Chapter 4 - Let's Divide Again (rightly)
Beginning at Revelation chapter 4 and going through part of Revelation 20, we have a continuous series of events. It is a gigantic pageant with an audience of millions in Heaven. It is the story of the rise and fall of the world ruler with a world-wide kingdom. The world ruler makes his appearance in Revelation Chapter 6, and his story continues to Revelation Chapter 20. However, there are some explanatory interruptions.
Starting in an obscure country, he will progress by stages until he will have the most magnificent, far reaching kingdom possible, finally emerging as ruler of the entire globe.
Eclipsing Alexander the Great’s accomplishments he will outdo what others have tried, but with tragic consequences of almost unbelievable proportions, even destroying ¼ of the people of the world in his victory campaign. Napoleon had a dream of world conquest. The Kaiser tried later and Adolph Hitler thought he had dominion almost in his grasp. Others have plotted to take over the world but none succeeded because it was not God’s time for the fulfillment of prophecy in Revelation 17:10.
This is the story of the ascension of the world-wide ruler for whom so many sincere people have yearned. Many too have labored for his appearance. Now the signs seem to be right. Daniel 8:23 says this 7th kingdom shall commence "When the transgressors are come to the full", that is when sin has gone as far as it can go. (for explanation of the Seven kingdoms refer back to the other paper).. The sins of Sodom are with us, multitudes are dabbling in the occult. The world is getting ready. Not only is the world getting ready for the rise of the world ruler but, in Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 we find Heaven itself will prepare for his rise by assembling the translated saints and the angels in formal arrangement.
The angel who is showing John these dramatic panoramic scenes pauses at times to offer a clearer explanation of some particular point, thereby momentarily breaking the thread of the story, which resumes after the interruptions.
The story proceeds chronologically. There is no jumping from century to century. The action is swift and covers probably less than 12 years. (Rev. Chapter 4 to Chapter 20) There is no jumping back and forth from Chapter to Chapter.
If we divide off the explanatory or parenthetical passages in the Book of Revelation we will be able to grasp the story of the world ruler better. Let's divide it in this manner: Get a black pencil and mark a line along the margin of your Bible where the story is in progress. When an explanation interrupts the story put a line on the margin with a red pencil. When the story continues use the black pencil. In this way confusion can be avoided, and the logical way in which the story unfolds can be seen.
Commence in Revelation Chapter 4. Draw a Black Pencil line down the margin of Revelation Chapter 4, Chapter 5, and Chapter 6. Change to Red Pencil and draw a line down the margin of Chapter '7.
Chapters 8 and 9 --------------------------------------Black Pencil
Chapter 10 ----------------------------------------------Red Pencil
Chapter 11 ----------------------------------------------Red Pencil to verse 14
Chapter 11 ----------------------------------------------v. 14 through 19 Black Pencil
Chapter 12 ----------------------------------------------Black Pencil
Chapter 13 ----------------------------------------------Black Pencil
Chapter 14 ----------------------------------------------To verse 14 Black Pencil
Chapter 14 ----------------------------------------------v. 14 through 20 Red Pencil
Chapter 15 ----------------------------------------------Black Pencil
Chapter 16 ----------------------------------------------Black Pencil
Chapter 17 ----------------------------------------------Red Pencil
Chapter 18 ----------------------------------------------Red Pencil
Chapter 19 ----------------------------------------------Black Pencil
Chapter 20 to verse 7. -------------------------------Black Pencil.
This marks the extent of the story of the world ruler and how he and his source of power, Satan, will be ousted by the real owner of the earth, Jesus. The Book of Revelation Chapter 20 verse 7 to the end of the Chapter, also Chapter 21 and Chapter 22 describes events to take place after the millennium.
The End
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