A Unique Proposal In the previous chapter, I made a unique and controversial conclusion that the seven seals recapitulate after the 4th event of the series. In general, the outline can be illustrated as follows.
[IMAGE 01. SPLIT SERIES MODEL] The above pattern was a direct result of the hermeneutic described in the second chapter. But is there any proof that this controversial model is the correct one? After all, there are three major models (parallel, consecutive, and telescoping), all of which consider each event within the septet as consecutive. There is, in fact, a considerable amount of evidence that John structured almost all the series within the book of Revelation using this “Split Series” pattern.
The Pattern of Splitting the Series It will be shown that almost every series listed in the book of Revelation, including the seven churches, the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven plagues, the four beasts, the twelve tribes, the four walls of Jerusalem, all follow the same pattern where the listed series is “split” to form two parallel lists (sometimes chronological, sometimes geographical, sometimes categorically). Although none of the examples are “perfect,” there is enough evidence to show the pattern does exist. The imperfection of the models, though, are perfectly consistent. The last item in the series often breaks pattern and draws from a vision or scripture immediately before or after the one expected. In addition, the possible origin of the technique and why John used it so often throughout the book of Revelation will be shown. A. The Seven Churches It is interesting that the list of the seven churches also has several natural divisions of four & three. The pattern in this case is not as obvious, but nonetheless is readily apparent. 1. “He that hath an ear…” The address to each church contains many common elements. Among them, all seven letters contain two phrases which repeat, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” and “to him that overcometh” (KJV). Quite simply, in the letters to the first three churches the two phrases always appear in the order above. In the final four, the phases are always reversed.
[IMAGE 02. THE 7 CHURCHES – “HE THAT HATH AN EAR”] 2. Geographical Symmetry Another more obvious pattern where the list of the Seven Churches are split into two series is a geographical one. If one follows a hypothetical road from the first church mentioned (Ephesus) and to the last (Laodecia), one can see an obvious parallel between churches one through three and churches four through seven. This geographical pattern is seen other times in the book of Revelation as well. [IMAGE 03. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES] 3. The Seven Churches & The Son of Man David Chilton was first to recognize that the list of the seven churches recapitulate after the fourth church (The Days of Vengeance, p 90-91). The preamble to each church is drawn from the description of the Son of Man in the previous chapter. The description of the Son of Man is ‘mirrored’ by the first four church letters, a literary technique called chiasm, and then is recapitulated by the final three letters. [IMAGE 04. THE 7 CHURCHES AND THE SON OF MAN] Again, although the pattern is not perfect, as Chilton recognizes in his book, “these first four messages are ‘recapitulated’ in the last three.” Notice, though, that the seventh letter is the one to break the pattern. Instead of corresponding to “B” as the pattern predicts, it corresponds to “C,” or the scripture immediately after the expected one.
4. The Seven Churches – “He That Overcomes” The final method, which I’m aware of, that John uses to split the series of the seven church letters makes use of the reoccurring phrase “he that overcomes.” At the culmination of each letter, Christ promises a reward to those who “overcome.” The first four rewards have a definite parallel to the final three, where the series can be divided into three primary sections – the reward of “life,” “a new name,” and “authority.” [IMAGE 05. THE 7 CHURCHES – “TO HIM THAT OVERCOMES”] This pattern seems follow the creation of Adam and his placement within the Garden of Eden. (1) Adam was made a living soul (2) Adam was “called Adam” (2) Adam was given authority over the garden and animals. This conclusion seems likely since the last few chapters of Revelation have several allusions to the Garden of Eden.
B. The Seven Seals 1. The Four Horsemen The first and most recognized natural division in the Seven Seals is between the fourth and fifth seals. The first four seals are grouped together as the “Four Horsemen” of the Apocalypse, while the final three have no specific connection. Although this pattern does not necessarily indicate recapitulation between the two series, it does show John’s natural inclination to spit the series in roughly half.
