S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Woe means "grief, anguish, affliction"; the three woes of Revelation are the final judgment God pronounces on the evil inhabitants of the earth in order to spur them to repentance (Revelation 9:20)...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Daniel Veler Supporter

Your question: What are the three woes of Revelation?

Revelation 8:13: “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!”

This is what you’re referring to. This statement is made after the first four trumpets are sounded. The first four trumpets have an effect on the earth, while the last three trumpets have an effect on all of mankind.

Revelation 9:10: “And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 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. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.”

The first woe is the beast rising from the pit to torment humanity for five months. It is believed to be the first woe and precedes the sixth trumpet.

The sound of the sixth trumpet is followed by the sound of the seventh trumpet, which is the second woe.

Revelation 11:13: “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. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.”

This woe occurs after the first 3.5 years have been fulfilled regarding the last seven years, as foretold by Daniel. Most people refer to this period as the seven years of tribulation. 

What remains from the second woe until the coming of Christ? The final 3.5 years to complete the final half of the seven years. 

Though scripture never explicitly states that the third woe has already passed, as the other two have, it is generally understood to occur between the last 3.5 years and the return of Christ.

During this period, the mark of the beast is implemented. At its conclusion, Christ, accompanied by his saints, arrives to cast the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire.

October 11 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What are the three woes of Revelation?

The three woes in the Book of Revelation are final, escalating judgments of divine wrath announced by an eagle (or angel) in Revelation 8:13, tied to the final three trumpet blasts.

The book of Revelation uses the term "woe" to mark three severe judgments that unfold during the sounding of the last three trumpets. These woes represent escalating distress on the earth, each more intense than the preceding trumpet judgments.

The First Woe – Fifth Trumpet (Revelation 9:1–12)

The first woe begins when the fifth trumpet sounds. A "fallen star" is given authority to open the Abyss, releasing beings described symbolically as tormenting locusts. Their purpose is not to kill but to inflict intense suffering on those who do not have God's seal.

Key elements:

The Abyss is opened

Smoke darkens the sky.

Locust‑like beings torment humanity for five months.

Their power resembles scorpions.

Their leader is called Abaddon (Hebrew) or Apollyon (Greek), meaning "Destroyer"

This woe represents a period of spiritual and psychological torment, not mass death.

The Second Woe – Sixth Trumpet (Revelation 9:13–21; 11:14)

The second woe begins with the sixth trumpet. Four angels bound at the Euphrates are released, unleashing a vast mounted force. This judgment results in widespread death.

Key elements:

Four angels released

A massive army described symbolically.

One‑third of humanity killed.d

Fire, smoke, and sulfur used as imagery

Survivors refuse to repent of idolatry, violence, and corruption.

This woe marks a dramatic escalation from torment to large‑scale destruction.

The second woe formally concludes in Revelation 11:14, after the events involving the two witnesses.

The Third Woe – Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 11:15–19)

The third woe is tied to the seventh trumpet, which announces God's final judgments and the transition toward Christ's kingdom.

Key elements:

Loud voices proclaim Christ's reign.

Heavenly worship intensifies

The temple in heaven is opened.

Lightning, thunder, earthquake, and hail signal divine judgment

Unlike the first two woes, which describe specific destructive events on earth, the third woe encompasses the final phase of God's judgment, leading into the bowl judgments that follow.

Summary of the Three Woes

First Woe: Torment from the Abyss (fifth trumpet)

Second Woe: Massive destruction from the released angels and symbolic army (sixth trumpet)

Third Woe: The final divine judgment announced by the seventh trumpet, leading into the closing judgments of Revelation

The three woes mark the climax of the trumpet sequence, each intensifying the seriousness of God's dealings with a rebellious world.

Summarisation of the whole topic

The three woes in Revelation are the final judgments linked to the last three trumpets. The first woe begins with the fifth trumpet, releasing forces from the Abyss that bring intense torment to those without God's seal. The second woe follows with the sixth trumpet, when four released angels lead a destructive force that causes massive loss of life. The third woe comes with the seventh trumpet, announcing God's decisive intervention, Christ's reign, and the final phase of judgment marked by heavenly signs. 

These woes progress from torment to destruction, culminating in the trumpet sequence's ultimate divine conclusion.

October 09 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report