Revelation chap. 5 -11

Revelation chap. 5 through chap. 11

• 1st seal, white horse, start of conquest
• 2nd seal, red horse, wars
• 3rd seal, black horse, famine
• 4th seal, pale horse, deadly plague, War, famine, and pestilence kill 1/4 of the population.
• 5th seal, the sons of the kingdom are martyred.
• 6th seal, great earthquake, the end of the great tribulation, the end of the Satan's world.
• 7th seal, Seven trumpets blasts by Seven angels, prayers of all sons of the kingdom.
• 1st trumpet affects a third of the earth and a third of the trees, and all the green vegetation. (Re 8:7)
• 2nd trumpet affects a third of the sea and a third of the creatures in the sea. (Re 8:8)
• 3rd trumpet affects a third of the rivers and the fountains of waters.
• 4th trumpet affects a third of the sun.
• 5th trumpet, The torment by the locusts from the pit. 1st Woe hurt the men five months. (Re 9:10)
• 6th trumpet, The four angels untied at the great river Euphrates and kill a third of the men by means of the armies of cavalry which is two myriads of myriads in number. 2nd Woe killed a third of the men, and the rest of the men did not repent (Re 9:18, 20), John eats up an opened scroll and prophesys again, two witnesses prophesy 1260 days dressed in sackcloth, the wild beast kill the two witnesses, after the three and a half days two witnesses are resurrected into heaven, and also 7,000 are killed by a great earthquake when the two witnesses were resurrected, and the rest became frightened and gave glory to God. (Re 11:13-14)
• 7th trumpet, the sacred secret of God is brought to a finish, The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, 3rd Woe killed those ruining the earth. (Re 11:18)

It seems that the contents of Revelation chap. 5 to chap. 11 have to do with the things that happen during the great tribulation. It deals with some developments from the start of the great tribulation to the end of the great tribulation.

Everyone can understand the story line of the prophecy. But no one can understand what the symbolic signs mean, unless it has occurred. So it is useless to speculate beforehand what these symbols mean, and when and how the things would happen.

Some, like C.T. Russell, J.F. Rutherford, and Fred Frantz, may be obsessed with the occult, including speculation on symbolic signs.

Instead of doing speculation about unusual symbols, it is good to focus our mind on the things understandable and things granted to understand.

Symbols are employed to make its understanding hid until it has been fulfilled.
Symbols about the Messiah in the Hebrew scriptures were understood after the Messiah appeared. There was no one who knew beforehand about the Messianic symbols in the Hebrew scriptures. Likewise, unusual symbols in the Revelation will be understood clearly, after the reality has come. So it is good to use our mind for things understandable or things granted to understand.

the scroll sealed tight with seven seals

Re 5:5
5 . . . Look! The Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered so as to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Since Jesus conquered the world, the Satan's world has entered into the last day since the first century. It has been waiting for it's complete end since then.

Joh 12:31>
31 Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

Joh 14:30
30 I shall not speak much with YOU anymore, for the ruler of the world is coming. And he has no hold on me,

Joh 16:33
33 I have said these things to YOU that by means of me YOU may have peace. In the world YOU are having tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world."

Mt 8:29
29 And, look! they screamed, saying: "What have we to do with you, Son of God? Did you come here to torment us before the appointed time?"

Lu 10:17-18
17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying: "Lord, even the demons are made subject to us by the use of your name." 18 At that he said to them: "I began to behold Satan already fallen like lightning from heaven.

Jude 6
6 And the angels that did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place he has reserved with eternal bonds under dense darkness for the judgment of the great day.

So we have an assured expectation that the things in the Revelation will all be fulfilled.

Jesus' conquest and resurrection is an surety of the coming judgment of the Satan's world as apostle Paul stressed.

Ac 17:31
31 Because he has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead."

The contents of the seven seals is likely to depict some developments during the great tribulation.

Let's consider.

The first seal, a white horse

It describes the beginning of the conquest.

Re 6:1-2
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice as of thunder: “Come!” 2 And I saw, and, look! a white horse; and the one seated upon it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went forth conquering and to complete his conquest.

