Revelation 9:12-13; Behold, Two Woes Hereafter

Revelation 9:12-13 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. 13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 

John states that there are three woes, of which the first two are explained in this chapter. That is, the first woe relates to the locusts that have come to torment the people (v1–11), and the second woe comprises the rest of chapter 9.

The three woes succeed one another in increasing intensity: the first woe follows the sounding of the fifth trumpet. It relates the release of demonic forces that are empowered to harm but not to kill for a specified duration. The second woe occurs when the sixth trumpet is blown. It reports that four angels are released to kill a third of the human race by fire, smoke, and sulfur. The calamities that occur are designed to bring the human race to repentance and faith in God; they call the people to change their sinful ways by turning back to God. These two woes also instruct the saints to observe the signs of the time, for the end is imminent. The third woe introduces God’s judgment of the dead (11:15b–19).

The calamities affecting the world and the human race increase in intensity with the sounding of each successive blowing of a trumpet. In this segment, John reveals that a war will take place that has no parallel in the annals of human history. Calls for repentance go unheeded and God’s revelation is deliberately rejected, so that a terrifying war ravages mankind as an outcome of divine wrath. The difference between earlier world wars and this one is the magnitude with which hellish forces are unleashed and go unchecked. The powers of darkness rule supreme without any hindrance; they annihilate a third of the world’s population. Demons inspire people to destroy fellow human beings with the most horrible weaponry at their disposal. Treaties and conventions that have served as barriers are ignored. This is God’s judgment on a world that has abandoned him and his Word.

What a frightening scene of life after the rapture of the church! Indeed, the world is awakened to the reality of God’s warning by visible tormenting judgments. May the Lord help His church to cherish our present blessings and seek to share the gospel by warning of the impending judgment coming upon planet earth. Amen.

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 293–294). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.