Comments on 1st Seal...

The day of the Lord begins at a specific point in time. That is made clear by the 15 times this point is made in scripture e.g.: 1 Thess 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. The day of the Lord has a more specific application towards the end of the seven years. However it is also made clear that this expression refers to the overall period leading up to the return of Christ. The first seal in Rev 6 only refers to  ‘a rider with a bow on a white horse going forth to conquer’. The only biblical match for this verse is found in Habakkuk 3:9 where the rider is clearly Christ. This first seal would represent the warning that Christ has ‘taken over’, it is now His day and He will do what has been spoken of throughout the entire bible.

Comments on 2nd Seal...

After the initial warning which was the message of Rev 14:6 to turn to Christ before events start to spiral out of control, that is precisely what happens next. The second seal states ‘peace was taken from the earth’. An event occurred that completely destabilised the world. In the Rev 14 verses (which are a complete mini timeline of the day of the Lord) the first main event of the end time is the fall of Babylon. The world’s economy is devastated to such a degree that international trade cannot continue. With the disruption to food and other essentials; patience fails and war breaks out.

Comments on 3rd Seal...

As a result of the breakdown in world supply chains and the desperation caused by lack of essential supplies, the price of these essentials escalates. The result is further anxiety transformed into ever more extreme measures. A ‘penny’ is a full days wage, which will only buy a loaf of bread.

Comment on 4th Seal...

World war, famine and disease take their toll. A quarter of the world’s population do not survive. Referring to these times (the tribulation of those days), Christ says they are only the beginning of sorrows; the end is not yet. Knowing the detail in advance, Christ also in advance has given some succinct advice. Tough as it is, it is meant as an exhortation to keep on going.

Comment on 5th Seal...

In this seal, the Church is portrayed as coming under extreme pressure. The resurrection has not yet taken place. They are still in their conflict with the beast. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Rev 6:9. It should be realized that this will only affect the members that are within the territory of the beast and the ten kings which is by no means ‘all the world’. Not everyone worships the beast. The Middle East will shortly be at war with him (and lose) and later the 200 million from ‘across the Euphrates’ will also engage the beast in conflict.

Comment on 6th Seal...

Other than the actual return of Christ with the resurrected Saints at the very end, this is the busiest period of the end time. Almost all the elements of timing concerning the return of Christ revolve around the sixth seal. The article the Sixth Seal should be carefully studied since it alongside the timing for the fall of Babylon are the central elements providing all the keys to really understanding the order of events in the end time. In Matt 24 where it says ‘immediately after the tribulation of those days’ in v 29 the verse goes on to describe the sixth seal in Rev 6:12. Compare all the characteristics between the sixth seal in Rev 6 and the parallel accounts in Matt 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21; you will find that they are identical. ‘Immediately after the tribulation of those days’ is referring to the previous seals one to five. The seventh seal, still future, is the great tribulation clearly demonstrated by other scriptures. At the closing stages of the sixth seal the resurrection of the ‘first fruits’ occurs, the beast carries out the ‘abomination of desolation’, Jerusalem is invaded and occupied again (by the beast), the ‘heavens depart as a scroll’.

Comment on 1st Trumpet, Seventh Seal...

Here we will be a little more specific with some of the detail from the sixth seal in order to transition into the seventh seal with some degree of certainty.  The resurrection occurs at the 6th seal:
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  Matt 24:29
The events described fit the 6th seal Rev 6:12 precisely. The resurrection takes place at this time according to these verses. Confirmation comes from two directions. One is the ‘woman’ (defined as those that have the testimony of Jesus and keep His commands Rev 12:17) the Church members chosen to be ‘first fruits’ are taken out of Satan’s reach for 31/2 years and are next described as being on the ‘sea of glass’ Rev 12:14, Rev 14, Rev 15. The Rev 15 chapter shows ‘those that had gotten the victory over the beast’ were there before the seven last plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. The seven last plagues occur after the 6th seal so this is during the seventh. The great tribulation does not commence until after the abomination of desolation occurs, after which there is 42 months left (until Christ destroys him and his army). After the ‘abomination’ in Jerusalem the two witnesses join the cast, also for the remaining 42 months. All these events lasting 42 months coincide.
After the resurrection and celebration on the sea of glass there is a silence for a short while (‘half an hour’); a brief respite before the great tribulation gets underway.
As in the first seal there is not much detail given for the event of the first trumpet of the 7th seal.
This first trumpet affects vegetation:
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Rev 8:7

Comment on 2nd Trumpet...

