protected boolean areMessagesInReverseOrder(Folder inbox) throws MessagingException { try { Message msgFirst = inbox.getMessage(1); Message msgLast = inbox.getMessage(inbox.getMessageCount()); Date firstMessageDate = getDateToDetermineOrder(msgFirst); Date lastMessageDate = getDateToDetermineOrder(msgLast); return firstMessageDate != null && lastMessageDate != null && firstMessageDate.after(lastMessageDate); } catch (Exception e) { return false; } }