When we affirm that the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls are sequential and follow a chronological order, that does not mean that there is nothing repetitive in each set of sevens. All speak of some administration of judgment and punishment. It is a case of one act of vengeance after another. So, judgment is being repeated, but not the same punishment.
Consider also the words "One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things." (Rev. 9: 12) If the one woe (5th trumpet judgment) "is past," how can it be completed and done if the 5th bowl is but a repetition of the 5th trumpet?
In
"Recapitulation in Revelation 4–11" by Ekkehardt Mueller of Biblical Research Institute (see
here) we have this excellent commentary (emphasis mine):
"In approaching the Book of Revelation, or at least certain sections of the book, one has basically two options. One can chose recapitulation or progression. Opinions on the structure of Revelation and on the delimitation of certain passages determine, to a large degree, whether one opts for one or the other of these two possibilities."
But, if a man chooses the recapitulation view, he does it without the least grounds for doing so, going against the obvious progression of the Apocalyptic judgments.
Wrote Mueller:
"Recapitulationists perceive several parts of the Apocalypse as somewhat repetitious, and each of these parts seems to lead to the final consummation. In other words, the author repeatedly leads his hearers and readers over the same ground, adding a new perspective each time."
I don't think that this is what the average first time reader of the Apocalypse sees happening in the judgment scenes. Yes, the idea of judgement is repeated, but that does not mean that the scenes and the judgments are the same, occurring at the same time. The idea of recapitulation is being read into the book.
Wrote Mueller:
"Progression, as opposed to recapitulation, discerns only one final climax in the Book of Revelation. Everything leads up to this culmination. For example, the seven trumpets do not, to a certain extent, cover the same ground which the seven seals have already encircled, but grow out of the seals and are their extension."
That is my view and is what the plain reading of the prophecy warrants.
Wrote Mueller:
"Although the issue of recapitulation may seem somewhat academic and complicated, its implications and its practical effects can be tremendous and far reaching. The question of progression or recapitulation may not matter too much to a preterist, even though preterists often defend recapitulation."
I find it quite revealing that it is the Preterists and Amillennialists, the ones who resist interpreting prophecies literally, are the ones who say that the trumpets and bowls are but recapitulations of what occurs during the time when each of the seals are opened.
Wrote Mueller:
Bruce M. Metzger is cited as saying "Thus, the seven seals and the seven trumpets essentially tell the same thing, each time emphasizing one or another aspect of the whole.”
But, it is clear to any plain reader of the Apocalypse that what happens under each of the trumpets and bowls are not "essentially" a retelling of "the same thing." Again, let each person compare what takes place under each seal with what occurs under each trumpet and bowl and he will see that the same judgment type and time period is not the same.
Wrote Mueller:
"The question where the seven seals end and where a new block begins, however, is of vital importance, for it has to do with the very issue of recapitulation, and it decisively affects the interpretation of Revelation, as we have already pointed out above."
So, when does the seventh seal end? Not until the seven trumpets have sounded and the seven bowls have been poured out. All the judgments of the seven trumpets and bowls take place under the umbrella of the seventh seal. None of them occur in the first through the sixth seals.
Wrote Mueller, citing John A. McLean's “Structure of the Book of Revelation,” gives us these words:
"The structure of the Apocalypse is determined, in part, by one’s understanding of whether the three septet [sets of seven] judgments are sequential or simultaneous. The sequential view understands the seals, trumpets, and bowls as successive judgments that proceed out of each other. The simultaneous view sees a recapitulation of the septets in which the judgements are parallel to each other. Each recapitulation reviews previous events and adds further details."
We must ask those who espouse the recapitulation view why they see a need to view the events of the Apocalypse as not occurring in a chronological order. There is nothing in the text that leads a person to see repetition. The normal reading is to see the seven trumpets and seven bowls as all occurring under the seventh seal.
"The sequential view understands the general flow of the book and especially the series of seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments as following a chronological sequence. Similarities between different chronological judgments are understood as part of God’s design, but not necessitating identity because differences in the text make plain that identity is not involved. In the most widely-held sequential view, the events attending the seven bowls are subsumed within the seventh trumpet and the events of the seven trumpets are subsumed within the seventh seal."
That is simply what a plain reading of the Apocalypse shows.
Next, Mueller, citing Beale, "The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text" gives us these words:
"The reasons given for the sequential view include: There are five principal arguments for the basic futurist perspective. (1) It is argued that Rev. 1:19+ divides the whole book into three temporal parts . . . (2) Rev. 4:1b+ (“I will show you what must happen after these things”) affirms . . . that the visions of wrath in the remainder of the book are to occur after the events of the church age . . . (3) It is assumed that the order of the visions generally represents the order of future events . . . (4) If the order of the seals, trumpets, and bowls does not portray historical events in the order of their historical occurrence, and if the trumpets and the bowls are not subsumed within the seals, then . . . the trumpets and the bowls are separated from the introductory throne vision of Rev. 4:1+-5:14+, from which the seals and the rest of the visions in the book seem to naturally flow. (5) The increasing intensity of the judgments throughout the book is another argument."
There is a good case for the sequential view and no grounds for the recapitulation view.
