The day of retribution is the day of the Son of Man. The Lord Jesus spoke of this day:
"Immediately after the troubles of those days, 'The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.' Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all 'the tribes of the land will mourn' when they see 'the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another" (Mat. 24. 29-31).
The above verse reveals three prophetic events:
The tribulation (trouble days): in the preceding verses
The sixth seal: Immediately after the troubles of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.
The seventh trumpet: He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another.
Before the day of the Son of Man, there will be trouble times (wars, famine, plagues, persecution of the saints, false prophets etc.). Immediately after the trouble days, the events of the sixth seal will take place (the heavenly signs). Then after the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet will sound.
The sixth and the seventh trumpet are intertwined. They both relate to the day of retribution. The death of the two witnesses marks the end of the tribulation (days of trouble). The events of the sixth seal will occur immediately after the two witnesses are killed in the sixth trumpet. Then, the seventh trumpet comes next.
THE SIXTH SEAL
Then I saw the lamb open the sixth seal. There was a powerful earthquake. The sun turned as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon turned as red as blood. The stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree drops its fruit when it is shaken by a strong wind. The sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. They told the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?" (Rev. 6.12-17).
The black sun and the red moon may refer to eclipse of the sun and the moon. The stars refer to the angels that will descend to the earth to gather the saints. When the sky will vanish away, the Son of Man will appear. These heavenly signs immediately follow the death of the two witnesses. Then the seventh trumpet quickly follows the sixth seal.
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET
When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The world's kingdom has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever." Then the twenty-four elders who were sitting on their thrones in God's presence fell on their faces and worshiped God. They said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to rule. The nations were angry, but the time for your wrath has come. It is time for the dead to be judged—to reward your servants, the prophets, the saints, and all who fear your name, both unimportant and important, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Then the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen inside his Temple. There were flashes of lightning, noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail (Rev. 11.15-19).
This is the last trumpet. It will sound after the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the sky to gather his elect and punish the wicked. This trumpet ushers in some prophetic events:
It marks the beginning of the millennial reign: “The world's kingdom has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever." Then the twenty-four elders who were sitting on their thrones in God's presence fell on their faces and worshiped God. They said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to rule.
The Lord will return to take control of the earth. He and his army (the saints) will fight the war of Armageddon. The false prophet and the beast will be hurled into the lake of fire. The Lord and the saints will rule for 1000years.
Judgement of the Righteous unto the reward of the saints and punishment of the wicked: It is time for the dead to be judged—to reward your servants, the prophets, the saints, and all who fear your name, both unimportant and important, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
The seventh trumpet signals judgement of the righteous who are dead. The righteous who are bad will be destroyed while the saints will be resurrected to life and given thrones of kingship. Fruitless believers will be cut off (John 15.2) and their names will be blotted out from the book of life (Revelation 3.5). All shall be rewarded according to the measure of their fruit. He who has, will be given more, and he who has not, even that which he thinks he has, will be taken away and given to the person who has.
The seventh trumpet ushers in five prophetic events: the rapture and the 1st resurrection, the seven bowls of anger, the wedding supper, the war of Armageddon, and the millennial reign are all events of the seventh trumpet.
The Rapture & The First Resurrection
Not all of us will die, but all of us will be changed—in a moment, faster than an eye can blink, at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will be raised never to decay, and we will be changed (1 Cor. 15.51-52).
That's how it will be when the Son of Man comes. At that time two people will be in the field. One will be taken, and one will be left behind. Two women will be grinding grain at the mill. One will be taken, and one will be left behind (Mat. 24.40-41).
After these things I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen!"
"Who are these people wearing white robes," one of the elders asked me, "and where did they come from?" I told him, "Sir, you know." Then he told me, "These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. That is why: "They are in front of the throne of God and worship him night and day in his Temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will never be hungry or thirsty again. Neither the sun nor its heat will ever beat down on them, because the lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7.1-17)
At the sound of the last trumpet, the dead saints will come to life and the living saints will be caught to the sky. They will put on immortality. Apostle John saw huge number of people in heaven. These are the resurrected and raptured saints. They are those who will come out of the great tribulation (trouble times). The 144000 saints will also be in this assemble of saints.
The seven vials of God’s anger
The day of the Son of Man is the day the earth will be judged. This day will be like the day that Noah entered the Ark and the flood came. It will also be like the day of Lot, when he left Sodom and Gomorrah and the city was burnt down. In the parable of the importunate widow, the Lord Jesus assures to grant the saints justice on his return (Luke 18.3-8). The Lord wants the church not to lose faith. The wicked will not go unpunished.
As soon as the 144000 are assembled together with the multitude in heaven, an angel in heaven proclaims a message of judgement to mankind. The angel proclaims judgement on Babylon, the Beast and his image, and the followers on the beast. This judgement is executed with the six bowls of God’s anger. After proclaiming this message, Heaven begins to rejoice. The multitude in heaven sings the song of Moses and of the Lamb to God. Then the seven angels get ready to pour the contents of the bowls on the earth (Rev. 14 & 15). The seven bowls of God’s anger are God’s judgement on Babylon, the Beast and on the worshippers of the beasts and the world (Rev. 16).
The marriage supper
Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying, "Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, is reigning. Let us rejoice, be glad, and give him glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. She has been given the privilege of wearing fine linen, dazzling and pure." (The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints). Then the angel told me, "Write this: 'How blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb!'" He also told me, "These are the true words of God (Rev. 19.6-9).
There is going to be a marriage between Christ Jesus and his church (those who have been resurrected). They are the first fruits of the entire harvest. The marriage is a new perfect union, not like the one they had when they first believed. When the bride comes to the earth, the people of the earth will say: “Now God dwells among human beings” (Rev 21.1-3). She will radiate all the glory of God.
The battle of Armageddon
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there was a white horse! Its rider is named Faithful and True. He administers justice and wages war righteously. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that nobody knows except himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, follow him on white horses. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod and tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, "Come! Gather for the great supper of God. Eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, both unimportant and important." Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. The beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf. By these signs the false prophet had deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed by the sword that belonged to the rider on the horse and that came from his mouth, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit, with a large chain in his hand. He captured the dragon, that ancient serpent, also known as the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the bottomless pit, locked it, and sealed it over him to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set free for a little while (Rev.19.11-21; 20. 1-3).
This is the battle of Gog and Magog. The battle is between Christ Jesus (Word of God) with His army (the saints) and the beasts (the dragon, the Leopard, and the false Prophet) with the kings of the earth. Gog is the Dragon and Magog are the kings of the earth. Prophet Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Gog and Magog in his time. Gog is the prince of the people, while Magog is the people (Ezekiel 39.1, 4, 17-20).
The Lord Jesus and the saints will win the battle. The Leopard and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone while Satan (the dragon) will be bound in the bottomless pit with a great chain for 1000years. The Lord Jesus will use the sword in his mouth and slay all the kings of the earth and their army.
Reward of the resurrected saints and the millennial reign
Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came back to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection. How blessed and holy are those who participate in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and the Messiah, and will rule with him for a thousand years (Rev 20:4-6).
Christ Jesus and resurrected saints will rule the earth for 1000 years. After the death of the kings of the earth, the saints will reign over the remaining inhabitants of the earth. The reign of Christ does not necessarily mean the end of man’s sinful nature. Sin will not be completely dealt away with, for men will still be in the flesh. Rather, sin will no longer be a universal power, for the flesh will no longer be seduced by Satan. He will no longer be, “the god and prince of the world” nor “will the world lie in the wicked one”. The flesh will become ever more isolated and be overcome. The millennial reign will be a foretaste of the new world that is to come (Rev 20:4).