Introduction of the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls Judgments in Revelation

Summary

Grace in Focus Podcast Summary

Episode: Introduction of the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls Judgments in Revelation
Hosts: Bob Wilkin & Phillipe Sterling
Date: December 10, 2025
Duration: 13 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this fast-paced episode, Bob Wilkin and Phillipe Sterling introduce the three central sets of judgments in the book of Revelation: the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Bowls. They discuss their chronological unfolding during the tribulation period (Revelation 6–19) and delve into key theological concepts, interpretive issues, and memorable teaching tools to help cement these difficult prophetic themes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Structure of Tribulation in Revelation

• The tribulation judgments are found in Revelation chapters 6–19 (not 4–19 as is sometimes thought).
  • [01:15] Phillipe: “A lot of people think it’s Revelation 4 through 19, but it’s really 6 through 19, isn’t it?”
• The action begins with a sealed scroll, held by God the Father and given to the Lamb (Jesus), the only one worthy to open it.
  • [01:34] Phillipe humorously clarifies: “We’re not talking about the seals that are on the beach and they're clapping... but the seal that a monarch would put on a letter or a decree.”

The Scroll and Who Can Open It

• The concept of the seven-sealed scroll: one scroll with seven seals, all needing to be broken.
  • [01:56] Bob: “In this case it would be one scroll. But there are seven seals associated with this one scroll that is given by God the Father to the Lamb.”
• Only the Lamb (Jesus) is worthy to open the seals (Revelation 6:1).
  • [02:09] Bob: “Yes, the only one who can. Initially, John thought there was no one there that qualified to open the seal.”

“Come and See”: Scriptural Echoes

• Phillipe notes the phrase “come and see” occurs in both Revelation and the Gospel of John, linking themes of Jesus’ authority.
  • [02:38] Phillipe: “What’s interesting about ‘come and see’ is that occurs in John chapter one... But it’s the Lord Jesus is the one who has the authority.”

Heavenly Authority and Already/Not Yet Theology

• Setting: Chapters 4–5 describe a heavenly scene; the action of judgment starts with the receiving and unsealing of the scroll.
  • [03:08] Bob: “Then the authority to pull forth his wrath and to reclaim his rule over all creation, over the earth begins with the Father giving the seven sealed scroll to the Lamb.”
• The conversation addresses “already/not yet” theology—whether Jesus is already reigning or not.
  • [03:20] Phillipe: “There’s a lot of theologians today that say Jesus is already reigning... I remember we had Stan Toussaint speak at our conference... he said, ‘the kingdom is not now. And the kingdom is not now. Not yet. Not now.’ You can’t say it’s already here. Not yet. There’s a logical contradiction.”
• The hosts clarify: the kingdom’s arrival is after these judgments.

How the Judgments Unfold: Seals, Trumpets, Bowls

• There are three escalating series of judgments:
  • Seals → Trumpets → Bowls
• Each series worsens in severity.
  • [04:29] Phillipe: “...they get progressively worse. In other words, the sealed judgments, as bad as they are, aren't as bad as the trumpet judgments. And those aren't as bad as the bowl judgments.”

Memory Tools: Remembering the Order

• Phillipe offers mnemonics to recall the correct order:
  • His last name, “Sterling,” stands for “S” (Seals) and “T” (Trumpets); Bob’s first name for “B” (Bowls): “Sterling... and the ‘B’ for the bowls.” [05:26]
• A vivid mental image: a seal blowing a trumpet, and bowls coming out of the trumpet.
  • [06:24] Phillipe: “Imagine a seal... that’s blowing a trumpet. So it’s seal, trumpet. And out of the trumpet instead of sound coming out, there are bowls popping out of the trumpet... Seals, trumpet, bowls.”

