Revelation 11:14; The Second Woe is Past

Revelation 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 

John mentioned the end of the first woe in 9:12; at that time he announced that there were two more to come.

Revelation 9:12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. 

Here then is the end of the second woe, but John fails to tell us what segment of the Apocalypse comprises the third woe. Some scholars think that the substance of chapter 16 that reveals the seven plagues makes up this last affliction. The objection to this interpretation is its distance from the announcement that the third woe is at hand. Therefore, it is better to see the last part of this verse introducing the next segment (v15b–19) as the content of the third woe.

Revelation 11:15-19 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdomsof our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. 

The scene of the seventh trumpet “is a more severe woe than the fifth and sixth trumpets, since it represents the climactic final judgment.” The seventh trumpet permits us a view subsequent to the final judgment when the wicked face destruction. Thus, the woe speaks to the devastation of those people who have been destructive during their time on earth (v. 18).

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 340). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.