Trumpet: And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. Rev 8:8
Vial: And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.  Rev 16:3
In the second trumpet we have a clear connection with the vials. That was not very apparent from the first trumpet. The second trumpet and vial are both concerned with oceans and sea life. Shipping in particular is mentioned. The devastation on what ships are still sailing would make it impossible to contemplate any trade. (I.E. Babylon is not in business). The trumpets and vials from here on all share a similarity. Since they have a common ending (when Christ returns), they are at the very least combined to a degree. The two witnesses who are present for all the duration of the seventh seal do have the ability to perform most, if not all, of the listed ‘plagues’.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.  Rev 11:6  Perhaps the duality of the trumpets and vials are different accounts of their activity.
An important point: the plagues of the seventh seal are noted as affecting the followers of the beast and those that take the mark of the beast. There is no mention of the remnant of the tribes of Israel suffering from these maladies. This makes the correlation between the activities of Moses/Aaron/Pharaoh and the two witnesses /beast even closer. Israel has enough problems surviving almost seven years in captivity. The activities of the two witnesses would be a great morale boost to the survivors; another reason for their part in the proceedings.

Comment on 3rd Trumpet...

In both the third trumpet and vial, the fresh water is affected. As mentioned in the notes of the second trumpet, the two witnesses have the ability to affect waters and turn them into blood.  Angels are reported to be doing the principal work, however in the case of Moses and Aaron when they were afflicting the Egyptians it was solely at the instruction of God.
A similar situation could exist between the two witnesses and God leaving no contradiction between angels performing their task and the two witnesses making proclamations at their bequest.

Comment on 4th Trumpet...

The connection between the vials and trumpets here is not so obvious. On the one hand they seem to be extreme opposites. On the other hand they are both concerned with the sun and light.
Irrespective; despite the hardship the one solution to the problem is the way they refuse to take: (repentance).
Trumpet: And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.  Rev 8:12
Vial:  And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. Rev 16:8

Comment on 5th Trumpet...

The trumpet and vial here are very similar. They both describe intense localised pain and in both cases only the followers of the beast are the objective. The refusal to acknowledge God is as intense as the pain. The whole objective of the end time should be kept in focus. At no time need anyone suffer any more than necessary. They have an immediate way out of the problem, simply repent and turn to God. Their own obstinacy is the sole cause of the problem; they are ‘doing it to themselves’.
Trumpet:  And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.  Rev 9:5
Vial: And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.  Rev 16:10

Comment on 6th Trumpet...

A quick summary of events will help put this period in focus. (We can see the vial and trumpet here are the same event). Despite the terrible tragedies that have unfolded; the bulk of the world’s population will still not acknowledge God. They endure intense prolonged suffering, yet instead of taking action to remedy the situation the exact opposite occurs. The world war now escalates to the point where ‘one third part of man were killed’.
Trumpet: And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.Rev 9:13
Vial:  And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty… 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Rev 16:12
The two witnesses have been warning and explaining all along the way (the last three and a half years) so no one was left unable to understand the circumstances. After all the two witnesses have done in order to try and get their point across; the beast now kills them. If this war were to continue ‘no flesh would be saved’ Matt 24:22. A greater purpose is being worked out. While the nations are solely focused on destroying each other, Christ is drawing them together for the last chance to change their minds. The gathering place for the final battleground is Armageddon. Here Christ will take over and ‘plead’ with the nations. This is the very last chance to change their minds.
See:  Last Chance
Instead of fighting each other, the forces combine with the intention to fight Christ. Only the beast and the false prophet are recorded as beyond redemption; they are reserved to shortly be thrown in the lake of fire. That is their permanent end (as in forever for eternity). The balance of the annihilated troops apparently have another chance – at a future resurrection: But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Rev 20:5

Comment on 7th Trumpet...

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. Rev 16:17
It is done! The last act of the day of the Lord. All those that have relentlessly refused to accept Christ are removed from the earth. The way is now clear to start the world on its new path.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Rev 11:15
The ‘reward’ for the Saints (their ‘positions’ not the resurrection) is at this time handed out. The twelve disciples will each be given a kingship; each over one of the nations of Israel. Math 19:28, Luke 22:30
The Saints will also receive positions as kings and priests over nations and peoples.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great… Rev 11:18
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  Rev 22:12

The kingdoms of the world becoming the kingdoms of Christ fulfils Dan 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Israel (all the nations) are brought to the ‘promised land’ – from the Nile to the Euphrates.
The millennium is the first stage of ‘forever’.