The Progression and Intensity of Judgment

• The 7th seal contains the 7 trumpets; the 7th trumpet contains the 7 bowls.
  • [06:55] Bob: “Introduces the seven trumpets...”
  • [06:58] Phillipe: “Seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls.”
• The last bowl judgment is devastating: massive upheaval, catastrophic hail, total destruction immanent.
  • [07:17] Bob: “Every mountain is flattened, every valley is raised up... each hail stone weighs a talent—75 pounds.”

The Need for Judgment’s Limitation

• The destruction will be so severe that if not cut short, no one would survive.
  • [08:05] Bob: “If those days had not been shortened, no flesh shall remain alive.”
  • [08:12] Phillipe: “...for the elect’s sake, those days were short. And the elect there, contra the Calvinist, does not refer to the church... refers to Israel.”
• Jewish and Gentile survivors: To fulfill Old Testament prophecy, believing Jews and Gentiles in natural bodies must enter the Millennial kingdom.
  • [08:33] Phillipe: “You have to have Jews that go into the millennial kingdom in natural bodies in order for the nation of Israel to grow... and the same thing with the gentile nations.”

The Seals Introduced: The Four Horsemen & Martyrs

• First four seals: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
  • [09:23] Bob: “The four horsemen of the Apocalypse... the one on the white horse that goes out to conquer... the others, that’s death and famine...”
• The identity of the rider on the white horse: some say the Antichrist, some say Christ.
  • [09:53] Phillipe: “It’s popular for people to take that to refer to the beast or the man of sin.”
  • [09:58] Bob: “That’s a predominant view among dispensation premillennialists that it refers to the beast. But... I think that is Christ and the comparison is to the white horse that he rides in Revelation.”
• Fifth seal: The souls of martyrs under the altar, asking for justice, told to wait a little longer while God’s plan is fulfilled.
  • [10:55] Bob: “The souls under the altar... those are the martyrs of the tribulation period who ask the Lord, how long before you avenge our death?... it’s all going to happen very quickly during that 70th week.”

The 144,000 and Global Evangelism

• Sixth and seventh seals: 144,000 Jewish evangelists sealed; a vast multitude from every nation is saved.
  • [11:19] Phillipe: “The 144,000 are Jews, 12,000 from each tribe... probably evangelists... telling people about Jesus and the coming kingdom.”
• This fulfills Jesus’s prophecy that the gospel of the kingdom will go to the whole world—not a task fulfilled in the church age, but during the tribulation via the 144,000.
  • [11:52] Philippe: “The good news of the kingdom is going to go all over the planet from these 144,000.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the seriousness of judgment:
  • Bob [07:17]: “…Every mountain is flattened, every valley is raised up, there’s hail coming down. Each hail stone weighs a talent—75 pounds.”
• On theological debates:
  • Phillipe [03:39]: “I remember we had Stan Toussaint speak at our conference... he said, ‘the kingdom is not now. And the kingdom is not now. Not yet. Not now.’ You can’t say it’s already here. Not yet. There’s a logical contradiction.”
• On teaching tools:
  • Phillipe [06:24]: “Imagine a seal... that’s blowing a trumpet. So it’s seal, trumpet. And out of the trumpet instead of sound coming out, there are bowls popping out of the trumpet... Seals, trumpet, bowls.”
• On biblical prophecy’s fulfillment:
  • Phillipe [11:52]: “Remember that Jesus had said before the kingdom comes, the good news of the kingdom... is going to go forth to everyone... that’s actually referring to the tribulation.”

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:15] – Defining scope of the Tribulation and the opening of the scroll
• [02:26] – Christ as the only one worthy to open the seals
• [03:20] – Theological discussion: already/not yet view of Jesus’ kingdom
• [04:29] – Progression and severity of judgments (seals, trumpets, bowls)
• [05:26] – Mnemonic for remembering the order
• [06:24] – “Seal blowing a trumpet with bowls coming out” teaching image
• [07:17] – Ultimate devastation of last bowl, apocalyptic imagery
• [08:05] – Matthew 24, why the days are shortened
• [09:23] – The Four Horsemen, start of the seal judgments
• [10:55] – Fifth seal: souls of martyrs under the altar
• [11:19] – 144,000 Jews and the worldwide spread of the gospel during the tribulation

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Conclusion

Wilkin and Sterling lay the groundwork for an eschatology series by introducing the pattern and progression of the end-times judgments in Revelation. They clarify common interpretive issues, offer memorable learning devices, and preview deeper discussions to come in future episodes. The episode is approachable, filled with biblical references, and punctuated by their characteristic humor and clear teaching style.

