If we were to look back at this point, to see how far prophecy has evolved, we should be impressed by at least two things. First: The longer time lasts, the worse the judgments of God become. Second: Scripture exhibits an absolutely constant use of multiple scenarios. A comparison of the vision of Amos 7:1-6 with that of the book of Revelation is an excellent example to illustrate what I mean. We have here a powerful contrast in subject matter, yet the similarity in prophetic structure shares a surprising exactness. Amos has three scenarios:

This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king’s share had been harvested and just as the second crop was coming up. When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, Forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!”

So the Lord relented.
“This will not happen,” the Lord said.
This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me:

The Sovereign Lord was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. Then I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!”

So the Lord relented.
“This will not happen either,” the Sovereign Lord said.

This is what He showed me: ....

THE FINAL SCENARIO

The revealer illustrates in a panoramic sweep of future centuries the trials and course of the people of God and the future destiny of the world. He does this within a framework of seven symbolic years. The time period begins in the first century with God’s intervention in Satan’s persecution of the church. By the power of God, the church was given victory over Satan. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (12:11). This victory continued until the church lost sight of Christ’s salvation, authority, and power, especially in His encouraging promises: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The focus of attention then turns to the rising up of the kingdom of Antichrist and its domination of the world in the physical and spiritual realm. Then the saints are overcome (12:7). The kingdom of Antichrist continues for the second half of the seven year period and comes to an end by a fatal wound. It miraculously returns to life for a short time. We save the startling climax of the vision for a surprise ending.

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