Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 35:1 (Mar 1992)
Article: The Tripartite Structure Of The Sixth Seal, The Sixth Trumpet, And The Sixth Bowl Of John’s Apocalypse (Rev 6:12ñ7:17; 9:13ñ11:14; 16:12ñ16)
Author: Andrew E. Steinmann

JETS 35:1 (March 1992) p. 69

The Tripartite Structure Of The Sixth Seal,
The Sixth Trumpet, And The Sixth Bowl
Of John’s Apocalypse (Rev 6:12ñ7:17; 9:13ñ11:14; 16:12ñ16)

Andrew E. Steinmann*

For centuries the Apocalypse of John, commonly known as the book of Revelation, has posed problems for scholars who have sought to interpret it. Many of the problems are aggravated by the seemingly impossible task of determining with any certainty the literary structure of the book itself. The Apocalypse contains four sections explicitly divided into seven parts: the seven letters (2:1–3:22), the seven-sealed scroll (4:1–8:1), the seven trumpets (8:2–11:19), the seven bowls of God’s wrath (15:1–16:21). The first of these sections contains seven letters dictated to John. The letters share a distinct form among themselves that sets them apart from the other three sections containing seven parts. In addition the other three sections contain six parts that in turn are each divided into three subparts. While no scholar has challenged the thematic unity of 16:12–16 (the sixth trumpet), many scholars have regarded the last two scenes of both 6:12–7:17 (the six seal) and 9:13–11:14 (the sixth bowl) as “interruptions” or “interludes” in the narrative.1

I will argue in this paper that the three scenes of 6:12–7:17 and 9:13–11:14 should be viewed as a tripartite unity. The argument is based on the structural and thematic devices used by the author. In order to make a case for the tripartite thematic unity of the sixth seal, trumpet, and bowl, it must be established that there are three distinct literary units in each of them.

JETS 35:1 (March 1992) p. 70

I. The Structure Of The Sixth Seal, Trumpet, And Bowl

The opening of the sixth seal is recorded in Rev 6:12, and the opening of the seventh seal is recorded in 8:1. The material between these two verses is generally acknowledged to contain three scenes:2 6:12–17, where humanity seeks to hide from the impending wrath of the Lamb; 7:1–8, th...