[IMAGE 06. THE SEVEN SEALS] 2. Colors and the Seven Seals Chilton also recognized a similar pattern for the seven seals (although he does not conclude that the events themselves recapitulate). According to Chilton (p195, The Days of Vengeance) “the whiteness of the robe [in the 5th Seal] is part of a pattern already set up in Revelation (the Seven Letters) in which the last three items in a sevenfold structure match the first four items.” Chilton, is referring to the correspondence of colors between the two halves. [IMAGE 07. COLORS AND THE 7
SEALS] Again the pattern is not perfect, but definitely exists. Although many translators have “pale” (probably based on Zechariah’s vision which included a “grisled” horse), the word is literally translated “green.” The corresponding “green” of the grass actually occurs in the next vision immediately after the seventh seal is opened, in this case, the first trumpet vision. 3. The Seven Seals and the Faithful and True
Judge (Revelation 19:11-21) Many scholars make the connection between the first horseman who rides on a white horse and the Faithful and True Judge of Revelation 19 who also rides one. Many correctly surmise that these are diametric pairs (similar in appearance or description, but opposite in nature). Some, like David Chilton, incorrectly conclude that they are one and the same rider, Jesus Christ. While the faithful and true judge is obviously Jesus Christ, evidence has already been provided in a previous chapter that the first horseman can be none other than the false Christ, the Beast. This section further validates this conclusion. While many recognize the obvious parallel between the First horseman and the True and Faithful Judge, it is interesting that few (if any) recognize that ALL FOUR OF THE HORSEMAN are in diametric opposition to Jesus Christ as the True and Faithful Judge of Revelation 19. This is based on, similar to Chilton’s observation of repetitive colors, the repetition of certain key phrases. [IMAGE 08. THE 7 SEALS VS REV 19 a]
Thus in the first set we see that both wear a crown(s), both ride
on a white horse, and both conquer. In the second set the rider who rides on a red horse (symbolizing
blood) is contrasted to a rider whose garment is dipped in blood. Both possess a great sword. In the third set, we see a contrast between famine and the “supper of the great God”. In the third horseman vision, the “wine” is not hurt and in the vision of the Faithful Judge, the “winepress” is tread. In the final set the rider whose name is Death and is followed by Hell is paralleled to the lake of fire in which Death and Hell are eventually cast (Revelation 20:14). Whereas the earth is tormented by beasts in the 4th seal, in the vision of the Faithful Judge the Beast is taken and cast into the lake of fire. In the fourth seal men are killed with the sword, and in the vision of the Faithful Judge the remnant is slain with the sword. The last three seals also form an antithesis to the arrival of the Faithful Judge.
[IMAGE 09. THE 7 SEALS VS REV 19 b]
In the Fifth Seal, the martyrs must wait for their brethren to be
killed, and are given white robes. In
the vision of the Faithful Judge, vengeance is finally given to the martyrs and
they (supposedly) follow Jesus back from heaven (Rev 6:11, cf: Rev 14:14) wearing
white linen. In the sixth seal, all men including kings, great men, captains, mighty men, bondmen, and freeman hide from the vengeance of God. In the opposing scene, the same men (Rev 19:18) openly face the Judge in battle and are ultimately defeated by Him. Again breaking the expected pattern, it is the vision immediately preceding the opening of the seventh seal that mirrors the final event of the vision of the Faithful and True Judge. The Lamb takes those who came out of great tribulation and lead them to living fountains of waters as their reward. In contrast, the Faithful Judge casts the beast into a lake of fire as his judgment. The parallel drawn between these two visions was not meant to show they are the same, but to contrast the two events. The seals last the entire 3 ½ years of the great tribulation in which the saints are killed and persecuted. The torment of the earth is led by the four horsemen who stand as a diametric pair to the Faithful and True Judge. The vision of the Faithful and True judge occurs at the culmination of the great tribulation and only lasts for a moment. The martyrs and those faithful to Christ receive their reward while the beast and false prophet, who tormented the earth, are cast into a lake of fire. Most importantly, though, if the first four seals parallel the same event as the fifth through seventh seals, this supports the conclusion that the first four seals are recapitulated by the final three.
C. The Four Beasts The vision of the Four Beasts around the throne is also based on another Old Testament vision found in Ezekiel 1:10. Although there are other similar prophecies (Ezek 10, Daniel 7), this is the only vision where each of the four beasts have a clear counterpart. Again the order has been changed, forming a “split series” in which the series form two parallel lines (similar to the “four directions” illustration below). [IMAGE 10. THE FOUR BEASTS] Obviously, like the previous example, the order has nothing to do with chronology. The “Lion” begins the list because the lion was associated with the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:9, Rev 5:5), from which Jesus Christ was descended.
