Note: This is a continuing evaluation of the book The Days of Vengeance written by David Chilton. Chilton at the time of writing this was a partial preterist who later in life (after a massive heart attack) turned to full preterism. Sections will be taken from the book and commented on to the fullest extent possible. A PDF of the book can be found here.

It is always exciting to start a new chapter. We're still looking at the ethical stipulations of God's covenant communication with the church. Here we will begin to see the judgments as they are poured out upon the unfaithful Israel.

Before we actually broach the text itself, I am going to let Chilton comment on the similarities of this chapter with the Olivet Discourse, 

St. John brings us now to the breaking of the Seven  Seals of the Book (six of the Seals are broken in  Chapter 6; the Seventh Seal is broken in 8:1, and is  connected to the Seven Trumpets). We have seen that  the Book represents the treaty document of the New  Covenant, the opening of which will result in the  destruction of apostate Israel (see on 5:1-4). What then  does the breaking of the Seals represent? Some have  thought this to signify a chronological reading through  the Book, and that the events depicted are in a straight,  historical order. This is unlikely for two reasons. First,  the Seals seem to be on the outside edge of the Book  (which is in the form of a scroll): one cannot really  begin to read the Book until all the Seals are broken.  The Seventh Seal, consisting of a call to action by the  blowing of the Seven Trumpets, actually opens the  Book so that we may read its contents.

Second, a careful reading of the events shown by each  Seal reveals that they are not listed in chronological  order. For example, in the Fifth Seal – after all the  havoc wreaked by the Four Horsemen – the martyrs  calling for judgment are told to wait. But the judgment  is immediately poured out in the Sixth Seal, the entire  creation “unseam’d from the nave to the chaps.” Yet,  after all this, God commands the angels to withhold  judgment until the servants of God are protected (7:3).  Obviously, the Seals are not meant to represent a  progressive chronology. It is more likely that they  reveal the main ideas of the Book’s contents, the major  themes of the judgments that came upon Israel during  the Last Days, from A.D. 30-70.

R. H. Charles pointed out the close structural similarity  between the Six Seals of this chapter and the events of  the so-called Little Apocalypse recorded in the Synoptic  Gospels. As his outline (adapted below) demonstrates,  “they present practically the same material.”

Revelation 6

1. War (v. 1-2)

2. International strife (v. 3-4)

3. Famine (v. 5-6)

4. Pestilence (v. 7-8)

5. Persecution (v. 9-11)

6. Earthquake; De-creation (v. 12-17)

Matthew 24

1. Wars (v. 6)

2. International strife (v. 7a)

3. Famines (v. 7b)

4. Earthquakes (v. 7c)

5. Persecutions (v. 9-13)

6. De-creation (v. 15-31)

Mark 13

1. Wars (v. 7)

2. International strife (v. 8a)

3. Earthquakes (v. 8b)

4. Famines (v. 8c)

5. Persecutions (v. 9-13)

6. De-creation (v. 14-27)

Luke 21

1. Wars (v. 9)

2. International strife (v. 10)

3. Earthquakes (v. ha)

4. Plagues and famines (v. llb)

5. Persecution (v. 12-19)

6. De-creation (v. 20-27)

This is very perceptive of Charles, and of the many  commentators who have followed his lead. What is  astonishing is that they should fail to see St. John’s  purpose in presenting “the same material” as the  Synoptic writers: to prophesy the events leading up to  the destruction of Jerusalem. While all readily admit  that the Little Apocalypse is a prophecy against Israel  (see Matt. 23:29-39; 24:1-2, 15-16, 34; Mark 13:2, 14,  30; Luke 21:5-6, 20-24, 32), few seem able to make the  obvious connection: The Big Apocalypse is a prophecy against Israel as well!

I actually know of few reputable commentators today that neglect to draw these passages together. Most commentators from all walks of the eschatology field are beginning to link these passages together alongside Revelation 6. The major difference is that Chilton will tie it all the A.D. 70.

For obvious reasons it will be incredibly crucial to be familiar with the different variants of the Olivet Discourse. So let the reader read and understand! :-)