This likely has to do with the initial step of battling with Satan in heaven. The start of the conquest begins in the heavenly realm.

Re 12:7-9
7 And war broke out in heaven: Mi'cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8 but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9 So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.

The battle in the heaven would be a trigger of the great tribulation. The effect of the conquest in heaven is the woe for the earth.

Re 12:12
12 On this account be glad, YOU heavens and YOU who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to YOU, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time."

What would the raged Satan do to the earth?
The following seals show what would happen on earth due to Satan's defeat in the heavenly war. (Re 6:3-8)

1/4 population die by war, famine, and pestilence

Re 6:3-4, 5-6,
3 And when he opened the 2nd seal, I heard the second living creature say: “Come!” 4 And another came forth, a fiery-colored horse; and to the one seated upon it there was granted to take peace away from the earth so that they should slaughter one another; and a great sword was given him.

5 And when he opened the 3rd seal, I heard the third living creature say: “Come!” And I saw, and, look! a black horse; and the one seated upon it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice as if in the midst of the four living creatures say: “A quart of wheat for a de‧nar′i‧us, and three quarts of barley for a de‧nar′i‧us; and do not harm the olive oil and the wine.”

7 And when he opened the 4th seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say: “Come!” 8 And I saw, and, look! a pale horse; and the one seated upon it had the name Death. And Ha′des was closely following him. And authority was given them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with a long sword and with food shortage and with deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth.

A great sword, a pair of scales, and deadly plague are all man made. Human governments received authority by Satan are symbolically called wild beasts in the Bible. Mass-murder in the world are always brought by human governments which is Satan's vessels.

As a result, 1/4 of the world's population will be casualties.
Isn't that a great tribulation?

Mt 24:21-22
21 for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short.

So the direct cause of the great tribulation is the raged Satan not YHWH God.

Christ is coming to cut it short for men's salvation and to complete the conquest.

The fifth seal

The most of the sons of the kingdom are destined to die during the great tribulation.

Re 6:9-11
9 And when he opened the 5th seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness work that they used to have. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying: "Until when, Sovereign Lord holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging our blood upon those who dwell on the earth?" 11 And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled also of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they also had been.

The sixth seal

The end of the great tribulation by Christ's coming or manifestation.

Re 6:12-17
12 And I saw when he opened the 6th seal, and a great earthquake occurred; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the entire moon became as blood, 13 and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as when a fig tree shaken by a high wind casts its unripe figs. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and [every] island were removed from their places. 15 And the kings of the earth and the top-ranking ones and the military commanders and the rich and the strong ones and every slave and [every] free person hid themselves in the caves and in the rock-masses of the mountains. 16 And they keep saying to the mountains and to the rock-masses: "Fall over us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Those who are causing the great tribulation, militaristic nations used by the raged Satan will confront the the returned Christ. Then they will be annihilated. In this way the great tribulation will be cut short for the meek ones' survival.

The survivors of the great tribulation

The 144,000 need not to survive the great tribulation. The most of them are destined to be killed during the great tribulation. The remaining ones of them on the Christ's return will be gathered into heaven.

Mt 24:31
31 And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.

Those who survive the great tribulation are called a great crowd .

Re 7:9-10, 14
9 After these things I saw, and, look! a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes; and there were palm branches in their hands. 10 And they keep on crying with a loud voice, saying: "Salvation [we owe] to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb."

14 . . . "These are the ones that come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Notice the sequence in verse 14.
Coming out of the great tribulation is the first, and then they will have washed their robes.

This is in harmony with the biblical teachings of the meek ones in the world.

Mt 5:5, 7
5 "Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.
7 "Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.

Jas 2:13
13 For the one that does not practice mercy will have [his] judgment without mercy. Mercy exults triumphantly over judgment.

All meek ones who are merciful in nations, regardless of religious background will be shown mercy when Christ return. They are the ones that survive the great tribulation. And the number of them will be a great crowd.

They will learn the source of their salvation appreciatively after survived the great tribulation. Then they willingly will wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb.

The survivors of the great tribulation will raise YHWH's worship up high more than any false religion they used to have.

