The Order of Future Events
From the Rapture of the Church to the new heavens and the new earth
“He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!”Revelation 22:20 — WEB
The Last Two Acts
The Seven Acts
Act 6, the Age of the Church, closes with the Church taken to heaven, the Tribulation on earth, and Christ’s return with His Church. Act 7 is the Millennial Kingdom. The epilogue is the new heaven, the new earth, and the New Jerusalem.
The Key to Revelation
John’s own outline (Revelation 1:19): the vision of Christ, the letters to the seven churches, and the events still to come.
The Order of Future Events
Not drawn to scale. While the Tribulation unfolds on earth, the Church is with Christ in heaven, and it returns with Him at His Second Coming.
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Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls
The three series of judgments in the Tribulation. The seventh seal opens into the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet leads to the seven bowls, so the judgments grow more severe as the end draws near.
| # | SealsRevelation 6:1–8:1 | TrumpetsRevelation 8:6–11:19 | BowlsRevelation 16:1–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rider on a white horse, a conqueror | Hail and fire: a third of the trees burned | Painful sores on the beast’s followers |
| 2 | Red horse: war | A burning mountain: a third of the sea to blood | The sea turns to blood |
| 3 | Black horse: famine | The star Wormwood: a third of the waters bitter | Rivers and springs turn to blood |
| 4 | Pale horse: death over a fourth of the earth | A third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened | The sun scorches people with fire |
| 5 | Martyrs cry out under the altar | Locusts from the abyss (first woe) | Darkness on the beast’s kingdom |
| 6 | Great earthquake and signs in the sky | An army from the Euphrates: a third of mankind killed | The Euphrates dries up; the gathering to Armageddon |
| 7 | Silence in heaven, then the trumpets | The kingdom of the world becomes Christ’s | “It is done!” The greatest earthquake and great hail |
Two Different Judgments
The believer will never be judged to decide whether he has eternal life (John 5:24). The Judgment Seat of Christ decides rewards. The Great White Throne is for those who did not believe.
| Judgment Seat of Christ | Great White Throne | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Believers only | Unbelievers of all ages |
| When | After the Rapture | After the Millennium |
| Basis | What each believer has done, good or bad2 Corinthians 5:10 | Their works, and whether their names are in the book of lifeRevelation 20:12–15 |
| Outcome | Rewards gained or lost; the believer himself is saved “as through fire”1 Corinthians 3:12–15 | The lake of fireRevelation 20:15 |
Notes & Sources
- This chart follows the pretribulational, premillennial view taught by Philippe R. Sterling and the Grace Evangelical Society.
- The Rapture and the Second Coming are two events: Christ comes for His Church in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17) and later returns with His saints to the earth (Revelation 19:14; Zechariah 14:4–5).
- The seven years are Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:27). See Daniel’s Seventy Weeks.
- Satan is bound during the thousand years and released afterward for a final rebellion (Revelation 20:1–3; Revelation 20:7–10).
Adapted from Philippe R. Sterling’s Bible survey notes, used with permission.