The exact order of events in Revelation has been a much debated topic in Bible prophecy. Some believe Revelation is sequential, others believe it contains several visions that repeat and recap. This question is critical to our overall eschatology.

Those who promote the sequential theory believe this is the most natural way to understand Revelation. But, though they claim to interpret sequentially, they rarely do. While they place the seals, trumpets, and vials, in sequence, they usually recognize some recapitulation. This is especially apparent in chapters 12 through 14. In practice, a purely sequential understanding will not fit with any of the rapture views. This is demonstrated by adding up all the time periods given in the book.

1. Jerusalem will be trodden under foot for 42 months. [Rev. 11:2]
2. The two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days. [Rev. 11:3]
3. Israel will be protected in the wilderness for 3.5 years. [Rev. 12:14]
4. Antichrist will continue 42 months. [Rev. 13:5]

This gives us a total of fourteen years. And, it does not take into account the time necessary for the seven seals, the first six trumpets, and all seven vials. Obviously, there is some recapitulation in Revelation. The two descriptions of the battle of Armageddon, [chapters 14 and 19], the twice mentioned destruction of Babylon, [14:8 and chapters 17&18], and the establishing of Christ's Kingdom twice, [11:15-18 & 20:1-4], give substantial evidence that Revelation is not entirely sequential. This should come as no surprise to us, however, since Revelation's sister book, Daniel, is not sequential either.

Since Revelation was patterned after Daniel, a look at Daniel's format gives us clues to the format of Revelation. In Daniel, the major outline of prophetic events is given first in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great image. Then it elaborates on portions of it with more detailed accounts throughout the rest of the book. Recapitulation seems to be the pattern in other prophetic books as well. Isaiah follows a similar format, as does Ezekiel and Zechariah.

The real debate in Revelation, however, concerns the numbered groups of seven. There are seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials. Certainly, the numbered groups are sequential within each group. That is why they are numbered one through seven. But this does not necessarily mean that one group follows another in succession. If this was the case, one would expect to find a single group of twenty-one judgments. Pre-tribulationists, with some exceptions, generally believe each of these groups follow the previous group. This author is convinced that Revelation follows a similar format as Daniel, with each series of seven being a recapping and magnification of a portion of the tribulation covered in the previous sequence. The view presented here is illustrated by the diagram below, where the prophetic portion of Revelation is divided into four sections, each climaxing with the second coming of Christ.

1. 4:1 - 8:1 The seven seals give an overview of the entire tribulation, with Jesus' coming at the 6th seal, along with a glimpse at the beginning of the Millennium in chapter 7.
2. 8:2 - 11:19 The seven trumpets recap the latter half of the tribulation.
3. 12:1 - 14:20 This view gives an explanation of the activities of the Antichrist, along with the rapture and Armageddon. 4. 15:1 - 22:22 The seven vials (bowls) give a recapping of the last days of the tribulation, the second coming, the Millennium, and the eternal state.

The seven seals give the big picture of the entire tribulation period, and establishment of Christ's Kingdom. The trumpets then go back and focus on the last half of the tribulation, with the seventh trumpet bringing the second coming and establishment of Christ's Kingdom. Chapters 12-14 give more recapping and explanitory material. The vials again recap the final days of the tribulation, and again describe the second coming of Christ, and the battle of Armageddon. At the 7th vial, Babylon is destroyed. Yet, chapters 17 & 18 then recap and give a detailed view of her destruction, followed by the second coming in chapter 19. Unlike the previous views which stop at the beginning of the Millennium, the last one continues through the Millennium, and all the way to the eternal state (ch. 20-22).

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