Revelation9

Revelation 9 details the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets, initiating two terrible woes upon the earth. The fifth trumpet unleashes demonic locusts from the bottomless pit, commanded to torment for five months those without God's seal, causing men to seek death without finding it. The sixth trumpet releases four angels from the Euphrates, leading an immense army of horsemen who slay a third part of mankind with fire, smoke, and brimstone. Despite these devastating judgments, the surviving populace refuses to repent of their idolatry and wicked deeds.
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The Fifth Trumpet: Demonic Locusts Released

1
Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss. ​
2
The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit. ​
3
And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. ​
4
They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ​
5
The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion. ​
6
In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them. ​
7
And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads, and faces like the faces of men.
8
They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions.
9
They also had thoraxes like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.
10
They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.
11
They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon. ​
12
The first woe has passed. Behold, two woes are still to follow. ​

The Sixth Trumpet: The Euphrates Army

13
Then the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God ​
14
saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” ​
15
So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. ​
16
And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number. ​
17
Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.
18
A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.
19
For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.

Humanity Refuses to Repent

20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. ​
21
Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft. ​

Study Notes for Revelation 9

Verse 1

The star is an angelic figure (not necessarily fallen) commissioned by God to initiate this judgment. The 'bottomless pit' (Abyss) is the place where powerful evil spirits are imprisoned until the final judgment.

Verse 2

The smoke symbolizes the spiritual darkness, horror, and oppression released from the Abyss, so intense that it obscures both physical light (sun) and spiritual clarity.

Verse 3

These are not natural locusts (which consume vegetation) but demonic entities. Their power is limited to causing intense pain, like the sting of a scorpion, emphasizing targeted torment rather than environmental destruction.

Verse 4

This restriction indicates the divine control over the plague. The judgment is highly specific, targeting only those who rejected God and lack the protective 'seal' given to believers (Rev. 7:3).

Verse 5

The 'five months' is a limited duration, perhaps symbolizing the typical lifespan of a locust swarm or indicating that this intense suffering is finite and controlled by God's plan.

Verse 6

The excruciating, non-lethal torment forces men to seek death, but they are prevented from finding it. This reflects a judgment where the victims must endure the full, appointed measure of suffering.

Verse 11

Abaddon (Hebrew) and Apollyon (Greek) both mean 'Destroyer.' This confirms the organized, military nature of the plague and identifies its commander as a specific, powerful demonic entity.

Verse 12

This transitional verse marks the end of the first of three major 'woes' (Rev. 8:13), signaling that the judgments are about to escalate in severity.

Verse 13

The voice coming from the altar of incense (which holds the prayers of the saints) suggests that this judgment is a direct response to the prayers of the righteous appealing for God’s justice (cf. Rev. 8:3–5).

Verse 14

The Euphrates River was the traditional boundary between the Roman Empire and hostile eastern powers (like Parthia). Symbolically, it represents the source of terrible, overwhelming military threats against God's people.

Verse 15

The release of the four angels is precisely timed ('an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year'), emphasizing that this massive destruction, which slays one-third of humanity, is fully orchestrated by divine providence.

Verse 16

Two hundred million is a hyperbole signifying a countless, irresistible army. This overwhelming force emphasizes the magnitude and inescapability of the judgment.

Verse 20

The central theological tragedy of the trumpets: despite witnessing catastrophic divine judgment, the survivors refuse to repent of their primary sins, specifically idolatry and demon worship.

Verse 21

The term 'sorceries' (Greek: *pharmakeia*) refers to magic, the use of drugs, potions, and occult practices often associated with idolatry and the worship of spirits.

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