One Woe Past, Two More Coming Revelation 9:12

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he shared concerning the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He began to write about what happened when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first, second, third and fourth angels” blew their trumpets, and great judgment fell upon the earth. John continued, “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” The “fifth angel sounded” and fearsome “locusts” were released from the “bottomless pit” to cause havoc upon the earth, and in chapter nine and verse twelve John shared how “one woe is past” and there will be “two woes more” where we read:

One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

The verse reads, “One woe is past;” John began with the words, “one woe” which means “one certain alas or exclamation of grief and dread” “is past” or “has departed, gone and passed away”. Heard the “angel” proclaim how “one” of the three promised “woes” was over.

The verse goes on to say, “and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.” John added the words, “and, behold” which means “and lo and see” “there come two woes more” or “there will follow two more exclamations of grief and dread” “hereafter” which means “after this first woe”. John

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how he was notified concerning the conclusion of the first “woe” proclaimed by the angel who promised there would be three. With the destruction and torture promised with this first “exclamation of grief”, we can imagine how horrific the next two will be. God provided this warning through John the apostle well in advance of these things taking place on the earth because He desires to “save” people from them through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. These “woes” do not have to be experienced, but “woe” be to the people who reject God's offer for escape.

Next time John shares what happens after “the sixth angel sounded”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.