Revelation A to Z - Part “I” - First Woe
How the end begins.

As in school we have learned simple things first and gradually were progressing to more difficult, so it is with spiritual things, particularly with understanding God’s end time plans and purposes. For your own benefit, it is imperative that all “From A to Z - Revelation Made Plain” topics or posts would be read and studied in their chronological order, starting with “Part A” and progressing in alphabetical order. This way, your understanding of Revelation prophecies will progress from simple to more complex. Every week new part will be posted till complete understanding of Revelation is obtained.
This presentation is not affiliated with any church denomination or any Ministries.

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Part “I”:

In the spiritual battle over our minds, neutrality does not exist. We all have a master!
Either we serve God, or we serve the enemy!

Rev.8:13: As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
In Rev.8:13 the Bible informs us that woes (afflictions) are coming upon the inhabitants of the earth. It is not seven of them, not even five, but three. Three terrors - afflictions or sufferings will be visited upon the inhabitants of this planet. By calling them "woes", Bible makes pointed difference between the first four trumpets and the last three. It clearly specifies that these three woes will come to pass in the order they are written.
Rev.9:12: "The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come."
Rev.11:14: "The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon."
Since these three woes come in their proper order, let's look at the one which comes first!

The fifth trumpet, known also as the first woe, could be placed among the few most perplexing sections of Revelation. In it two different prophecies are mixed together. One is symbolic, the other literal. Both are intertwining each other and each one is complimenting the other. That is why it is so difficult to understand it correctly
Over the years, I am sure, we all have heard some absurd interpretations of the fifth trumpet. One of the more popular must have originated not by Bible scholars, but by some science fiction fans and is as follows:
Legions of demons and/or fallen angels will be rising out from the abyss (somewhere inside the earth) and will make war against the inhabitants of this planet. Is this really what will happen? Will there be truly some hordes of fallen angels or demons coming out of some subterranean place called abyss and will they make war against the inhabitants of this earth?
This explanation of the fifth trumpet I have heard many times. If nothing else, in my opinion, those who teach it, show their great ignorance of God’s symbolic language and unwillingness to accept God’s word over their own opinions and views.
If we adhere strictly to the Bible and let the Scriptures explain it’s own difficult words and passages, the Bible will reveal to us something totally different, something what God regards vitally important for us to understand.

THE FIFTH TRUMPET - FIRST WOE
Rev.9:1-12: " The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it, they will long to die, but death will elude them.
The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lion's teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and Greek, Apollyon. The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come."

In Rev. 9:1-12 we can see that if we take the beginning part as it reads, it doesn't make any sense to us. It is coded (encrypted) in symbols. This way the first part is protected from understanding and comprehending by the enemies of God and their organizations, before its appointed time. For that reason, symbolic language was used. To gain proper understanding of it, and to make some sense out of this trumpet, we have to investigate symbolic meaning of the few key words it contains.
Again, I must remind to everyone, that we are not interested in man's opinions what these words symbolize. This way we would have a thousand different explanations and not one would be correct! Bible and the Bible only, has to show us their true symbolic meaning! Then, we may know what God is trying to tell us.

The words which we don't understand their proper meaning are: Star, key, abyss, smoke, and locusts.

Star:
• Rev.1:20 - "Seven stars are the angels of seven churches..."
• Rev.22:16 - "I am the bright and Morning Star..."
• Num.24:17 - " a star will come out of Jacob ..."
• Rev.12:4 - "his tail swept a third of the stars ..."
Now, who is the star who had fallen from the sky (heaven)?
• Isa.14:12 - "How you have fallen from heaven O morning star, son of the dawn!"
We can observe that the Bible portrays under the symbol "star" Jesus Christ or the angels. In this case, the star which has fallen from heaven must be none other than Satan himself.

Star = Angel (Satan)

Key:
• Rev.1:18 - "And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
• Isa.22:22 - "I will place on his shoulders the key to the house of David."
• Mat.16:19 - "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
In all cases it speaks about control, power or authority.

Key = Control, Power, Authority

Abyss (bottomless pit):
• Gen.1:2 - "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep".
The word "deep" is here substituted for the word "abyss" - notice, that here the word abyss or bottomless pit (deep), refers to formless earth - in chaotic state - in a state of ruin. The shaft of the Abyss must then represent the passageway or the entrance to the Abyss. In other words, the way or means to the desolation, chaos or ruin.

Abyss = Ruin, desolation, chaos
Shaft of the Abyss = The way to ruin, chaos, desolation (beginning of it)

Smoke:
• Rev.5:8 - "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (tied together with)
• Rev.8:4 - "The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God."
If the incense are prayers of the saints, the smoke of the incense must then be the essence of the prayers! In other words, their thoughts. It seems that the Bible uses the word "smoke" in Revelation as a symbol portraying knowledge, thought (some function of the mind). The sum and total of all human knowledge today is our science and technology. The word “smoke” can be accepted as portraying actual smoke or pollution as well. Overall meaning of the beginning passage will not be changed.

