Revelation is Thematic – Not Chronological 

Chapter 9 of Reclaiming the Rapture : Revelation is Thematic – Not Chronological 

Part of the challenge of understanding the day of the Lord and its timing is due to a tendency to interpret the book of Revelation chronologically rather than thematically. Though 

there is some chronology in the book, it is primarily laid out thematically. What that means is that rather than view the seals, trumpets and bowls as chronological events that come one after the other in future time, they represent the order in which the future judgments were communicated to John. John was shown in a series of visions events that “were, are, and will be”. The order they are placed in the book is the order that they were communicated to him and not necessarily the order in which they will actually play out in the world. 

Imagine John being given a tour of a television control room. Before him there are dozens of screens. All the scenes of a particular show are being shot at the same time. For the sake of illustration, let’s imagine that the show has five distinct scenes. Each scene has separate cameras and cameraman to capture it. John merely sees the video feed. Each scene is complex and requires varying camera angles to appreciate the complexity. Some cameras are placed above the set to get a wide angle – top-down approach. Other cameras are zoomed in on the faces of the main characters. Finally, other cameras are constantly panning to give the greater comprehension. 

The book of Revelation is essentially laid out in such a fashion. There are a certain number of events that take place, but with several different camera angles we, the readers, can get several perspectives. 

All the Mountains and Islands Flee Away 

As evidence of these different camera angles, we turn to Revelation 16:20: Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be found. Rev. 16:20 ISV 

Imagine the kind of destruction that planet earth is going to experience when every island and every mountain vanish and disappear! When even just one earthquake happens on one part of the earth, there is incredible damage to buildings and great loss of life. The 9.0 earthquake that happened in the spring of 2011 in Japan caused phenomenal damage (mostly from the tsunami that followed). What will happen when every island and mountain is moved from its place? This is clearly an extinction level event that is coming upon the planet 

– that is to say, it will not be repeated. The mini-apocalypse in Isaiah 24 describes how earth will be completely rocked to such an extent that it will “fall and not rise again.” 

The earth is utterly shattered, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies so heavy upon it, that it falls, never to rise again. Isa. 24:19, 20 ISV 

Given the absolute finality of the parallel language of these two passages we must conclude that they are referring to the same event. The earthquake spoken of in Isaiah is so massive that the earth is down for the count, “never to rise again.” We must conclude that the Isaiah 24 event is the same as the Revelation 16 event where there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Rev. 16:18 Certainly all of the islands and all of the mountains disappearing would qualify for that event. 

However, Revelation 6 also says, every mountain and island was moved from its place. Rev. 6:14 ISV How could it be that every mountain and island can be moved twice? If we think that they can, then we are not truly considering the enormity of such an event. Imagine all of the mountains crumbling around your home! If you live on an island, imagine it falling into the ocean! Once that happens, then it cannot happen again. Therefore we see how Revelation 16:20, which is at the end of the tribulation, is the same event as Revelation 6:14. 

The word “every” in the case of ‘every island and mountain’ precludes the event from happening twice. The fact that it says “every” means that once it happens there will be no repeat. Therefore, Revelation 6:14, Revelation 16:20 and Isaiah 24 are the same event. 

There are, in fact, many passages that speak of the complete and utter shaking of the mountains in a way that will only happen once. 

• For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up– And it shall be brought low– against all the high mountains, and against all the lofty hills; Isa. 2:12-14 ISV 
• He stood up and shook the land; with his stare he startled the nations. The age-old mountains were shattered, and the ancient hilltops bowed down. His ways are eternal. Hab. 3:6 ISV 
• Mountains melt like wax in the Lord’s presence— in the presence of the Lord of all the earth. Psa. 97:5 ISV 
• I looked at the mountains; they were quaking, and all the hills moved back and forth. I looked, and no people were there. All the birds of the sky had gone. Jer. 4:24, 25 ISV 

• Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be found. Rev. 16:20 ISV 

Therefore, Revelation 6:14 is identical to the many descriptions of the ultimate shaking that will take place on planet earth – which will happen in the day that Jesus startles the nations. If we hope to take Revelation 6:14 even remotely literally, as we ought to, then it is impossible that the timing of the passage should be placed anywhere but at the day Jesus comes back – at the very end. 

