The 3 Woes in the Book of Revelation

Many people today overlook the Book of Revelation and I tend to ask why? Is it because of the judgments that are being poured out on the earth? Well the Book of Revelation is very important and it’s time that we review this book to get an understanding on what’s about to happen soon. I want to put the events in order for the 3 woes. Keep in mind this is only an overview and it doesn’t cover everything but only a starting point or a guide.

Revelation 8:13 states, “ And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”

The First Woe begins when Satan is thrown down to the earth. Let’s take a look at the scriptures pertaining to the first Woe.

Revelation 12:7-17 states

⁷ And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,⁸ And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.¹² 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.¹³ And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. ¹⁴ And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.¹⁵ And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.¹⁶ And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.¹⁷ And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

During the first Woe Satan also called that old serpent and the devil is cast out of heaven and he is cast out into the earth. It states Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea for the devil is come down having great wrath. Now when he saw that he was cast down he persecuted the woman which is Yah’s people, Israel, not the state of Israel but a nation of people. But the woman were given wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness for 3 ½ years or 1260 days away from the face of the serpent.  The serpent probably cast a flood of lies towards Israel so they could be deceived. He was mad that the woman (possibly the bride/144,000) got away and he went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of the Most High and have the testimony of Yahshua Ha’Mashiach. From my understanding the remnant could possibly be the rest of the nation of Israel including the grafted in gentiles; which could be referencing the multitude of people that was seen in heaven after the great tribulation in Rev 7:9,14. Also from my understanding when the devil is cast down to the earth he have a short time.

Where else does it mention the 1^st Woe?

Revelation 9:1-12 states ¹and 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.² 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.³ 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.⁴ 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.⁵ 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.⁶ And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.⁷ 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.⁸ And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.⁹ 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.¹⁰ And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.¹¹ 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.¹² One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

Now could this star be representing Satan? This star fell to the earth and he had the key of the bottomless pit so it seems like he opened the door or portal to the underworld. Darkness filled the earth because of the locusts being unleashed. The locusts or demon army was given power as the scorpions of the earth have power. The scorpions could be representing the evil men/armies on the earth. Now the locusts couldn’t hurt the earth. They could only hurt the people who don’t have the seal of Yahweh on their foreheads; this is talking about the people who don’t keep the commandments and who don’t have the testimony of Yahshua Ha’Mashiach; the non-believers. So this locust army will be equivalent to the evil army on the earth and there’s going to be a lot of violence taking place for a 5 month period or 150 day timeframe. This seem like an attack on some people and it will be a lot of suffering for these people. This army will have a leader over them whose name is Abaddon. So we see that one woe is past and there are 2 more.

So for now we see that Satan is cast down to earth, the bottomless pit is opened and people will be tormented for 5 months during the 1^st Woe. During the great tribulation the beast will be given power from the dragon for 42 months or 1260 days. According to scripture the Dragon is Satan also called the devil. Remember during the 1^st Woe the dragon casts out a flood after the remnant well let’s see what the Dragon is doing and who he gives power to for his short time on earth to rule.

Revelation 13:1-7 states

¹And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ² And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. ³ And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.⁴ And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? ⁵ And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. ⁷ And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

The beast was given a mouth to speak great things and blasphemies for 42 months. Now we can clearly see what the flood consists of brothers and sisters. The beast will be falsely accusing Yah’s people, they will be deceiving his people, and doing and saying things against the Most High; the beast will be doing all types of things. We see those things right now but it will get worse during the Great Tribulation. The beast will also open his mouth in blasphemy against Yah, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven. Now the beast done lost their mind to be doing this but it will happen because prophecy will have to be fulfilled. The beast will also make war with the saints to overcome them. Power was given to him over all kindreds, and tongues and nations.

Let’s see the rest of Revelation since it talks about the Beast.

