What does Revelation 11:14 mean?

The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. Revelation 11:14

Explanation

Revelation 11:14 states, “The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” This verse is situated in the middle of a series of judgments and events that unfold during the end times in the Biblical prophetic book of Revelation. The “woes” refer to three terrible events or judgments that are proclaimed by an eagle flying through the midst of heaven in Revelation 8:13. The “second woe” is generally understood to have involved a series of disasters, including the release of four angels who were bound at the river Euphrates and an army of horsemen (Revelation 9:13-21). The phrase “third woe” is preparing the reader for the subsequent and final judgment that follows. The addition of “cometh quickly” suggests urgency and imminence, indicating that once the second woe has concluded, the third will follow soon after without delay.

Historical Context

Revelation was written by the Apostle John while he was in exile on the island of Patmos, most likely around AD 95–96, during the reign of Emperor Domitian. The book was written to seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and has been interpreted as a prophetic and apocalyptic text providing comfort and encouragement to Christians enduring persecution. At that time, Christians were facing severe challenges, including imperial worship and persecution if they did not comply with Roman religious practices. The use of symbolic language and imagery was common in apocalyptic literature and served to communicate hope to the oppressed while veiling the message from potential persecutors.

Theological Insights

From a Preterist viewpoint, the woes may represent specific historical events that took place within the Roman Empire shortly after Revelation was written. A Futurist perspective, on the other hand, would see the three woes as future events that will take place during a literal tribulation period before Christ’s return. The Historicism approach might link the woes to significant events in church history, while an Idealist or Symbolic perspective would interpret the woes as ongoing spiritual battles manifesting throughout the Christian age. The urgency suggested by “cometh quickly” has been theologically debated, with some claiming it refers to the rapidity of events once they start, while others apply it to the nearness in time from the writer’s standpoint.

Practical Applications

For believers, the verse serves as a reminder of the transitory nature of earthly struggles and the permanence of divine justice. It encourages vigilance and preparedness for the future, regardless of how one interprets the timeline of these events. One might also find comfort in the assuredness of God’s plan and the culmination of His purpose, especially in times of personal trials or societal upheavals.

Cross-References

• Revelation 8:13: “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”
• Revelation 9:12: “One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.”
• Revelation 11:15: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text of this verse is “ἦλθεν τάχει” (“cometh quickly”). The word “ἦλθεν” (elthen) is the aorist indicative form of “ἔρχομαι” (erchomai), meaning “to come” or “to go,” indicating an action that has been completed, or in this context, “has come.” The word “τάχει” (tachei) comes from “ταχύς” (tachys), meaning “quickly” or “speedily,” which is an adverb describing the manner of the verb. It emphasizes the swiftness with which the third woe will follow the second.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient myths and religious stories often include sequences of escalating events or cataclysms, such as the plagues in the Egyptian Book of the Dead or the Hindu concept of Yugas with deteriorating qualities. Comparative religious studies show that apocalyptic motifs are not exclusive to Christianity and can be found across various cultures, serving to illustrate moral teachings or the cyclic nature of time and history as perceived in different religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

Apocalyptic literature, including the Book of Revelation, is generally not subjected to scientific analysis as its content is theological and symbolic in nature. Attempts to align the woes or other apocalyptic events with known natural phenomena or scientific predictions are speculative and not supported by a consensus within the scientific community. Typically, such literature is studied in the fields of theology, religious studies, literature, and history rather than in the realm of empirical science.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have provided interpretations of Revelation 11:14. Matthew Henry sees it as a solemn declaration of the end of one judgment and the fast-approaching start of another, more severe one. In the Geneva Study Bible, notes indicate that the second woe passes when the sixth trumpet has done sounding. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary mentions that the “quickly” indicates the rapid succession of the third woe after the second. Many commentators agree that this verse serves as a transition, preparing the reader for the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which in turn introduces the final series of events culminating in the establishment of God’s kingdom.