The previous Topics dealing with "Modern-Day Israel" and Daniel's "70-Week Timeline" show that,

1. The "Great Tribulation" and the "Abomination of Desolation" occurred during World War II.

2. Daniel's 70th Week for "Daniel's people" occurred during 1988-1995.

3. We are presently living in the period following the final year of Daniel's 70-Week Timeline for the "Sons of Daniel's people".

All of these Topics indicate that we are presently living in the final stages of the End Times, at the very advent of the Lord's Kingdom.

Consequently, The Revelation must contain information directly relevant to these results, since it claims to cover the End Times leading up to and including the Lord's Apocalypse. For this reason, previous theories that placed those chapters after the Seven Churches entirely in history, or omitted Israel's role in the End Times, or organized the book in a way that disallowed any correlation with major 20th century prophetic events that have already occurred, must now be discarded. Instead, we need to organize The Revelation in a way that brings it into harmony with the results already obtained, so that it can add to our understanding of the End Times right up to the present time. 

Since the first three chapters deal with the Church during the Times of the Gentiles, this present Topic will focus only on those chapters following the Seven Churches. That focus will identify the following "four keys" to enable an organization for The Revelation, which supplements the results already obtained from the previous Topics.

We will recall in our study of "Modern-Day Israel", that the Times of the Gentiles must continue right up to the occurrence of that apocalyptic upheaval identified at the time of the Olivet Discourse in (Matthew 24.29; Mark 13.24; and Luke 21.25). Consequently, if that same apocalyptic upheaval could also be identified in the Revelation, we would have found a set of concordant texts in both the Olivet Discourse and the Revelation from which we could determine when Apocalyptic Times begin within the Revelation.

Only one apocalyptic event in The Revelation matches the above one found in the Olivet Discourse. It is located in (Revelation 6.12-17) under the title of the "sixth Seal". The obvious parallel between this Revelation text and the Olivet Discourse one just cited, is certified by the following commentator's reference to that specific Revelation text.

The concordance of these particular texts has great potential value for our organization of The Revelation. Since the same Apocalyptic event occurs in all three of the Synoptic Gospel accounts of the Olivet Discourse, and we know from (Luke 21.24) that it occurs immediately after the conclusion of the Times of the Gentiles, we have a way of dividing Apocalyptic Times within the book of Revelation from those events occurring during the Times of the Gentiles. Such a division of Revelation is invaluable, because it enables the Revelation text prior to Seal 6 (Revelation 6.12-17) to be correlated with the historic material developed in previous Topics. 

On this basis alone, we discover that everything in the Revelation prior to Seal 6 should have occurred prior to Apocalyptic Times, whereas only Seals 6-7 should occur during Apocalyptic Times, following the Times of the Gentiles.

The word "elder" (presbuteros 4245) is a word used in a variety of applications. It was used to describe the members of the great council of Israel's Sanhedrin. It may also refer to overseeing bishops, and presbyters who presided over Christian assemblies, or even city managers and administrators of justice, The word as used in the Bible may refer to either Jews or Gentiles, but always conveys the idea of people held in high esteem, or who are of advanced age and lived in former times. For example, (Hebrews 11) describes the faith of certain "elders" who lived in Old Testament times, citing famous Gentiles and Hebrews out of ancient history. This fact prompts an inspection of those "elders" beginning with Adam until the formation of the nation of Israel.

1. This Luke genealogy is constructed in such a way that it directs our attention to all of mankind from Adam to Jesus, showing how that very first prophecy of a coming Savior in (Genesis 3.15), was fulfilled through the virgin Mary, whose genealogy this is.

2. It identifies precisely "24" generations of Biblical "elders" from Adam until the progenitors of national Israel, whose descendants afterward received the Law through Moses (Exodus 1.1-5). 

3. Since the "first key" above indicates that Seals 1-5 should relate to the Times of the Gentiles, and since these "24 Elders" are seen already in the Heavenly realms at the advent of the visions about to be given to John, their presence would be timely for the 24 generations of Old Testament Elders just listed, who lived prior to the arrival of the New Testament. 

Once again, that (Luke 3.23-38) genealogy also prescribes a second set of "24" generations that spanned the total period of Old Testament Israel's time in the promised Land from Boaz to Shealtiel, but who most importantly are also very significant with respect to the Gentiles for the following reasons.

1. Boaz represented the first full generation of Israelites who inherited the Land, thereby initiating the complete fulfillment of the Old Testament Covenant given through Moses.

