Comparing the Interlude between the Sixth and the Seventh Seal and the Interlude between the Sixth and the Seventh Trumpet

 

 

In describing the events associated with the opening of the seven seals, John seems to take a break between the six and the seventh seal, the so called interlude, where he seems to describe two apparently unrelated visions.  The vision of the 144000 who were sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel (Rev 7:1-8) and a vision of a Great Multitude from every tribe and language who had been through the Great Tribulation and appear in heaven (Rev 7:9-17).

Similarly, when John is describing the events associated with the seven trumpets, he takes a break between the sixth and the seventh trumpet, another interlude, and describes two further visions that seem somewhat unrelated.  The vision of the angel and the little scroll (Rev 10:1-11) and the vision of the Gentiles trampling the Holy City for 42 months and the two witnesses prophesying for 1260 days.  (Rev 11:1-14)

Post tribulationists (who believe the rapture is post-tribulation) say that the second coming of Christ to rapture the church takes place at the beginning of the last trumpet which coincides with the seventh seal. The Wrath of God is the seven bowls which are part of the seventh trumpet.

Pretribulationists (who believe the rapture is pre-tribulation) say that the second coming of Christ to rapture the church occurs at or just before the seventh seal but the trumpets, being the wrath of God, follow the seals and are not concurrent with the seals as suggested by post tribulationists.

It is, therefore, interesting to see if there is any correlation and concordance between the events mentioned in the two interludes between the sixth and the seventh seals and the sixth and the seventh trumpets.

John was given a vision of a scroll with seven seals which nobody was worthy to open but the Lamb of God who was slain and with his blood purchased for God people from every tribe and nation people and language.  In the ensuing chapters, the Lamb begins to open the scroll which can only be the Book of Life.  Once the Book of Life is opened, the Children of God are revealed and the Lamb Christ returns to redeem his people.  It, therefore, makes sense that the rapture should take place at or just before the seventh seal is opened.

The last trumpet is also linked to the rapture of the church. (1Cor 15:51-52) It is at the seventh trumpet that the Kingdom of this World becomes the Kingdom of our Lord.  (Rev 11:15)  It is at the Last trumpet that God judges the nations and pours out his wrath. (Rev 11:18)

The Angel that appears in the interlude between the sixth and the seventh trumpets is holding a Little Scroll which has been opened. (Rev 10:2) This Little Scroll would appear to be the same scroll that the Lamb has been opening.  Thus by the time the seventh trumpet sounds, the Book of Life has been opened.

When the Book of Life is opened, the rapture and the first resurrection take place.  A Great multitude appear in heaven.  The Great Multitude appearing in heaven appears between the sixth and the seventh seals.

If the Trumpets are aligned with the seals, if they recapitulate the seals and are concurrent with the seals, then the interludes would also be aligned.  The opening of the Little Scroll would be concordant with the Great Multitude appearing in heaven.

What about the other events that take place in the interludes between the sixth and the seventh seals and the sixth and the seventh trumpets?

As already mentioned, the seventh trumpet is when the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of our lord.  The Millennium is about to start.  God just has to finish pouring out his wrath on the nations as the Seventh trumpet sounds.

What can be made of the vision of the Gentiles trampling the Holy City for 42 months (Rev 11:2) and the two witnesses prophesying for 1260 days (Rev 11:3) in the interlude between the sixth and the seventh trumpet?

The duration of the great tribulation will be 1260 days or 42 months which is 3.5 years.  (Rev 12:6, Rev 12:14 & Rev 13:5-8)  The point at which this vision is given, the great tribulation is about to end.  It would, therefore, appear that the gentiles finish trampling the Holy City at the time the seventh trumpet sounds and the two witnesses also finish prophesying at this point too.

What about the 144000, when are they sealed?  The 144000 taken from the 12 tribes of Israel are no doubt the Women who is pursued by the dragon in Revelation chapter 12.  The woman is pursued by the dragon for 1260 days or times time and half a time.  The 144000 would therefore have been sealed at the beginning of the great tribulation.

