^8.6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

The sequencing of the seals, trumpets, and bowls are not necessarily chronological, and neither totally parallel. The trumpets overlap or are contained within the seventh seal. Likewise the seven bowls (the third woe, Revelation 11:14) overlap or are contained in the seventh trumpet sounding.

Yet with God being beyond the constraints of time, John, who is time limited or constrained, probably had no other way of describing these occurrences. One thing is certain, at the seventh bowl, the proclamation is given, "It is done.", Revelation 16:17. The vengeance, as horrible as it is, has been completed.

A few more words about trumpets. They have been used as "futures" signals in Isaiah 27:13, Joel 2:1, Zephaniah 1:16, Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52, and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. Look for a balance between the literal and symbolic meanings given by the trumpets. Also watch for parallels to the Egyptian plagues in Exodus.