I don't look at Revelation as one timeline. I see it as a series of descriptions of the same events.
Hello again,
If the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments were speaking of the same events, that there are three sets of seven events would make no sense. Revelation is a chronological order of judgments of wrath.
7th Trumpet:
After the 4th trumpet, we have an eagle announcing woe! woe! woe! Each woe is representing its respective Trumpet that is, 5th Trumpet = 1st woe, 6th Trumpet = 2nd woe, 7th Trump = 3rd woe. There are clues in the context that demonstrate that the seals, trumpets and bowls are sequential. The first clues is that each set is numbered 1 thru 7. Much of the time after John finishes with a plague he then says, "after this." Here is an example: After the 6th seal has taken place, there is a pause in the action in that, John sees four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, which would demonstrate that the harm that they will inflict is not restricted to just Israel, but to the entire earth. These four angels will be given authority to harm the earth, the sea and the trees. After the sealing of the 144,000, which are the first fruits out of Israel and the introduction of the great tribulation saints (GTS), the 7th seal is opened. Following that, we immediately see the beginning results of the harm that those four angels are give power to inflict, because at the sounding of the 1st trumpet a third of the earth and a third of the trees will be burned up. This would demonstrate chronology.
1). Four angels are given power to harm the earth, sea and trees after the sealing of the 144,000
2). Sealing of the 144,000
3). A vision of the great tribulation saints, who are not the church
4). 7th seal (half hour of silence, incense and prayers, angels are given their trumpets)
5). 1st trumpet - Four angels begin their harm: a third of the earth and trees are burned up (see #1)
If you look at #1, the angels are given power to harm the earth, the sea and the trees, then when the 1st trumpet is blown, we see the results of their harm, which would demonstrate a chronological order. Here is another example:
Trumpets 5, 6 and 7 are each referred to as woes.
5th Trumpet/1st woe:
"The first woe
has passed; behold, two woes are
still to come."
6th Trumpet/2nd woe:
"The second woe
has passed; behold, the third woe is
soon to come."
As you can see from above, after the 5th trumpet the announcement is made that the 1st woe has passed and two more are to follow. Then, after the 6th trumpet, the announcement is made that the second woe has passed and that the third woe is coming soon. The words "has passed" and "still to come" demonstrates that trumpets 5, 6 and seven are in sequential order. Here is another example:
"I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with
the seven last plagues--last, because with them God's wrath is completed.
In the verse above, the bowl judgments are treated as a unit and are the seven
last plagues and "with them" God's wrath is completed. Since the bowl judgments are the "last" plagues of wrath, then there would necessarily have to be wrath that was first or before them, which would be the seals and the trumpets judgments.
In this viewpoint for example, the 7th trumpet Ch 11
The 7th trumpet is the 3rd woe, which is where Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven to the earth (woe to the inhabitants of the earth), which takes place in the middle of that last seven years and where they will be restricted to until the Lord returns to the earth to end the age. Chapter 11 contains information regarding the two witnesses who will prophecy in Jerusalem during the first 3 1/2 year period and will be killed by the beast, that angel, who comes up out of the Abyss at the sounding of the 5th trumpet (Rev.9:11).
Ch. 20, which show Satan being released from his abyss.
Rev.20:1-3 is where Satan is thrown into the Abyss, which will have been opened back at the 5th trumpet. After he is thrown in, he will remain there until the end of the thousand years where he will be let out again for one last rebellion, where afterwards, he will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev.20:10) Below is the chronological order of events:
* Jesus returns to end the age and establish his millennial kingdom after the 7th bowl has been poured out.
* The beast and false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire
* Satan is seized and thrown into the Abyss during Christ's thousand year reign
* Thousand year reign of Christ
* When the thousand years are over, Satan is released and causes the last rebellion
* Satan is thrown into the lake of fire
* The great white throne judgment takes place of the unrighteous dead
* New heaven, New earth, New Jerusalem: Eternity ..........................................
The 144,000 are all Israel from the first resurrection (Jacob, David,Daniel), the multitude no man could number are non- Israelites from the first resurrection (Noah, Adam, Able), they are in heaven now with Jesus.
The Woman of Revelation 12:
* Clothed with the sun: Sun = Jacob
* Moon under her feet = Jacobs wife(s)
* Wearing a crown of twelve stars = twelve tribes of Israel
The woman as a whole = the nation Israel (See Gen.37:9-10)
The Great Multitude which no man could count:
* there before me was a great multitude that no one could count,
from every nation, tribe, people and language.
The group above is made up of Gentiles and is not Israel. These are the great tribulation saints which are a separate Gentile group, where the 144,000 are those who come out of the twelve tribes of literal Israel. The mention of 144,000 and then the mention of a number that no man can count from every nation, tribe, people and language, is demonstrating that God is being literal with these descriptions, i.e. a literal 144,000 and a great number of Gentile saints too numerous to count, they being two distinct groups.
The 144,000:
The first fruits to God out of literal Israel (gives birth to). The male child is not referring to Jesus, but is a collective name for the 144,000 who will be caught up to God's throne at during the middle of the seven years. This group is not resurrected, but according to the scripture, it appears that they, like the living church, will be changed and caught up.
Those who live and reign for a thousand years are the saints from the first resurrection.
Those who come to life as described in Rev.20:4-6 are specifically the great tribulation saints. Notice that at this resurrection, there is no mention of the living in Christ being changed and caught up, but only those who will have been beheaded during the time of the beasts reign. In opposition, the resurrection of the church, as described in 1 Thes.4:13-18, will have taken place prior to the first seal being opened, which begins God's wrath.
The Male child is Jesus, but he already came and was caught up to heaven, so that already happened
Jesus was not caught up to heaven. The scripture states that the dragon (Satan) is waiting for the woman to give birth. She gives birth and is caught up to God and to his throne before the dragon can devour(kill) the child. And because the dragon couldn't get the child, he then goes after the woman who gave birth him. Jesus does not fit the criteria of the male child and that because he did not escape being devoured, but was crucified and then later laid down his life freely, where after his resurrection, he then ascended to the right hand of the Father. As previously stated, the male child is a collective name for the 144,00 who Israel gives birth to and who are all males (Rev.14:4), ergo, male child. Also, regarding "that already happened" Jesus states that the information contained in Revelation is to show the things that must soon take place and therefore, this would also demonstrate that the male child could not be referring to Jesus.
I hope that this helps clear things up
Blessings in Christ