Three Strikes

These days, three strikes and you’re out is more than just a rule in baseball. It’s also come to mean that in some federal and state courts, if a person has already committed three felonies, he will be punished severely even if his next offense is less serious.

In the prophetic books of Scripture, such as Revelation, numbers have deep significance. Western minds are quick to “count” numbers, but in the East and in apocalyptic literature, they are often symbolic and hold a deeper meaning. By looking at the context within the Bible passage, we can find a richer understanding of these numbers without taking wild guesses as to their meaning.

The number three is found 467 times in the Bible. It is often used to express intensity. For instance, Isaiah heard the angels cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). God called the prophet Samuel three times (1 Samuel 3:8). The prophet Jeremiah emphasized his message from God by saying, “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD!” (Jeremiah 22:29).

Three “woes” are referred to in today’s passage. They correspond to trumpets five, six, and seven in Revelation 9 and 11. Trumpets, as we have already noted, announce coming judgment. The three woes mentioned in Revelation 8:13, which announce the judgments of the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets, imply a more severe punishment.

The first four trumpets announced the overthrow of the Western Roman Empire, particularly in its pagan form, whereas the last three trumpets, combined with the “woes,” are directed at the attack against the Eastern Roman Empire, specifically in its papal form. These judgments are much more severe and get progressively worse. The word “woe,” according to Strong’s, is an “exclamation of grief.”

In reality, these judgments are to wake up people to turn away from darkness and deception toward the light of truth. They are three chances to return to the Lord. Trumpets do not just announce doom; they call together God’s people to prepare for the soon coming of Jesus. Trumpets announce the return of Christ, and a trumpet will sound at the resurrection of the righteous dead. Are you listening?

Father in heaven, I open my ears to hear Your Word and I open my heart to receive Your truth. I want to be ready when Jesus comes!

For Further Study: Exodus 19:16; Ezekiel 18:21–32; Hosea 5:8

Key Bible Texts

One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. (Revelation 9:12 KJV)