The preceding lessons have demonstrated many of the structures and patterns and clues found in the Revelation. It is a marvelous and complex book. And I have hardly scratched the surface. I urge you to study the Revelation and to discover the wonders of this concluding book of the Bible.

There is another structure found in the Revelation, a structure that points to the Great Tribulation itself.

Of the many “sevens” found in the Revelation, there are the Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets and Seven Vials (Bowls) of Wrath. In each of these series of seven events there is a pause, or a break, between the sixth and seventh event.

The First Pause is between the Sixth Seal and the Seventh Seal, and is found in the Revelation 7:1-17. This pause describes the servants of the Lord, including the 144,000 Jews from the Twelve Tribes of Israel and an uncountable number “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” standing before the Throne of God.

The Second Pause is between the Sixth Trumpet and the Seventh Trumpet, and is found in the Revelation chapter ten through chapter eleven, verse fourteen. This pause is about the Enemies of the Lord.

Chapter ten includes a description of a “mighty angel” that sounds a lot like the Lord Jesus, the Lion of Judah. Seven thunders spoke, but the Apostle John was not allowed to record what they said. The angel told John that he “must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings,” four groups of people. Four is the number of the world, and at that time the world is populated by enemies of God as described in the Revelation 9:20-21. This pause continues in the Revelation 11:1-14 which is an account of the Two Witnesses who inflicted pain and punishment on the Enemies of the Lord.

The Third Pause follows the Sixth Bowl of Wrath and is found in the Revelation 16:13-16. This last pause describes three evil spirits coming from the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet. These spirits performed signs and wonders and drew the leaders of the whole world to a place called Armageddon. (For more information on Armageddon, please click HERE.

The importance of the structure of “seven” is given to us in the Creation Account, where for six days the Lord created the world and made the components found in it. The Seventh Day marks the completion and cessation of the Lord’s miraculous creation of all things. That is what the Sabbath is all about; completion and cessation. The Lord did not rest, nor did He need to.

For millennia Bible students have linked the seven days of Creation to the history of the world. As a thousand years are but a day in the sight of the Lord (Psalm 90:4), the seven days of Creation foreshadow seven-thousand years, or seven millennia, of world history. After six millennia of human history, where the Lord has had to deal with evil and the rebellion of mankind, evil will cease and the rebellion will be complete.

Just as the Lord blessed the Seventh Day and sanctified it (Genesis 2:3), the seventh millennia will be blessed and sanctified. This will be the promised Millennial Kingdom when the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

I have demonstrated that there is a pause inserted between the Sixth and Seventh Seals, Trumpets and Bowls of Wrath. These pauses foreshadow the period of time that we call the Tribulation. After six-thousand years of human history there will be a short pause. It will be a time of Tribulation inserted between the sixth millennium and the seventh millennium. Then the Lord Jesus will return as described in the Revelation 19:11-16. This will initiate His one-thousand year long kingdom that will take place in the seventh millennium. This will be His much-prophesied Millennial Kingdom.

The Revelation is the closing “bookend” of the Bible. That which was begun in Genesis is concluded in the Revelation. This book, which provides so much detail regarding the Tribulation, also shows us how the Tribulation fits into the seven-thousand-year plan of the Lord.

The Lord is wise beyond our ability to comprehend. He is worthy of all honor and praise. Praise His name forever!