Question regarding the Revelation judgments...

[RonJohnSilver]

My SS teacher this morning made a comment that I'm not sure I agree with but I guess I've never considered it before. He said that he thought that since the book of Revelation, at least starting at chapter 6, concerned all of the last seven years, then that meant that the judgments, the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments also dealt with all seven years, that is, that those judgments would last or be distributed throughout the entire seven year period instead of being consecutive. So, the seal judgments, the war, famine, economic problems would be seen for the entire seven year period. Likewise, when the trumpet and bowl judgments come, they would then continue for the rest of the tribulation. I've always considered the judgments as beginning and ending, then the next one beginning and ending, and so on. I'm interested in what all of you think?

 

[Tall Timbers]

I believe they are sequential with there being plenty of overlap but I expect at least most if them to have an ending prior to the end of Tribulation. At least one of the judgments is for a specific amount of time, 5 months give or take, so that one will end.

I would expect the initial Tribulation war to end but the famine and disease that follows may not end and may be exasperated by following judgments.

 

[mattfivefour]

I believe they are sequential with there being plenty of overlap but I expect at least most if them to have an ending prior to the end of Tribulation.

I agree completely with TT. While both our belief and that of your SS teacher are interpretations of the text, I respectfully and humbly suggest ours is the most logical understanding, for each judgment commences sequentially over a space of time. Scripture presents them as a series of escalating judgments, each one more severe than the previous. Also there is a possible internal clue in that it is likely that each judgement is a result of the previous one. For example the first seal initiates conquest; the second, war; the third seal, famine; the fourth seal, death. Clearly, conquest leads to war, war to famine and famine to death. There is also another internal clue that helps support our view, something that @Tall Timbers already brought up -- the fifth trumpet judgement specifically states that it lasts for five months. Therefore, based on a simple reading of the text combined with these kinds of clues, I am comfortable viewing all of the judgments as sequential (although with overlap.)

 

[Hol]

I’ve had a SS teacher suggest the judgements are concurrent, citing the earthquakes. I haven’t dug into it