The Middle of the Tribulation.

The next three trumpets take place from the middle of the tribulation to the end. They are

the 5th, 6th and 7th trumpets. These are so terrible that they are referred to as `woes.`

                          `And I looked and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven,

                                                              saying with a loud voice,

                                         “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth,

                            because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels..`

                                                                                                                               (Rev. 8: 13)

In the middle of the Tribulation Satan and His angels are cast out of the universal heavens, to the earth. Their power is becoming more and more confined. On earth the people have acclaimed a World leader to rule over them. Although he appears to be a great Mediator, he is in fact a ruthless dictator, possessed by Satan.                                 (Rev. 12: 9  & 13: 5)

The effect of Satan and his demonic angels infesting the earth brings great terror upon the world. Not only is there more physical darkness as the luminaries wane, but now there is a great spiritual darkness overcoming mankind.

The 5th trumpet signals this first `woe,`

                                             ` Then the fifth angel sounded:

                          And I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth.

                                And to him was given the key to the bottomless pit.

                                                    And he opened the bottomless pit

                       and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace.

                    So the sun & the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.

                               Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth.`

                                                                                                                    (Rev. 9: 2 & 3)

These `locusts,` are actually the demons that have been loosed from the pit and then swarm as locusts over the earth tormenting those who are not sealed of God. They paralyse people with a sting like a scorpion, and the pain is so great, people would rather die but they are unable to, as they cannot move or call out. It is a taste of hell but still they do not repent.

The demon`s leader, Satan, is called Apollyon, meaning – destroyer, and his intent to destroy much of mankind and set himself as Ruler, King of the world.

                            `they had a king over them the angel of the bottomless pit

               whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.`

                                                                                                                                      (Rev. 9: 11)

The symbolic description of the demon, `locusts,` show their war-like intent, deceptive     character and horrendous torment.

                   `The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle:     (war - like)

                                & on their heads, as it were, crowns like gold,    (false authority)

                    ..faces ...like... men,     (evil intent)      hair like women`s...    (deceptive)

                   teeth like lion`s...    (devouring)   breastplates of iron,    (seemingly invincible)

                     and the sound of their wings ... like ..many horses running into battle.   (fearful)

                     and there were stings (like scorpions) in their tails.`   (paralysing pain & torment)

                                                                                                                                  (Rev. 9: 7 – 10)