cbk said:
But why could not the seven seals and seven trumpets be the descriptives of the beginning of sorrows that occur before Christ's return? And that the GREATER sorrows be the events of the seven vials of God's wrath??
The way I see it, the First Beast does not appear until AFTER the seven seals are opened and the seven trumpets are blown. This is seen based on the fact that this beast is not recognized until REV 13 -- which occurs AFTER the seven seals and seven trumpets! And note, this beast is given authority for 42 months (3.5 years) to trample. Now, to be given AUTHORITY, to me, means that God will allow IT to do IT's WILL WITHOUT God's interference. Therefore, the seven vials will NOT be poured during these 3.5 years. For, if they were, then the beast will not be exercising its authority to do as it pleases.
Then, sometime after the first beast's appearance (anywhere from day one to day 1260), the Son of Man will appear on the clouds (REV 14:14) to reap.
r.
QUOTE The way I see it, the First Beast does not appear until AFTER the seven seals are opened and the seven trumpets are blown
That is because you assumed that The Book of Revelation follows in chronological order.
Read extensively on Revelation studies and you will realise that the first step is to look carefully at the events for many run in parallel with each other.
Take a look at the 5th seal Revelation 6:9-11. You have slaughtered saints crying out to God to hasten judgement. GOD REPLIES BY SAYING they should wait for many more of their brethren (believers) will be killed on earth--- TRIBULATION is in progress at this stage and the Beast is in action.
Again the 5th trumpets Revelation 9:1-6 shows MANY SIGNS of Satan and the beast see Revelation 9:1 The bottomless pit is open
THE FIVE MONTH SECTION OF INTENSE TRIBULATION that Christ cuts short (Matthew 24:21-22) is DESCRIBED IN REVELATION 9:5 Those with the Mark of Satan the beast, do not have the Mark/seal of God in their heads Revelation 9:4 thus are controlled by Satan and his released locusts from the pit, Revelation 9:3-5
The SIXTH SEAL IS COMPREHENSIVE -- It is a severe as the seventh vial and really you cannot have two sets of savage stars/hailstones dropping on earth with generals and leaders and people hiding in caves etc
They are two versions of the same event Revelation 6:12- 6th seal GREAT earthquake, mountains, islands removed, stars/celestial bodies fall on earth, people hiding in caves
7th vial Revelation 16:18- GREAT earthquake, thunder, islands, mountains away,celestial bodies dropping on earth...
The 5th seal AND 5 th trump are periods WHEN WE SEE severe tribulation on Earth and how could there be this persecution WITHOUT THE BEAST government not in place?
The 5th seal is very clear for the saints and believers on earth are being killed (some)
and Christ's description in intense tribulation Matthew 24:21-22 fits as the severe latter stages tribulation of Revelation 9:3-11.
Revelation 13:1-18 is not isolated from Revelation 6:9-11 and Revelation 9:1-11
Revelation 13 is used to describe the nature of the beast, The beast's receiving of Power and Authority from Satan, the description of the false prophet, tribulation and control of Earth during the 42 months and the worship of the image of the beast as well as the mark of the beast.
IT DOES NOT HOWEVER, take place in some separate future from Revelation 6:9 and Revelation 9:1-11 . The book of Revelation is event based and the chapters DO NOT
all follow chronologically.
TAKE REVELATION 12 for example. The ancient birth of Christ (1st century) Revelation 12:5 is placed AFTER Revelation 6, even though the seals in Revelation 6 take place well into the future after Revelation 12:5
Similarly Satan is seen fighting in Heaven Revelation 12:3-4 and this is a very ancient event.
The chapters are not placed in all the order in which they happened in history/the future.