Bottomless Abyss - Rumor notes 45

 

Trumpet 5 (Revelation 9:1-12)

9:1 The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. 9:2 He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit.

9:3 Then out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 9:4 They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don't have God's seal on their foreheads. 9:5 They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. 9:6 In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

9:7 The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people's faces. 9:8 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. 9:9 They had breastplates, like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, or of many horses rushing to war. 9:10 They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. 9:11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon."

9:12 The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.

This fifth angel is the first of the woes warned about in the last verse. It is also moving more into the arena of all those who dwell on the earth, while the first three may apply more directly to exposing professed God-followers whose hearts have not been settled into a love of the truth. With the ominous warning of the angel about these woes, it is likely that what transpires in these last 3 trumpets is going to be far more intense than anything previously.

I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth

This directly links us with a previous reference to this star not long before this.

The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)

Whatever we learned when studying that trumpet would be well to refresh in our awareness so as to see how this builds on what was exposed then. Notice in particular the difference in tense between these two references likely involving the very same entity.

A great star fell from the sky

A star from the sky which had fallen to the earth

It is seemingly insignificant details such as this that can make a huge difference in the outcome of our conclusions in the long run. Little clues and details contribute to the trajectory of how we choose to interpret the symbols in prophecy, along with our presuppositions about the nature of God's methods, motives and ways of relating to others. All of these must be kept in mind when seeking to discover what the Spirit is seeking to bring to our attention.

This verse refers to both the sky and the earth, while in the previous trumpets what falls to the earth is the censer of an angel as well as hail, fire and blood in the first trumpet, and the star in the third trumpet fell on the rivers and springs and the burning mountain feel into the sea in the second trumpet.

What our minds were designed to do in seeking understanding and truth is to look for patterns. Patterns activate our imagination in ways beyond our capacity to explain and contribute to helping us see things beyond our reasoning capacity. However, as important as matching patterns and fractals can be, they alone cannot verify that something is true. The enemy can use the same thing to deceive us if we do not pay attention to testing the spirit, which is why it is so important to remain cognizant of the condition of our own spirit while seeking to understand things such as we are examining together here.

What is rather clear throughout this book is the presence and implication of the repeated phrase all who dwell on the earth. It refers to the people whose orientation is the way things are done on earth in contrast to the ways of the Lamb. This is one of the most important themes in this book and is too often ignored or unnoticed by many who claim to be experts of prophecy. This refers us back to the importance of always keeping the first key in hand that we picked up in the very beginning of this book, the principle that everything we conclude must be in perfect harmony with the Jesus' version of God and His methods, motives and message.

In this case this star is clearly identified as having fallen from the sky and down to the earth. This closely links this with a similar reference found in chapter 12.

The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)

Keep in mind the layout of this book and that the middle chapters in Revelation are not necessarily sequential to the rest of the book but rather are a summary around which the rest of the book revolves. So I believe that it is safe to assume that this star most likely is referring to Satan directly and whatever it happening here is directly connected to activities involving him.

The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. He opened the pit of the abyss

Now we come to where interpreters have been divided ever since this was written. Here we have to make decisions as to the meaning of this pit of the abyss as well as the nature of some key that appears to have power to open and close this pit. Clearly this key is not held exclusively by any one being as we see this same Satan himself thrown into this same abyss and locked into it likely by use of this same key only held by another angel in chapter 20. How and why this key seems to move from one angel to another is somewhat of a mystery, but clearly it has enormous power, maybe similar to the metaphor of the ring of power that is the central theme in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

First of all, let us look closer at this key as it can be a review from the first time we came across it in our study of Revelation.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, "Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades." (Revelation 1:17-18)

Here we find referenced keys in the plural while the other two references are given as singular. What might be the significance of this? That Jesus must authorize any use of these keys?

Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

"To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:" (Revelation 3:7)

I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3)

I will lay the key of the house of David on his shoulder. He will open, and no one will shut. He will shut, and no one will open. (Isaiah 22:22)

I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)

Is this indicating a key that can synchronize between what goes on in heaven and earth in some way?

Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn't enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered. (Luke 11:52)

Before we move into looking closer at the meaning of the abyss, I want to look at the contrast between what happens here and the opposite of what we see happening in chapter 20. Here in the fifth trumpet, the key is being used by Satan to open the pit of the abyss; in chapter 20 the exact opposite takes place as the pit is shut and sealed over with Satan inside of it rather than wielding the key for his own purposes. I mention this because it is a factor that affects how we come to view the meaning behind the symbol of the abyss itself.

He opened the pit of the abyss

bottomless <abussos> pit <phrear>

abussos: depthless, i.e. (specially) (infernal) "abyss":--deep, (bottomless) pit

phrear: a hole in the ground (dug for obtaining or holding water or other purposes), i.e. a cistern or well; figuratively, an abyss (as a prison):--well, pit

The reference to this in chapter 20:1 is missing the second word found here. What might that imply?

It shall be, when Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities, which you didn't build, and houses full of all good things, which you didn't fill, and cisterns dug out, which you didn't dig, vineyards and olive trees, which you didn't plant, and you shall eat and be full; then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall fear Yahweh your God; and him shall you serve, and shall swear by his name. You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are round about you; for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you. You shall do that which is right and good in the sight of Yahweh; that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken. (Deuteronomy 6:10-19)

So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. They took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance: so they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness. Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies. (Nehemiah 9:24-26)

The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding strong. Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. He built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much livestock; in the lowland also, and in the plain: and he had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved farming.

(2 Chronicles 26:8-10)

Has a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be astonished, you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be you very desolate, says Yahweh. For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

(Jeremiah 2:11-13)

The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought. Judah mourns, and the gates of it languish, they sit in black on the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. Their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, and cover their heads. Because of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land, the plowmen are disappointed, they cover their heads. (Jeremiah 14:1-4)

Remember that we are dealing with symbols in Revelation and throughout Scripture much of the time, so the concepts highlighted in the passages referring to cisterns I find instructive for our search for meanings here. First of all, one of these words means depthless or pit, and the second very much refers to a pit or hole dug in the ground such as a cistern. These holes were used both for retaining water but also for prisons or jails. Recall how Joseph was thrown into a pit to prevent him from escaping until hiss brothers decided what to do with him in their fierce jealousy. Jeremiah too was thrown into a similar pit that had mud in the bottom by the king who didn't like God's messages sent through the prophet that made the king upset and rebellious.

In all of these references to cisterns excepting the one referring to Uzziah and the one involving famine, the theme of obedience and rebellion appears to be involved. And the one about famine has spiritual resonance that goes far beyond merely lack of physical water. This leads me to think that whatever follows in this trumpet may involve those themes since it seems so consistent in these connecting links.

Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail, Saying, 'When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit; that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?'" Yahweh has sworn by the pride of Jacob, "Surely I will never forget any of their works. Won't the land tremble for this, and everyone mourn who dwells in it? Yes, it will rise up wholly like the River; and it will be stirred up and sink again, like the River of Egypt.

It will happen in that day," says the Lord Yahweh, "that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day. I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will make you wear sackcloth on all your bodies, and baldness on every head. I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day.

Behold, the days come," says the Lord Yahweh, "that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Yahweh. They will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will run back and forth to seek the word of Yahweh, and will not find it. In that day the beautiful virgins and the young men will faint for thirst. (Amos 8:4-13)

Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' (Matthew 25:1-9)

Interestingly, this Greek word abussos only shows up two times outside of Revelation in the New Testament. But after researching all the verses in the Septuagint I find a pattern emerging that may help to unpack this more clearly. Here are all the other verses that contain this word in the New Testament. The ones including those in the Old Testament are listed in a separate document.

Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion," for many demons had entered into him. They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss. Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. He allowed them. (Luke 8:30-32)

But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down); or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach: that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:6-9)

They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon." (Revelation 9:11)

When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7)

The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. (Revelation 17:8)

I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3)

And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (Revelation 20:7-8)

This last verse does not use the word for abyss but rather relays an important aspect of the nature of this abyss into which Satan is to be bound. Notice there are two things used to affect Satan's condition: there is a chain, and there is a place of restraint or imprisonment. But most importantly, this centers on the issue of him deceiving the nations. This is a vital point that must not be missed if we are to discern the true meaning of what this word implies.

So what are some of the clues we have uncovered so far that might help us piece together a useful explanation of what this abyss is about?

