^9:12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.

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.

two other woes are yet to come.

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.