Revelation 9: The Trumpets of Woe and Unrepentant Hearts
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 9 details the terrifying consequences of the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments, escalating the severity of God's warnings and revealing the stubborn resistance of humanity in the face of divine intervention. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of God's justice and the dire consequences of rejecting His grace.
The Fifth Trumpet: Demonic Locusts
Revelation 9:1-12 unveils the first woe, unleashed by the fifth angel's trumpet blast. John witnesses a "star" fallen from heaven to earth, entrusted with the key to the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1). This "star" is not merely an inanimate object, but a being with agency, most likely representing Satan. Just as a key grants access, this key empowers Satan to unlock the abyss, the dwelling place of demonic forces. It's crucial to remember that Satan's authority is always delegated; he possesses only the power God allows (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).
From the abyss emerges a swarm of locusts, their appearance both terrifying and symbolic (Revelation 9:2-3). These are not ordinary insects, but demonic entities with scorpion-like power. Their mission is specific: to torment those who do not bear God's seal on their foreheads – the unbelievers (Revelation 9:4). This "seal" signifies God's divine protection over believers. These demonic locusts are forbidden from harming the earth's vegetation, focusing instead on inflicting agonizing pain upon the unrepentant.
The torment inflicted by these locusts is described as being like the sting of a scorpion, causing such intense suffering that people will long for death, yet be unable to find it (Revelation 9:5-6). This period of torment lasts for five months, a prolonged period of demonic suffering designed for those who reject Jesus as Savior.
John's description of the locusts is vivid and unsettling (Revelation 9:7-10). They resemble horses prepared for battle, emphasizing their ferocity and intimidating presence. They wear what appear to be golden crowns, symbolizing authority, albeit from hell. Their faces are like human faces, their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth, further underscoring their demonic nature. They have chests like iron breastplates, protecting them from harm, and tails with stingers like scorpions, adding another layer of destructive capability.
The leader of these demonic forces is identified as the angel of the abyss, with the Hebrew name Abaddon and the Greek name Apollyon, both meaning "The Destroyer" (Revelation 9:11). This reinforces the understanding that Satan is orchestrating this entire locust attack. The Old Testament uses locusts as instruments of judgement, such as the eighth plague in Egypt (Exodus 10:1-20) and in the judgement envisioned by the prophet Joel (Joel 1:2-12).
Before the fifth trumpet sounded, an eagle proclaimed a threefold "woe" (Revelation 8:13). John emphasizes that the fifth trumpet represents only the first of these woes (Revelation 9:12). While the locust judgment may seem severe, it is merely a precursor to even greater horrors to come.
The Sixth Trumpet: The Euphrates Army
The sixth trumpet brings forth the second woe, an even more devastating judgment (Revelation 9:13-21). A voice from the altar commands the release of four angels bound at the great river Euphrates, their release intended to kill a third of the human race. Even the judgments directed by Satan are carried out under God's authority, but here God's role is explicit and direct. These are not holy angels; rather, they are fallen angels, demons held in restraint until their appointed time. Their release is divinely ordained, planned for a specific hour, day, month, and year (Revelation 9:15).
These four angels command an army of two hundred million mounted troops (Revelation 9:16). These troops are likely the same demons associated with the fifth trumpet, now serving as instruments of even greater destruction. Their appearance is fearsome, with horses emitting fire, smoke, and sulfur from their mouths (Revelation 9:17). The mode of death is specified: a third of mankind will be killed by these plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur (Revelation 9:18). The description of the horses (Revelation 9:19) underscores the likelihood that the agents of judgment associated with the sixth trumpet are the same as those of the fifth trumpet, both having mouths and tails with destructive powers. The deaths noted here, combined with the fourth of the earth killed in Revelation 6:8, bring the death total during the first three and a half years of the tribulation to more than half of the world’s population.
Unrepentant Hearts
Despite these horrific judgments, the chapter concludes with a sobering observation: mankind did not repent of their sins (Revelation 9:20-21). They continued to worship demons and idols, refusing to turn from their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, and thefts. This reveals a picture of utterly hardened hearts, a stubborn refusal to acknowledge God's sovereignty and repent of their wickedness.
Even with the catastrophic judgments clearly evident, and with the knowledge that God is the source of these events (Revelation 6:16-17), people continue to harden their hearts. This highlights the tragic reality of human rebellion and the consequences of rejecting God's grace. It used to be that atheists were quiet about their beliefs, whispering here and there. Now, though, atheists and worshipers of false gods are becoming bolder. As Romans 1:21-25 explains, when people possess ample evidence of God’s activity but fail to honor or give thanks to him, he gives them over to the just consequences of their actions.
Revelation 9 serves as a powerful warning. It demonstrates the escalating nature of God's judgments and the tragic consequences of unrepentant hearts. It is a call to examine our own lives, to turn away from sin, and to embrace the grace and mercy offered through Jesus Christ before it is too late.
