We now get the second woe. As is the pattern in Revelation there is a gap before the third woe (seventh trumpet) and the seven bowls of wrath seem to constitute the third woe.
The second woe is going to unleash even more death upon the world. Four angels who had been bound, held back, are released. They would lead to the deaths of a third of the world, and a massive army would be let loose. The figure of two hundred million may just be indicating the massive size of the army, rather than a precise number.
John then goes on to describe the riders on the horses.
A third of the people were killed, but the rest did not repent. Atheists often object that God does not give people enough chance, or enough evidence. Bertram Russell was asked what he would say to God if God did turn out to exist (Russell was an atheist). His reply was "not enough evidence, not enough evidence". All these objections are nonsense. Jesus came and did good, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, setting captives free, yet they did not believe Him. God had sent countless prophets to Israel, but they did not listen. So now the most severe chastisement comes, but still men will not repent.
Men continued to worship demons. They did not think they were worshipping demons, but were worshipping useless bits of metal, wood or stone, inanimate objects that could do nothing. Murder, magic arts, sexual immorality and theft are highlighted as particular sins.
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