The first woe was occasioned by the opening of the abyss (9: 1-11); the second by the

loosing of the four angels bound at the river Euphrates (9: 12-21).

The first woe synchronizes with the fifth trumpet (9: 1), the second with the sixth

trumpet (9: 13). We now approach the third woe and the seventh trumpet.

So far the parallelism is preserved, but when we read on we become conscious of a

change in the order of narration. Instead of some more dreadful judgments falling,

heaven rings with the joyful news that at long last:--

Such blessed news cannot constitute the third woe; we must search for further

information. It may be remembered that when we reached the sixth seal "the heavens

departed as a scroll.......the great day of his wrath is come......." The opening of the

seventh seal did not lead further into the future that lies beyond the day of wrath. After

the solemn silence in heaven for about half an hour, the seven trumpet angels come

forward, and again we follow the narrative step by step until the sixth trumpet and its

second woe is past, and then again at the seventh the sequence is broken with the same

purpose--the supplying of fuller detail concerning the end.  Readers familiar with

Daniel's visions will remember the same phenomenon there. The seventh trumpet is

evidently pregnant with meaning, for in 10: 7 we are told:--

We observe here "in the days", not merely the day, as though this seventh trumpet is

protracted: and "when he shall begin, or be about to sound", again indicating a period of

time covered by the sounding of the trumpet. The question arises, if this sounding of the

seventh trumpet brings the mystery of God to a conclusion, and places Christ upon the

throne of the world, what place in the Divine programme do chapters 12:-20: occupy?

The answer is supplied from several considerations:--