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation 9 details the terrifying consequences of the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments, escalating the severity of God's warnings and revealing the stubborn resistance of humanity in the face of divine intervention. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of God's justice and the dire consequences of rejecting His grace.
The Fifth Trumpet: Demonic Locusts
Revelation 9:1-12 unveils the first woe, unleashed by the fifth angel's trumpet blast. John witnesses a "star" fallen from heaven to earth, entrusted with the key to the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1). This "star" is not merely an inanimate object, but a being with agency, most likely representing Satan. Just as a key grants access, this key empowers Satan to unlock the abyss, the dwelling place of demonic forces. It's crucial to remember that Satan's authority is always delegated; he possesses only the power God allows (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).
From the abyss emerges a swarm of locusts, their appearance both terrifying and symbolic (Revelation 9:2-3). These are not ordinary insects, but demonic entities with scorpion-like power. Their mission is specific: to torment those who do not bear God's seal on their foreheads – the unbelievers (Revelation 9:4). This "seal" signifies God's divine protection over believers. These demonic locusts are forbidden from harming the earth's vegetation, focusing instead on inflicting agonizing pain upon the unrepentant.
The torment inflicted by these locusts is described as being like the sting of a scorpion, causing such intense suffering that people will long for death, yet be unable to find it (Revelation 9:5-6). This period of torment lasts for five months, a prolonged period of demonic suffering designed for those who reject Jesus as Savior.
John's description of the locusts is vivid and unsettling (Revelation 9:7-10). They resemble horses prepared for battle, emphasizing their ferocity and intimidating presence. They wear what appear to be golden crowns, symbolizing authority, albeit from hell. Their faces are like human faces, their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth, further underscoring their demonic nature. They have chests like iron breastplates, protecting them from harm, and tails with stingers like scorpions, adding another layer of destructive capability.
The leader of these demonic forces is identified as the angel of the abyss, with the Hebrew name Abaddon and the Greek name Apollyon, both meaning "The Destroyer" (Revelation 9:11). This reinforces the understanding that Satan is orchestrating this entire locust attack. The Old Testament uses locusts as instruments of judgement, such as the eighth plague in Egypt (Exodus 10:1-20) and in the judgement envisioned by the prophet Joel (Joel 1:2-12).
Before the fifth trumpet sounded, an eagle proclaimed a threefold "woe" (Revelation 8:13). John emphasizes that the fifth trumpet represents only the first of these woes (Revelation 9:12). While the locust judgment may seem severe, it is merely a precursor to even greater horrors to come.
The Sixth Trumpet: The Euphrates Army
The sixth trumpet brings forth the second woe, an even more devastating judgment (Revelation 9:13-21). A voice from the altar commands the release of four angels bound at the great river Euphrates, their release intended to kill a third of the human race. Even the judgments directed by Satan are carried out under God's authority, but here God's role is explicit and direct. These are not holy angels; rather, they are fallen angels, demons held in restraint until their appointed time. Their release is divinely ordained, planned for a specific hour, day, month, and year (Revelation 9:15).
These four angels command an army of two hundred million mounted troops (Revelation 9:16). These troops are likely the same demons associated with the fifth trumpet, now serving as instruments of even greater destruction. Their appearance is fearsome, with horses emitting fire, smoke, and sulfur from their mouths (Revelation 9:17). The mode of death is specified: a third of mankind will be killed by these plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur (Revelation 9:18). The description of the horses (Revelation 9:19) underscores the likelihood that the agents of judgment associated with the sixth trumpet are the same as those of the fifth trumpet, both having mouths and tails with destructive powers. The deaths noted here, combined with the fourth of the earth killed in Revelation 6:8, bring the death total during the first three and a half years of the tribulation to more than half of the world’s population.
Unrepentant Hearts
Despite these horrific judgments, the chapter concludes with a sobering observation: mankind did not repent of their sins (Revelation 9:20-21). They continued to worship demons and idols, refusing to turn from their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, and thefts. This reveals a picture of utterly hardened hearts, a stubborn refusal to acknowledge God's sovereignty and repent of their wickedness.
Even with the catastrophic judgments clearly evident, and with the knowledge that God is the source of these events (Revelation 6:16-17), people continue to harden their hearts. This highlights the tragic reality of human rebellion and the consequences of rejecting God's grace. It used to be that atheists were quiet about their beliefs, whispering here and there. Now, though, atheists and worshipers of false gods are becoming bolder. As Romans 1:21-25 explains, when people possess ample evidence of God’s activity but fail to honor or give thanks to him, he gives them over to the just consequences of their actions.
Revelation 9 serves as a powerful warning. It demonstrates the escalating nature of God's judgments and the tragic consequences of unrepentant hearts. It is a call to examine our own lives, to turn away from sin, and to embrace the grace and mercy offered through Jesus Christ before it is too late.