(S2E10) 3 Woes and an Unlocked Abyss

In this episode, Gordon and Mark move deeper into the Trumpet judgments of Revelation, focusing on Trumpets 5 and 6, also known as the first two Woes.  While Trumpets 1–4 primarily impact the natural world—land, sea, fresh water, and light—this next phase marks a dramatic escalation.  An eagle announces three coming Woes, signaling a shift from environmental judgment to direct torment and judgment upon humanity, especially those who oppose God. A major portion of the episode explores the unseen spiritual backstory necessary to understand the identities of the demonic hoard seen in Trumpet 5.  The hosts argue that Revelation 9 cannot be properly interpreted without connecting it to earlier passages such as Genesis 6, Jude 6, 1 Peter 3, 2 Peter 2, Luke 8, and Isaiah 24.   The hosts present a detailed explanation of the Nephilim narrative. They describe how rebellious angels sought to corrupt humanity by taking human women, producing hybrid offspring and violating God’s created order. In this framework, the Flood was not only a response to human wickedness but also a decisive act to preserve the human bloodline through which the Messiah would come. The offending angels, they argue, were bound in the abyss, awaiting a future moment when God would permit their release which arrives in Trumpet 5.   A “star,” understood to be a fallen angel, is given the key to the abyss. When it is opened, smoke pours out, darkening the sky which symbolizes the release of deep spiritual darkness into the world.  From this abyss emerge terrifying, locust-like creatures.  These are not natural insects but demonic entities, described with a blend of human, animal, and warlike features, emphasizing their supernatural origin.  These beings are permitted to torment but not kill for five months. Their target is specifically those without God’s protective seal, reinforcing divine protection over the faithful. The torment is compared to a scorpion sting—intense, prolonged, and inescapable. So severe is the suffering that people will seek death but will not find it. Leading this demonic force is a king identified as Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek, both meaning “Destroyer.”  The use of “king” reveals there is an organized, hierarchical structure within the demonic realm and underscores the calculated nature of this judgment.  The opening of the abyss exposes a normally hidden reality which is the unseen spiritual world that God has restrained. Trumpet 5 reveals what happens when that restraint is partially lifted. In Trumpet 6, the second Woe, the escalation continues.  Four powerful angels, bound at the Euphrates River, are released at a precise, divinely appointed time.  Their release unleashes a massive army described as numbering 200 million that brings widespread destruction to the planet.  Through fire, smoke, and sulfur, one-third of humanity is killed, echoing past biblical judgments and demonstrating the scale of this event. Yet even in the face of overwhelming devastation, humanity largely refuses to repent. Survivors continue in idolatry, murder, sorcery, immorality, and theft.  This response highlights the hardness of the human heart, even when confronted with undeniable evidence of divine intervention. The episode concludes by reflecting on the purpose of the Woes.  These judgments reveal both God’s justice and His restraint.  Though severe, they are not yet final.  Grace and mercy are still available for the repentant.  Ultimately, these Trumpets prepare the stage for the final phases of judgment and the ultimate establishment of God’s kingdom.  Even in the darkest moments, the message remains clear.  God is still in control, His purposes are advancing, and His call to repentance remains open though time is running short.Send us Fan Mail