The Sequence of Revelations - Part 2

Pestilence & earthquakes: Matt. 24:7c Mark 13:8c Luke 21:11 Rev.6:7-8
This is the fourth seal. The rider on pale horse signifies death and pestilence. This probably signifies Satan when he is cast out of heaven in Rev. 12:9. He is followed closely by Hades/Hell which could be considered the home for the destruction of the soul. And who brings destruction, the Destroyer which is what the names Abaddon & Apollyon mean in Rev. 9:11. All these things are the beginning of sorrows, and the birth pangs but not the wrath of God. This most likely occurs prior to the mid-point of Daniel‘s 70th week and before the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Other events that may occur around this time are the arrival of the two witnesses (Rev.11), the A/C sitting on the throne and demanding to be worshiped as well as the erection of his image found "standing" in the holy place. This is pictured in Matt. 24:15, Mark 13:14, and Rev. 12:13, 13: 6 & 14-15. But wait, the comparison doesn’t end here as a lot of folks would like it to.
Martyrdom: Matt. 24:9-28 Mark 13:9-23 Luke 21:12-13-24 Rev. 6:9-11
The fifth seal portrays the partial results of the time known as the Great Tribulation where believers will be martyred because of the word of God and the testimony they maintained. This is also shown in Rev. 12:11 & 17, 13:7-10 & 15 and 14:12-13. The martyrs are told that judgment won#‘t begin until the appointed number of martyred dead has been reached. If a pre-trib rapture had occurred, this would be considered part of God‘s wrath but this scripture clearly shows that this is a separate time from judgment. In verse 10, the phrase "the inhabitants of the earth" is used ("those who dwell on the earth" in the KJV). This phrase is used consistently throughout Revelations to signify those that support Satan & a/c and oppose God and his elect who are still on earth at this time.
Cosmic Disturbances: Matt. 24:29 Mark 13:24-25 Luke 21:25 Rev. 6: 12-13
The sixth seal is evidenced by much cosmic disturbance and signs in the sun, moon and stars. This is the sign spoken of back in Matt. 24:3. When we see these signs in the heavens, Luke 21:28, tells us to, ..."stand up and lift up our heads because our redemption is drawing near."
Now it is just after this point in time where a couple of events happen almost at once at the opening of the seventh seal. In Rev. 6:17 it says, "For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand." This should utilize the aorist tense. The literal translation of "has come" is "the day of their wrath began to come." Also known as the Day of the Lord, the arrival is described in Joel 2:28-32, Is. 13:6-10 and Zep. 1:14-18. The most important event occurring at this time is the rapture of the saints as pictured in: Matt. 24:30-31, Mark 13:26-27, Luke 21:27-28, Rev. 7:9, 14:14-16 and 19:6-8. They all show our gathering/arrival in heaven. The rapture might occur somewhere before or just after the 5th year of Daniel’s 70th week. As mentioned earlier this where the significance of Rev. 5:11 comes in. We see in Rev. 7:9, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count..." This is the rapture, not a separate set of "tribulations saints" as the pre-trib believers like to think of them. A group by the way that is nowhere alluded to in scripture. This group is so large they can’t be counted, but John was able to number thousands and thousands and ten thousand upon ten thousand angels in 5:11. According to the pre-trib theory, these so-called trib saints will be trickling into heaven one at a time or in small groups as they are killed. Obviously this verse doesn’t show that. They all appear suddenly, at the same time. They are called Tribulation saints because that is what was occurring on the earth just prior to the rapture.
Rev. 8 begins with the opening of the 7th seal. There is silence in heaven for about half an hour. This happens to fulfill the scripture found in Zep. 1:7. "Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited." The 7th seal contains the seven trumpets that begin the Day of the Lord/Wrath of God. The first four trumpet judgments appear to occur in rapid succession. This could be a picture of a meteor storm with a couple of large ones striking the earth or parts of a comet. The fourth trumpet could be the result of the first three trumpets. The first four trumpets affect 1/3 of nature. The announcement of the "three woes" which are the last three trumpets about to plague the inhabitants of the earth close the eighth chapter. These trumpets will affect 1/3 of mankind.
Rev. 9 begins with a star that had fallen from the sky. I believe this star is Abaddon/Apollyon one of those that will be swept from heaven by the dragon‘s tail in Rev. 12:4 and he is king over everything that comes out of the Abyss. This is the first woe/fifth trumpet. The second woe/sixth trumpet releases the four angels that were bound at the river Euphrates to set loose a 200 million man army (China). They will eventually arrive at Armageddon but they will probably make some strategic nuclear strikes first. China is known as the kings of the east.