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Next Episode Preview:
The series will continue by exploring the first four seal judgments (Four Horsemen) in detail.

Transcript

[Bob Wilken]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.

[Grace Evangelical Society Announcer]

Welcome to Grace in Focus. We are continuing our series on eschatology and this episode is an introduction to the panoramic description seals, trumpets, bowls of the tribulation period, beginning in Revelation 6 with the opening of a scroll sealed with seven seals. Thank you friend for joining us today. This is a ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. Our website is faithalone.org and we'd love you to go to our events section and see all the information you need to know about our annual national conference coming up in May 18th through the 21st, 2026. Our theme this year is Believe in Jesus for Life. Camp Copus is the place. It's a beautiful camp right there on a lake with hotel accommodations. There will be great teaching, fellowship and recreation. And we'd love you to take advantage of the early bird registration. Get all the [e-mail] oh, and while you're there, take a look at our free online seminary as well. Now with today's discussion, here are Bob Wilken and Phillipe Sterling.

[Phillipe Sterling]

So, Phillipe, we've now come to the book of Revelation and the tribulation in the book of Revelation and a lot of people think it's Revelation 4 through 19, but it's really 6 through 19, isn't it?

[Bob Wilken]

Yes. This the opening of the seals begin with chapter six.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Okay, why don't we read Revelation 6:1 so we can see that. And we're not talking about the seals that are on the beach and they're clapping. Right. This is like the seal that a monarch would put on a letter or a decree or something like a wax seal. And in this case you've got these various scrolls that are sealed and, and they need to each be open.

[Bob Wilken]

In this case it would be one scroll. But there are seven seals associated with this one scroll that is given by God the Father to the Lamb.

[Phillipe Sterling]

And the Lamb's the one who has the ability to open the seals?

[Bob Wilken]

Yes, the only one who can. Initially, John thought there was no one there that qualified to open the seal.

[Phillipe Sterling]

So you've got this big scroll and within it there's one seal followed by another seal. Another, another, another. So let's read 6:1.

[Bob Wilken]

Now, I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, come and see.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Now what's interesting about come and see is that occurs in John chapter one, when two of the disciples of John the Baptist come over to Jesus and he says, come and see, and now we have this same thing here. Come and see. But it's the Lord Jesus is the one who has the authority. So Revelation 4, 5 are basically an overview or an introduction to the Tribulation. But it really begins.

[Bob Wilken]

But it's a scene that's in heaven.

[Phillipe Sterling]

It's a scene in heaven.

[Bob Wilken]

And then the authority to pull forth his wrath and to reclaim his rule over all creation, over the earth begins with the Father giving the seven sealed scroll to the Lamb.

[Phillipe Sterling]

All right, so now you're hitting another issue, which is this already not yet theology. There's a lot of theologians today that say Jesus is already reigning. And Jesus is not yet reigning. He's already on the throne of David, but he's not on the throne of David.

[Bob Wilken]

Progressive dispensationalism.

[Phillipe Sterling]

But also that's. Other people hold that view too. Like, you know, the millennial view, the historic, historic premillennialism. They hold that view also. And I remember we had Stan Toussaint speak at our conference about 10, 12 years ago, and he said, the kingdom is not now. And the kingdom is not now. Not yet. Not now. He said, you can't say it's already here. Not yet. There's a logical contradiction. So it's not going to begin until after these judgments. Now, there's three series of judgments between Revelation 6 and Revelation 19. The first are the seals. Right. And there are seven seals.