Mic 4:1-4
4 And it must occur in the final part of the days [that] the mountain of the house of YHWH will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it peoples must stream. 2 And many nations will certainly go and say: "Come, YOU people, and let us go up to the mountain of YHWH and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Zion law will go forth, and the word of YHWH out of Jerusalem. 3 And he will certainly render judgment among many peoples, and set matters straight respecting mighty nations far away. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. They will not lift up sword, nation against nation, neither will they learn war anymore. 4 And they will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making [them] tremble; for the very mouth of YHWH of armies has spoken [it].

The WTS' false teaching

The WTS teaches that the great crowd is 8 millions baptized JW who are viewed as the earthly class. But the condition of surviving is not the baptism, but mercy. Consider how God views people.

Lu 10:29-37
29 But, wanting to prove himself righteous, the man said to Jesus: "Who really is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jer'i·cho and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows, and went off, leaving him half-dead. 31 Now, by coincidence, a certain priest was going down over that road, but, when he saw him, he went by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise, a Levite also, when he got down to the place and saw him, went by on the opposite side. 33 But a certain Sa·mar'i·tan traveling the road came upon him and, at seeing him, he was moved with pity. 34 So he approached him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine upon them. Then he mounted him upon his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two de·nar'i·i, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him, and whatever you spend besides this, I will repay you when I come back here.' 36 Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?" 37 He said: "The one that acted mercifully toward him." Jesus then said to him: "Go your way and be doing the same yourself."

Who is merciful in this parable?
Well known YHWH's worshiper, or a Samaritan regarded as pagan?

What should we learn from the parable?

Isn't it true that the one's conscience or quality does not depend on his or her religion? YHWH God never views people from the standpoint of religion, but from the the stand point of one's conscience.

Ro 2:13-16
13 For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous. 14 For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. 15 They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused. 16 This will be in the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind, according to the good news I declare.

Ro 2:6-11
6 And he will render to each one according to his works: 7 everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness by endurance in work that is good; 8 however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger, 9 tribulation and distress, upon the soul of every man who works what is injurious, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

So the WTS' teaching is the same as that of Pharisees.

Joh 7:49
49 But this crowd that does not know the Law are accursed people."

Because of that, WTS misses to understand that God wants mercy, not sacrifice.

Mt 9:13
13 Go, then, and learn what this means, 'I want mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners."

Who is righteous in God's eyes?

Lu 18:9-14
9 But he spoke this illustration also to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who considered the rest as nothing: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, 'O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.' 13 But the tax collector standing at a distance was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward, but kept beating his breast, saying, 'O God, be gracious to me a sinner.' 14 I tell YOU, This man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man; because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted."

It is no meaning at all for God if the one is baptized witnesses or not. God's main concern is if the one has humble repentant heart, and God fearing or not. God sees how the one's conscience is functioning, not one's religion. God is interested in if the one is merciful enough to be shown mercy.

Ro 2:27
27 And the uncircumcised [person] that is such by nature will, by carrying out the Law, judge you who with its written code and circumcision are a transgressor of law.

Understand that God's standard of righteousness is to judge people not by any religious title, but well functioning conscience regardless of religious understanding or background. YHWH God is not partial at all, He will deal with each individual according to the law inside which is the image of His own.

Heb 4:13
13 And there is not a creation that is not manifest to his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting.

So "Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy in God's judgment. (Mt 5:7)

Don't confuse the sequence. First, the salvation, then next the accurate knowledge, not the other way around.

1Ti 2:4
4 whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.

Many dead persons will be resurrected first that is being saved from the Hades first, then they will come to an accurate knowledge of God and His loving purposes if they are appreciative enough for their salvation from the Hades.

Likewise, many meek ones in the nations will be saved from the great tribulation first, then they will know who saved them, and they will appreciatively worship YHWH who granted them to survive the great tribulation.

The seventh seal

Incense along with prayers of the holy ones.
What could be a contents of the prayers of the holy ones? Isn't that the request for justice or vengeance? What are they asking for?