The 144000 being sealed and the woman being taken care of for 1260 days, the gentiles trampling the Holy City for 42 months and the two witnesses prophesying for 1260 days, all span the duration of the great tribulation but are not mentioned until it is almost over – just before the seventh seal or the seventh trumpet (assuming they are simultaneous).

These visions are, therefore, retrospective or recapitulations given the point at which they are mentioned.

The interludes between the sixth and the seven seal and the sixth and the seventh trumpets do appear to be concordant and concurrent with one another.  The Little Scroll is opened just as the seventh seal is opened and as the seventh trumpet sounds and then the rapture takes place and a great multitude appear in heaven.   Also, the 144000 are revealed having been sealed and protected for 1260 days.  The Holy City has been trampled for 42 months and the two witnesses are about to finish 1260 days of prophesying.

Revelation paints a glorious picture with many elements that are described one at time rather than in time sequence.

 

 

http://truthinlove.com/References/seven_seals_trumpets_bowls.htm

 

Reasons for believing the Seals and Trumpets are Simultaneous

The church is raptured at the last trumpet (1Cor 15:51-52)

The last trumpet is when the Mystery of God is accomplished (Rev 10:7)

The Last Trumpet is when the Kingdom of this World becomes the Kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah (Rev 11:15)

The Last Trumpet is when it is time to judge the dead and reward the prophets and those who revere God’s name (Rev 11:18)

The Last Trumpet is when God pours his wrath out on the Nations (Rev 11:18)

The last seal is also associated with these events

God’s wrath follows the sixth seal (Rev 6:17)

God’s wrath is not poured out until after the Church has been raptured (1Thes 5:9)

The Great Multitude appear in heaven when the rapture occurs (Rev 7:9-17) just before the seventh seal is mentioned

The little scroll is presented open just before the seventh trumpet (Rev 10:1-11)

The Little scroll is the same scroll that the Lamb has been opening, one seal at a time

This scroll is almost certainly a chapter of the Book of Life which contains the names of born again believers

(There is another chapter of the book of life which is opened at the end of the Millennium when it is time to judge non-believers)

It is fitting that the rapture of the Church should occur when the seventh seal on the scroll is opened

After all, creation has been waiting in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed (Rom 8:18-24)

The rapture is mentioned in several places in Revelation; Revelation is not entirely sequential

The rapture of the church, followed by God’s judgement of the nations, is also mentioned in Revelations 14:14-16:21 and Revelation 19:1-21

The rapture of the Church is followed by God’s wrath on the Nations, both of which seem to occur at the seventh seal and the seventh trumpet

Thus there is good reason for believing that the seventh Seal and the Seventh trumpet are concurrent events in heaven.

In fact the rapture appears to occur in the twinkling of an eye at the beginning of the seventh trumpet (Rev 10:7). The rapture, if it does not precede the seventh seal being opened, would also appear to occur the instant that the seventh seal is opened (Rev 8:1) and then there is silence in heaven for half an hour.

The implication is that the other trumpets (trumpets 1 to 6) precede the seventh seal (as the seventh trumpet is concurrent with the seventh seal)

Could then the other trumpets correspond to the other seals?

Coud seal 1 be coincident with trumpet 1, seal 2 coincident with trumpet 2, seal 3 – trumpet 3 and so forth?

If this were true then when Christ opens a seal, an angel sounds a trumpet.

For those who are watching, this would serve as a warning that Christ’s return is becoming more imminent.

What would it look like if the seals and the trumpets were aligned?

Are there any events that cannot go together or would clash?

The seven Bowls are part of the Last Trumpet

 

http://truthinlove.com/References/seven_seals_trumpets_bowls.htm

http://truthinlove.com/analogies/seven_seals.htm

If the Seventh Seal is concurrent with the Seventh Trumpet then the rapture coincides with both.

What happens when the seventh seal is opened?

The great multitude appear in heaven when the seventh seal is opened. This corresponds to the rapture and the first resurrection.

The rapture and the first resurrection are also said to take place at the Last Trumpet.

This can easily be reconciled if the Seventh Seal and the Seventh trumpet are coincident.

The Seventh Trumpet also brings with it the Seven Bowls of God’s wrath or what is known as the third woe.