Revelation 13:8-16 states ⁸ and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. ⁹ If any man have an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰ He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. ¹¹ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. ¹² And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³ And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, ¹⁴ And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ¹⁵ And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.¹⁶ And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Off the top we see that all that dwell upon the earth shall worship the beast whose names are not written in the book of life. So we know that he doesn’t overcome all the children of Israel. Majority of his followers are unbelievers and they don’t know the truth. They haven’t accepted Yahshua as their savior. Some of  God’s people will die during the tribulation because they will refuse to worship the beast and his image. The beast will cause many to receive the mark of the beast, both small and great and this is the time when the saints need to be patient.  The saints will need to continue following the Word and they need to keep obeying the commandments. The saints need to remain strong in their faith because this is not the time to fall away. This is not the time to give up and fall back into the world. Please check out my post, “The mystery of 666: Here is wisdom.” I give some revelation to the number of the beast.

What is the 2^nd woe?

Now while the beast is ruling the 2 witnesses are on the scene with their ministry and their ministry last 3 ½ years or 1260 days. That’s interesting because it’s the same length as the time of the Beast which is 42 months.

Revelation 11:1-14 states ¹And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. ² But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. ³ And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. ⁴ These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. ⁵ And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. ⁶ These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. ⁷ And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. ⁸ And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. ⁹ And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. ¹⁰ And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. ¹¹ And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. ¹² And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.¹³ And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.¹⁴ The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

The 2 witnesses are two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. During the days of their prophecy they have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy, they even have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they want and then at the end of their testimony the beast kills them. Their dead bodies shall lie in the streets for 3 ½ days and after 3 ½ days they will be resurrected and then they will ascend to heaven. Their enemies will watch them as they ascend up to heaven and then a great earthquake will happen. This happens during the 2^nd woe. The 2^nd Woe is a total of 3 ½ years or 1260 days. There are several possibilities of when the 2 witnesses begin their ministry. It could be after the 5^th Trumpet, at the beginning of the 5^th Trumpet or possibly during the 1^st Trumpet. What we do know is that the 1^st Woe begin at Trumpet 5. Now we know that the 2 witnesses ministry have to begin before the 7^th Trumpet. Let’s see what is going on during the 6^th trumpet which could be part of the 2^nd Woe, within the timeframe of the 2 witnesses ministry.

Revelation 9:13-21

¹³ And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,¹⁴ Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.¹⁵ 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.¹⁶ And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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.¹⁹ 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.²⁰ 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:²¹ Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

When the 6^th Trumpet sounds there is going to be a lot of violence going on. This could lead to WW3. This army is very large and a lot of people will die during this time. The saints will have to be patient during this time because sin will be increasing. During the time of the 2 witnesses ministry they will be leading people to repentance and sending plagues. We see that the people who did not die with the plagues repented not of the works of their hands. It’s crazy because these people were given the opportunity to repent and they refuse not to repent. The work of the 2 witnesses will be very great because there will be a multitude of people that will repent. Most of the times when disaster strikes people start to repent. It’s sad that something bad has to occur to make the people want to repent. But that’s the world that we live in. It’s best to repent NOW and turn away from your sins because you may not have a second chance.

Now we get to the last woe which is the 3^rd Woe.

Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Revelation 11:14-19 states ¹⁴ The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.¹⁵ 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.¹⁶ And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,¹⁷ 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.¹⁸ 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.¹⁹ 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 third woe comes shortly after the 2 witnesses die. The 3^rd woe is the sounding of the 7^th trumpet and this is the 2^nd coming of Yahshua. The Kingdoms of this world becomes the kingdoms of Yahshua. During this time the nations were angry because their wrath has finally come and judgment was about to happen. Also the rapture happens at this time because his wrath is against the wicked not his people so they are removed from the earth and they get caught up to heaven at this point, you can look in Revelation 14 as it relates to the Great Harvest at his coming. More information about the 2^nd return of Yahshua is in my post called A revelation of Yahshua’s 2^nd Coming.

But the wicked are about to be destroyed and you can read that in Revelation 15 and 16. In Revelation 16 it breaks down the 7 last plagues on the wicked. The wicked will receive these plagues during the end.  The believers on the earth will not receive these plagues it’s only on the wicked who don’t repent. Throughout the bible we can see that the earth will be destroyed by fire and the wicked can’t escape that judgment. So this is during the 3^rd Woe and it is finished. This is just a basic breakdown of the 3rd Woes.

Written  by Sister Carter