One method of organization that I use for the Book of Revelation is naming the chapters. It helps me remember the major ideas of the chapters. And some of the chapters do not have names. But here is a quick list of the names that I use. And you may choose different names. Whatever is beneficial to helping the individual remember what is going on in the chapters. Such that your maneuvering between the chapters is fast. Or at least faster than it was.
Chapter One is the vision of the Savior. But other than that, I have no name in particular for Chapter One. Chapters two and three are the gifts of the marriage. Chapter four is the hereafter chapter and the subject of this blog.
Chapter six is the seals chapter. Chapter Seven is where the 144,000 are seated, Chapter Eight has the midpoint and the four trumpets. Chapter Nine has the two woes, and perhaps better known as the armies of the beast. But other than that, I do not have a good name for Chapter Nine. I really do not hang out there very much. Chapter Ten is where John eats the little book. Chapter Eleven is the two witnesses and the end of the trumpets storyline.
Chapter Twelve is the midpoint of the Book of Revelation. And it is here that the war in heaven is a type. Chapter thirteen is the mark of the beast chapter. Fourteen is the harvest chapter and the most important chapter of the book. It seems that I always end up at Fourteen. Chapter Fifteen is the midpoint between the 3.5-year tribulation and the 3.5-year judgment. This chapter is technically in the judgment era.
Chapter sixteen is the judgment chapter. Chapter Seventeen is the fall of Babylon Chapter and Chapter eighteen is the burning of Babylon. This chapter is always at the back of the pack. Or at least it used to be. I suppose because I did not like seeing Babylon burn.
Chapter Nineteen is a major, major player; the marriage chapter. Chapter Twenty is the odd man out. Although I do not call it that. It is simply the resurrection chapter where the saints are given eternal life, and those who do not have salvation are condemned to hell forever. Chapter Twenty-One is the New Jerusalem Chapter, and Chapter Twenty-Two is the testimony of Jesus Christ.
So that is a rundown of naming the chapters, which helps me maneuver in the revelation.
On to the Hereafter Chapter.
John placed the goal of the prophecy at the beginning of the book (Ch. 4), after the vision of the Savior in Chapter One, and the gifts of the marriage in Chapters Two and Three.
In Chapter Four, John is called up in vision (Rev. 4:1) to see the Savior on the throne (Rev. 4:2) in the hereafter. This hereafter is after the events of the tribulation and judgment, as outlined in the Book of Revelation proper.
That is, Chapter four is the bedrock of the prophecy. The absolute goal of the book. Thus, Jesus is on the throne with the saints on the earth (Rev. 4:4-6). I realize that reading these verses is difficult. However, the main clue is the “sea of glass” linking to Rev. 15:2. In that verse, the saints are gathered on the earth called the sea of glass after the beast was defeated. And likewise, in the hereafter (Ch. 4), the throne of God is on the sea of glass, which is the earth. Thus, Chapter Four describes New Jerusalem from Chapter Twenty-One.
Gota loves those metaphors. Just embrace them and enjoy the ride.
The bottom line is that the 144,000 servants have done their job, as is noted by the twenty-four elders casting their crowns before the throne (Rev. 4:10). Also, the resurrection is underway for the saints of the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4). However, we must first go through the seven years of tribulation and judgment to get to the hereafter as shown in Chapter Four.
