Prophecy

 The Bible is filled with prophecy particularly in the Old Testament.  Most prophecy does not give accurate time periods of the predicted occurrence but imply prompt results.  When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream he sent into motion a fourteen year long event.  These two seven year events saved many lives but enslaved all the people in the Nation of Egypt to Pharaoh (See Genesis 41).

Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream covered a much longer period of time.  Approximately 1,100 years.  The kingdoms involved are tabulated below.  The dates are all approximations.

The Revelation of Christ, as given to John, covers the time period from around the birth of Christ to the end of the earth as we know it.  Biblical prophesy, in Revelation, is not John’s opinion of what will happen; but God’s revelation of what is now happening or will happen in the future.   Revelation chapter 1 reveals the majesty of the risen Christ and His relationship with the churches and the pastors or leaders of the churches.  Chapter 2 and 3 are instructions to the churches universal.  The detail of these instructions illustrates the closeness of the relationship between the Christ and the churches.

Revelation 4 and 5 present the majesty of God seated at His Throne.  Jesus Christ is presented as the only one qualified to open the seals that reveal the future of the universe.

Chapter 6 of Revelation is about our present time.  In chapter 6 we see events that are happening now or have already happened in the past.  The dynamic actions that are described seem to be acts of God; however, in chapter 11 it becomes clear that the thing we experience on earth are caused by ourselves.