Smoke = Thought, Knowledge (Science & Technology)

Locusts:
• Rev.9:7 - "The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle."
• Rev.9:17 - " The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur."
• Rev. 9:9 "They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle."
Notice that the locusts only looked like horses! They were not the real horses! The prophet saw something which will be used for war. In his time, the wars were waged with horses and chariots. So he likens the locusts to them, even so they are not it! He sees that out of these monstrosities, only likened to the horses, was issuing fire, smoke and sulfur. They were made out of iron and were tremendously noisy. He had no better names for them.
The book of Joel pictures the locusts in great detail as well:
• Joel 2:2-5: "Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste, nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots, they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle."
According to the Bible, locusts symbolize today's modern armies of the world with all their modern weapons, war machinery and equipment.

Locusts = Modern Armies of the World

Now, when we know how the Bible explains its own symbols, let's insert this explanation of them into the underlined part of the fifth trumpet and see if the Bible is making any sense:

"The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star (angel, Satan) that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star (Satan) was given the key (power, control, authority) to the shaft (way or means) of the abyss (ruin, desolation or chaos - destruction) When he opened the abyss (way of chaos, ruin, desolation), smoke (knowledge, thoughts, activity of the mind - today we call it by a special name 'the science and technology.') rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace (signifying the vastness of this knowledge - science or technology, which is to emerge.) The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke (knowledge - science and technology) from the (because of the) abyss (ruin, desolation, chaos). And out of the smoke (knowledge - science & technology) (or as a result of it), locusts (modern armies of the world) came upon the earth (came to existence), and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth (to hurt people).

Now let’s write it simply, so all of us can understand it:
The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw an angel - Satan that had fallen from the sky to the earth. Satan was given power, control, and the authority to open the way or means to destruction. When he opened the way to destruction, human knowledge emerged like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. (signifying the vastness of this knowledge - science or technology, which is to emerge) The sun and sky were darkened by this knowledge causing the destruction. And as a result of this knowledge, modern armies of the world came to existence, and were given power to hurt people.

At this point the remaining part of the fifth trumpet is easy to understand:
We can see, that behind the symbolism of the fifth trumpet, the Bible is revealing to us, how Satan will lead men to ruin the earth. By choosing knowledge, which is expressed in our world today by science and technology, mankind will develop weapons of mass destruction, which will be used in the desolation of this planet. The fifth trumpet is revealing to us, how the nations will do it. No wonder God will be angry with the armies of all countries.
Isa.34:1-2: Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter.

In the first four trumpets, the Bible has shown us only the scope of this destruction and its effect on our environment. We have also learned that the four angels are holding it back from being accomplished until the sealing of God's servants is completed. Here in this trumpet, the Bible gives us additional clues when the fifth trumpet will happen.

1st) Rev. 9:2: "The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss."
This smoke, (science and the technology), which comes to existence during the symbolic part of the fifth trumpet, must be developed first, before the sun and sky can be darkened. In other words, the fourth trumpet which shows this darkening of the sun, moon and stars, cannot transpire before, but must happen after, or as a result of it.
The book of Joel fully supports this conclusion. It tells us that this darkening of the sun, moon and stars will be accomplished by the locusts, (modern armies of the world.)
Joel 2:10: "Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine."
The locusts (modern military armies,) must come to existence first (the events in the symbolic portion of the fifth trumpet must first transpire,) before the sun, moon and stars can be darkened.

2nd) Rev: 9:4: "They (locusts) were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree."
Here we learn that it will be the locusts (modern armies), that will eventually cause the harming of the earth as portrayed in the first four trumpets. It shows us again that the locusts (modern armies) must come to existence first (the symbolic part of the fifth trumpet must first come to pass,) before the harming of the trees and grass shown in the first trumpet can begin. For the third time, Bible points the fulfillment of the destruction presented by the first four trumpets into the future. In this passage it places it after fulfillment of the symbolic part of the fifth trumpet or after the symbolic part of the first woe!

We are also told, how long this fifth trumpet will last. In verse 5, the locusts were not allowed to kill mankind for five months. They were only allowed to trouble them for this period, while for this same duration of time, ordered not to harm the grass, or any plants or trees. The Bible here reveals to us the length of the fifth trumpet or the first woe. Notice that the time duration of the five months is written twice.
Rev 9:5: They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months.
Rev: 9:10: "They (locusts) had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months."
Why it is written twice becomes clear, when we understand that the Bible expresses duration of various events in two different forms.