[Bob Wilken]

Seven seals. But the seventh seal is the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet is the seven bowls.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Okay, so you've got seals followed by trumpets, followed by bowls. Yes, and they get progressively worse. Right. In other words, the sealed judgments, as bad as they are, aren't as bad as the trumpet judgments. And those aren't as bad as the bowl judgments.

[Bob Wilken]

Yes.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Now, is everyone listening? How are y' all going to remember seals, trumpets, bulls? I mean, I know it starts with seals, but I always get confused as it go from seals to bulls or seals to trumpets. There's an easy way, several easy ways to remember this. One would be remembering my name and Philippe's name. Philippe's last name is Sterling, and Sterling starts with St. Sterling would be seals, trumpets, and my name, first name is Bob. So seals, trumpets, bulls.

[Bob Wilken]

So since we're talking, so Sterling. Bob, St. Short for Sterling.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Sterling. And then the B for the bulls. Another way to remember it, if you like. I remember what was the former basketball player, Jerry. I can't remember his last name.

[Bob Wilken]

Oh, yes. I had all those demonic devices where you picture.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Yeah, Mnemonic, not demonic. Well, anyway, he Would say, have a picture.

[Bob Wilken]

Jerry Lucas.

[Phillipe Sterling]

It was Jerry Lucas.

[Grace Evangelical Society Announcer]

Did you know that the Grace Evangelical Society offers an degree through our online seminary and tuition is free to those who maintain a 3.0 grade average. It is a three year degree program and you could submit your application now to gain acceptance. Then stay apprised of our registration periods for upcoming semester terms. Program and application details can be [e-mail] have a look at our MDIV degree. Become an approved workman. Find out how gesseminary.org.

Anyway, imagine this.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Imagine a seal. You know, one of those sea animals that claps. Imagine a seal that's blowing a trumpet. So it's seal, trumpet. And out of the trumpet instead of sound coming out, there are bowls popping out of the trumpet. So it goes a seal that's blowing a trumpet. And out of the trumpet comes the bulls. Seals, trumpet bowls. So let's talk a bit then about these three groups. And you're saying the seventh seal is actually the.

[Bob Wilken]

Introduces the seven trumpets and then the.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls. And the last bowl is so devastating that if Jesus did not return at that exact moment, mankind probably within hours, certainly days. Mankind would have been annihilated.

[Bob Wilken]

Right. In fact, we come to the description of revelation concerning that seventh bowl. Judgment. What was that? Every mountain is flattened, every valley is raised up, there's hail coming down. Each hail stone weighs a talent 75 pounds.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Plus they're bigger than a volleyball, bigger than a basketball, probably bigger than a beach ball to base weigh 75 pounds. So you've got these huge hailstones hitting. And I used to think the reason that that was the case was because Israel has nuclear weapons and Israel could release those. But basically what this is saying is God's judgments are so severe that God's going to destroy the whole planet. Now what does Matthew 24:22 say?

[Bob Wilken]

They says that but if those days had not been shortened, no flesh shall remain alive.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Yeah. Or would be saved.

[Bob Wilken]

Would be saved.

[Phillipe Sterling]

If it uses the word saved.

[Bob Wilken]

Yeah.

[Phillipe Sterling]

And so no one would survive, as you say. But for the elect's sake, those days were short. And the elect there, contra the Calvinist, does not refer to the church. The elect refers to Israel there, to the chosen people.

[Bob Wilken]

Yes. Who will then go into the millennial kingdom.

[Phillipe Sterling]

You have to have Jews that go into millennial kingdom in natural bodies in order for the nation of Israel to grow and ultimately become what was promised to Abraham, which was a nation that has more people than. Well, it's comparable to the sands of the seashore, the stars of the sky. And the same thing with the gentile nations. There have to be gentiles coming out of the tribulation. And I would argue that it's the children who come out. Gentile children are not going to be destroyed. They will go into the millennium as well as all of the Jewish children. Whether the Jewish believing adults go into the kingdom in natural or glorified bodies is a different question. So let's talk about these seals, trumpets, bulls.

