How does Revelation 9:12 connect to the warnings in Matthew 24:21? Setting the Scene • Revelation 9 records trumpet judgments poured out during the future seven-year Tribulation. • Verse 12 announces a transition: “The first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to follow.” • Matthew 24 is Jesus’ prophetic outline of that same end-time period. Verse 21 highlights its most intense portion: “For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.” Three Shared Realities • Escalation of divine judgments – Revelation 9:12 signals that the horrifying fifth-trumpet torment is only the beginning; two greater woes remain (the sixth and seventh trumpets). – Matthew 24:21 foresees the pinnacle of suffering, confirming that the judgments intensify as the end approaches. • A single prophetic timeframe – Trumpets five through seven occur during the final half of Daniel’s seventieth week (Daniel 9:27). – Jesus places the “great tribulation” after the midpoint abomination (Matthew 24:15), the same period in which these trumpet woes unfold (Revelation 13:5–7). • Unparalleled global distress – Revelation 9 describes demonic locusts and an army of 200 million that kill a third of humanity (vv. 1-19). – Matthew 24:21 emphasizes that nothing in history equals this catastrophe. Both passages underline its singular magnitude. Supporting Scripture Threads • Daniel 12:1—“There will be a time of distress, without precedent,” matching Matthew 24:21 and the trumpet woes. • Joel 2:1-11—locust-like invaders foreshadow the fifth-trumpet plague. • Revelation 16:1-21—bowl judgments follow the seventh trumpet, completing the escalation Jesus foretold. Prophetic Sequence in Brief 1. First four trumpets (Revelation 8) harm earth’s ecology. 2. Fifth trumpet: demonic torment—“the first woe” (Revelation 9:1-12). 3. Sixth trumpet: vast cavalry slaughter—“the second woe” (Revelation 9:13-21; 11:14). 4. Seventh trumpet opens the bowl judgments—“the third woe” (Revelation 11:15-19; 16). 5. Jesus’ “great tribulation” spans trumpets five through seven, culminating in His return (Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 19:11-16). Takeaways for Today • Scripture presents a literal, escalating timeline; Revelation 9:12 and Matthew 24:21 are in perfect harmony. • God’s warnings showcase both His justice against persistent rebellion and His mercy in giving humanity time to repent (Revelation 9:20-21; 2 Peter 3:9). • Believers can rest in the promise that, even amid unprecedented woe, Christ’s ultimate victory and kingdom are certain (Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 11:15). |
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