Lu 18:7-9
7 Certainly, then, shall not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, even though he is long-suffering toward them? 8 I tell YOU, He will cause justice to be done to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find the faith on the earth?"

In the middle of the great tribulation, the sons of the kingdom will be forced to endure on account of the progression of the beast worship. (Re 13:16-17, 14:12)

Re 13:16-17
16 And it puts under compulsion all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give these a mark in their right hand or upon their forehead, 17 and that nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name.

Re 14:12
12 Here is where it means endurance for the holy ones, those who observe the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

This kind of totalitarian super-state condition has not happened yet.
WTS' application of this to the UN and modern JW's history doesn't fit in with the gravity of the prophecy.

When that has happened, the holy ones must fervently pray to God for justice.

Re 8:1-6
1 And when he opened the 7th seal, a silence occurred in heaven for about a half hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and seven trumpets were given them. 3 And another angel arrived and stood at the altar, having a golden incense vessel; and a large quantity of incense was given him to offer it with the prayers of all the holy ones upon the golden altar that was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense ascended from the hand of the angel with the prayers of the holy ones before God. 5 But right away the angel took the incense vessel, and he filled it with some of the fire of the altar and hurled it to the earth. And thunders occurred and voices and lightnings and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels with the 7 trumpets prepared to blow them.

The seven trumpets blasts (it is under the seventh seal)

The contents of the seven trumpets have to do with the effect of the condemnation against Satan's System of things. It came into existence due to the fervent prayer for justice by the holy ones, so that the source of the plagues seem to be God's origin, unlike the calamities unleashed by opening the scroll from the second to the fourth.

• The 1st trumpet affects a third of the earth and a third of the trees, and all the green vegetation. (Re 8:7)
• The 2nd trumpet affects a third of the sea and a third of the creatures in the sea. (Re 8:8)
• The 3rd trumpet affects a third of the rivers and the fountains of waters.
• The 4th trumpet affects a third of the sun.

Three Woes to those dwelling on the earth.

The 1st Woe on the 5th trumpet blasts.
The torment by the locusts from the pit.

Re 9:5-6
5 And it was granted the [locusts], not to kill them, but that these should be tormented five months, and the torment upon them was as torment by a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 And in those days the men will seek death but will by no means find it, and they will desire to die but death keeps fleeing from them.

The 2nd Woe on the 6th trumpet blasts.
The four angels untied at the great river Euphrates and kill a third of the men by means of the armies of cavalry which is two myriads of myriads in number. They are killed from the fire and the smoke and the sulphur which issued forth from their mouths. The result is, the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of idol worship, murders, spiritistic practices, fornication, nor of thefts. (Re 9:20-21)

The final assignment

Re 10:7, 11
7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secret of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets is indeed brought to a finish."

11 And they say to me: "You must prophesy again with regard to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings."

chap 11
The courtyard of the temple will be trampled down for forty-two months by the nations. During that period, two witnesses will prophesy dressed in sackcloth. They take on the characteristics of Moses and Elijah.

Re 11:5-6
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire issues forth from their mouths and devours their enemies; and if anyone should want to harm them, in this manner he must be killed. 6 These have the authority to shut up heaven that no rain should fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every sort of plague as often as they wish.

During this period of witnessing, the sons of the kingdom would experience speaking through Holy spirit before governors and kings, just as Moses and Elijah did to kings in the past.

Mt 10:17-20
17 Be on YOUR guard against men; for they will deliver YOU up to local courts, and they will scourge YOU in their synagogues. 18 Why, YOU will be haled before governors and kings for my sake, for a witness to them and the nations. 19 However, when they deliver YOU up, do not become anxious about how or what YOU are to speak; for what YOU are to speak will be given YOU in that hour; 20 for the ones speaking are not just YOU, but it is the spirit of YOUR Father that speaks by YOU.

Mr 13:9-11
9 "As for YOU, look out for yourselves; people will deliver YOU up to local courts, and YOU will be beaten in synagogues and be put on the stand before governors and kings for my sake, for a witness to them. 10 Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first. 11 But when they are leading YOU along to deliver YOU up, do not be anxious beforehand about what to speak; but whatever is given YOU in that hour, speak this, for YOU are not the ones speaking, but the holy spirit is.

