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The 7 "Woes" of Revelation
The Seven Woes of Revelation: Divine Proclamations of Judgment and Warning
The Book of Revelation, a tapestry of prophetic visions, unveils God's ultimate triumph over evil and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Within its pages, specific pronouncements of judgment are termed "woes," signaling intense suffering and divine retribution upon the unrepentant inhabitants of the earth. While Revelation explicitly identifies three "woes" tied to the final trumpet judgments, a broader examination reveals seven significant pronouncements of distress and judgment that serve as stark warnings and demonstrations of God's righteous wrath. These "woes" are not merely punitive; they are clarion calls to repentance, revealing the unwavering justice of the Almighty and the inevitable consequences of rejecting His sovereignty. This article will explore these seven distinct "woes," understanding their context, impact, and ultimate purpose within God's prophetic plan.
The First Woe: The Torment of the Locusts (Revelation 9:1-12)
The first woe is inextricably linked to the sounding of the fifth trumpet, unleashing a terrifying plague upon the earth. John's vision describes a star falling from heaven, given the key to the bottomless pit. From this abyss emerges smoke that darkens the sun and air, and from the smoke, locusts unlike any natural creature ascend. These demonic entities are granted power akin to scorpions, but with a specific, divine command: they are to harm only those who lack the seal of God on their foreheads. Their purpose is not to kill, but to torment humanity for five months with excruciating pain, causing men to seek death but be unable to find it. This woe signifies a targeted, agonizing judgment, a direct consequence of rejecting God's mark of protection.
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
Following this devastating plague, the angel pronounces, "One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter" (Revelation 9:12), setting the stage for even greater judgments.
The Second Woe: The Release of the Four Angels (Revelation 9:13-21)
The second woe unfolds with the sounding of the sixth trumpet, introducing a new and horrifying wave of judgment. A voice from the golden altar commands the release of four angels bound at the great river Euphrates. These angels, prepared for a specific time, are loosed to slay a third of mankind. An immense army of two hundred million horsemen, described with vivid, terrifying imagery of fire, smoke, and brimstone issuing from their mouths, executes this divine decree. This judgment brings unprecedented death, yet, remarkably, the survivors of these plagues refuse to repent of their idolatry, murders, sorceries, fornication, or thefts. This stark lack of repentance underscores the hardened hearts of humanity in the face of overwhelming divine wrath.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
As the second woe concludes, another angelic pronouncement declares, "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly" (Revelation 11:14), signaling the imminent arrival of the climax of God's judgments.
The Third Woe: The Kingdom of God Established (Revelation 11:15-19)
The third woe, announced by the sounding of the seventh trumpet, is unique among the woes. It is not a specific plague or torment but rather a declaration of God's ultimate victory and the establishment of His kingdom. This "woe" is for the ungodly, as it ushers in the final, comprehensive judgments of God, including the pouring out of the seven bowls of wrath. Heavenly voices proclaim that "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). This marks the time for God's wrath to fall upon the nations, for the dead to be judged, and for His faithful servants to be rewarded. The opening of God's temple in heaven, revealing the ark of His testament, signifies the unfolding of His divine plan and the completion of His covenant promises.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of 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.
This final woe serves as the pivotal point, transitioning from sequential judgments to the full manifestation of God's righteous indignation and the triumphant reign of Christ.
The Woe to the Inhabitants of Earth and Sea (Revelation 12:12)
Following the cosmic war in heaven, where Michael and his angels cast Satan down to the earth, a great voice from heaven pronounces a specific woe upon the earth and sea. This woe is not tied to a trumpet or a bowl, but directly to the intensified wrath of the devil, who knows his time is short. Having been defeated in the heavenly realm, Satan descends with "great wrath," unleashing his fury upon humanity, particularly those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17). This woe explains the heightened persecution and tribulation that believers will face during the latter part of the tribulation period, as the forces of evil make their final, desperate stand.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
This woe highlights the spiritual battle raging on earth, a direct consequence of Satan's expulsion and his determined effort to deceive and destroy before his ultimate doom.
The Woe of Babylon's Fall: Merchants' Lament (Revelation 18:9-10)
The destruction of "Babylon the Great," representing the world's corrupt political, economic, and religious systems, elicits a series of laments that function as "woes" for those who benefited from her influence. The kings of the earth, who engaged in spiritual fornication and lived luxuriously with her, bewail and lament her sudden destruction. Standing afar off, terrified by her torment, they cry out, "Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come" (Revelation 18:10). This woe underscores the swift and decisive nature of God's judgment upon worldly power and wealth that oppose Him. The lament of the kings reveals their deep attachment to the earthly system that provided them with power and pleasure, now irrevocably lost.
And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
This pronouncement serves as a powerful reminder that all earthly empires, no matter how grand, are subject to the sovereign will and judgment of God.
The Woe of Babylon's Fall: Shipmasters' Lament (Revelation 18:15-16)
Continuing the lament over Babylon's fall, the merchants of the earth, who grew rich through her immense trade, also stand afar off, weeping and wailing. Their "Alas, alas" expresses profound grief not for the city itself, but for the loss of the source of their vast riches. They mourn her former splendor, describing her as "clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls" (Revelation 18:16). This woe highlights the vanity of material wealth and the fleeting nature of worldly prosperity built upon unrighteousness. The suddenness of her destruction—"in one hour so great riches is come to nought"—emphasizes the irreversible and complete nature of God's judgment, leaving her economic partners utterly destitute of their former gains.
The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! for in one hour so great riches is come to nought.
This lament serves as a severe warning against placing trust in temporal wealth and the corrupt systems of this world.
The Woe of Babylon's Fall: Sailors' Lament (Revelation 18:17-19)
The final "alas" over Babylon's destruction comes from the maritime community: shipmasters, all who sail, and all who trade by sea. They, too, stand afar off, crying out in despair as they witness the smoke of her burning. Their lament, "What city is like unto this great city!" (Revelation 18:18), underscores the unprecedented nature of her fall and the global impact of her economic collapse. They cast dust on their heads in a sign of deep mourning, weeping and wailing because "in one hour is she made desolate" (Revelation 18:19). This specific woe highlights the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, affecting every sector of the global economy that profited from Babylon's unrighteousness. It signifies the complete disruption of all earthly commerce and the absolute end of an era dominated by materialism and rebellion against God.
And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
This final lament over Babylon's destruction serves as a powerful testament to God's justice and the ultimate futility of building wealth and power apart from Him.
Conclusion: The Sovereignty of
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