How does Revelation 9:12 emphasize the severity of the coming judgments? Setting the Stage • Revelation 9 opens with the sounding of the fifth trumpet, unleashing demonic locusts from the abyss (9:1-11). • Verse 12 steps back from the action to comment: “The first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to follow.” • John—under the Spirit’s inspiration—marks a transition, ensuring readers grasp the escalating weight of what is unfolding. Why the Phrase “First Woe” Matters • “Woe” in Scripture signals calamity under divine judgment (Isaiah 5:20; Matthew 23:13). • By labeling the locust-plague the “first woe,” the Spirit identifies it as a distinct, self-contained stroke of judgment, not merely one more trumpet blast. • It underscores that the torment of the fifth trumpet (five months of inescapable agony, 9:5-6) is only the opening bracket of a trio of unparalleled disasters. “Behold, Two Woes Are Still to Follow” • “Behold” (Greek: ιδου) is a command to stop and pay close attention—like a divine highlighter. • The announcement tugs the reader’s focus forward: if the first woe was horrific, the next two will be worse. • Severity is emphasized by sequence: each succeeding woe builds on the last, culminating in the seventh trumpet (11:15-19) and bowl judgments (16). Links to the Broader Revelation Narrative • Revelation 8:13 already warned, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts…”—preparing us for progressive intensification. • Revelation 9:13-21 (the sixth trumpet) shows one-third of humanity killed—vastly surpassing the torment of the locusts, proving the escalation implied in 9:12. • Revelation 11:14 echoes the same structure: “The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming soon.” Repetition cements the seriousness. • Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:21 resonate: “For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.” Revelation 9:12 situates us squarely within that mounting tribulation. Takeaways for Today • God’s warnings are measured and clear; each woe is announced before it arrives, displaying both justice and mercy (2 Peter 3:9). • The verse calls believers to sober vigilance—recognizing that the judgments are literal, future, and progressively severe. • Knowing greater woes are ahead motivates urgent gospel witness (Acts 20:24) and steadfast hope in Christ’s promised deliverance (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10). |
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