The book of Revelation mentions earthquakes and storms on five occasions (Revelation 6:12; 8:5; 11:13,19; 16:18). These earthquakes can be categorized into three events, based on their descriptions and the cyclical nature of Revelation:
- An earthquake with a storm occurs at the 7th seal and 7th trumpet (Revelation 8:5, 11:19).
- A severe earthquake with a storm is mentioned at the 7th bowl (Revelation 16:18).
- A great earthquake without a storm takes place during the 6th seal and 6th trumpet (Revelation 6:12, 11:13).
Revelation is a book that describes events expected to happen soon (Revelation 1:1, 3:3, 10-11, 22:6-7, 10, 12, 20). According to Bible scholar Ed Stevens, it was likely written around 62 AD, as stated in The Final Decade (117). During the subsequent years of the Jewish war, three earthquakes occurred, aligning with the aforementioned descriptions and providing a connection between the seals, trumpets, and bowls to historical dates in the first century. This explanation helps clarify the cyclical nature of Revelation.
To provide a timeline:
- The 7th seal, 7th trumpet, and 3rd woe correspond to May 66 AD.
- The 7th bowl corresponds to May 68 AD through May 70 AD.
- The 6th seal, 6th trumpet, and 2nd woe correspond to May through August 70 AD.
Understanding the symbolism and timing of these events helps in interpreting their literal reality.
Timing the Three Earthquakes
Josephus and Tacitus provide accounts of earthquakes occurring at three significant points during the Jewish war:
- On Pentecost in May 66 AD, an earthquake with a storm took place. Josephus describes feeling a quaking and hearing a great noise, while Tacitus mentions a sudden lightning flash from the clouds and the doors of the Temple opening abruptly (Josephus The War of the Jews 6.5.3; Tacitus The Histories 5.13).
- In May 68 AD, a severe earthquake with a storm occurred. Josephus describes a prodigious storm with violent winds, heavy rain, lightning, thunder, and a shaking of the earth. These events were seen as signs of impending destruction (Josephus The Wars of the Jews 4.4.5).
- In May 70 AD, a great earthquake without a storm happened when stones launched by Roman catapults shook Jerusalem. Josephus describes the immense weight and force of the stones, causing devastation in a large area (Josephus The Wars of the Jews 5.6.3).
Based on this evidence, it is suggested that the 7th seal and 7th trumpet do not represent the end of the Jewish war but rather its beginning in May 66 AD. The seals, trumpets, and bowls numbered 1-6 then describe the subsequent events of the war. The descriptions of these seals, trumpets, and bowls align with the historical events of their respective periods.
7th Seal, 7th Trumpet, and 3rd Woe
At the occurrence of the 7th seal, 7th trumpet, and 3rd woe, the period of God’s wrath and vengeance commenced (Revelation 6:10; 8:2-5; 11:18).
Jesus had warned that the days of wrath and vengeance would begin when armies surrounded Jerusalem and when He returned (Luke 21:20-24; Luke 17:26-33). In around April of 66 AD, during Passover, miraculous signs appeared in the sky and on the earth, just as Jesus had prophesied (Luke 21:25; Josephus The War of the Jews 6.5.3, Hegesippus 5.44, Yosippon Ch. 87). Shortly thereafter, Gessius Florus and the Roman troops laid siege to Jerusalem, marking the start of the Jewish War (Josephus The War of the Jews 2.14.6-8). In that same month, angelic armies were witnessed in the clouds (Josephus The War of the Jews 6.5.3, Tacitus Histories, Book 5, v. 13, Pseudo-Hegesippus Ch. 44, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, Book 3, Ch. 8, Sepher Yosippon Chapter 87 “Burning of the Temple”).
Revelation 8:1 states that at the breaking of the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. During Passover of 66 AD, the temple radiated a stunning light, turning night into day for half an hour each night throughout the week (Josephus The War of the Jews 6.5.3, Hegesippus 5.44, Sepher Yosippon Chapter 87 “Burning of the Temple”).
At the sounding of the 7th trumpet, the time for judging the dead had arrived (Revelation 11:18). In May of 66 AD, Josephus documented an event that resembled a resurrection (Josephus The War of the Jews 6.5.3, Yosippon, Ch. 87, Hegesippus 5.44). Cassius Dio also recorded a similar event, likely occurring in the same year, although the exact date is unknown (Cassius Dio Roman History 63.16, Suetonius Lives of the Twelve Caesars 6.19).
Upon the blowing of the 7th trumpet, God’s temple was opened, accompanied by flashes of lightning and an earthquake (Revelation 11:19). During Passover of 66 AD, the eastern gate of the temple astonishingly and ominously opened by itself (Josephus The War of the Jews 6.5.3, Hegesippus 5.44). Tacitus reported that the temple door was blown open by a lightning bolt, followed by a superhuman voice declaring the departure of the gods, and a rushing wind (Tacitus The Histories 5.13). Eusebius recounted that the Shekinah glory cloud left the temple in 66 AD and settled on the Mount of Olives for 3.5 years, calling upon the Jews to repent (Eusebius Proof of the Gospel 6.18, Midrash Rabbah, Lamentations 2:11). Simultaneously, Josephus described an earthquake occurring at Pentecost.
