Apocalypse Explained # 531
531. Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell on the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound.- That this signifies grievous lamentation over the changes of the state of the church at its end, on account of aversion from good and truth, and thence damnation, is evident from the signification of woe, which denotes lamentation over aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation; and from its being said three times, which denotes grievous lamentation, concerning which we shall speak presently; from the signification of them that dwell on the earth, as denoting those who are of the church, the earth denoting the church, as may be seen above (n. 29, 304, 417); and from the signification of the voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound, as denoting the changes of the state of the church; for by the angels sounding the trumpets, are signified changes from influx out of heaven; see above (n. 502). That three signifies what is complete even to the end, will be seen in the following article. It is therefore evident that these words, "Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell on the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are about to sound," signify grievous lamentation over the changes of the state of the church at its end, on account of aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation.
[2] That woe signifies lamentation over calamity, danger, misery, destruction, and so forth, is clear from the passages in the Word where it occurs; but here it signifies lamentation over aversion from good and truth, and consequent damnation, because this is the subject treated of in that which follows. And because aversion from good and truth becomes successively more grievous in the church, even unto its end, therefore it is three times named, to denote every successive increase of the grievousness of evil. This is evident from the following passages, where it is said,
"One woe is past; and behold, there come two woes more hereafter" (9:12).
And afterwards:
"The second woe is past; and behold, the third woe cometh quickly" (11:14).
That woe in the Word signifies lamentation over various accidents, especially over the evils which devastate the church, is evident from various passages therein; as in Matthew:
"Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!" (23:13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29).
And in Luke:
"Woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!" (22:22).
Again, in the same:
"Woe unto him, through whom offences come!" (17:1).
And in Isaiah:
"Woe unto them that join house to house" (5:8).
"Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink" (5:11).
"Woe unto them that draw iniquity" (5:18).
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil" (5:20).
"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes" (5:21).
"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine (vinum)" (5:22).
See also Isaiah, chap. 3:11; 10:1; 17:12; 18:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1; 45:9, 10, etc.; Jeremiah 22:13; Ezekiel 13:3; Apoc. 18:16, 19.
Luke 17
1
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
2
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
7
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
11
And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13
And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
20
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
22
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
23
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
24
For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
25
But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
26
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
27
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
31
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
33
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
37
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
