A Comparison of the Synoptic Eschatological Discourses and Revelation 6–20 by Ron J

A Comparison of the Synoptic Eschatological Discourses and Revelation 6–20 by Ron J. Bigalke Jr. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate parallels between the synoptic eschatological discourses (Matthew 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 17:22–37; 21:7–36) and Revelation 6–20 in a sequential format, focusing upon the first half of the Tribulation period, or Daniel’s seventieth week1 Correlation of each event of Revelation 6–20 with its timing in the eschatological discourses provides a better understanding of the current age (in regard to the signs of the end times, or stage setting), the wrath of God, and the return of Christ and His judgment. Sequential Judgments There is an expanding development of the judgments in the Book of Revelation.2 In other words, the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments have a sequential relationship. The series of judgments are not parallel and simultaneous in the sense of recapitulation. It is best to interpret each series as generally following its antecedent. This means that the seventh seal judgment leads into the series of the seven trumpet judgments and the seventh trumpet judgment leads into the series of the seven bowl judgments. The evidence for a sequential order of the judgments is that each series of judgments increases in destruction and intensity. For instance, the second trumpet judgment destroys one-third of the sea creatures, whereas the second bowl judgment turns the sea into blood (Revelation 8:8–9; 16:3). The fourth trumpet judgment darkens the sun partially, whereas the fourth bowl judgment intensifies its heat so as to make it scorching to humanity. The same is evident with the third and sixth trumpets, and the third, fourth, and sixth bowl judgments (there are no similarities between the first, fifth, and seventh trumpet and bowl judgments). The seal judgments, however, are generally different in nature from the trumpet and bowl judgments. For instance, the third seal judgment of famine is severe but nonetheless fractional. The fourth seal judgment affects the fourth part of the earth, whereas the dominant fraction of the trumpet judgments is one-third (8:7, 9, 10–12; 9:15). The finality of the bowl judgments is evident in that John mentioned no fractions. Furthermore, the command of Revelation 9:4 to hurt only those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads certainly assumes that 7:1–8 has already 1 The Tribulation period is Daniel’s seventieth week; it is a theological term primarily, even though it is based on context and exegesis of Scripture. 2 Dale Ralph Davis, “The Relationship between the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls in the Book of Revelation,” JETS 16 (1973): 149–58; Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8–22: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody, 1995), 525–43. Comparison of Synoptics and Revelation 61 occurred. Likewise, the judgment of 16:2 upon those who had the mark of the beast and who worshipped his image assumes that the events of 13:16–18 have already occurred. One may also note the Greek phrases kai\ ei]don (5:1–2, 6, 11; 6:1, 2, 5, 12; 7:2; 8:2; 9:1; 15:1–2; 17:3, 6; 19:11, 17, 19; 20:1, 4, 11–12; 22:1) and meta\ tau=ta (1:19; 9:12; 15:15; 19:1; 20:3), which indicate the sequential nature and chronological progression of the Apocalypse. Revelation 8:1–2 reads, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.” Since this vision follows the six seals, there is an obvious succession between the seal and trumpet judgments. The last and final evidence for a sequential understanding of the judgments is the repeated statement that humanity “did not repent” but instead “blasphemed God” (9:20–21; 16:9, 11, 21). The fact that each series of judgments intensifies in destruction and intensity evidences the longsuffering of God with profane humanity. Having affirmed a sequential understanding of the Book of Revelation, attention will now be directed to parallels with the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation in the synoptic eschatological discourses. For the sake of simplicity and space, comparisons will be made primarily between Matthew’s eschatological discourse and the Book of Revelation. The Beginning of the Tribulation There are two views among premillennialists as to the timing of the fulfillment of the birth pangs prophesied in the Matthean eschatological discourse. In his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Dr. Walvoord wrote of premillennialists who understand Matthew 24:4–14 “as a unit, describing the general characteristics of the age leading up to the end, while at the same time recognizing that the