Revelation 11:14

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 11:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The second Woe is past: behold, the third Woe cometh quickly.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The second Woe is past: behold, the third Woe cometh quickly.
Revelation 11:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14The second Woe is past: behold, the third Woe cometh quickly.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The second woe is past, etc.] Not in John's time, only in a visionary way; the meaning is, that the second woe trumpet, which is the sixth, will now have done sounding, when the four angels, bound in the river Euphrates, shall have been loosed, and they, with their horsemen, shall have done what they were designed to do; when the two witnesses shall have been slain, and are raised again, and ascended to heaven; and the things attending, or following thereon, as the earthquake, and slaughter, and the conversions of men, are accomplished. [And] behold the third woe cometh quickly; immediately, upon the passing of the other; namely, the sounding of the seventh trumpet, as follows.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The second woe--that under the sixth trumpet (Rev 9:12-21), including also the prophecy, Rev 11:1-13 : Woe to the world, joy to the faithful, as their redemption draweth nigh. the third woe cometh quickly--It is not mentioned in detail for the present, until first there is given a sketch of the history of the origination, suffering, and faithfulness of the Church in a time of apostasy and persecution. Instead of the third woe being detailed, the grand consummation is summarily noticed, the thanksgiving of the twenty-four elders in heaven for the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth, attended with the destruction of the destroyers of the earth.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The second woe is past - That is, the second of the three that were announced as yet to come, Revelation 8:13; compare Revelation 9:12. And, behold, the third woe cometh quickly - The last of the series. The meaning is, that what was signified by the third “woe” would be the next, and final event, in order. On the meaning of the word “quickly,” see the notes on Revelation 1:1; compare Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:16; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 22:7, Revelation 22:12, Revelation 22:20. In reference now to the important question about the application of this portion of the Book of Revelation, it need hardly be said that the greatest variety of opinion has prevailed among expositors. It would…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The second woe is past - The butchery made by the Saracens ceased about the year 847, when their power was so broken by Charles the Great that they never recovered it. Behold, the third woe cometh quickly - Its prelude came while the Roman see took all opportunities of laying claim to its beloved universality, and enlarging its power and grandeur. And in the year 755 the bishop of Rome became a secular prince, by king Pepin's giving him the exarchate of Lombardy. The beginning of the third woe itself stands, Rev 12:12. Revelation 11:15”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Rev 8:13, Rev 9:12, Rev 15:1, 16:1-21 Revelation 11:15”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification