Subtitle: There and Back Again, a historicist’s journey
The following is a rough overview of Revelation from a basic historicist framework (i.e. an interpretation of Revelation that sees it foretelling various historical events throughout the church age).
| Chapter | Event | Date (AD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Jesus revealed to 7 Asian churches | 96 |
| 4-6 | 6 Seals: Rome’s rise, decline, and Christian tolerance | 100-400 |
| 7 | Interlude: Remnant numbered | 400 |
| 8 | 4 trumpets: Rome falls; Roman church will arise | 400-500 |
| 9 | 5th, 6th trumpets = Islam rises in Rome | 500-1500 |
| 10 | Interlude: God’s word spreads = Reformation | 1500-1600 |
| 11-12 | Interludes: Decline of Christian witness | 500-1800 |
| 13 | Interlude: 2 beasts = mixing of false church with world | 500-1800 |
| 14 | Interlude: God’s remnant will ultimately triumph | 500-1800, End |
| 15-16a | 4 bowls: French Revolution, Roman Church loses power | 1800 |
| 16b | 5th, 6th bowls: Rome Church, Ottoman Empire power stripped | 1800-1900, End |
| 17 | Interlude: false church & world stripped of power | 1900-End |
| 18 | Interlude: true Church separates from false | 1900-End |
| 19 | Christ returns | End |
| 20 | Interlude: Millennium (1,000 years) = church age panorama | 30-End |
| 21-22 | God restored with his people; exceeds Eden | End / New Beg. |
Important Info
- Seals, trumpets, bowls speak especially to secular powers (think of it as a continuation of Daniel’s Babylon / Medo-Persia / Greece / Rome-yet-to-come prophecies)
- 7th seal opens 7 trumpets; 7th trumpet opens 7 bowls. Thus, all of the prophecy is finished at 7-7-7.
- 7 = God’s number; 6 = man’s number
- Interludes (e.g. ch. 7: 144,000 numbered, ch. 11: 2 prophets witnessing, etc.) speak especially to religious/spiritual powers