It is depthless, or having no bottom. Maybe this is a link to the shifting foundation of sand mentioned by Jesus that we should not build our house of character upon?

It might be intended to be used for holding water, or it might be a prison to remove freedom.

Cisterns were part of the promised blessings to be received as a benefit of staying loyal to God. They were used as sources of needed water for farming as well as backups for wells, and indeed the word can also mean a well.

Broken cisterns are ones that lose the integrity of their bottoms so no longer can retain water. They are empty, leaving people in desperation in times of no rain, lacking a vital resource for life, not unlike the foolish virgins lacking essential oil.

The reference in Jeremiah 14 lists these significant words: drought, languish, sit in black on the ground, cry, they come to the cisterns, and find no water, their vessels empty; they are disappointed and confounded, cover their heads. Because of the ground which is cracked, because no rain has been in the land.

Demons possessing people appear to be very resistant to being sent to this place.

Paul's reference to this in Romans might appear to interpret it as death, but the context can imply other issues involved, such as where to find the word that brings salvation. What he is emphasizing in this passage is location of the answer we need so desperately, for it is not out there somewhere so far that we must travel impossible distances up to heaven or down into death to find the answer, but it is inside of us, the word of faith – trust in God's heart.

There is a key involved that has power to open or shut this abyss; to release entities contained inside to pour out over the whole earth, or to remove freedom from certain entities and keep them imprisoned within its confines.

This key seems to show up in different hands, and may well be related to the keys Jesus says He holds, meaning He is likely the one who allows who may utilize the key at various times.

The angel of the abyss is a king whose name is Abaddon and Apollyon.

The beast that wars against God's representatives comes up out of this abyss.

When Satan is bound and later released from this abyss, it is primarily about his incessant activity of deceiving all the nations of the earth.

This has not even touched on all the references using this word in the Greek Septuagint scriptures. There we find even more expansive references that indicate this abyss involves the spiritual condition of those professing to be God's people but following after gods who are foreign to the truth of how God relates and gods who degrade and enslave those who worship them. But I want to insert a passage that seems quite relevant at this point that has some connection to the thirst we see in what we are studying.

I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands. I spread forth my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah. Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don't hide your face from me, so that I don't become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. (Psalms 143:5-10)

After reviewing this condensation of references to the abyss, I sense that the best definition that fits at this point is hopeless despair.

The pit is in the earth, the place associated with Satan's domain, i.e., all who dwell on the earth.

It was originally designed as a source of water for life, but is empty and is become a prison.

The king controlling this abyss is Abaddon, Apollyon which means destroyer. What he destroys most is hope, so much so that even demons resist going there.

This fits well with what Paul mentions about salvation, for salvation brings hope. The demonic forces released from the pit by Satan are all bent on darkening the Source of light and the atmosphere around our world with deceptions about salvation, truth and what God is like.

Woes - Rumor notes 44

 

Woes

I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!" (Revelation 8:13)

I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven

The combination of saw and heard related to the very same thing occurs only three times in this book. This is the second one and here are the other two.

I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; (Revelation 5:11)

Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. (Revelation 22:8)

Might these compose three anchor points for this entire prophecy, one very near the beginning of this vision, one near the center and one at the end?

All three of these things relate to gaining a much higher perspective, the essential meaning of the symbol of an eagle.

The KJV and the NKJV relate this as an angel while many other versions indicate it as an eagle. This may have to do with variations of original texts used for translating. For this study we will see what emerges using the symbol of an eagle since that may provide more clues than viewing it as just another angel out of many in this book.

The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:7)

Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)

Might this contribute to our hypothesis of the first four trumpets affecting most of all the professed people of God with the rest of them extending out to everyone else on earth? Note similarities to the situation of the woman in chapter 12 in need of refuge in a time of crisis. If the woman there represents the true-hearted and obedient children of God who are blowing the trumpets, by this time they may be in need of refuge from the wrath of the dragon as their trumpets are arousing intense resistance because of what is being exposed.

You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself. (Exodus 19:4)

As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. (Deuteronomy 32:11)

But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away, even the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them. The earth trembles at the noise of their fall; there is a cry, the noise which is heard in the Red Sea. Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread out his wings against Bozrah: and the heart of the mighty men of Edom at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs. (Jeremiah 49:20-22)

Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law. They cry to me, 'My God, we Israel acknowledge you!' Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off. (Hosea 8:1-4)

flying in mid heaven

I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. (Revelation 14:6)

Woe, woe, woe!