Lu 12:8-12
8 "I say, then, to YOU, Everyone that confesses union with me before men, the Son of man will also confess union with him before the angels of God. 9 But he that disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone that says a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but he that blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven it. 11 But when they bring YOU in before public assemblies and government officials and authorities, do not become anxious about how or what YOU will speak in defense or what YOU will say; 12 for the holy spirit will teach YOU in that very hour the things YOU ought to say."

Lu 21:12-15
12 “But before all these things people will lay their hands upon YOU and persecute YOU, delivering YOU up to the synagogues and prisons, YOU being haled before kings and governors for the sake of my name. 13 It will turn out to YOU for a witness. 14 Therefore settle it in YOUR hearts not to rehearse beforehand how to make YOUR defense, 15 for I will give YOU a mouth and wisdom, which all YOUR opposers together will not be able to resist or dispute.

Ac 6:10
10 and yet they could not hold their own against the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking.

Ex 4:12
12 So now go, and I myself shall prove to be with your (Moses) mouth and I will teach you what you ought to say."

No one has experienced this kind of witness yet.

Because of the powerful witness against Satan's World, they will be killed by the wild beast that ascends out of the abyss after they have finished their witnessing. (Re 11:7)

After three and half days, they will be resurrected and called into heaven. They went up into heaven while their enemies beheld them. The first resurrection most likely occur from around that time onward. It would be very close to Christ's Return, that is near to the end of the great tribulation.

Then a great earthquake overthrows a tenth of the city and kills 7,000 persons. The rest became frightened and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Re 11:13)

It shows that there are someone who repent at the final moment like a criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus, and a jailer who was seized with trembling because of a great earthquake.

Lu 22:41-43
41 And we, indeed, justly so, for we are receiving in full what we deserve for things we did; but this [man] did nothing out of the way." 42 And he went on to say: "Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom." 43 And he said to him: "Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise."

Ac 16:25-34
25 But about the middle of the night Paul and Silas were praying and praising God with song; yes, the prisoners were hearing them. 26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the jail were shaken. Moreover, all the doors were instantly opened, and the bonds of all were loosened. 27 The jailer, being awakened out of sleep and seeing the prison doors were open, drew his sword and was about to do away with himself, imagining that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying: "Do not hurt yourself, for we are all here!" 29 So he asked for lights and leaped in and, seized with trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them outside and said: "Sirs, what must I do to get saved?" 31 They said: "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will get saved, you and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all those in his house. 33 And he took them along in that hour of the night and bathed their stripes; and, one and all, he and his were baptized without delay. 34 And he brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed God.

Those who worship the wild beast and repent at the final moment will survive the great tribulation.

The Third Woe on the seventh trumpet blasts (the final)

The God's Kingdom take over the Satan's system of things.

Re 11:15, 17-18
15 And the 7th angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: "The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever."

17 . . . "We thank you, YHWH God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king. 18 But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth."

The temple sanctuary will be opened, and the ark of the covenant will be seen.
Completing the conquest.
The End of the great tribulation.

A summary of three Woes which are God's origin.

• The 1st Woe on the 5th trumpet blasts hurt the men five months. (Re 9:10)
• The 2nd Woe on the 6th trumpet blasts killed a third of the men, and the rest of the men did not repent (Re 9:18, 20), and also 7,000 are killed by a great earthquake when the two witnesses were resurrected, and the rest became frightened and gave glory to God. (Re 11:13)
• The 3rd Woe on the 7th trumpet blasts killed those ruining the earth. (Re 11:18)

It teaches us what would happen during the great tribulation. We don't know exactly when and how these things would happen, nor need to know. Some of the things will be accurately known or understood after it has happened. Our main concern is to keep the words of Christ always according to the story line or the outline of the prophecy.

Ac 1:7
7 He said to them: "It does not belong to YOU to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction;

Mt 24:42
42 Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming.

Re 22:20
20 . . . 'Yes; I am coming quickly.' "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus."