9:12 The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
The first woe is past;
This is the woe we have just studied which is associated with the sounding of the fifth trumpet. This woe can be interpreted two ways:
- Real (physical): There will be a plague of terrible locust-like beasts which sting as scorpions for 5 months. They are released from a dormant state or are newly created by God for this woe.
- Figurative: Demons are released from the abyss and the evil and cruelty inflicted upon this earth's people will be glamourous but oh so tortorous. Mental anguish is often the worst torment.
behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
Perhaps, this is said by the eagle (Revelation 8:13) and foretells the next two woes as "trumpets 6 and 7". See the pronouncement after the second woe in Revelation 11:14.
------------
References to the Revelation of Jesus Christ are in bold italics. References to the Words of Jesus are in red. All other references are in bold only.
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, ©1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.