Garry,

  Extremely interesting thought about:

Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

That the heaven departing as a scroll would be for the church to go up and out of the earth,

similar to the Red Sea parting so that Israel could go over and out of Egypt.

About 25 years ago, I had heard that preached, and it was quite an exciting message.

He mentioned slamming back shut, like the Red Sea did.

Or even like the door on the ark that Noah was in, or like the picture / type given in Revelation 4 with John:

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Answering to what Jesus mentioned to the church in Philadelphia:

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

These are very exciting, and seem to fit well together.

Please help me, then, understand the remainder of Revelation 6, in the context of what you are proposing.

As it would then seem to be describing events at the beginning of the tribulation:

Revelation 6:14b  and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

  15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

  16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

  17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

I've always been able to see and understand these 3 1/2 lines describing events at the end of the tribulation.

But if they are describing the beginning of the tribulation, how do they affect how these people during the tribulation?

e.g. Do they stay in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains for the entire tribulation, or do they come out after a while?

If they know by the beginning of the tribulation, that it is the wrath of the Lamb, and the great day of his wrath,

so that they fear the Lamb, and his wrath, enough to hide, do they then still end up worshipping the beast?

Do others in the world, at that same time, realize that it is the wrath of the Lamb, or is it only those who hide themselves?

Also, does every mountain include mount Moriah?

As for the islands, will that mean that the UK, and Ireland, Cuba, and Japan will be moved out of their places,

at the beginning of the tribulation?

If so, will they sink at that time, or will they simply move and yet remain above water?

Gary, I really do like the premise of heaven departing as a scroll for the departing saints,

so please help me understand the rest of chapter six in context of that premise.

Thank you,

Gino