Revelation's Main Storyline

Structure of Revelation according to 1:19

the things which you have seen (the vision of Christ in Rev. 1), and
the things which are (the status of the seven churches in Rev. 2-3), and
the things which will take place after these things (everything from Rev. 4:1b - Rev. 22).

There will be THREE END-TIME EVENTS, each followed by a period of time as depicted in the picture of the three columns on the right.

Rapture of the Church (followed by a 7-year Tribulation)
Revelation of Christ at His second coming (followed by His Millennium reign on earth)
Retribution of the Callus at the Great White Throne judgment (followed by Eternity future in the new heaven and new earth)

(1) The Rapture of the Church begins the 7-year Tribulation that shall come upon the world. The Tribulation consists of three sets of seven judgments each, symbolized by
(a) the opening of seven seals,
(b) the sounding of seven trumpets, and
(c) the pouring of seven bowls.

The three sets are sequential in that the seals are followed by the trumpets and then the bowls in increasing severity. The judgments are tiered in that the seventh seal is the seven trumpets while the seventh trumpet is the seven bowls.

(2) The Revelation of Christ takes place with His second coming in Rev. 19:11-16. Christ will then establish His 1000-year reign on earth (Rev. 20:1-6) also known as the Millennium. Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit (aka the Abyss) during this period.

When the 1000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison … upon which he will attempt another rebellion against Christ.

After the final defeat of Satan, (3) the Retribution of the Callous begins where the unbelieving dead are judged in the Great White Throne (GWT) judgment. God will then destroy the present heaven and earth and replace them with a new heaven and new earth. And eternity future begins.

Chapters Overview

The narrative in Rev. 4-22 is not a single, linear storyline; it includes several interludes portraying different characters and strange creatures. These pauses (see chart below) make up a secondary plot line and help fill in the details of the main story.