By comparing the foregoing columns the reader will see that God in His longsuffering

reserved the full outpouring of wrath till the end. A third part is smitten under the

trumpets, yet men repented not, so the long-deferred stroke at last must fall. By reason of

the terrible results that follow the sounding of the last three trumpets, they are called

"three woes".

The reading "eagle" (aetos) is supported by the best texts (see R.V.). Eagles are often

used in Scripture in association with judgment, and this may be the reason for its use

here. Our interest is therefore focussed upon these three trumpets, and we shall observe

that they are described at greater length than the first four.

The first four trumpets are somewhat preparatory, warnings as it were to men

concerning the nature of their guilt and the judgment impending. Up till this point the

seals and the trumpets have shown wonders in earth, sea, air, heaven, and the greater and

lesser luminaries.

The first woe opens the Abyss. What this fact means the mind cannot conceive. The

Revelation contains several such crises. The casting of Satan out of heaven to the earth is

another such close contact with hell. So also when the beast arises out of the Abyss.

What an awful place the world will then become.  The nature of the judgment is

suggested by the likeness used--locusts. The host of destroyers is headed by Apollyon,

It would appear also from a close following of the original, that a fallen star, not one

of the angels of God, is commissioned to let loose this scourge upon the earth. "And I

saw a star, out of heaven having fallen". The idea is not so much that John saw the star

fall, but that he saw a fallen star. To this fallen star is given the key of the pit of the

abyss. The LXX uses this word abussos ("the deep") in Gen. 1: 2. The waters which at

that time covered the earth were pushed back at the emerging of the earth, again to break

their bounds at the flood, when "the fountains of the great deep were broken up"

(Gen. 7: 11).

The loosing of these locusts is a forerunner of a greater scourge, for out of the Abyss

arises the beast (Rev. 11: 7; 17: 8). It will be the prison of Satan during the thousand

years. It is not to be confused with gehenna or the lake of fire, as it is differentiated in

17: 8 from perdition. Satan likewise emerges from the Abyss after the thousand years

and is cast into the lake of fire.  The Abyss, being so closely connected with the

supernatural evils of the closing days of Gentiles dominion, will not, we might well

expect, liberate blessing to the earth, when the pit is opened by the fallen star. Smoke

and intense darkness prepare the way for the scourge now let loose, which is described as

that of locusts.