Grace and Truth: REVELATION OF CHRIST AS LION OVER THE NATIONS

The Revelation of Christ as Lion over the Nations

Chapters 4-20

A Vision of Government (Key - 5:5; 12:5; 19:15; 20:6)

The Chronology of this Division of the Book

The Outline of this Division of the Book

Arguments that the Church is not on Earth at this Point

Arguments drawn from silence. In a place where silence is in order, such an argument is always valid.

There is no mention of the church on earth throughout these chapters (Rev. 4:1-19:10). Elders represent the church and are therefore always seen in heaven.
No other scripture in specific words declares that the church will pass through this awful period.
The rapture is an imminent event and any statement of time would divest it of its very nature.

Arguments drawn from Analogy

Enoch is a type of the church and he was translated before Judgment (Gen. 19:21-24).
Lot is a type of the church and he was transported before Judgment (Gen. 19:21-24).
John is a type of the church and he is caught up into heaven in the Spirit (Rev. 4:1-2).

Arguments Drawn from Doctrine

The Christian believer cannot come into penal judgment, and this is a period of judgment (John 5:24; Rev. 4:2; 14:7).
The Christian believer is not appointed unto wrath, and this is a period of wrath (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thes. 1:9-10, 5:9; Rev. 6:16-17).
The Christian believer is urged to look for Christ's coming at any moment, which is nullified if these things must come to pass first (Luke 12:35-47; Tit. 2:13).

Arguments Drawn from Context

The sequence of time marked by the book indicates that the church has already been caught up (4:1 with 1:19).

"meta Tauta of verse 1:19 becomes a key phrase and is carried on through the book to note sequence in time (this does not preclude sequence in vision). Cf. 1:19; 4:1-2; 7:1,9; 9:12; 11:11; 15:5; 18:1; 19:1; 20:3.

The first vision of Christ is among the churches, but in chapters 4-19 he is in Heaven (1:13 with 4:2; 5:5-6).
The promise was that the church would be kept from the hour of trial (Rev. 3:10).
The church is pictured as being in Heaven during the tribulation period (Rev. 13:6 R.V. with Eph. 2:21; Rev. 19:1,7,8; 2 Cor. 11:2; also Rev. 3:12).
When Christ comes in glory, his saints come with him from heaven to the earth (Rev. 19M-21).
The elders of Rev. 4:1-4 represent the church. This is the best symbol of the church (Acts 20:17, 28; Jas. 5:14 cf. Rev. 20:4-6). Elders appear in the following passages: Rev. 4:4, 10; 5:5, 6, 8, 11, 14; 7:11, 13; 11:16; 14:3; 19:4.

The First Half of the Tribulation Period. Chapters 4-11

Outline of this Division

Grace and Truth