Episode Details

In part 1 of 2 parts, I gave some context to one of the most common interpretations for the posttrib view, where the seals, trumpets, and bowls occur roughly at the same time. Indeed, many posttribs believe the corresponding elements are the same events; i.e. the seventh trumpet is the seventh bowl.

Over the years from studying posttribulationism, I am convinced that this posttrib interpretation necessarily forces a framework upon the book of Revelation because of a deep-seated presupposition that they hold.

The presupposition is that the depiction of the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 19 with Christ appearing in the sky with his heavenly armies indicates the beginning of his parousia. Yet, many posttribs recognize this causes a discrepancy because the book of Revelation shows the day of the Lord’s wrath unfolding before the battle of Armageddon during the trumpet and bowl judgments. In other words, how can the parousia begin at the battle of Armageddon but at the same time affirm that his judgment does not begin before his parousia? They also recognize the discrepancy of affirming that God’s people have been resurrected between the sixth and the seventh seal in Revelation 7 and, at the same time, claiming that the resurrection occurs in association with the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 19 that they say initiates the parousia. How then do they attempt to reconcile these problems?

Enter the concurrent-recapitulation interpretation of posttribulationism.

Since this issue is important and a very common point of disagreement between prewrath and posttrib, I will argue that the concurrent-recapitulation interpretation is not only implausible but contradictory. In addition, I will show that the consecutive-progressive framework is the most natural, intended interpretation to the relationship of the seals, trumpets, and bowls.

Seals, Trumpets, Bowls – At the Same Time or One After the Other?

Consecutive-Progressive

The prewrath position interprets a sequential chronological framework for the seals, trumpets, and bowls. That is, the seal-trumpet-bowl septets (sets of seven) will happen in a consecutive-progressive fashion with each septet consecutively following each other. For example, the trumpet septet cannot begin until the seventh seal is opened; and the bowl septet cannot begin before the seventh trumpet is blown. The last judgment element of the day of the Lord’s wrath will be the seventh bowl. Accordingly, the seventh seal and the seventh trumpet serve as transitions to the next set of God’s climaxing judgments, culminating with the seventh bowl.