Rev. 10 mostly remains a mystery because what the seven thunders said was sealed up. However vs. 7 is important in the sequence of Revelations. It reads, "But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished..." The mystery of God here is the miracle of gentiles being grafted into Israel.
Rev.11 introduces us to the two witnesses and goes back to the mid-point of Daniel‘s 70th week. There is much debate over their identity but I won‘t get into that because it has no bearing on the issue at hand. Some of the facts of their ministry is important though. They are given 1260 days or 3 1/2 years. They will begin their testimony at the mid-point of Daniel‘s 70th week. They will focus mainly on the jews but may have a word or two of encouragement for us Christians who will still be on the earth at the beginning of their ministry. They suffer a martyr‘s death and are raptured up to heaven after 3 1/2 days. Their rapture and the great earthquake in Jerusalem that follows will end the second woe/sixth trumpet. There is one thing I would like to point out in vs. 2, the gentiles are given 42 months to trample on the holy city. This verse when combined with Dan. 9:24 and Luke 21:24 make clear that the 70th week of Daniel and the times of the Gentiles must conclude at the same time, somewhere between the 6th and 7th trumpet. Rev. 11:15 is the 7th trumpet which contains the seven bowl judgments and the verse states, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." AT THIS POINT IN TIME DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK IS OVER. JESUS HAS RECLAIMED THE THRONE OF THE EARTH. This is also backed up by Rev.11:19 which speaks of "flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm. This is the same picture as given in Rev. 16:18-21.
This 7th trumpet is not the last trump of 1 Cor. 15:52 as is commonly believed. The last trump is the following. The Feast of Trumpets - aka Rosh Hashanah or "Head of the Year". This holiday is celebrated on the 1st & 2nd of Tishri, the religious 7th month and the first month of their "civil" new year. It is celebrated alongside Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The interval between the last of the spring feasts - Pentecost and the first of the fall feasts - Trumpets corresponds to this present age. Pentecost began the Church age and Trumpets, which will signal the Messiah#‘s Second Coming will end it. This is the last "trump" spoken of in 1 Cor. 15:52 and 1 Thess. 4:16, not the seventh trumpet judgment in Revelations.
The blowing of the trumpet in ancient Israel had three primary functions. The first was to call a solemn assembly, the second, when Israel under Divine direction was to go to war and the third was at the coronation of a new king. There are two major themes associated with The Day of the Lord. The first is deliverance of the righteous and the second is the judgment of the wicked. In connection with His Second Coming, Jesus will first call His own to Himself, the Rapture, and then will go to war against His enemies, concluding with His Coronation as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
This date corresponds on our calendar to September/October. It is also known as Israel‘s "Dark Day". It is the only feast that occurs at the new moon when the primary night light of the heavens is darkened. Amos 5:18-20, Zeph. 1:14-16. As the new moon is darkened so will the heavens be divinely darkened at the future Day of the Lord. Joel 2:31, 3:15 and Rev. 6:12-17. God‘s wrath will be on both the world and Israel to prepare her for repentance and her National Day of Atonement, the 6th feast. At the "last trump", the Lord Himself will blow the trumpet, Zech. 9:14 and not an angel as depicted in Revelations. This last time that God blows the trumpet will signal the rapture and the beginning of the Day of the Lord‘s wrath upon the earth. 1Cor. 15:51-52 and 1 Thess. 4:16-17. What follows is the first act of his reign. This will be the rapid succession of the bowl judgments beginning in Rev. 16 which will purify the earth. All will occur in the span of thirty days.
Wait a minute! What about chapters 12-15? Ok, ok, here is what they are about!
Rev. 12 opens with "a great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven". The first part of this chapter gives us a quick overview of what led us to this point in time. The sign is the Star of Bethlehem. The woman w/ a twelve star crown is Israel. The dragon in vss. 3-4 is Satan. The time the dragon is waiting to devour the child is when Herod caused all the children under two to be killed. The son in vs. 5 is Jesus. Verse six brings us back to the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week. The woman in vs. 6 is believing Israel who flees when they recognize the a/c is not the messiah. The following verses describe the a/c#‘s attempt to destroy believing Israel and when he fails at that, he turns his wrath towards the church which is still on earth at this time. This is the inauguration of the Great Trib. This section of scripture puts another kink in the pre-trib rapture theory. Satan doesn‘t get banished from his role of accuser in heaven until the 70th week is half over. If there were a pre-trib rapture, that would put Satan up there accusing us while we the supposed bride are being wed to the groom Jesus. Somehow I don’t think Satan is invited to the wedding. Do you?