What are we to make of the sequence of chapters in Revelation? How are they organized? There is no reason to insist on a strictly chronological sequence to the unfolding of events predicted in Revelation, though some approaches have a tendency to assume such a sequence. It should be remembered that when John says, “After these things I saw...” (as he frequently does), he is giving us the sequence in which he saw the visions—not necessarily implying anything about the chronological order in which the visions would find fulfillment in events.
A certain amount of parallelism is to be observed in Revelation, regardless of which of the four approaches one takes. That is, some portions double back to cover the same [pound as was covered in previous sections. Scholars do not agree as to how many par-I del sections are present. Some futurists see two parallel sections, seeing chapters 4 through 11 as a complete description of the Tribulation, and chapters 12 through 19 s another description of the same period.
Those who take the spiritual approach have been known to identify as many as seven parallel segments in the book. The first segment (chs. 1—3) is concerned with : seven letters to the seven churches, and has application to the entire church age. I The second segment (chs. 4—7) deals with the same period under the figure of the breaking of seven seals. The third section (chs. 8—11) covers the same period by employing the symbols of seven trumpet judgments. Chapters 12 through 14, chapters 15 and 16, chapters 17 through 19, and chapters 20 through 22 present four additional s of the church age (with the exception of the last, which extends beyond the present age), making seven altogether. Some believe that each segment contains a reference to the Second Coming of Christ (e.g., 1:7; 6:14-17; 11.18; 14:14-20; 16:20-21; 19:11; 20:9).
Daniel, it has been observed, contains parallel sections. This is especially apparent in Daniel’s chapters 2 and 7, both of which cover the reigns of the same four successive kingdoms, symbolically depicting them as four metals and four beasts, respectively.
Many examples point to the likelihood of parallelism in Revelation. For example, three different passages describe a “battle” (16:14; 19:19; 20:8). It is possible that the sane battle is in view in each case. The mention of three and a half years occurs five times, possibly referring in each case to the same period (11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). There is no question that chapter 12 has at least two parallel segments (12:6 and 12:13-17).
The implications of these parallels affect one’s chronological placement, for example, of the “ 1000 years,” or the Millennium. If the events of Revelation 20 must follow the events described in Chapter 19, where many interpreters find the Second Coming of Christ, then the Millennium in chapter 20 must come after the Second Coming of Christ. This is no doubt one of the premillennialist’s significant assumptions. But if the Second Coming is seen in chapter 19, and chapter 20 doubles back to start a new parallel section, then one might see in the binding of Satan (20:1-3) the beginning of the Gospel Age, as does the amillennialist.15
There are additional indicators that the details of Revelation do not necessarily follow one another chronologically. For example, the Beast persecutes the two witnesses (11:7) before he rises to power (13:1) and Babylon is fallen in 14:8, but later not yet Men (17:1-5; 18:21). These data seem to be equally problematic for any interpretation that looks for chronologically sequential fulfillments.
A correlation between the seven trumpet judgments and the seven bowl judgments ; often been observed, suggesting the possibility of parallelism between the sections:
A. The first of each affects the earth (8:7; 16:2).
B. The second of each affects the sea (8:8; 16:3).
C. The third of each affects the rivers (8:10; 16:4).
D. The fourth of each affects heavenly bodies (8:12; 16:8).
E. The fifth of each affects men (9:1; 16:10).
F. The sixth of each affects the Euphrates (9:13; 16:12).
G. The seventh of each is the end (11:15; 16:17).
Notwithstanding these observations, however, it is difficult to sustain the contention I that all seven sections are truly parallel to each other. The seven alleged references to I the Second Coming may not all describe that event (see commentary following). The battles mentioned might not all be the same battle. Likewise, the thunderings, earthquakes, and hail, all being fairly common phenomena, may not all belong to the same time frame. The parallels noted between the trumpets and the bowls may be merely stylistic, since very different events are described in the two passages. Also, since the seven bowl judgments are called “the seven last plagues,” it sounds as if they bear a chronological, not synchronous, relationship to the previously mentioned plagues.
Parallelism in Revelation does not, in itself, undercut any of the major approaches. It does, however, militate against making firm chronological predictions based on a passage’s position in the book.