17-21), the first five bowl judgments begin to be poured out on all those who worship the beast, the statue and who have the mark of the beast (Revelation16:1-11). THEN I heard a mighty voice from the temple sanctuary saying to the seven angels, Go and empty out on the earth the seven bowls of God's wrath and indignation. So the first [angel] went and emptied his bowl on the earth, and foul and painful ulcers (sores) came on the people who were marked with the stamp of the beast and who did homage to his image. Revelation 16:1-2 Amplified Bible The bowl judgments do not begin until the setting up of the abomination that makes desolate (the setting up of the statue in the image of the beast and the implementation of the mark of the beast) which takes place 1,290 days after the rapture (the catching away of the Bride of Christ). And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed, happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous, and to be envied is he who waits expectantly and earnestly [who endures without wavering beyond the period of tribulation] and comes to the 1,335 days! Daniel 12:11-12 Amplified Bible

The Sixth Bowl Judgment			read more >>
The Battle of Armageddon takes place at the pouring out of the sixth bowl judgment; Then the sixth [angel] emptied his bowl on the mighty river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to make ready a road for [the coming of] the kings of the east (from the rising sun). And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, [leaping] from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet. For really they are the spirits of demons that perform signs (wonders, miracles). And they go forth to the rulers and leaders all over the world, to gather them together for war on the great day of God the Almighty. Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied) is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and [have the shame of being] seen exposed! And they gathered them together at the place which in Hebrew is called Armageddon. Revelation 16:12-16 Amplified Bible The Battle of Armageddon takes place in the region of the Mediterranean Sea and the Great River Euphrates, the region where upon the Second Coming of Christ, He cleanses from the war horse and the war chariot. Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is [uncompromisingly] just and having salvation [triumphant and victorious], patient, meek, lowly, and riding on a donkey, upon a colt, the foal of a donkey. And I will cut off and exterminate the war chariot from Ephraim and the [war] horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off; and He shall speak the word and peace shall come to the nations, and His dominion shall be from the [Mediterranean] Sea to [any other] sea, and from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth! Zechariah 9:9-10 Amplified Bible

The Seventh Bowl Judgment			read more >>
At the seventh bowl judgment Christ Returns (Revelation 19:11-21) and the New Jerusalem (the Wife of the Lamb) descends out of heaven and is set in place (Revelation 211-22:6).

The illustrations of the Book of Revelation on this page are used by permission
by Pat Marvenko Smith ©1992