[Bob Wilken]

The seals will begin there. Revelation chapter six talks about the four horsemen. They're usually called the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Right.

[Bob Wilken]

But that's a description of the one on the white horse that goes out to conquer and then the others. That's death and famine and all but general describing what's going to be occurring throughout all day.

[Phillipe Sterling]

And the white horse rider could either refer to Jesus or it could refer to the man of sin, the beast.

[Bob Wilken]

Yes.

[Phillipe Sterling]

And it's popular for people to take that to refer to the beast or the man of sin.

[Bob Wilken]

That's a predominant view among dispensation pre millennialist that it refers to the beast. But I think how does he held that is Christ and the comparison is to the white horse that he rides in Revelation.

To come.

[Phillipe Sterling]

So yeah, And I think Claes takes that same view in his commentary. And that is my view at this point, although we don't have clear statements here. So you've got this white horse rider and they're going out and they're of the Apocalypse and they're causing all kinds of havoc on earth, right?

[Bob Wilken]

Yes. It says death and Hades and all is associated with the other horses, ashen horse, the red horse and all that one represents war and the famine and the beast and everything involved. But then we come to the fifth seal and that's a scene in heaven, really. The souls under the altar.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Right.

[Bob Wilken]

And that are there, that all emerges. Those are the martyrs of the tribulation period who, who asked the Lord, how long before you avenge our death? And we're told it's just hold on a little longer. It's all going to happen very quickly during that 70th week. And then there's a ceiling of the 144,000 and then the vast multitude from every tribe and nation.

[Phillipe Sterling]

So the 144,000 are Jews, 12,000 from each tribe. And they're probably evangelists. Most dispensationalists think they'll go around the planet telling people about Jesus and the coming kingdom.

[Bob Wilken]

Right. And that's where Israel in essence will fulfill its mandate to be light unto the nations and out of their influence. It's kind of a cause and effect that we see. There's then all of this multitude that come out of the tribulation that are there worshiping the Lamb from every tribe and nation.

[Phillipe Sterling]

And remember that Jesus had said before the kingdom comes the good news of the kingdom. The gospel of the kingdom is going to go forth to everyone. And a lot of people thought that was referring to the first century, or maybe that's referring to us. I remember when we were on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, we were going to win the world for Christ.

[Bob Wilken]

Fulfilled a great commission in our generation.

[Phillipe Sterling]

But the thing is that's actually referring to the tribulation. The good news of the kingdom is going to go all over the planet from these 144,000 yes. Well, Philippe, we're out of time again. How does this happen? We haven't gotten to the. Who's the guy that plays the trumpet? The really good trumpeter. I can't remember his name.

[Bob Wilken]

Louis Armstrong.

[Phillipe Sterling]

Louis Armstrong.

[Bob Wilken]

Yeah.

[Phillipe Sterling]

We haven't even gotten to Louis Armstrong yet. We're still in the SEALs.

[Bob Wilken]

Louis is not a SEAL.

[Phillipe Sterling]

He's not a SEAL. And there's also Navy SEALs, but that's another subject. That's one of my puns. You know, y' all don't laugh. You're driving. All right, well, thanks so much and we'll come back to talking about the rest of the seals and then the bowls and the trumpets. And in the meantime, let's keep gracing focus.

[Grace Evangelical Society Announcer]

Be sure to check out our daily [e-mail] they are short and full of great teaching just like what you've heard today. Find [e-mail] resources blog. We would like to thank all of our financial partners who help us keep this show going. All gifts are tax deductible and very much appreciated. If you'd like to find out how you can be a financial partner, Visit [e-mail] on our next episode. We continue with eschatology, the first four seal judgments and the four horsemen. Please join us. And in the meantime, let's keep Grace in focus.

[Bob Wilken]

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