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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Revelation 9:13–21. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here let us consider the preface to this vision, and then the vision itself.
I.The preface to this vision:
A voice was heard from the horns of the golden altar, Rev 9:13, Rev 9:14. Here observe,
1.The power of the church's enemies is restrained till God gives the word to have them turned loose.
2.When nations are ripe for punishment, those instruments of God's anger that were before restrained are let loose upon them, Rev 9:14.
3.The instruments that God makes use of to punish a people may sometimes lie at a great distance from them, so that no danger may be apprehended from them. These four messengers of divine judgment lay bound in the river Euphrates, a great way from the European nations. Here the Turkish power had its rise, which seems to be the story of this vision.
II.The vision itself:
And the four angels that had been bound in the great river Euphrates were now loosed, Rev 9:15, Rev 9:16. And here observe,
1.The time of their military operations and executions is limited to an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year. Prophetic characters of time are hardly to be understood by us; but in general the time is fixed to an hour, when it shall begin and when it shall end; and how far the execution shall prevail, even to a third part of the inhabitants of the earth. God will make the wrath of man praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain.
2.The army that was to execute this great commission is mustered, and the number found to be of horsemen two hundred thousand thousand; but we are left to guess what the infantry must be. In general, it tells us, the armies of the Mahomedan empire should be vastly great; and so it is certain they were.
3.Their formidable equipage and appearance, Rev 9:17. As the horses were fierce, like lions, and eager to rush into the battle, so those who sat upon them were clad in bright and costly armour, with all the ensigns of martial courage, zeal, and resolution.
4.The vast havoc and desolation that they made in the Roman empire, which had now become antichristian: A third part of them were killed; they went as far as their commission suffered them, and they could go no further.
5.Their artillery, by which they made such slaughter, described by fire, smoke, and brimstone, issuing out of the mouths of their horses, and the stings that were in their tails. It is Mr. Mede's opinion that this is a prediction of great guns, those instruments of cruelty which make such destruction: he observes, These were first used by the Turks at the siege of Constantinople, and, being new and strange, were very terrible, and did great execution. However, here seems to be an allusion to what is mentioned in the former vision, that, as antichrist had his forces of a spiritual nature, like scorpions poisoning the minds of men with error and idolatry, so the Turks, who were raised up to punish the antichristian apostasy, had their scorpions and their stings too, to hurt and kill the bodies of those who had been the murderers of so many souls.
6.Observe the impenitency of the antichristian generation under these dreadful judgments (Rev 9:20); the rest of the men who were not killed repented not, they still persisted in those sins for which God was so severely punishing them, which were,
(1.)Their idolatry; they would not cast away their images, though they could do them no good, could not see, nor hear, nor walk.
(2.)Their murders (Rev 9:21), which they had committed upon the saints and servants of Christ. Popery is a bloody religion, and seems resolved to continue such.
(3.)Their sorceries; they have their charms, and magic arts, and rites in exorcism and other things.
(4.)Their fornication; they allow both spiritual and carnal impurity, and promote it in themselves and others.
(5.)Their thefts; they have by unjust means heaped together a vast deal of wealth, to the injury and impoverishing of families, cities, princes, and nations. These are the flagrant crimes of antichrist and his agents; and, though God has revealed his wrath from heaven against them, they are obstinate, hardened, and impenitent, and judicially so, for they must be destroyed.
III.From this sixth trumpet we learn,
1.God can make one enemy of the church to be a scourge and plague to another.
2.He who is the Lord of hosts has vast armies at his command, to serve his own purposes.
3.The most formidable powers have limits set them, which they cannot transgress.
4.When God's judgments are in the earth, he expects the inhabitants thereof should repent of sin, and learn righteousness.
5.Impenitency under divine judgments is an iniquity that will be the ruin of sinners; for where God judges he will overcome.
Historical interpretation
Seven Centuries of Reception
6 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
"And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is in the presence of God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels." That is, the four corners of the earth which hold the four winds.
