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.