7th Bowl
The 7th bowl aligns with events that occurred between May of 68 AD, marked by a powerful storm and earthquake, and May of 70 AD, when the Roman siege of Jerusalem commenced. According to Revelation, during this bowl, the great city (Jerusalem) was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed (Revelation 16:19).
Around a month after the aforementioned earthquake, Rome experienced a three-way civil war, known as the “Year of Four Emperors,” marking one of its darkest periods in history. Over a year later, Jerusalem became divided due to the presence of three competing messianic figures, leading to a conflict among the seditious Jewish factions (Josephus The War of the Jews 5.1.1-3).
During the 7th bowl, God’s wrath was poured upon Babylon the Great, symbolically representing Jerusalem, and she was given the cup filled with the wine of God’s fury. The impact of this judgment was severe, causing islands to disappear and mountains to vanish, while enormous hailstones weighing a talent fell upon the people (Revelation 16:20-21). The Romans resorted to flattening mountains and filling valleys in their campaign to conquer Jerusalem. They also launched large white stones, weighing a talent, upon the city (Josephus The Wars of the Jews 5.6.3).
6th Seal, 6th Trumpet and 2nd Woe
The events described in the 6th seal, 6th trumpet, and 2nd woe took place from May to August 70 AD during the siege of Jerusalem.
According to Revelation, at the 6th seal, various cosmic phenomena occurred. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the moon appeared blood red, stars fell from the sky like figs shaken off a tree, the heavens seemed to roll up like a scroll, and every mountain and island moved from its place (Revelation 6:12-14). These descriptions can be understood in the context of the burning Jewish Temple, which emitted a significant amount of smoke, darkening the sun for the Jewish observers. The intense fire could also cast a reddish hue, making the moon and sky appear red. The smoke would obscure the visibility of stars. Additionally, the Roman forces altered the topography by demolishing mountains and filling valleys during their siege of Jerusalem.
The 6th seal depicts the kings, princes, commanders, and people of various statuses hiding in caves and among rocks, pleading for them to fall upon them to hide them from the wrath of God (Revelation 6:15-17). After the Romans breached the walls and entered Jerusalem, the remaining leaders of the Jewish revolt, John and Simon, along with other survivors, sought refuge in the caves beneath Jerusalem but were eventually captured by the Romans (Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.9.4).
When the 6th trumpet was blown, a great earthquake occurred, causing a tenth of the city to collapse, resulting in the death of seven thousand people (Revelation 11:13). This aligns with Josephus’ estimation that around ten thousand Jews perished during the burning of the Jewish temple (Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.5.1). As the temple occupied approximately one-tenth of Jerusalem’s land space, its destruction could be seen as a tenth of the city collapsing.
The 6th trumpet also mentions the release of four bound angels at the great river Euphrates (Revelation 9:13-14), and this can be understood in connection with the Roman armies that came from the Euphrates region. Legio V Macedonica, Legio X Fretensis, Legio XII Fulminata, and Legio XV Apollinaris, commanded by four leaders, participated in the siege of Jerusalem and were unleashed to attack its residents (Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.9.3-4).
Additionally, the 6th trumpet says a third of mankind being killed by the plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur emanating from the mouths of the horsemen (Revelation 9:18). Josephus reported that around 1,100,000 Jews died during the siege of Jerusalem, and it is estimated that there were approximately 3,000,000 inhabitants in the city at that time, roughly one-third of whom perished (Josephus The Wars of the Jews 6.9.3-4).
The vision of the 6th trumpet describes a vast number of mounted troops, twice ten thousand times ten thousand, with their breastplates in fiery red, dark blue, and yellow colors resembling sulfur (Revelation 9:16). The heads of the horses were likened to lions, and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur. The power of the horses was in their mouths and tails, with the tails resembling snakes inflicting harm (Revelation 9:17-19). These descriptions symbolize the weaponry and equipment carried by the Roman armies during their campaign. Each of the Roman legions had 20,000 horsemen.
Conclusion
By examining the timing of the various earthquake and storm combinations mentioned in Revelation, one can discern the chronological alignment of the symbols in Revelation and understand their corresponding events. This analysis assists interpreters in identifying the literal fulfillment of these passages during the first century.
The 7th seal, 7th trumpet, and 3rd woe are interconnected and occurred in May 66 AD. The 7th bowl of wrath occurred between May 68 and May 70 AD. The events of the 6th seal, trumpet, and 2nd woe took place during the siege of Jerusalem, culminating in the fall of the temple between May and August of 70 AD.