prediction of the difficulties, which will characterize the entire period between the first and second coming of Christ, are fulfilled in an intensified form as the age moves on to its conclusion.” In other words, they argue that 24:4–14 lists “general signs,” whereas 24:15–26 lists “specific signs.” This would mean that “these [general] signs have been at least partially fulfilled in the present age and have characterized the period between the first and second coming of Christ.”3 However, even within this view, some interpret 24:4–8 as general signs of the period between the first and second coming of Christ and 24:9–14 as events occurring in the first half of the Tribulation.4 3 John F. Walvoord, Matthew: Thy Kingdom Come (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974; repr., Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1998), 183. 4 “Although these verses are very similar to those recorded in Mark 13:9–13 and Luke 12:12–19, the differences show that Matthew is not dealing with the same thing. Luke clearly stated that the events he was describing came before the sign of the end of the age when nation shall rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. However, in the Matthew account, the passage begins with the word then, pointing out that what Christ is describing now will come after the event of nation rising against nation and kingdom 62 CTS Journal 13 (Spring 2008) It is not easy to argue that the birth pangs (false messiahs, wars, famines, and earthquakes5) have been lacking in the present age. However, the relationship between Christ’s statements in the eschatological discourses and parallels in Revelation 6 indicates that these signs cannot occur in the church age. These signs are unique to a period of which the world has never known. Since these signs are events that fit contextually within the Tribulation period, they should not be cited as fulfilled (in any sense) in the current age.6 For example, it is common to reference famines and plagues as proof of prophetic fulfillment, but the truth is, these have been occurring throughout the course of human history for thousands of years. The worst famines in history happened in North China (1876–79) and India (1876–78). In North China alone, “deaths by hunger, violence, and subsequent disease are estimated at between 9 million and 13 million.”7 The worst case of pestilence was in Europe and Asia from A.D. 500 to 650 (popularly termed the “Plague of Justinian”), which left three of every five inhabitants dead. The decline of the city of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire dates from the Plague of Justinian. Not until the ninth century did the Empire begin to recover. “Recurring epidemics of bubonic plague killed as many as 100 million people” in Europe and Asia.8 From 1347 to 1351, the Black Death “affected every level of society, killing an estimated 75 million people, depopulating more than 200,000 villages, and reducing the European population by perhaps as much as one-quarter.”9 None can deny the devastation of these select events, but they will pale in comparison to those of the Tribulation. No current frame of reference exists for the judgments and signs of the Tribulation. If the events of 24:4–14 (or 24:4–8) are general signs of disasters as ancient as the human race—representing familiarly distressing scenes of conquest, war, famine, and death—then what is different in the breaking of the against kingdom. So while the words tend to be similar, these similarities do not prove sameness.” Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries Press, 1983), 440. 5 For instance, it is commonly stated that the increasing number of earthquakes is a sign of the end times. Such claims are inconsistent with scientific data and biblical context. See Ron J. Bigalke Jr., “The Olivet Discourse: A Resolution of Time,” CTS Journal 9 (Spring 2003): 136–38. See also Steven A. Austin and Mark L. Strauss, “Are Earthquakes Signs of the End Times?: A Geological and Biblical Response to an Urban Legend,” Christian Research Journal 21 (1999): 30–39; and Gordon Franz, “Earthquakes: On the Increase? Or Warnings of Judgment to Come?” (paper, Eastern Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Myerstown, PA, 1999). This author is grateful to Gordon Franz for providing these additional sources to him. 6 World events are not insignificant but may “set the stage” for the prophetic fulfillment of tribulation events. See Thomas Ice, “Stage-Setting of the Last Days,” in Revelation Hoofbeats, ed. Ron J. Bigalke Jr. (Longwood, FL: Xulon, 2003), 283–300. 7 James C. Cornell Jr., The Great International Disaster Book (New York: Pocket Books, 1979), 155. 8 Ibid., 183. 9 Ibid., 184.

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