CHAPTER
SEVEN

The ABCs

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Finding the Hook

    Applying the principle of Deduction to the Book of Revelation, there must be logical events which stand out and, when correlated, comprise a cohesive framework for interpretation, i.e. we should find the same thing being said in different passages which serves as a common point to hang our hats on, an interpretational hook. Indeed, one of the most obvious occurrences in the entire vision is the consistent mention of a great earthquake. The events which accompany the great earthquake in each of the various judgments: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls (KJV has vials); indicate the occurrence of a great battle between forces from the East and the rest of the world in the valley of Har Meggido, rendered Armageddon.

    Immediately following the great earthquake and surrounding events all three "seven" judgments end with the ultimate divine punctuation; silence in heaven (immediately preceding His return), His coming, and a resounding "It is done" (at the cross Jesus yelled "it is finished" but at the end, all heaven declares the finale). All of these events comprise what is theologically known as the "Parousia", a Greek term which simply means His appearing again (see Mat. 24:27 "the coming"). The Parousia is co-temporary with the Battle of Armageddon and is the Point C of the prophetic ABCs. Point C occurs as the ending point of the seven year Tribulation period, commonly called "post-trib".

    To put this into place, the beginning of the seven year Tribulation would be Point A (Point A is actually a rapidly moving series of events), the middle of the Tribulation can be called Point B, and the grand finale Point C. After these ABCs, the prophetic Word discusses the one thousand year millennial reign of Christ beginning Point D. The E Point begins with the Final Battle and Great White Throne Judgment which launches us into an Eternity with a New Earth and New Heavens.

Linear Time Line Diagram of Future Prophetic Fulfillment:
 

A.	B.	C.	D.	E.	Eternal State
3.5 years	3.5 years	75 days?	1000 Year Reign	The End	The Beginning....
Pre-Trib Rapture	Mid-Tribulation	Post-T 2nd Coming	Millennium begins	Fianl Judgement	New Jerusalem
WWIII	Abomination	Armageddon	Kingdom of Peace	Final Battle	New Earth
Antichrist revealed	Antichrist manifested	Antichrist defeated	Satan bound	Lake of Fire	New Heavens

A. Beginning of 7 years (RAPTURE-WWIII)
    Key Concepts:
        1. Christians Raptured (see Ezek 39:6,9-15) Church not mentioned from Rev. 6-18
        2. Russia and 5 allies (not all nations) attack Israel
        3. Antichrist will be revealed to restore the world to order (New World Order, Novus Ordo Seclorum)
                - conquering with a bow but no arrows on a white horse (Rev. 6)
                - horses: white (Antichrist), red(war), black(economic collapse), pale(death)

B. Middle of 7 years (Abomination of Desolation)
    1. Abomination of Desolation (Mat 24:15, Dan 9:27)
    2. Antichrist suffers mortal wound (fake resurrection)
    3. Saints persecuted and martryed
    4. Righteous Jews flee to Petra
    5. Plagues occur within the next 3.5 years

C. End of 7 years (Battle of Armageddon - 2nd Coming - Beginning of Kingdom)
    1. All nations of the world involved in the Battle of Armageddon
    2. Christ's visible return (Zech 12-14) to the Mount of Olives (cf. Acts 1:11-12)
    3. Antichrist cast into lake of fire
    4. Transitionary Period of 75 days? (1135 - 1260 days, exact timing extrapolation)
 
 

D. Millennial Reign of Christ's Earthly Kingdom - 1,000 Years of Rest
 
 

E. Final Battle - Great White Throne Judgment - Eternity
    1. Satan's final rebellious battle
    2. Great White Throne Judgment
    3. Unbelievers cast into Lake of Fire with Satan
    4. New Heavens and New Earth and New Jerusalem

    If this scheme was used to discuss the life of Moses, we might use his exile to Median as our Point A, the burning bush and his return to Egypt as Point B, and the Exodus from Egypt as the C point. Of course immediately preceding the C point, we have the 10 plagues which occurred within one year of the departure. Obviously there were many sub-events recorded in Exodus which comprised the main points of our framework; but it is helpful to put things in order, to hang some hooks for ourexegetical hats^a.

    Prophecy is like a puzzle where you start with a known piece, the hook, and carefully align the unknown pieces to match its contours. Then you gain a clearer and clearer picture of the whole mystery of interpretation. After a few more pieces are added, it becomes easier and easier to put the remaining pieces into the framework. So it is with prophetic interpretation, as long as the hook is sound according to the proper principles of interpretation. The other passages "line upon line and precept upon precept"(Isa. 28:10) fall into place.
 
 

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^a Definition: Exegesis = critical interpretation of a passage of the Bible;
       Exegetical = pertaining to exegesis. [Return]