Revelation 8: the woes to come, part two

Previously: Revelation 8: the woes to come
The first post in the Revelation series

We are seeing that the three woes of Revelation 8:13 are the three remaining trumpets, and we have already seen that the fifth trumpet is indeed the same as the first woe, and the sixth trumpet is indeed the same as the second woe. As to the seventh trumpet, we pick up the narrative in chapter 11:15:

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, [followed by a description of what John saw from verses 11:15-19, then we have a description of the great dragon in chapter 12, and a description of the first and second beasts in chapter 13, and a picture of who is meant to receive the wrath of God which is about to be poured out in chapter 14 (the dragon and the beasts and those who follow them, which is why they had to be described and identified before proceeding); then the next verse states:]

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished (vs. 15:1).

The rest of chapter 15 describes the scene in heaven when the seven angels are given the seven plagues. We see that the seventh trumpet contains the next series of judgments, the seven plagues or seven bowls of the wrath of God; just as the seventh seal contained the seven trumpets.

Chapter 16 describes the seven bowls of wrath, and the interval period (Armageddon) of spritual events between the sixth and seventh bowl. When the seventh bowl of wrath is poured out, it is declared, “It is done!”, or the judgments, woes, plagues, and wrath of God is finished, and we are at the end of the age. The rest of the book describes the fall of Babylon the Great (chapter 17), whose fall was brought about by the seven bowls of wrath; the lamentation of the world over her fall (chapter 18), the rejoicing in heaven over her fall (chapter 19), and the events of the return of bridegroom for the bride through to the end of time (chapters 19 through 22).

So nowhere in Revelation does it say that the third woe has passed, but when the seventh trumpet is sounded (which is the seven bowls of wrath), it is said that It is finished; and when the seventh bowl of wrath is poured out, it is said again that It is done. What is “it” that is finished and done? The third woe.

To be continued …

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Update: continued in Revelation 8-9: the division of the Empire