Chapter Twenty-Three/The Second Woe -Armies of Cavalry

 From 1919 onward, the symbolic locusts' invasion of Christendom has caused the clergy much discomfort. They have tried to stamp out the locusts, but these have kept to coming on stronger than ever. (Revelation 9:7) And that is not all! John writes: "The woe is past. Look! Two more are coming after these things." (Revelation 9:12) Further tormenting plagues are in store for Christendom. 

What is the source of the second woe? John writes: "And the sixth angel blew his trumpet. And I heard a voice out of the horns of the golden altar that is before God say to the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.' " (Revelation 9:13, 14) The angels ' release is in answer to the voice that comes from the horns of the golden altar, and twice previously the incense of the golden bowls from this altar has been associated with the prayers of the holy ones. (Revelation (5:8; 8:3, 4) Therefore, this one voice represents the united prayers of the holy ones on earth. They petition that they themselves be delivered for further energetic service as Jehovah's "messengers," this being the basic meaning of the Greek word here translated "angels."  Why are there four angels? This symbolic number seems to indicate that they would be so organized as to cover the earth in its entirety. - Compare REVELATION 7:1; 20:8.

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