I agree, John recorded what he saw in the order that he saw the events unfold, however, what is not clear is the direction in time that John saw the events. Was John being taken forwards or backwards in time for the seven Bowl events?
When I consider the Rev 16 chapter, I understand that John was being taken backwards in time as he recorded the Bowl Judgements and not forwards in time as you are claiming. This is a matter of understanding and interpretation of the 16th chapter of Revelation. You have a particular understanding and interpretation which takes no account of when all of the events described in the Book of Revelations occur.
Now the five beasts of Daniel 7:1-12 are judged and are kept alive for many days in a prison, i.e. the Bottomless Pit, with the judged Kings of the earth who at the time of the judgement had recently completed the trampling of God's sanctuary in Jerusalem and His Earthly Hosts, i.e. the Israelites, and they all go into the Bottomless Pit along with Satan.
We also have a difference in our understanding of the Greek word "seismos" which unfortunately has been translated into English as "earthquake" but from my study, I believe that it should have been translated into the English word "turmoil" which occurs during wars and fighting between various people groups and its use in the Book of Revelation certainly reflects "turmoil" amongst the people rather than "earthquakes" within the earth's crust. Yes, "seismos" is used to describe "great turmoil" within the people involves in the respective events, and the description of the respective events also describe that the ground had shaken around the same time as the turmoil occurred amongst the people.
Let me give an example of how the the poor translation of the Greek root word "seismos" has impacted our understanding of what really happened in the respective recorded events where the Greek word is found in the New Testament: -
Revelation 11:11-14: - The Witnesses Resurrected
11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
13 In the same hour there was
a great earthquake/great turmoil, and a tenth of the city fell. In the
earthquake/turmoil seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
Our respective interpretations and subsequent understanding of the source Greek Texts from which our English Translations have been grafted, have certainly many errors into our present day understandings of the scriptures.
Now you are suggesting that your understanding of the Scriptures is infallible, but I am suggesting that it is you have accepted a particular forced understanding which does not exist within the source texted, as being the correct way of understanding the scriptures. The same is also true for your claim that all of the Book of Revelation has been written as a chronological recorded of End Time events.
I have a question for you to ponder: - What time frame is the First Bowl judgements indicating? Does the First Bowl Judgement occur at the beginning of the Millennium Age or towards the very end of the Millennium Age during the little while period?
I look forward to your rebuttal on this question as I see that the first Bowl judgement can only happen after the the end of Chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation.
Shalom
Revelation 16:18-19 is key.
18 There were flashes of lightning, voices and peals of thunder; and there was a massive earthquake, such as has never occurred since mankind has been on earth, so violent was the earthquake.
19 The great city was split into three parts, the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Bavel the Great and made her drink the wine from the cup of his raging fury.
Revelation 11:11-13
11 But after the three-and-a-half days a breath of life from God entered them, they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
12 Then the two heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up into heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them.
13 In that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were awestruck and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Revelation 11 gives the last interjection of a side story that ends the sounding of the 7th Trumpet. There are 3 side plots. 2 in chapter 11, the measure of the temple and the time of the Gentiles, and the two witnesses. Both a 42 month period. Chapter 12 places Satan into the 42 month narrative. The 7th Trumpet includes the whole 42 month period. Chapter 13 is the 42 month period.
One more side note:
The 7th Trumpet is Daniel's week of days. It is the celebration at the end of the Lamb's earthly ministry with the 144k. This earthly ministry takes place during the Trumpets and Thunders. The celebration was supposed to be one week, Sunday to Sunday. This is the literal week that gets split. That is why the 7th Trumpet goes for 42 more months. In chapter 13 the first beast is allowed to "defeat" the 144k and Christ. It is metaphorical. God allows Satan time. Christ and the 144k withdraw to the sea of glass. (To watch what happens on earth.) Only the two witnesses remain. At the end, they are "killed" and the verses above say they lay dead for 3.5 days. No one touches their bodies. This is the last 3.5 days of the week in which the 7th Trumpet is still sounding. Now to the 7 vials.
The end of the 42 months came. God kept a Covenant with the many. Satan was allowed exactly 42 months on some condition that split the week in half. Since the church was responsible leading up to the Second Coming, something about the church changed history. Otherwise the week would remain whole. The armies would still gather at Armageddon and it would be the end of Adam's flesh and blood on the earth. All humanity would be dead. This would render the 7 vials mute. Or they would still be poured out the last 3.5 days of the week even if the week was left whole, and not split.
All I see the vials as being, is for those last humans who refuse to follow God, and worship Satan. I think Revelation 14 is the final event if the week is left whole. If there is a split week, then we move to chapters 15, 16, and 19. 17 and 18 are interjections explaining Babylon and the harlot. The vials are similar to the plagues of Egypt when Pharaoh's heart was hardened. Satan and those with the mark have hardened their hearts and God pours out His wrath on them. And it is the last 3.5 days of the 7th Trumpet week. God keeps His side of the Covenant and Satan gets exactly 42 months; no more, no less. At the end of those days, God calls his two witnesses up into the sky, there is the destruction, and the armies left on earth gather for the battle of Armageddon. I think that it will be one hour on a Sunday from 5 pm to 6pm. Christ in the battle of Armageddon is not the Second Coming and not really a third coming. God kept His Covenant with Satan and Satan got 42 months. No interference from the Lamb or the 144k. Christ was already on earth during the Trumpets and Thunders and the Second Coming was already being celebrated by the 7th Trumpet prior to Satan's brief interruption.
Moving on to the Millennium seems more pertinent. This is a true Lord's Day set apart as holy unto God. Sorry I do not make a bigger deal out of the vials. They are just not that important, nor signs any one should be looking forward to. Not even the two witnesses laying dead will be affected, as they are dead. The vials are short lasting, only 3.5 days at the most.
I know some claim that believers will still be walking around. I see no point. As seen in chapter 11, even the two witnesses are dead. Any believers would have had their head chopped off to avoid getting the mark. Those with the mark are dead people walking. They are not even found in the Lamb's book of life. Between the vials and the battle of Armageddon, all flesh will die. After the battle of Armageddon from 6pm to 6am God will have burned up the old and completely made the earth liveable again with a new start, holy and free from Adam's sin and disobedience to God. Most will disagree, and claim this is all made up. There is still hope even in God's long suffering and judgment against sin and wickedness.