"Which are bound in the great river Euphrates." By the corners of the earth, or the four winds across the river Euphrates, are meant four nations, because to every nation is sent an angel; as said the law, "He determined them by the number of the angels of God," until the number of the saints should be filled up. They do not overpass their bounds, because at the last they shall come with Antichrist.
In these four angels that are bound at the Euphrates River we understand those adversaries that God will command to be loosed for the testing of his church. To be sure, this passage shows that the winds and the angels are the same thing, for it said that the winds were held back by the angels and now that the angels are to be loosed by an angel. “Loose,” it says, “the four angels at the great river Euphrates.” Those whom above it said were at the “four corners of the earth” it now says are bound “at the river Euphrates.” The river Euphrates indicates a people that persecutes [the church]. In this people, Satan and his will are bound, lest he should accomplish whatsoever he desires before it is time. The Euphrates is in the land of Babylon, of which the prophet Jeremiah testifies as follows, “This says the Lord” concerning this Euphrates, “This is the day of the Lord God of hosts, so that he might avenge himself on his foes, and the sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the sacrifice to the Lord of hosts is in the north country by the river Euphrates.” He speaks of sacrifice, but that of strangled animals, not of praise. And Isaiah said, “The sword of the Lord is sated on blood, it is gorged with the fat of goats and rams, for the sacrifice of the Lord is in Bosor and a great slaughter in Idumea.” Bosor and Idumea are cities of Esau, who by persecution forced his brother, Jacob, to flee from his father’s lands.
I think that these [angels] are the most evil of the demons who were bound at the coming of Christ and who, according to a divine command that comes from the heavenly altar (whose image was the ancient tabernacle), will be loosed by a divine angel so that they might trouble the nations. They will fight not only against the Christians but also against each other, so that while some, like ripe wheat, might be made manifest as approved and faithful and worthy of the best rewards and of the highest mansions and dwellings, others, like chaff, namely, the wicked and the gross sinners and those unrepentant, might be here justly punished but receive at the judgment an even harsher condemnation. It is not strange that they are bound at the Euphrates. For according to the ordinance of God, some [demons] were condemned for a time to the abyss, others to the swine, and others to other places, so that after the conclusion of their warfare against humankind they might receive eternal punishment. And perhaps the mention of “Euphrates” indicates that the antichrist will come from those regions. And we have no reason to doubt concerning the multitude of demons, for all the saints say that the air is replete with them.
Release the four angels, etc. It indicates how much the ancient enemy with his satellites will persecute the Church at the end of the world, who from the time of the Lord's passion has been shut up in the hearts of the impious, so that he cannot harm as much as he would like, restrained by divine power. For the Euphrates, which is a river of Babylon, signifies the power of the worldly kingdom and the waves of the persecutors. This is the great mountain that he had predicted would be cast into the sea, burning with fire.
After these things the sixth angel also sounded the trumpet: and I heard the voice of one of the horns of the golden altar, which is before the eyes of God, saying to the sixth angel, who had the trumpet: Loose the four angels, who are bound in the great river Euphrates. The altar is the Church, and it is golden because it is illuminated by heavenly wisdom. Note also that the altar is before the eyes of God because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just. [Ps. 33:16] The horns of the altar are holy preachers, and by this one horn we understand the leader of preachers, that is Christ. He tells the sixth angel sounding the trumpet, that is, he proclaims to the Church, to loose the four angels, because he has granted it the power to bind and loose in heaven and on earth, according to this: Whatsoever thou shalt bind, etc. [Matt. 16:19] In the four angels we recognize the entire body of the reprobates, which consists of evil spirits and wicked men, of course separate in nature, but united in iniquity. Indeed the number four is frequently used to signify totality, whence it is said that in the end of the world the elect will be taken from the four winds of the sky by angels. [Matt. 24:31 and Mark 13:27] By the Euphrates, which is often mentioned with a negative meaning, is represented the worldly kingdom’s power, hostile to Christ and the Church; and the old enemy is said to be bound in this power with his body because he is not permitted to do as much harm as he wants. So let us take Loose the four angels who are bound in the great river Euphrates as if the Church were told, “Loose both men in angels, and angels in men, and bear in mind how much you ought to endure the hardships of persecution with equanimity, since your enemies are not able to inflict them on you except by your own judgment, which is in your Head, which proclaims for you and in you, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.” [Matt. 28:18]
Who then is "the voice that was heard from the horns of the altar"? It says, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." The divine Scripture calls the apostate an angel, and I say it is Satan and those who have rebelled with him. For indeed, he has been handed over to us as if they are kept "in eternal chains under darkness," (Jude 6) and as if they are condemned to the abyss of the sea.