According to the passage, everyone on earth understands that their end has come. The rich, poor, powerful, and slaves – everyone who is on the earth will recognize it, and they call it the day of the Lord – as revealed by the Lord to John. 

Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. They told the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?” Rev. 6:15-17 ISV 

Keep in mind that in Revelation 16 the same people are marching against Jerusalem ostentatiously, attempting to make war against Jesus (Rev. 16:14). 

For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Rev. 16:14 

They undoubtedly do not understand what they are truly getting into in Revelation 16. However, in Revelation 6, reality quickly becomes apparent – so much so that they go running into the caves, for the rocks to fall on them, and readily admit, “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?” Rev. 6:15-17 ISV 

Are we to believe that the mighty men of the earth are throwing in the towel in Revelation Six and fully admit that the day of Jesus’ wrath has come, but in chapter 16 they think that they can actually defeat him? The simple answer is that the book of Revelation is thematically arranged so that the chronology of events is not in conflict with the order in which these events occur in the book. 

Commentator Thomas Constable has suggested that Revelation 6 is simply hyperbole, in other words, exaggeration. He suggests that the men on the earth supposed the end of the world to have come though it really hadn’t. 

“Evidently the sky will appear to split and roll back in two opposite directions (cf. Isa. 34:4). The universe will seem to be coming apart. Apparently the opening of the sky will give earth- dwellers a glimpse into the throne-room of heaven (v. 16). Probably the earthquake (v. 12) will cause mountains and islands to rise and fall (cf. Nah. 1:6). The reaction of every category of humanity all over the world is amazing. It indicates that people’s perception of God and the Lamb in heaven will be far more terrifying to them than the physical consequences of this judgment.   Literal interpretation does not rule out the use of hyperbole, which appears at this point. If all the mountains moved out of their places, there would be no places for people to seek to hide. This “great day of their wrath” is the Tribulation, Daniel’s seventieth week (cf. Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:2; Matt. 24:21). These people will not turn to God in repentance but from Him in terror (cf. Isa. 2:19, 21; Hos. 10:8; Luke 23:30). By the end of the sixth seal judgment, they will know that what they are experiencing is the outpouring of His wrath. This is the first part of the judgment phase of the day of the Lord (cf. Joel 2:11, 30-31; Isa. 2:10-11, 19-21; 13:8-13; 26:17-19; 34:4, 8; 66:7-9; Jer. 30:6-8; 

Ezek. 32:7-8; Hos. 10:8; Mic. 4:9-10; Matt. 24:8; 1 Thess. 5:3).”³⁸ 

(emphasis mine) 

Though Thomas Constable is an excellent commentator, his predisposition to interpreting the book of Revelation chronologically rather than thematically has not allowed him to see the parallels as we have studied. To suggest that hyperbole is being used is complete speculation. John faithfully recorded what the men in the Tribulation will say and do. If they say that it is the day of the Lord, who are we to disagree? If the sky has rolled up, who are we to suggest that it just appears so? If all of the mountains and islands move out of their place, who are we to say it only seems so? 

Zephaniah One and Two underscore the conclusion that Revelation 6:14-17, the day of the Lord, is the Second Advent itself; when there will be a great sacrifice of kings and mighty men, when the nations have gathered together and the whole land shall be devoured by fire very suddenly. 

It will come about during the Lord’s sacrifice that I’ll punish the officials, the royal descendants, and all who wear foreign clothing. The great Day of the Lord approaches— How it comes, hurrying faster and faster! The sound of the Day of the Lord there includes the bitter cry of the mighty soldier. That day will be filled with wrath, a day of trouble and tribulation; a day of desolation and devastation, a day of doom and gloom, a day of clouds and shadows…. a day of trumpet and battle cry against fortified cites and watch towers. And I’ll bring so much distress to people that they will walk around like the blind. Because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood will be poured out like dust and their intestines will spill out like manure. Neither their silver nor their gold will deliver them in the Day of the Lord’s wrath; but the entire land will be consumed by the fire of his jealousy, for he will bring the inhabitants of the land to a sudden end. Gather together! Yes, indeed, gather together, you shameless nation! Before the decree is carried out, before the day flies away like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord visits you, before the Day of the Lord’s wrath surprises you seek the Lord, all you humble people of the land, who do what he commands. Seek righteousness! Seek humility! Maybe you will be protected in the Day of the Lord’s anger. Zeph. 1:8, 14-18, 2:1-3 ISV 

Angels are Stars 

Further demonstration of the book of Revelation being thematically arranged is found in the events of Satan being cast out of heaven in Revelation 12. The dragon taking stars with its tail is the same as the dragon and his angels being cast to the earth. 