The Wrath of the Lamb follows the opening of the 6th seal.  This could refer to the Seven of Trumpets but could also refer to just the last trumpet with the seven bowls of God’s wrath.

If it is referring to just the Last trumpet, then the first six trumpets would precede the seventh seal and could possibly align with the first six seals.

If the seals and the trumpets are synchronized, S1-T1, S2-T2, S3-T3, S4-T4, S5-T5, S6-T6, S7-T7, this would mean that an angel blows a trumpet every time Christ opens a seal.  It would also mean that when Christ opens the last seal, the Children of God are revealed and the rapture and the first resurrection take place (ie Christ returns to redeem the Church).  It also means that for those of us who are watching, we can have a rough idea about where Jesus is up to.

 

http://truthinlove.com/References/seven_seals_trumpets_bowls.htm

If the seventh seal coincides with the seventh trumpet, maybe the the other seals coincide with their respective trumpets

The seven Bowls are part of the Last Trumpet

The first resurrection and the rapture of the Church at the second coming of Christ occur at the Last Trumpet.  A great multitude will appear in heaven when this happens.

The great multitude appear in heaven after the sixth seal, immediately before the seventh seal is mentioned.

The seventh seal is mentioned almost in passing immediately after the great multitude appears in heaven.   When the seventh seal is opened, there is rest in heaven for “half an hour”.   Not much else is said about the seventh seal and then Revelation moves on to describe the angels with the seven trumpets.

It is quite likely that the great multitude appearing in heaven is linked to the seventh seal being opened.

The second coming of Christ, therefore, coincides with the sounding of seventh trumpet, the opening of the seventh seal as well as the rapture of the Church and the first resurrection.

If the seventh trumpet coincides with the opening of the seventh seal, then could the other trumpets  coincide with their respective seals?  ie the first trumpet coincides with the first seal, the second trumpet coincides with the second seal, third trumpet – third seal etc.

This would surely be very neat and glorious and would certainly “preach well“, but is it true?

Are there any Bible verses that would confirm or deny that this is true?

Certainly, the events of the first trumpet (hail fire and blood burning up a third of the Earths trees and grass) are not incompatible with the appearance of the Antichrist in the first seal. The events of the second trumpet (a mountain ablaze killing a third of the sea creatures and ships) could be associated with the second seal being opened – war. The events of the third trumpet (a third of the fresh waters of the Earth turned bitter) could be associated with the third seal – famine. The events of the fourth trumpet (a third of the sky is darkened) could be associated with the fourth seal being opened – death.  The events of the fifth trumpet (those with the mark of the beast are tormented for 5 months) could be associated with the fifth seal being opened – martyrs.  The events of the sixth trumpet (a third of mankind is killed by 200,000 mounted troops) could be associated with the events of the sixth seal being opened – signs in the sky.  And the events of the seventh trumpet (the rapture and the first resurrection) probably are associated with the the seventh seal being opened – the great multitude appearing in heaven.

While there do not appear to be any conflicts or major objections to the seals and trumpets being synchronous, other arrangements of the seals and the trumpets are possible.  (see below)

The seven bowls of God’s wrath are part of the seventh trumpet and would also coincide with the seventh seal.

If the seventh seal is coincident with the seventh trumpet (as both are linked to the second coming of Christ), then it is unlikely that the trumpets simply follow the seals.

If the seventh trumpet is coincident with the seventh seal, it is likely that the other trumpets precede the seventh seal.  The trumpets and the seals could, therefore, be synchronous.  ie when a seal is opened, a trumpet is sounded

When Christ opens the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet sounds, the Children of God are revealed, Christ returns to redeem the Church and resurrect dead Christians. There is rest in heaven for half an hour and then Christ returns with an army of believers to strike down the nations as the seven bowls of Gods wrath are poured out.

http://truthinlove.com/References/seven_seals_trumpets_bowls.htm

http://truthinlove.com/analogies/seven_seals.htm

• Whenever a seal is opened, an angel announces it with a trumpet.
• This should serve as a warning to those who know what to look for.
• Mankind has a chance to repent even after the sixth trumpet is sounded.
• Once the seventh trumpet is sounded, it is too late to repent, the church will be raptured and the dead believers resurrected.  God will pour out his wrath on the nations who are left behind
• God’s wrath and the judgment on the Nations follow the sixth seal.
• The seventh trumpet brings with it God’s wrath.
• The seven bowls are God’s wrath and are part of the seventh trumpet.