For in the second epistle of Peter it says, "For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them into chains of gloomy Tartarus, delivering them to be kept for judgment," (2 Peter 2:4) and in the epistle of Jude it refers to angels who "did not keep their own position, but left their own dwelling, in eternal chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day." (Jude 6) Indeed, the book of Job in the sea says that the apostate has been defiled in various ways by altering his form, size, and the bitterness of his character; and it also states that "he is mocked by the angels of God." (Job 41:25)
And Isaiah also cried out concerning him that "the sword of God will be brought down upon the dragon, the fleeing serpent, upon the crooked serpent; and he will destroy the dragon on that day who is in the sea." (Isa. 27:1) And the prophet, speaking about him after all creatures have passed away, adds this concerning those who are in the sea: "This dragon which you have fashioned to mock him" (Ps. 104:26); following these words, the divine prophet Ezekiel also speaks concerning the Egyptian, saying: "You are like a lion among the nations, and like a dragon in the sea, and you mingle with your rivers." (Ezek. 32:2)
No one, indeed, has transmitted a tradition to us that they were "bound in the Euphrates River", nor will they ever be released, nor will people be punished through them. For Jude, who said that they are "bound with eternal chains," forbade that they should ever be loosed; and the one who said through Isaiah that the Dragon in the sea will be destroyed on the day of judgment, declared that no one else would destroy him but that very one. And the Lord, sending forth in the Gospels those who have sinned into "the fire prepared for the Devil and his angels," (Matt. 25:41) declared that He would use them as punishers and executors of justice, and that they themselves are destined to suffer punishment. How then could one understand the previously mentioned statement that they are "bound in the river Euphrates" and that they will be released and will themselves punish the sinners? I believe that what was said is metaphorical, as if it were a law established for every vision; for I consider that it refers to the angels who are bound to the divine contemplation that spiritually delights God.
The "river" is allegorically used to represent the divine, both by Isaiah, who says, "Behold, I will turn toward them like a river of peace, and like torrents washing over the glory of nations," (Isa. 66:12) and by the prophet, who states, "The impulses of the river delight the city of God." (Ps. 46:4)
And the Lord Himself said to John, in the twentieth section concerning the Spirit, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from his belly." (Jn. 7:38-39) He says that these are those released from the vision of God, sent as punishment to the impious; for he says these are the ones who are condemned for the present day.
Then, which "four angels" does he mention? Perhaps those narrated in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael.
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Summary
Revelation 9:14 marks a pivotal moment in the unfolding trumpet judgments, where a voice from the four horns of the golden altar issues a divine command to the sixth angel. This command orchestrates the release of four powerful angels, previously bound at the great river Euphrates, signaling an escalation of God's judgment upon an unrepentant world. Their liberation initiates the next catastrophic phase of the tribulation, unleashing destructive forces that will impact a significant portion of humanity.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is situated within the dramatic sequence of the seven trumpet judgments, which began in Revelation 8. The first four trumpets brought ecological devastation, while the fifth trumpet unleashed demonic locusts from the abyss, tormenting humanity for five months (Revelation 9:1-11). The sixth trumpet, introduced in Revelation 9:13, signifies a transition from torment to widespread death. The command in verse 14 directly precipitates the unleashing of an immense, destructive cavalry described in the subsequent verses, leading to the death of a third of mankind (Revelation 9:15-19). This progression highlights the escalating severity of divine wrath as humanity continues in its rebellion.
