Revelation 6-11
January 6, 2015

Revelation is easier to comprehend for me when I break in down into segments.  There are basically three events that most other things happen around.  The seals, trumpets and bowls.   There are seven of each, and with each one come different actions.    I wonder sometimes if they are all happening chronologically...there does seem to be some overlap in them.  ie:  seal # "x" and trumpet "x" have the same event...or at least a similar event.     I suspect that the seals, trumpets and bowls are all overlapping in some way...but I haven't ever heard anyone else say the same thing.

It would seem that fire from heaven and great earthquakes will be the next method of wreaking havoc on the earth.   It's ironic that scientists have been predicting the same thing.

One of the most often asked questions about Revelation is "when does the rapture take place?"
Some people think it's earlier than the tribulation, based on Jesus saying to John "come up here" in chapter 4.    I suspect that the rapture isn't until partway or after the tribulation.  In Chapter 7 a great multitude in white robes are seen in heaven.   You can't have that unless there are Christians who perished during the tribulation.  And you can't have Christians during the tribulation if they were all raptured earlier.

Some will say "those are the people who accepted Jesus after the rapture".   Well....about that,   I call your attention to the parable of the 10 virgins.  5 of them were supposed to go in, but they weren't ready when the door was opened the first (and only) time.  When they realized their mistake and returned later, the door did not open again.   Then there's the lesson to be learned from the Ark.  It had only one door, and once the people had entered the Ark once, the door closed never to open again.   Or, you might consider Israel's history: When did God ever remove the godly people from the rest of society before punishment came?    It seems to me that the prophets always went with the people, into the desert and into exile.   In fact, they were needed there, to remind the people of their sins, and to point the way to salvation.    Once the opportunity for salvation has passed, then there will be no further need for the Holy Spirit to remain with men, and when He leaves, so will all the Christians.

It seems that a large meteor strikes the earth, and releases some sort of stinging fly.  Maybe it's figurative language for an army that takes advantage of the fact the the skies are filled with smoke (that would mean no satellite imagery, and less high tech aircraft)  which would level the playing field between the US and some other countries.   There are many countries with Red, Yellow and Blue in their flags...too many to make a reasonable guess as to which one of them is indicated.    It could be a country that doesn't exist today...we don't know.    But, the fact that specific details are given about a future event tells us that it WILL happen, and that SOMEONE is able to travel into the future to see what occurs.

That someone is Jesus, who plucks John from his place in the timeline, and allows him to witness events in real time that haven't occurred yet (in John's understanding).   Of course for Jesus, the future is already history.  

PR