2. Boaz is also the name to be associated with the introduction of the Gentiles into God's Old Testament Covenant for Israel, as the following commentator discerns.

3. Conversely, Shealtiel is also inexorably bound to Gentile presence in the ancient world, but in another way, for he, along with his generation of Israelites were taken into Babylonian Exile. As such, he represented Israel's final generation who experienced the annulment of God's Covenantal "marriage" with that nation.

Therefore, when the "24" generations of Boaz through Shealtiel are regarded inclusively, they signify not only the introduction of the Gentiles into Old Testament Israel's Covenantal promises, but also define the remaining span of that Covenant until God annulled it. 

Consequently, when these two sets of "24" generations are combined, a portrait of the Gentiles throughout the period of the Old Testament emerges. The first set of "24" generations directs our attention to the Gentiles who lived prior to the formation of Israel and the giving of the Law, whereas the second set of "24" generations to those Gentiles who lived during the period when Israel possessed the Promised Land in fulfillment of that Covenant. Accordingly, those "24 Elders" seen by John when he was first translated into Heaven at the advent of the Times of the Gentiles may be understood to typify two economies of Old Testament redeemed Gentiles covered by God's Redemptive Plan, each earmarked by "24" generations, one "without the Law" and the other "under the Law". 

Four "Living Creatures" are first mentioned in (Revelation 4.6-8), the first being like a lion, the second like a calf, the third with the face of a man, and the fourth like a flying eagle. These faces seen by John have already been associated by many Bible scholars with the four principal tribes of Israel, as they were originally deployed around the wilderness Tabernacle, shortly after the Exodus out of Egypt (Numbers 2). Jewish history holds that these four principal Tribes each carried an ensign or standard depicting the following faces:

1. Judah (Lion)

2. Ephraim (Calf)

3. Reuben (Man)

4. Dan (Eagle). 

These associations provide an important clue to their understanding, because it was discovered in the earlier Topic II on "The Bible's Prophetic Timeline" that the Times of the Gentiles should be related in some way to the Old Testament Tribal period, before the kingdom was set up. Since that was the period of Israel's history when the tribes operated independently, it is possible to develop a portrait of the character of each one.

The similarities between these Living Creatures and the "Seraphim" described by the prophet Isaiah in (Isaiah 6) add to our understanding of the Living Creatures, for they are identical in all respects to the Seraphim except for one. The Old Testament Seraphim had their faces covered, but the New Testament Living Creatures had faces that could be seen by the prophet John. 

Why was John, but not Isaiah, permitted to see their faces? --- or --- What was unveiled in the New Testament but never revealed in the Old Testament to Isaiah, or any other prophet?

A student of the Bible will answer quickly --- It was the Times of the Gentiles. No matter how carefully one reads the Old Testament, the existence of a long interval of time between Messiah's first and second coming cannot be distinguished. Although the Times of the Gentiles were always a part of God's Redemptive Plan, they were never clearly revealed until after Messiah's first coming. When Isaiah was caught up into Heaven in (Isaiah 6),

• The Seraphim first had to administer Isaiah's cleansing before he could receive the prophecy.

• The prophecy concerned a future time when Israel would become blinded to the truth so that they would refuse to turn to the Lord.

• When Isaiah inquired "Lord, how long?", he was told that this blinding would last until the Land had become utterly desolate and its inhabitants had been removed far away.

But that was precisely the situation that prevailed for almost 1900 years following Israel's rejection of their Messiah, until their renewed opportunity for a Kingdom in the 20th century, following World War II . Hence, the Seraphim are seen in conjunction with a prophecy pertinent to Israel's Covenant-to-Kingdom period, and are the very ones who were given authority to administer Isaiah's cleansing before certain aspects of that period could be revealed to him. This link between Isaiah and the Times of the Gentiles is finally confirmed by recalling from the Topic on "The Bible's Prophetic Organization" that the organization shows that Isaiah's prophecies were the ones fulfilled during the New Testament Times of the Gentiles.

Since Seals 1-4 of (Revelation 6.1-7) were administered by the four Living Creatures, in the order shown above, we can compare the history of Christendom during the Times of the Gentiles, not only with the four Seals, but also with the "portraits" of those four principal tribes in the order given. 

Based on the above correlations we have positive confirmation that Seals 1-4, which are administered by the Living Creatures, must relate to the New Testament "Covenant-to-Kingdom" period.