Historical & Cultural Context
The river Euphrates held immense historical and strategic significance in the ancient world. It formed a natural boundary for the Promised Land and was the traditional invasion route for powerful empires to the east, such as Assyria and Babylon, which historically threatened and conquered Israel. In apocalyptic literature, the Euphrates often serves as a symbolic or literal point of origin for forces hostile to God's people. For John's original audience, this river would evoke memories of past oppressions and future threats, making its mention a potent symbol of impending danger and judgment from the east. The binding of angels there suggests a long-standing divine restraint over these destructive forces, now removed at God's appointed time.
Key Themes
Revelation 9:14 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book. Firstly, it underscores Divine Sovereignty and Control, demonstrating that even the most destructive forces, whether angelic or demonic, are ultimately under God's absolute command and are released only at His precise timing and for His purposes of judgment. Secondly, it emphasizes the theme of Unleashing of Restrained Evil, indicating that God, in His patience, has held back certain destructive elements, but at a specific point, He removes that restraint, allowing greater evil or divine judgment to manifest. This serves as a stark warning of the consequences of persistent unrepentance, a theme explicitly stated later in the chapter as people refuse to turn from their sins despite the plagues (Revelation 9:20-21). Finally, the Geographical and Symbolic Significance of the Euphrates reinforces the idea that these judgments have both a literal, earthly impact and a deeper, spiritual meaning, drawing on historical patterns of invasion and judgment.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb signifies a direct, authoritative utterance or command. It implies that the voice from the altar is not merely suggesting but actively decreeing the release of the angels, underscoring the divine authority behind this action. The use of "saying" here emphasizes the verbal, intentional nature of God's decree.
Meaning "to untie," "release," or "destroy," this imperative verb denotes the immediate and decisive action required. It highlights the transition from a state of being bound or restrained to one of freedom and activity. The command to "loose" directly counteracts the previous state of "bound," indicating a deliberate divine act to unleash these entities.
This word means "to bind," "to be in bonds," or "to tie." Its use here indicates that the four angels were previously held in a state of confinement or restraint. This binding was not accidental but a deliberate act, likely by divine power, suggesting that their release is also a deliberate act, part of God's preordained plan for judgment.
This proper noun refers to the literal river, but in an apocalyptic context, it carries significant symbolic weight. As a historical boundary and invasion route, its mention here points to a literal or symbolic origin of the destructive forces that are about to emerge, connecting the future judgment to past historical patterns of divine intervention and judgment through eastern powers.
Verse Breakdown
"Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet"
This clause identifies the recipient of the command: the sixth angel, who has just sounded his trumpet, initiating this phase of judgment. The "saying" comes from a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God (Revelation 9:13), emphasizing that this is a divine directive, originating from the very presence of God and His place of judgment and intercession.
"Loose the four angels"
This is the direct, imperative command. It reveals that there are specific "four angels" who are to be released. The number "four" often symbolizes universality or the four cardinal directions, suggesting that the impact of their release will be widespread, affecting the entire earth. Their release is an act of divine will, initiating the next stage of judgment.
"which are bound in the great river Euphrates"
This phrase specifies the current state and location of these angels. They are not free but "bound," indicating a prior act of divine restraint. Their binding "in the great river Euphrates" is highly significant, linking them to a historically and prophetically important geographical location that often symbolizes a source of hostile forces against God's people. Their release from this specific location underscores the strategic and symbolic nature of the impending judgment.
