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What is a “woe” in Revelation?


The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come. Revelation 9:12
The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon. Revelation 11:14
            The word “woe” in Greek is an exclamation of grief and anguish.  “Oh, woe is me!”  It’s saying this is a sad time and bad things are happening.  Jesus used to the word to pronounce his sadness for cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida then for the scribes and Pharisees.  John in Revelation seems to be grouping a series of woes together according to the trumpets.
·         First woe – trumpets 1-5 (8:6-9:12)
·         Second woe – trumpet 6 (9:13-11:14)
·         Third woe – trumpet 7 (11:15-19)
John is saying these are bad times and people will be in pain.