Wrote Mueller:
"Although there are many similarities between the septets, the differences are more crucial and determinative. The seals generally differ in content from the trumpet and bowl plagues. There is no parallel alignment between the first, fifth, and seventh judgments of the septets. . . . The two Greek phrases καὶ εἶδον [kai eidon] and μετὰ ταῦτα [meta tauta] indicate a sequential movement . . . a chronological movement . . . The seven seals are followed by the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls follow the seven trumpets . . . The bowls evidence a sequential pattern as they are called “the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished” (Rev. 15:1+). . . . The seventh trumpet is linked to the seven bowls."
Agreed. Mueller continues:
"Another reason why the bowl judgments cannot represent a recapitulation of the previous trumpet or seal judgments is found in the difference in access to the heavenly Temple during the period of the judgments. Due to the great significance of the final bowl judgments, the heavenly Temple is closed for their duration (Rev. 15:8+). Yet in the midst of the seal and trumpet judgments, the Temple is not sealed (Rev. 7:15+; 11:19+; 14:15+, 17+; 15:6+). This indicates that the bowl judgments (Rev. 16+) cannot be merely descriptive of further detail related to the corresponding trumpet or seal judgments, but are unique in themselves and must occur at an entirely different period of time which follows upon the opening of the seals and sounding of the trumpets. See commentary on Revelation 15:8 and Revelation 16:17. One of the frequently-heard criticisms of the sequential view is that it lacks sensitivity to the literary form or apocalyptic genre of the book.19 As the reader recognizes by now, the single largest factor which divides interpreters of the book is how literal one takes its contents. Whenever literary genre, apocalyptic similarities, and devotional qualities are elevated in importance over a literal interpretation, the result will most likely be non-futurist and embrace significant recapitulation. By adopting a recapitulation view, it can be argued that one of the key values of the book of Revelation is forfeited, its guidance in organizing related passages:
The value of the book of Revelation is not that it provides a lot of new information, but rather that it takes the scattered Old Testament prophecies and puts them in chronological order so that the sequence of events may be determined. . . . This is the reason for so many references to the Old Testament."
Excellent comments!
In
"THE STRUCTURE OF THE APOCALYPSE: RECAPITULATION OR PROGRESSION?" by Robert L. Thomas, Professor of New Testament (See
here), we have these good words on the subject (emphasis mine):
"The number of divisions of the Apocalypse, a longstanding problematic issue, finds its best resolution in allowing for the structural dominance of the numbered series in the book. Though a theory of recapitulation in dealing with those series has its merits, stronger evidence militates against such a system. A telescopic form of progression is not without its difficulties, but stronger evidence in its favor leads to the conclusion that it is the best solution. Attempts to combine recapitulation and progression fail because of the procedure's hermeneutical shortsighted-ness. A number of chronological considerations bolster the conclusion that the telescopic explanation is correct. Recapitulation does play a supporting role in some of the book's sections of intercalation, but the overall scheme of the book is that of progression, not repetition."
I agree. A person reading the Apocalypse for the first time sees the events of the seals, trumpets, and bowls as occurring in a chronological manner.
Said Thomas further:
"Weaknesses of recapitulation. The theory that the seals, trumpets, and bowls are parallel does not lack for support, but it also faces difficulties. (1) If the three series are independent of each other as this hypothesis usually holds, the organic unity of the whole apocalyptic section of the book is impaired.22 Ostensibly the vision of the seven sealed scroll in chap. 5 introduces the remainder of the Apocalypse. A detachment of the trumpets and bowls from the seals leaves the last two cycles of judgment unrelated to the throne of God from which the seal judgments have proceeded. These unattached sequences of wrathful visitations leave unanswered basic questions about their source and how they fit with the rest of the book. This disconnection brings the book to the brink of absurdity`i.e., to a state that is unworthy of a literary work. On the other hand, if the seventh seal consists of the trumpets and bowls, the whole is bound together into a cohesive literary unit." (pg. 49-50)
Another argument in favor of the chronological view.
Wrote Thomas:
"(2) Another weakness of recapitulation is its inconsistent analysis of the nature and purpose of the seven seals. All seven are manifestations of wrath against "those who dwell on the earth," i.e., "the earth-dwellers" (3:10; cf. 6:10; 8:13; 11:10 [twice]; 13:8; 12, 14 [twice]; 17:2, 8)."
Further, as I showed in my long series on "Redemption," the seven seals deal with redemption. The entire book of Revelation deals with redemption. Even the judgments upon the wicked world are acts of a Redeemer acting as the Avenger of his people.
Wrote Thomas:
"(3) A third deficiency in recapitulation is its lack of an adequate explanation for the widely acknowledged increase in intensity from the seals to the trumpets and from the trumpets to the bowls.26 For example, the fourth seal affects one-quarter of the earth's population, and the sixth trumpet afflicts one-third (6:8; 9:18). In contrast to these fractional and non-final punishments, the bowl judgments affect the totality of the earth and are ultimate in their consequences (e.g., cp. 8:8 with 16:3).27 No theory of recapitulation has an adequate explanation for these increases."
Again, there is simply no good reason for rejecting the sequential view and accepting a recapitulation view. When a seal of the seven sealed scroll is opened, it ends the previous seal and its effects. The accumulation of evidence against the recapitulation theory is considerable and outweighs its favorable points.
