Persecution – Judgment – Wrath
Among the many reasons for God having a centuries-long Church Age is to allow men time for repentance. That is turning away from sin and turning to the Lord. For 2,000 years men of God have been calling people to trust in the Lord, forsaking all else. The Church stands as a witness to all nations that the door of repentance is still open but that it will be closed forever...soon. There seems to be 3 main sections to the last-days' plan for granting repentance.
Here is a pattern we can use if Revelation's narrative is chronologically complete. In other words, if the events in the Book are presented in the order that they happen. A possible pattern appears in the book of Revelation.
Persecution
The 7 seals of Revelation are a time of increasingly widespread persecution (tribulation) against the Church. Even during this time She keeps on proclaiming the offer of Grace to all who will turn and trust in the Lord. This time of persecution has lasted 2,000 years with a final season of widespread and intense persecution that lasts for a short time, The Great Tribulation (persecution).
Judgment
After the Church is taken out of the earth, God gives one final squeeze (tribulation) to the world. Are there any that will turn before it is too late?
7 Trumpets
In the 7 trumpet judgments, God flushes out any possible remaining people who will forsake the love of their sin. The most noble motivation would be for people to see God's goodness in their everyday lives and pledge themselves to God as Lord and Savior. However, turning to God in fear of punishment is still valid.
2 Witnesses
This judgment is accompanied by God's Two Witnesses. Many people think that Elijah may be one of them. I have a personal reason to think that Elijah may also be the Restrainer than prevents the full flood of evil from coming upon the earth before God sees the last person, who will, come to repentance. The Restrainer (2 Thess 2:7) is finally taken out of the way and there seems to be no one left that will turn to God.
When these special witnesses are finished, it coincides with the last recorded time that men “gave glory to the God of heaven” (Rev 11:13).
3 Angels
At this point in the narrative there is not one additional person left on the earth that will turn to God. There are many who are enduring but no additional persons. There are some who will not submit and worship the Antichrist, but not one individual more who will turn to God in spite of the pressure (tribulation) that is applied.
Even though this seems to be the case, God still sends three angels to present 3 messages to the inhabitants of the planet to clearly show that the next problem that comes upon the earth will be directly because of men refusing to turn to God, not God's unfairness.
The first angel announces that God is worthy to be worshiped because He alone is the Creator (Rev 14:7). Nothing is said about salvation. There is no offer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The second angel announces that Babylon has fallen (Rev 14:8). This underlines the fact that politics and religion have failed.
The third angel announces to the world, in a loud voice, the horrific curses that will come upon those who worship and obey the Antichrist (Rev 14:9-11).
Wrath
At this point the church is done preaching. The 7 trumpet judgments are done. The 2 Witnesses are done with their assignments. Even the 3 angels with their warnings, as overkill, are finished. It's all over. In spite of all that God does to compel a half sincere sinner to come to Him, God's plan to force the reluctant hold-outs into repentance is done.
Now what?
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. (Rev 15:1)
7 Vials of Wrath
The door of repentance is closed. Even after the fifth, sixth, and seventh angel pours out their bowl, men blaspheme God, they will not repent, and they will not give glory to God (Rev 16:9, 11, 21). These last 7 plagues are not trying to compel men to turn to God, this is raw wrath.
Summary
The 7 seals build up to the Great Persecution (Tribulation).
The 7 trumpet judgments (Tribulation) are squeezing the last person out of the earth who will even reluctantly turn to God.
The 7 vials are the Wrath of God (Tribulation) upon a world that will not turn to God.
People know why these things are happening.
And (everyone) said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (Rev 6:16)
Everyone knows that this is from God and specifically because of Jesus' work of redemption that they have rejected. There are no victims at this point. Everyone gets exactly what they want.
Jan. 30, 2026