D. The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:1-8) & The Four Gates of Jerusalem (Rev 21) Many have speculated over the order of the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the seventh chapter of Revelation. Chilton follows Austin Farrer’s explanation, which I also agree. Although not initially obvious, the order of the tribes are organized by their respective mothers (Leah, Rachel, and the handmaids Zilpah & Bilhah). [IMAGE 11. THE TWELVE TRIBES] Judah begins the list, similar to the previous example, because Jesus Christ was descended from the tribe of Judah. Since the names of the tribes are also written on the gates of the New Jerusalem, Farrer suggests that the list follows the order in which the gates are listed: east, north, south, west (Rev 21:13). One should immediately notice that the list of four directions are out of order, the same as we have seen for the four beasts and the four horsemen. The four cardinal directions are listed several times in scripture. Sometimes they are listed with the opposing directions paired (Gen 28:14, WE-NS), (1 Chron 9:24, Ps 107:3, Luke 13:29, Zech 14:4, EW-NS), (Ezek 48:16,17 NS-EW) forming a “criss-cross” pattern. In others they are listed in true clockwise (Num 35:5, E-S-W-N), or counterclockwise direction (2 Chr 4:4, N-W-S-E), which forms a “circular” pattern. Only in Ezekiel 48:10 is there a similar arrangement (NW-ES) and in Ezekiel 42:16-18 is the pattern is identical (EN-SW), forming two parallel lines. [IMAGE 12. THE CARDINAL DIRECTIONS IN REV 21]
The order of
the tribes with Judah at the ‘east’ station, becomes readily apparent. The following diagram was borrowed from David
Chilton’s book The Days of Vengeance and reveals the true order of the
list. The tribes are arranged as “camps”
in similar fashion as they are in Ezekiel 48 (see p211, TDOV), one of the few
locations in scripture where the order of the cardinal directions follow a
similar pattern.
[IMAGE 13. THE CAMP OF THE 12 TRIBES] By doing so the camps are neatly arranged by Senior Leah, Junior Leah, the Handmaids & Rachel. Judah, who was the fourth child of Leah was moved to the first position, and Levi who was third is pushed down to the fourth position. Dan, a child of one of the handmaids, is replaced by Manasseh, a child of Rachel, to make the list perfectly symmetrical. Instead of chronologically splitting the series, the series is split in parallel based on the actual physical arrangement of the camps. Like the pattern of sevens, the final list of tribes in the series does not fit the expected pattern. As already discussed, the arrangement follows the cardinal direction listed in Revelation 21:13, E-N-S-W. But the series is ‘broken’ because Judah, the center tribe of the eastern group, is listed first. The order proceeds E-E-N-N-N-W-E-S-S-S-W-W, as opposed to the expected E-E-E-N-N-N-S-S-S-W-W-W. It is surmised that the list of gems in Revelation 21:19-20 also follows the same pattern since the order of the cardinal directions (Rev 21:13) mentioned above are found in the same vision. Unfortunately, no one has successfully found a solid link between the gems and the twelve tribes or the twelve apostles.
E. The Seven Trumpets 1. The Three Woes. The Seven Trumpets, like the Seven Seals before it, can naturally be divided into a section of 3 & 4. This time, though, it ts the final three that are distinguished from the rest. The final three trumpets are called the “Three Woes.” [IMAGE 14. THE 7 TRUMPETS AND 3 WOES] 2. The Seven Trumpets & The Green Grass An interesting phrase within the seven trumpets also appears to place the fifth trumpet event immediately before the first. After the sounding of the First Trumpet we are told that “all the green grass was burnt up.” In contrast though, at the sounding of the Fifth Trumpet, the locusts that are released are told “that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing.” If all the green grass was truly destroyed in a previous trumpet sounding, then this appears as a completely unnecessary statement. On the other hand, if the Fifth Trumpet precedes the First as proposed here, then the order makes perfect sense, in fact, appears to be a subtle clue left to us by John of the true arrangement of the Seven Trumpets.
[IMAGE 15. THE 7 TRUMPETS AND THE BURNT GRASS] [Note: The Split Series Pattern of the Seven Trumpets and Plagues will be further examined in the next chapter]
Conclusion. Although there is another series in listed in Revelation, the precious stones of the New Jerusalem, unfortunately there is major ambiguity in the identity of the stones. If the order corresponds to the order of the directions in Revelation 21:13, then the stones also follow the split series pattern. For now, though, the order of the stones remains a mystery. All other series, though, can be shown to follow a split series pattern, or can be split in two by multiple methods. This leads us to the conclusion, along with John’s continuous use of recapitulation throughout the visions of Revelation, that these series themselves are divided to show either chronological or geographical parallels. Although many would find the notion of splitting the Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Plagues into two periods which recapitulate nonintuitive, there is an ample line of evidence, that of “the split series pattern” found thoughout the book of Revelation that lends credence to this conclusion. This pattern will be further developed in the next chapter on “Decreation & Recreation.” |
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Ch 28: The Split Series Pattern |