1) In actual time as we know it.
2) In symbolic time, where day is counted as a year. (Eze. 4: 5-6)

Since in this fifth trumpet the two portions of the same prophecy are mixed together, one symbolic and one literal, the time duration is given to us twice also. One to be understand symbolically and the other literally.
That part of the fifth trumpet that was hidden in symbolic language, has to be expressed in symbolic time as well. Five months equal to 150 days and symbolically represent 150 years.

Fifth trumpet - first woe (the symbolic part) will last 150 years

Now the events portrayed in the fifth trumpet gain awesome significance.
When Satan fell down (to the earth), he was given power, control, authority to the way of ruining the earth. This passage revealed to us that he has chosen knowledge - science and the technology to accomplish it. Through the science and the technology, Satan led mankind to invent and develop modern and powerful weapons of mass destruction. The locusts- which are the armies of the world, will eventually use them and harm the land, the sea, and the trees, and darken the sun, the moon and the stars. In Rev. 9:5, we learn that Satan was allowed a period of five months (150 years) to prepare for this destruction.

When we look today around us, is that not precisely what has happened? When did the industrial revolution begin? Wasn't it in the middle of the 19th century? That would mean, that the symbolic five months of the fifth trumpet have already expired.

Before we started studying the trumpets, we were examining three events transpiring in heaven.

1) Angel with the golden censer is ministering at the altar of incense
2) Censer is filled with fire and hurled on the earth
3) There came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

On the beginning of the previous part (Part H), we have learned that the trumpets will start to be fulfilled already sometime in the time period appointed to the Gentiles, and are spanning over the transition period, all way to the second coming of Jesus.
Now we can understand, which part of the trumpets has already been fulfilled. It was this symbolic portion of the fifth trumpet. This symbolic part of the first woe was transpiring for150 years during the closing years of the time period assigned to the Gentiles and ended at the same time - in 1994 A.D.

Up to now, we have investigated only the symbolic part of the first woe. Now, when we understand the symbolic portion we can finally concentrate our attention on the literal part of it as well.

Rev.9:4-5: They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
Notice first that the literal part will not happen until God’s people are sealed on their foreheads with the seal of God. What precisely is this God’s seal will be investigated when the subject of 144 000 God’s servants will be studied.
From the verses above it seems that in the beginning of the coming conflict, some military powers will use weapons that will not outright kill people, rather they will be only a torture to them. These, will not harm the grass or any plants or trees. For the first five months of the coming conflict culminating in partial destruction of our planet the armies of various nations will employ weapons that will only hurt people. Could it be biological and or chemical weapons? However, in later stages of the conflict it seems that other weapons of mass destruction (nuclear) will be used as well.(second woe). The literal part of the fifth trumpet is concentrating only on its beginning phase. The Scriptures are also showing us in the sixth trumpet what kind of military might will be used and approximate location of the start of this worldwide conflict. (Conflict by the river Euphrates and most likely spreading to many other nations.) All this will happen after God’s servants are sealed and four winds are released.

This is how John portrays the military powers involved in the conflict. Do not forget, that we must look at it from his perception of things 2000 years ago! It was baffling to him and he had no names for what he saw!

1) The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. (They looked like military armies with all their machinery prepared for a war)
2) On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold. (Combat helmets? Probably not. At the present I do not know)
3) Their faces resembled human faces. (Nothing extraterrestrial or spiritual, but ordinary men. To prophet John they were most likely shown in their modern combat suits and helmets and they looked to him more like some aliens than normal men.)
4) Their hair was like women's hair. (Could it identify men with shaved faces?)
5) Their teeth were like lions' teeth. (The armies looked ferocious, aggressive and invincible)
6) They had breastplates like breastplates of iron (Their equipment and machinery was made of iron)
7) The sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. (These armies (locusts) were tremendously noisy and capable of flying)

Location of the starting phase of the coming destruction will be in the near vicinity of the river Euphrates. (Rev.9:14-15) United State’s attack on Iraq in 2003 is most likely only the first phase of future broader conflict. At this point I believe, that the releasing of the four winds (held by four angels) has probably not started transpiring yet (as of April 2003 - due to an attack on Iraq). Most likely additional conflict will be required.

Before we close the study of the fifth trumpet, (the first woe) let us look at:
Rev. 9:11: "They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abbaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon."
The locusts (modern armies of the world) have a commander in charge! Who is it? Is it a president of USA? Or some world politician? The one, who is truly in charge, and who invisibly controls the leading politicians of the world is the angel of the Abyss ( of the destruction of the earth)! His name is Abaddon or Apollyon. Both names mean "Destroyer" and we know who that is, - Satan himself. This angel who is in charge of the locusts (armies of the world) and the destruction is the same star (angel) who had fallen from the sky (heaven) to this earth and was given the key (control) to the shaft of the Abyss (to the way of destroying the earth.)

First woe describes in symbols preparation for the destruction.

It spans over a period of 150 years.
By 1994 A.D. "The symbolic part of the first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come."

Your friend in Jesus
HH