It is critical to be able to align key prophecies within the book of Revelation.  We have already surmised several of these relationships.  As discussed previously, the outline of Revelation seems to be divided into two main periods… The first period, one of relative peace, and the second a period of Great Tribulation.  Then there is a third period which occurs after the culmination of Tribulation, the period of the New Heavens and New Earth.

The events contained within the Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Plagues can be aligned within the first of these two periods. 

1.  As already surmised, all three periods utilize the “split series model” in which they repeat or start over after the fourth event in each series.

2.  All three septets culminate in virtually the same manner, with “lightning, thunders, and voices.”  This strongly implies they culminate simultaneously at the end of the Great Tribulation.

3.  The vials follow on the footsteps of its trumpet counterpart.  This is indicated by the fact that the trumpets affect only 1/3 of its subject while the plague affects 100%.  Since they typically affect the same subject, it appears the plague follows immediately after the corresponding trumpet is complete.

4.  The “deadly wound” of the beast is theorized to occur just before the tribulation, and in fact sparks it.  The deadly wound is seen in the Fifth Plague, therefore it occurs at the end of Period 1. 

5.  It has already been deduced that since the “little season” of the Fifth Seal corresponds to the Great Tribulation when the saints are killed, the Fifth Seal must also take place at the end of Period 1.

6.  The First Seal vision shows a conqueror on a White Horse.  Unlike some interpretations, it seems more likely that the conqueror is associated with the Beast, as opposed to Christ on a White Horse.  Since the Second Seal vision begins “the war,” this appears to begin the Great Tribulation itself.   The First Seal, though, may also correspond to the rise of the beast, in other words, the healing of its wounded head.  If so, it also begins Period 2, the Great Tribulation.

7.  The Sixth Trumpet also corresponds to the “war” of the Great Tribulation, it is likely to be parallel the “sword” of the Second Seal, both at the near beginning of the Tribulation period, that is, Period Two.

8.  It has also been concluded that the Third Seal (Famine), the Fourth Seal (Death and Hell), as well as the Fourth Plague (Fire), all correspond to the culmination of the Tribulation.

Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire…

9.  The Sixth Seal mentions “Reve 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come…”.  The Great Day of His Wrath is certainly synonymous with the Day of the Lord, that is, the culmination of the Tribulation.  It is likely that the Sixth Seal occurs immediately before the Day of the Lord, since “his wrath is come,” that is, his wrath is about to begin.

10.  In similar fashion, in the vision of the Sixth Vial, demons deceive many “to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”  Again, this Great Day is certainly the Day of the Lord that occurs at the culmination of the Great Tribulation.  Therefore, like the Sixth Seal, it’s likely that the Sixth Vial occurs immediately before the Day of the Lord.

11.  The “Little Season” of the Fifth Seal corresponds to the Great Tribulation itself. 

12.  Since the Seven Trumpets and Vials correspond to the Decreation of Heaven and Earth, these events certainly parallel the Great Tribulation. 

Although the details are debatable, the alignment would look very similar to the chart below which is further divided into shorter time periods: