Bible Discussion Thread

Luke 21:12 says But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

In this study on Revelation; we get to the fifth seal and martyrdom. Examining Luke 21:12 we see that many great signs occur after this event; so we must conclude that it either happens BEFORE the events in seals 2-4 or is discussing further travails in the trumpet judgments. It seems PRIMARILY that the persecution begins at the fifth seal and judging by the martyrs it will continue further into that period; I would argue until just after the fifth Trumpet when the two witnesses are killed and resurrected and when it seems the 144,000 are translated along with the countless multitude. Exact timing of these events is not something I'm focusing on here. What we CAN see is that the death and destruction to come is at least partially related to these martyrdoms even into the bowl judgments. Revelation 16:6 states For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

Divine retribution to come of course is seen in the sixth seal. Man knows the gig is up and God's wrath as well as that of the "lamb" is coming to pass. Clearly then; the earthquake is seen as a direct judgment of the Lord and perhaps fits into the earlier reference from Luke 21:11.

Daniel 12:1 states And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

This verse would SEEM to indicate it is the midpoint of the Tribulation when Antichrist fully is empowered with the mark of the Beast that this greatest trial ever will occur. Thus it would seem the seals precede this event.