You may refer to additional detail on this subject at "The Covenant to Kingdom Period".

After John was caught up into Heavenly places where he witnessed incredible things, the subject turned to a Scroll in the right hand of the One on the throne. John wept because none of the principalities around the throne were found worthy to open the Scroll and view its contents. Then the 24 Elders comforted John, assuring him that Messiah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, was worthy to open its seven seals. Amid the praise of the Heavenly host, Messiah (the Lamb of God), took and prepared to open it.

One Bible commentary explains the purpose of the Scroll in the following way.

Notice that the Scroll is constructed in such a way that the Seals must be opened in order, one after the other. This being the case, it is logical to assume that the prophetic information provided in the Seals must likewise describe events that are sequential in time, thereby giving us a way to study these prophetic events through history as they actually occur in time.

  Illustration: The Seven Sealed Scroll

You will find additional detail on the subject of the "four keys" at "Four Keys To Unlock The Revelation".

These "four keys" now allow us to continue our review of The Revelation, showing how it can supplement the results already obtained from the previous Topics.

Those concordant texts in the Olivet Discourse with the sixth Seal of The Revelation continue to require that Seal 5 must also occur during the Times of the Gentiles. However, there are three very significant differences between Seal 5 and those previous Seals 1-4.

1. The Living Creatures have suddenly been retired from their duties of administrative oversight, indicating that the New Testament Covenant-to-Kingdom period ended with World War II. 

2. The souls of people, not horses, are suddenly in view, and the scene makes it clear that Israel is once again front and center. 
   

Indeed, this transition is in keeping with the fact that the State of Israel was reborn in 1948, just three years after the completion of World War II. 

The next epoch in God's Redemptive Plan following the State of Israel's rebirth was the arrival of Daniel's 70th Week in 1988. This ended the focus on the Gentiles, and began a new economy focused on Israel. Of course, the arrival of that new Kingdom economy had to be accompanied by apocalyptic effects, indicated by Seal 6. It is depicted by "mighty earthquakes", "stars falling", "sun and moon turning dark", and "sky being rolled up". Since physical effects such as those described did not occur following the arrival of Daniel's 70th Week, how are we to interpret such language?

A review of the language used by the Old Testament prophets to describe events that occurred during those times reveals the proper interpretation of apocalyptic language. 

• (Isaiah 13.10) describes the punishment to befall Babylon in terms of the "stars, sun, and moon being darkened".

• (Isaiah 34.4-5) describes the Lord's anger against Edom as the "host of heaven being dissolved, and the heavens being rolled up like a scroll".

• (Jeremiah 4.23-24) describes God's Judgement against the southern kingdom of Judah by Babylon, in terms of the "heavens failing to give light, and the mountains trembling".

• (Ezekiel 32.7-8) describes the sorrows to befall Egypt as the "darkening of the stars, sun, and moon".

• (Joel 2.10) describes an invasion of Judah as a time when the "earth will quake, the heavens tremble, and the sun, moon, and stars diminish their brightness". 

• (Joel 2.30-32) and its concordant text in (Acts 2.19-21) use identical word pictures of "celestial effects in the heavens" to describe the occasion of Israel's opportunity for redemption in the time frame of Pentecost.

So if we simply allow the Bible itself to interpret such apocalyptic language in prophetic terms, we will conclude that it depicts acts of God carried out through commotions among the nations, political upheavals, wars, or other interventions into the affairs of men. The apocalyptic nature of each of the 20th century events cited in Topic III on "Modern-Day Israel" was detected by the fact that they were all keyed to prophetic Levitical and 360-day Calendars, making them events that were specifically directed by God.

More detail on Seal 6 is available at "Apocalyptic Times".

TRUMPETS 1-5

With the previous understanding of apocalyptic language, it is possible to relate each of those historic events during the 70th Week for Daniel's people with the Trumpet within Seal 7 to which it fulfilled (The links provide details of each event within the perspective of The Revelation).

• Trumpet 1 was fulfilled by the 1989 "Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe".

• Trumpet 2 was fulfilled by the 1990-1991 "Persian Gulf Conflict".

• Trumpet 3 was fulfilled by the 1991-1992 "Collapse of the Soviet Empire".

• Trumpet 4 was fulfilled by the 1992 "Willingness by Israel to partition the Land".

• Trumpet 5 (Woe 1) was fulfilled by the 1993-2000 "Oslo Peace Accord".