Trumpet five, six and seven
The first woe: Destroyer
Rev 9:1-11
There is a bottomless pit under the earth we inhabit. In it is a kingdom, with the king as Abaddon or Apollyon which means destroyer in Hebrew and Greek respectively. He commands an army of locust-like creatures. These creatures have the power of scorpions. They have shapes like horses, with hair like that of a woman. They have crowns on their heads signifying rulership or dominion which will be exercised for five months to torment men without the seal of God on their foreheads. Whereas they would have killed with their sharp lion-like teeth, they are restrained by God’s command not to kill but torment for five months. Because of their torment men would seek death but it will not find it. Such a torment that will make people to seek death is not to be taken lightly. It must be severe…and for five months! People without the seal of God will be under their torment daily, hourly, moment by moment. This is the first woe.
The second woe: the four angels of Euphrates
Rev 9:13-21
The four angels had been bound in the rivers of Euphrates perhaps since the beginning of mankind. Each seems to command an army of horsemen numbering fifty million, therefore a total of two hundred million. The horses had heads like a lion with fire, smoke and brimstone issuing from their mouths. With these three they would destroy one-third of mankind. They were to destroy in this manner and were all prepared to do so at the same time in human history.
Yet, those who were not killed by them will not repent from their evil ways. Why? Has grace been withdrawn? Is there no more room for any to repent?
The third woe: Mystery Fulfilled
“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” Rev 10:7
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. Rev 11:15
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Rev 11:18
The time has come for judgment and reward. The servants of God and saints and those who feared his name, I believe are all one description of the redeemed, whether in the Old or New Testament. They shall be rewarded for their faithfulness. But the unrighteous will face the wrath of God, even eternal damnation.