• A huge red dragon… its tail swept away one-third of the stars 

in the sky and knocked them down to the earth. Rev.12: 3, ISV 

• The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels. Rev.12: 7-9 ISV 

There is no question that there are many symbols in the book of Revelation. However, once we have the key to unlock them, the interpretation follows incredibly literally. The term “stars” is actually a fairly common reference to angels in Scripture. Though we don’t know exactly why they are referred to as such, we could speculate it is because they are literally shinning, as when the angels shone down on the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. Nevertheless, the internal of use of stars in the book of Revelation firmly establishes that “stars” is a reference to angels. 

The secret meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lamp stands is this: the seven stars are the messengers [angeloi ἄγγελοι] of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches. Rev.1:20 ISV 

That meaning is further underscored in the book of Job where the sons of God (benei ha’elohim) are also called stars. While the morning stars sang together and all the divine beings shouted joyfully? Job 38:7 ISV 

With the secret meaning revealed to us, we can properly understand the rest of the references to stars as actually being angels in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 9:1 we read of a star that had fallen to earth from the sky. Rev.9:1 ISV 

This star cannot simply be a meteorite or asteroid that has fallen to the earth because in the second part of the verse we read that the star was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. Rev.9:1 ISV 

Unless an asteroid can be given a key, then it must be a reference to an angel. Just a few verses earlier we hear of a great star burning like a torch that falls upon the earth. The star even has a name – Wormwood. 

A huge star blazing like a torch fell from heaven. It fell on one- third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood… Rev.8:10, 11 ISV 

The star in question, or Wormwood by name, is the same star that “had fallen” in Revelation 9:1 which was given the key to the Abyss. We notice that it was a great star and not just a common star – in Revelation 12 the dragon threw his stars to the earth and in verse nine it is the dragon, Satan, and his angels. Essentially, we have two different camera angles recorded for us. In Chapter 12 the camera angle is from above watching as Satan and his angels fall to the earth. We could almost imagine Michael or one of the angels getting out his camera to film the event. In Chapter Eight the camera angle is on the planet surface with the inhabitants of the earth watching as Satan falls to the earth. To them he looks like a huge star blazing like a torch fell from heaven. Rev.8:10 ISV They are the same event but from different vantage points. 

The casting out of Satan’s angels (stars) in Chapter 12 is referenced in Chapter Six and also in Isaiah 34: 

• The stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree drops its fruit when it is shaken by a strong wind. Rev.6:13 ISV 
• And all the host of heaven [זְב א ה ש מ רִ ם [shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. Isa. 34:4

The stars falling to the ground like figs in Revelation are referred to as the host of heaven falling down in Isaiah. We see that many other places in Scripture the term tzevah hashamaim is talking about the armies of heaven. The following scene from First Kings demonstrates the literal meaning this term: 

…I saw the Lord, sitting on his throne, and the entire Heavenly 

Army [ְבז א_¨ שה רמ,   ִם ] was standing around him on his right hand and on 

his left hand. “The Lord asked, ‘Who will tempt King Ahab of Israel to attack Ramoth-gilead, so that he will die there?’ 

And one was saying one thing and one was saying another. But then a spirit approached, stood in front of the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “And the Lord asked him, ‘How?’ “‘I will go,’ he announced, ‘and I will be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all of his prophets!’ So the Lord said, ‘You’re just the one to deceive him. You will be successful. Go and do it.’” 1 Kings 22:19-22 ISV 

Though the phrase “host of heaven / heavenly army” does not always refer to the angelic army, there are many examples that demonstrate that the phrase is commonly referring to angels. In Jeremiah 19 the hosts of heaven are equated with “gods”. 

