The judgements in Revelation, a chronological sequence of events:
Revelation 6:1-17 The first seal – The white horse that conquers nations.
Second seal – The red horse that takes away the peace on earth.
Third seal – The black horse that controls the worlds food supply.
Fourth seal – The pale horse that causes the deaths of 1/3 of mankind.
Zechariah 6:1-8 also describes these 4 horses and verse 7 says how they were released in ancient times, so these seals have been opened already and the world suffers for it.
Fifth seal – The saints: all those who have been slaughtered for their faith in God. They await the final completion of their numbers. This seal is also opened, as it is for all those people killed for their faith, from Abel until Jesus Returns. Matthew 23:35, Isaiah 57:1-2
Sixth seal – This must be the next prophesied event, Rev. 6:17 ‘For the great Day of the wrath of Almighty God and the Lamb has come and who can stand?’ It will be a worldwide judgement of fire, by the means of a massive CME sun strike, that will particularly affect the Middle East, destroying those nations and entities that attack the State of Israel, as described in Psalms 83. Isaiah 34:8
Seventh seal – Rev. 8:1,a period of silence in heaven and a time lapse of about 15 to 25 years on earth. We are told that one day to the Lord, is as 1000 years. So, ½ hour = 1/48th of a day. 1/48th of 1000 years = about 20 years
After that, the Trumpet and Bowl punishments of the Great Tribulation occur, during the final 3½ years of this age. Revelation chapters 8 & 9 –
First trumpet – A hail of fire and blood, 1/3 of the earth burnt.
Second trumpet – A comet strikes the sea, 1/3 of the fish killed, 1/3 ships sunk.
Third trumpet – Wormwood, another comet or similar, strikes the land, 1/3 of the fresh water is poisoned.
Forth trumpet – 1/3 of the light on the world is stopped.
Fifth trumpet – Stinging creatures torment those who have taken the mark of the beast.
Sixth trumpet – 1/3 of mankind are killed by 200 million supernatural horsemen.
Seventh trumpet – Rev 11:15 ‘Sovereignty over all the world has passed to our God and His Christ and He shall reign for ever! ‘
Revelation 15:1 ‘Then I saw in Heaven a astonishing sight, seven angels with the last 7 plagues and with them the wrath of God was completed. ‘
Revelation 16:1-31
First bowl – Causes malignant sores on all those with the mark of the beast.
Second bowl – This poisons the oceans, all marine life is killed.
Third bowl – This poisons the springs and rivers.
Fourth bowl – Another CME burns people, but they are not killed.
Fifth bowl – The kingdom of the beast suffers total darkness.
Sixth bowl – The 3 spirits gather the armies at Armageddon.
Seventh bowl –‘ A loud voice from the Throne calls: It is over! Then follows flashes of lightning, thunder and a violent earthquake. Babylon is destroyed. ‘
Analysis of the Sixth Bowl;
Revelation 16:13-14 ‘The sixth angel poured out his bowl onto the Euphrates river and its waters were dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East. I saw three foul spirits like frogs come out of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. These are demonic spirits with the power to work miracles, sent out to muster all the kings of the earth for the battle on the great Day of the Sovereign Lord.’ [The Day of the glorious Return of Jesus]
Revelation 16:15 ‘See: I am coming as a thief! Happy is the person who keeps awake and stays dressed, so that they are not ashamed for all to see.’
[This verse seems to be out of context, but the admonition still applies for us to keep awake and remain in our ‘garments of righteousness’ at all times.]
Revelation 16:16 The spirits assemble the armies at Armageddon.
[This is a wide valley, just northeast of Mt Carmel, actually quite a distance from Jerusalem – at least 2 days march, I would think.]
Is this event, at to the Return of Jesus, the same as the Lord’s Day of vengeance and wrath?
Purpose To destroy the armies attacking Jerusalem, not a judgement against the nations.
Location – This attack is just in Israel, not worldwide, as is the Day of vengeance.
The players- The Anti Christ, beast and false prophet are not mentioned at the Day of vengeance and wrath, the Sixth Seal and the many other prophesies of that event.
The method – Destruction by Christ’s sharp sword, not the same as the vivid descriptions of a fire judgement, prophesied more than 70 times in the Bible and referred to in Hebrews 10:27, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, 2 Peter 3:7.
It is evident that there are two separate ‘Days of the Lord’ in which the Lord acts to punish His enemies. The Sixth Seal, the Day of the Lord’s vengeance and wrath, is the next prophesied event that we can expect, of a worldwide judgement/punishment by fire from the sun, which will clear and cleanse His Land. Most clearly described in Isaiah 63:1-6 and Habakkuk 3:12 ‘Furiously You traverse the earth, in anger You trample down the nations.’ But the Lord is not seen: Psalms 11:4-6, Psalms 18:11
Then, much later, at the Return of Jesus, is the Sixth and Seventh Bowl fulfilment, the great Day of the Sovereign Lord, when He disposes of the armies of the Anti Christ.
Revelation 19:19-21, Zechariah 14:3-5
Revelation 22:6-21 These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, who inspires the prophets has shown His servants what must soon take place. Remember, Jesus is coming soon! Happy is the person who takes to heart the words of prophecy. Meanwhile, let the evildoers persist in their evil, but let the godly persevere in their goodness and the holy in their holiness. Happy are those who wash their robes with righteousness! They shall be free to eat from the tree of life and may enter the City by the gates. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Reference; REB. Some verses abridged.
The Prophetic Word 