A more traditional view of the Seals Trumpets and Bowls

• Here all the trumpets are coincident with the seventh seal and the bowls are coincident with the seventh trumpet.
• Thus the the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl coincide with the end of the age.

Another view of the seals trumpets and bowls

• Here the trumpets are spread out but not synchronous with the seals.
• The seventh trumpet almost coinciding with the seventh seal.
• The bowls are spread across the last three trumpets.

In non of the above, do the trumpets and bowls follow sequentially after the seventh seal.

http://truthinlove.com/analogies/seven_seals.htm

As soon as the Seventh Trumpet sounds, the Church is removed from the Earth (Wheat and Tares). God then pours out the Seven Bowls of His Wrath upon the Nations (Pagans/Gentiles) of the Earth who will be “Left Behind”. The Seven Bowls of God’s wrath are the Third Woe and are part of the Seventh Trumpet.

The Church is Raptured in the Twinkling of an Eye at the Last Trumpet. As soon as the Seventh Trumpet sounds, the Church is removed from the Earth (Wheat and Tares). God then pours out the Seven Bowls of His Wrath upon the Nations (Pagans/Gentiles) of the Earth who will be “Left Behind”. The Seven Bowls of God’s wrath are the Third Woe and are part of the Seventh Trumpet. The Bowls are for the Nations not the Church. 144000 Jews will be Sealed and protected from His Wrath.
God wil separate the Nations into the Sheep and the Goats according to how they treated God’s People.
Zechariah Ch14 tells us that there will be some Pagans who survive Armageddon and go on into the Millennium as the Nations on Earth (Millennial Nations). The pagans that survive Armageddon must be taken from among the Sheep Nations as the Goats will go to Hell. The Pagans who survive the Battle of Armageddon will accompany the 144000 Jews into the Millennium as a reward and to fulfill God’s Old Testament Prophesies to restore Israel. During the Millennium, the Church will reign with Christ in Heaven.
When the Millennium is over, The Bride will descend from Heaven to become the New Jerusalem on the Earth. Pagans will be resurrected and judged at the Great White Throne. Those whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life will become the Nations in Eternity. Those whose names are not in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be thrown into the Lake of Fire which is the Second Death.

When the Seventh Seal is Opened, we will know who will be in the Lamb’s Book of Life and who the Sons of God will be.

When the Seventh Seal is Opened, we will know who will be in the Lamb’s Book of Life and who the Sons of God will be.

Synchronized seals and trumpets. 1st woe = 5th trumpet, 2nd woe = 6th trumpet, 3rd woe = seventh trumpet (and the seven bowls therein)

Synchronized seals and trumpets. The first woe corresponds to the fifth trumpet and the second woe corresponds to the sixth trumpet. The bowls are the third woe and occur during the seventh trumpet

The seven Bowls are part of the Last Trumpet

http://truthinlove.com

http://truthinlove.com.au/References/seventh_trumpet.htm

The Seventh Trumpet is the End of this age. It heralds the second coming of Christ.

The sevent trumpet is about the Second Coming of Christ to redeem the Church and The Day of the Lord when God pours his Wrath out upon the pagans (non believers in the nations).

It signals the end of this age and the beginning of Christ’s Millennial reign.

http://truthinlove.com/References/last_trumpet.htm

A more traditional view of the seven seals, trumpets and bowls of revelation

A more traditional view of the Seals Trumpets and Bowls

Another view of the seals trumpets and bowls

http://70thweekstudy.com/Biblestudy/sealtrumpetsbowls.html

The Seven Bowls are part of the Seventh Trumpet. They are the Third Woe.

The seven bowls are the third woe. They are part of the Seventh Trumpet. When the seventh trumpet sounds, Jesus returns to rapture the Church and resurrect sleeping believers. Once the Church has been removed from the Earth, God pours out his wrath on the pagans (unbelievers among the nations)

http://truthinlove.com/References/last_trumpet.htm