THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Harmonized with History
PART III: OPENING THE SEALS OF THE FUTURE (4:1 cf. 1:19)
SECTION I: FUTURE EVENTS: (4:1--11:18)
Introductory vision: The Lamb of God only worthy to reveal the future (4:2-5:14)
A. Fall of Pagan Rome
1st Seal 6:1-2 -Triumph and prosperity (96-180 AD)
2nd Seal 6:3-4 -Bloodshed and civil war (180 AD)
3rd Seal 6:5-6 -Scarcity, sorrow and want (211 AD)
4th Seal 6:7-8 -Death from plague, famine and violence (249 AD)
5th Seal 6:9-11 –Persecution of Christians (284 AD)
6th Seal 6:12-17-Fall of pagan domination (307 AD)
Intermediate vision: 7:1-17 Great calm and spread of Christianity after Emperor, Conatantine (322 AD)
7th Seal: 7 angels with 7 trumpets: (8:1-6)
B. Fall of the Western Roman Empire (8:7-12)
1st Trump 8:7 Alaric and the Visgoths sack Rome (395 AD)
2nd Trump 8:8-9 Genseric attacks across the sea (428 AD)
3rd Trump 8:10-11 Attila and Huns cross the Danube (433 AD)
4th Trump 8:12 Odoacer of the Western Goths subjugates Western Rome (476 AD)
C. Fall of the Eastern Roman Empire
5th Trump 9:1-11 Mohammedan conquests of Africa, Spain, Persia (622 AD)
6th Trump 9:12-21 Turks conquer Eastern Rome
Intermediate vision: 10:1-11:13 - Reformation
a. The Little Book: The Bible printed is sweet but brings bitterness . (10:1-11)
b. Measuring the Temple: God's plan for His church is carefully measured. (11:1-2)
c. Two Witnesses: Attempts are made to destroy the Old and New testaments but they triumph. (11:3-13)
7th Trump 11:14-17 (cf 10:7) Christ is victorious.
Dead are raised and all are judged.
SECTION II: DEFEATING ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH (12:1--20:15)
I. DESCRIPTION AND WORK (12:1-13:18)
A. The Dragon
The Devil, working through Pagan Roman seeks to destroy the church and prevent her from exalting Christ. God protects her. The Devil attempts to flood her with the unconverted people and false teachings but she is kept safe. Devil oppresses Christians for 1,260 years. (Chapter 12)
B. The ten-horned Beast given power by the Dragon. (Chapter 13:1-10)
The Holy Roman Empire was a revival of the old Roman Empire. It began to develop about 536 AD. and ended about 1800. It was the last great period of Rome. The seven "heads" probably represent the seven forms of government it went through--(1) Kings, (2) Consuls, (3) Dictators, (4) Decemvirs, (5) Military tribunes, (6) Emperors, (7) Christianized Rome after Constantine.
The "Harlot" (see Rev. 17) that ruled the Empire was the city of Rome that sat on seven hills. The "ten horns" represent the territory of The Holy Roman Empire which covered roughly the territory of the ten European kingdoms—England, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgum, Switzerland, and the Netherlands
C. The two-horned Beast, or "False-prophet" (Chapter 13:11-15)
The Papacy brought the revival of Rome. It also fashioned the Catholic church in the image of Roman government, claimed power over both church and State. All were required to submit to the Latin Pope.
The "Mark of the Beast," was represented by the name of a man (Lateinos) the reputed father of the Latin people. In Greek, the letters (used as numbers) add up to 666. "Right hand" = primary obedience. "Forehead" = submission of the mind.
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