The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this. (Revelation 9:12)

The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly. (Revelation 11:14)

Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time. (Revelation 12:12)

The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.'

The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning; saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!

For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.' Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?' They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate. (Revelation 18:9-10,15-19)

There are many references to woe throughout Scripture and I have included many of them here. What may help is to organize them according to content as we pick up indicators from each context to better understand the real meaning of the word woe. We begin by looking at passages that parallel what we just read in Revelation 18 – woes related to cities.

Woe to those who join house to house, who lay field to field, until there is no room, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land! In my ears, Yahweh of Armies says: "Surely many houses will be desolate, even great and beautiful, unoccupied. For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield an ephah." Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them! (Isaiah 5:8-11)

Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the bloody city, to the caldron whose rust is therein, and whose rust is not gone out of it! take out of it piece after piece; No lot is fallen on it. For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it on the bare rock; she didn't pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust. That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the bare rock, that it should not be covered. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great. Heap on the wood, make the fire hot, boil well the flesh, and make thick the broth, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty on the coals of it, that it may be hot, and the brass of it may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the rust of it may be consumed. She has wearied herself with toil; yet her great rust doesn't go forth out of her; her rust doesn't go forth by fire. In your filthiness is lewdness: because I have cleansed you and you weren't cleansed, you shall not be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest. I, Yahweh, have spoken it: it shall happen, and I will do it: I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to your ways, and according to your doings, shall they judge you, says the Lord Yahweh. (Ezekiel 24:6-14)

Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery. The prey doesn't depart. The noise of the whip, the noise of the rattling of wheels, prancing horses, and bounding chariots, the horseman mounting, and the flashing sword, the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a great heap of corpses, and there is no end of the bodies. They stumble on their bodies, because of the multitude of the prostitution of the alluring prostitute, the mistress of witchcraft, who sells nations through her prostitution, and families through her witchcraft. (Nahum 3:1-4)

Won't all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases that which is not his, and who enriches himself by extortion! How long?' Won't your debtors rise up suddenly, and wake up those who make you tremble, and you will be their victim? Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.

Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil! You have devised shame to your house, by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul. For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it.

Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity! Behold, isn't it of Yahweh of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies! You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed! The cup of Yahweh's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals, which made them afraid; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.

What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols? Woe to him who says to the wood, 'Awake!' or to the mute stone, 'Arise!' Shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!" (Habakkuk 2:6-20)

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you."

At that time, Jesus answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight. (Matthew 11:21-26)

But into whatever city you enter, and they don't receive you, go out into the streets of it and say, 'Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.' I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me. (Luke 10:10-16)

Now we move into passages that can relate to why these cities bring woe on themselves.

Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; who uses his neighbor's service without wages, and doesn't give him his hire; who says, I will build me a wide house and spacious chambers, and cuts him out windows; and it is ceiling with cedar, and painted with vermilion. Shall you reign, because you strive to excel in cedar? Didn't your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Wasn't this to know me? says Yahweh. But your eyes and your heart are not but for your covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. (Jeremiah 22:13-17)

Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write oppressive decrees; to deprive the needy from justice, and to rob the poor among my people of their rights, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! What will you do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth? (Isaiah 10:1-3)

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come! (Amos 6:1)

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city! (Zephaniah 3:1)

Cities are often portrayed as women in prophecy. So things such as prostitution and betrayal often are given in the context of a woman when referring to a group of people cited as a city. In other words, the thinking, choices and disposition of a group of people can be likened to a single person acting out in a particular way. Of course this must not be extrapolated to demean women in general as many have mistakenly done.

The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don't hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves. Tell the righteous "Good!" For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him. (Isaiah 3:9-11)

This actually reminds us very much of the woman called Babylon found in Revelation 17, just before chapter 18 cited above with its woes listed after its fall. Here is some of the description of this prophetic figure who is likely the most well-known prostitute in all of history.

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality."

He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.

