It is the glory of God to announce the end from the beginning. ESV Isaiah 46:8 "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. This is what God is doing in Revelation chapter 6 as John sees the Lamb of God open the scroll that was in the Father’s hand and break open the seals. With each opened seal there is divine action. John is not HEARING what is written. John is SEEING what is written. The events that are set before his eyes all belong to the first half of the tribulation period. When we arrive at the 6th seal, we meet with a description that seems to match what our Lord said in Matthew 24:29-31. ESV Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. That would seem to put the events of the 6th seal — not only in the second half of the Tribulation — but just prior to the return of Christ. Some say, “Yes, this is one of three times that John is given a view of the very final judgment.” But I think there’s a better way to understand it. In each of the passages that record the Olivet Discourse, when the events take place in nature during the “birth pains” portion, or the 1st half of the tribulation, earthquakes is listed toward the end. ESV Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ESV Mark 13:8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. ESV Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. In each case the “abomination of desolation” — which occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation period — is talked about AFTER those things. ESV Matthew 24:15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. ESV Mark 13:14 "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. So that, it seems that this 6th seal is still a part of the birth pains — still in the first half of the tribulation. SO, HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN THE FIRST SIX SEALS? They represent events taking place on the earth that not only SHAKE the world, they serve as a ramping up, a preview, of the FINAL SHAKING that takes place at the end of Revelation — at the very end of time. ESV Revelation 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. What we see in the 6th seal is the EXACT SAME KIND OF JUDGMENT, just not as severe. These judgments will INTENSIFY throughout the tribulation period so that the LAST CONVULSION will be the worst the world has ever seen. And so, what we are seeing in these first six seals is what comes in the first half of the tribulation period. It is DISTURBING.