Structure of Revelation 10-13
Study:
Recall the structure of Revelation 12.
In the above structure, the two most obvious indicators of its parallel nature are two events, the first being the "casting to the earth" of the "angels/stars" and the second being the going "into the wilderness" of the "woman." Notice that a time period, "a thousand two hundred and threescore days"/"a time, and times, and half a time," is one of the elements that define this "woman" that goes "into the wilderness" and thus is itself an indicator of the structure of Revelation 12. Note that there are several occurrences of this time period in Revelation.
"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Revelation 11:2
"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." Revelation 11:3
"And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Revelation 12:6
"And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Revelation 12:14
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Revelation 13:5
Note: 1260 days = 42 months (30 days/month) = "a time, and times, and half a time" (3.5 years) (12 months/year).
If the above time periods are indicators of structure, and Revelation 12 is taken to truly be a parallel structure, then we have a chiasm of at least two layers.
Partial Structure:
But there is more here, for Revelation 11:3 is part of the two witnesses and Revelation 13:5 of the sea beast.
Partial Structure:
But notice that we now have a problem. What of the seventh trumpet?
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." Revelation 11:15-19
The solution to this problem lies in "the ark of his testament" and "the commandments of God."
"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." vs. 19
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17
Recall the connection between the Ark and the 10 Commandments (and also the Covenant).
"...and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;" Hebrews 9:4
"And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." Exodus 34:28
"And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." Exodus 25:21,22
Partial Structure:
But the angel of Revelation 10 roars like a lion and the land beast has lamb-like horns.
"And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices." Revelation 10:3
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Revelation 13:11
Partial Structure:
Notice, due to the fact that a number of the parallel halves of this chiasm share time periods, that parallel halves cover the same time periods... almost!
Structure:
Nothing more I can say!
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