…because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned 

incense unto all the host of heaven [ְבז א_¨ שה רמ,   ִם ], and have poured out 

drink offerings unto other gods. Jer. 19:13 KJV 

Those “gods,” “host of heaven” or “fallen angels” are also referred to as the armies of exalted ones in the heavens in Isaiah 24 which happens at “that time” – a reference to the day of the Lord. 

And it will come about at that time, the Lord will punish the armies tzevah [מ רִ ם [of the exalted ones in the heavens [זְב א ה ש ,[and the rulers of the earth on earth. Isa. 24:21 ISV
Paul writing to the Ephesians makes reference to the reality of the cosmic powers (κοσμοκράτορας cosmokratoras). Those cosmic powers, which are all around us, are part of the spiritual forces which
are in the heavenly realm, which is a reference to angels and not to balls of gas in outer space.
For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. Eph. 6:12 ISV
Now we are prepared to understand what Jesus meant when He said that the powers of heaven will be shaken loose. Matt. 24:29 ISV

He was not referring to the sun, moon, and stars going away. Rather He was referring to the end of the kingdom of Satan.

There are other examples which point to fact that the book of Revelation is arranged thematically rather than chronologically. In Revelation 16 we read that God remembered Babylon and judged her. It seems so brief, and would be almost understated if chapters 17 and 18 did not give fuller details. 

“And” versus “Then” in Revelation 

We first need to discover that the word “then” which begins the verse in the New King James Version³⁹, New English Translation⁴⁰, and many other translations, is not actually in the underlying Greek text. The New English Translation Bible notes that “Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.” Though the difference is subtle, it does make a difference in how we read the book of Revelation. John is seeing a lot of visions that he connects, not necessarily in a sequence (with the word “then”), but rather with the word “and”. The difference is that he is simply telling us the things he saw. He is not suggesting anything about the order in which the events will necessarily occur. 

The word “then” implies that first comes A, then comes B, and then comes C, etc. Whereas, “and” simply suggests he saw A and B and C, and the order in which they would come to pass is not stated. The Greek word καί means “and, even, also” – which carry the same meaning. There is, therefore, no justification for translating the word “kai” in Revelation, where it begins a sentence, with the word “then” rather than “and.” 

The Greek word is kai [Καὶ] which simply means “and.” Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, defines the word as “and, also, even, indeed, but”⁴¹. According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon of Classical Greek, it is defined as kai as “καί,” Conjunction, copulative, joining words and sentences, ‘and, also’ Adv., ‘even, also, just’”⁴² (emphasis mine). The word is almost always translated as “and” in the many other passages where it appears. 

• And [Καὶ] he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. Luke 1:16 
• And [Καὶ] Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and [καὶ] my wife is well advanced in years.” Luke 1:18 
• And [Καὶ] the Word became flesh and [καὶ] dwelt among us, and [καὶ] we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and [καὶ] truth. John 1:14 

• And [Καὶ] He found in the temple those who sold oxen and [καὶ] sheep and [καὶ] doves, and [καὶ] the money changers doing business. John 2:14 

The Greek word kai “and” is used all together 5,222 times in the New Testament with the majority occurring in Luke (850 times, 16%), followed by Matthew (720 times 14%), and the book of John coming in fifth place (545 times 10%). 

There is another word for “then.” If John had wanted to indicate “then” he could have used the word tote [Τότε] “Then; at that time,” which is used 155 times in the Greek New Testament. It is the simplest way to indicate the transition from one event to another. Out of those 155 times, 89 times the word appears in the book of Matthew, which is 57% of all the New Testament uses. 

• Then [Τότε] Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. Matt. 2:7 
• But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then [τότε] he allowed Him. Matt. 3:15 
• And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then [καὶ τότε] they will fast. Matt. 9:15 

The abundance of “then” in Matthew is fairly significant. According to the Fragments of Papias, “Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could.”⁴³ 

In Hebrew, the use of the word “and” (Hebrew “ve” written the letter vav/waw) is very common; therefore, so is the word “and.” The question, then is, why didn’t the translators render καί as “and” if that is the translation?