We shall see that the book covers three periods of time. 1) Chapter one
has to do with all that is past. 2) Chapters two and three relate to all
that is current, i.e., today, being the day of God Grace to the world,
which commenced on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and will end with
the rapture of the church to heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; and 1
Thessalonians 4:16-17). 3) All that we read from chapter four through to
the end of the book, are details of events which are still prophecy.
Unless we understand and accept the teaching about the rapture of the
church to glory, referred to above; we shall not be able to comprehend
the grand design of God's majestic objective, and His divine movements
toward the glorious exaltation of his Beloved Son as King of kings, and
Lord of lords. Readers will note in their studies that the greater part
of the book of: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, covers the period known
as the time of tribulation. At this time, God's governmental judgments
will impact upon the entire world, being the fulfilment of the 70th week
of years, as prophesied by Daniel in his book, Daniel 9:27. The last
half of the said week, i.e., three and a half years, will be as the Lord
Jesus defined it, a time of: great tribulation (Matthew 24:21), when the
nation of Israel will experience the greatest of all trials it has ever
known. All the saints of God should comfort their hearts with the
knowledge that when that grievous time falls upon the world, they will
be in glory (Revelation 3:10), and spectators of all events happening on
earth.