He said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. The ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute, and will make her desolate, and will make her naked, and will eat her flesh, and will burn her utterly with fire. For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, and to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:1-6,15-18)

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don't receive of her plagues, for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities. Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double. However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.' Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire; for the Lord God who has judged her is strong. (Revelation 18:4-8)

You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy you against them, and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the women who sew pillows on all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves? (Ezekiel 13:17-18)

In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and was weltering in your blood. It is happen after all your wickedness, (woe, woe to you! says the Lord Yahweh), that you have built to you a vaulted place, and have made you a lofty place in every street. You have built your lofty place at the head of every way, and have made your beauty an abomination, and have opened your feet to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your prostitution. You have also committed sexual immorality with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh; and have multiplied your prostitution, to provoke me to anger.

(Ezekiel 16:22-26)

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine. Don't look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things. Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging: "They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another." (Proverbs 23:29-35)

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and wickedness as with cart rope; Who say, "Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!" Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink; who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent! Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:18-24)

Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from Yahweh, and whose works are in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us?" and "Who knows us?" You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay; that the thing made should say about him who made it, "He didn't make me;" or the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding?" (Isaiah 29:15-16)

"Woe to the rebellious children," says Yahweh, "who take counsel, but not from me; and who make an alliance, but not with my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin, who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my advice; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore the strength of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. (Isaiah 30:1-3)

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don't look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don't seek Yahweh! Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evil-doers, and against the help of those who work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When Yahweh stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together. (Isaiah 31:1-3)

Woe to you who destroy, but you weren't destroyed; and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of betrayal, you will be betrayed. (Isaiah 33:1)

Woe to him who strives with his Maker--a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay ask him who fashions it, "What are you making?" or your work, "He has no hands?" Woe to him who says to a father, "What have you become the father of?" or to a woman, "With what do you travail?" (Isaiah 45:9-10)

Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as the whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! for we are ruined. Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, who gasps for breath, who spreads her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul faints before the murderers. (Jeremiah 4:13-14,31)

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, "I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!" The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously. (Isaiah 24:16)

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 23:1)

Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! (Ezekiel 13:3)

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and tell them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds feed the sheep? (Ezekiel 34:2)

Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded!" (Zechariah 11:17)

Woe to them! For they have wandered from me. Destruction to them! For they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me. (Hosea 7:13)

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. Therefore thus says Yahweh: "Behold, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily; for it is an evil time. In that day they will take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, saying, 'We are utterly ruined! My people's possession is divided up. Indeed he takes it from me and assigns our fields to traitors!'" Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the assembly of Yahweh. "Don't prophesy!" They prophesy. "Don't prophesy about these things. Disgrace won't overtake us." Shall it be said, O house of Jacob: "Is the Spirit of Yahweh angry? Are these his doings? Don't my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?" But lately my people have risen up as an enemy. You strip the robe and clothing from those who pass by without a care, returning from battle. You drive the women of my people out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my blessing forever. Arise, and depart! For this is not your resting place, because of uncleanness that destroys, even with a grievous destruction. (Micah 2:1-10)

When I looked, behold, a hand was put forth to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was therein; He spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. (Ezekiel 2:9-10)

Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! (Matthew 18:4-7 NKJV)

He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

(Luke 17:1-2)

But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation.

Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.

(Luke 6:24-26)

Jesus had much to say in relation to woes. Here we compare two versions of the same event where Jesus attempts to wake up religious leaders to their tragic condition of heart.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don't enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehenna as yourselves.

Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated?' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? He therefore who swears by the altar, swears by it, and by everything on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it, and by him who was living in it. He who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside of it may become clean also.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous, and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Therefore you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?

Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Matthew 23:13-39)

Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in, and sat at the table. When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner. The Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. You foolish ones, didn't he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.

But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and the men who walk over them don't know it."

One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying this you insult us also." He said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won't even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.

Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute, that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.' Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.

Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn't enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered." (Luke 11:37-52)

But these speak evil of whatever things they don't know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, they are destroyed in these things. Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah's rebellion.

(Jude 1:10-11)

It might be beneficial to make a list of the important things connected to these woes in order to be more aware of what might be lurking inside our own hearts. The things that bring woe on us are often things we are blind to ourselves, which is why Scripture uses such strong language at times to get us to take more seriously what God sees in us that endangers our eternal salvation but seems innocuous to our way of thinking.