Literary Devices
Revelation 9:14 employs several powerful literary devices. Symbolism is prominent, particularly with the "four angels" and the "great river Euphrates." The number four often symbolizes global reach or the four corners of the earth, suggesting that the destructive power unleashed will affect the entire world. The Euphrates, as discussed, is a potent symbol of historical invasion routes and hostile powers, connecting this apocalyptic event to ancient threats and patterns of judgment. The act of "binding" and "loosing" itself functions as Symbolism for divine control and the removal of divine restraint. The passage also utilizes Foreshadowing, as the command to loose these angels immediately precedes the description of a massive, destructive army, hinting at the catastrophic events that are about to unfold. The entire scene is presented with Dramatic Irony, as humanity remains unrepentant despite these escalating judgments, unaware of the full extent of the divine wrath being unleashed upon them.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Revelation 9:14 powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including angelic and demonic forces, and His meticulous timing in executing judgment. The fact that these angels were "bound" for a specific period and are "loosed" at a divine command underscores that nothing happens outside of God's permissive or active will. This passage serves as a stark reminder that divine patience has a limit, and when that limit is reached, God removes His restraining hand, allowing the consequences of human rebellion to manifest in devastating ways. It highlights the seriousness of sin and the inevitability of divine judgment for those who refuse to repent, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of God's power and wrath. The scene also foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's justice and the eventual purification of the earth from evil.
Reflection and Application
Revelation 9:14, with its depiction of bound angels unleashed for judgment, serves as a sobering reminder of the gravity of God's justice and the consequences of persistent rebellion against Him. In a world that often dismisses divine judgment or presumes upon God's grace, this verse calls us to a profound sense of awe and reverence for the Lord's power and righteousness. It compels us to consider our own standing before a holy God and to live with an urgent awareness of His ultimate authority over all things, visible and invisible. For believers, it reinforces the comfort that even amidst escalating chaos, God remains firmly on His throne, orchestrating all events according to His perfect will. This should inspire us to greater faithfulness, prayer, and evangelism, recognizing the brevity of time and the eternal weight of unrepentance.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who are these "four angels" and why were they "bound"?
The identity of these "four angels" is not explicitly stated, leading to various interpretations. Some scholars believe them to be fallen angels or demonic entities, given their role in unleashing destruction, similar to the "angel of the bottomless pit" in Revelation 9:11. Others suggest they are literal holy angels appointed by God for this specific task of judgment, much like the angels who poured out the bowls of wrath in Revelation 16. Regardless of their nature, the key point is that they were "bound," indicating a divine act of restraint. This binding suggests that God had them held in check until the precise moment in His prophetic timeline when their release would serve His purposes of judgment, demonstrating His absolute control over all forces, good or evil.
What is the significance of the "great river Euphrates" as their place of binding?
The "great river Euphrates" holds profound historical and symbolic significance. Historically, it was a major geographical boundary and a traditional invasion route for powerful empires (like Assyria and Babylon) that threatened Israel from the east. In biblical prophecy, particularly in apocalyptic literature, the Euphrates often symbolizes a source from which great hostile forces emerge. For instance, in Revelation 16:12, the river is dried up to prepare the way for the "kings from the East." Therefore, its mention in Revelation 9:14 connects the impending judgment to ancient patterns of invasion and divine judgment, suggesting that the destructive forces unleashed will come from or be associated with this region, having a significant impact on the world.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Revelation 9:14 describes a moment of terrifying judgment, it ultimately points to the supreme authority and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The unleashing of these bound angels, though destructive, is part of God's sovereign plan to bring all things to their appointed end, a plan ultimately centered on Christ's triumph. Jesus himself spoke of a time when He would send His angels to gather His elect and execute judgment (Matthew 13:41). The very fact that these angels are "bound" and "loosed" by divine command underscores Christ's ultimate dominion over all powers, whether angelic or demonic. He is the one who holds the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). The judgments described in Revelation, including this one, serve to prepare the way for the establishment of Christ's eternal kingdom, where He will reign in perfect justice and peace (Revelation 11:15). Thus, even in the midst of terrifying wrath, Revelation 9:14 implicitly affirms the absolute control of the Lamb of God, who alone is worthy to open the scrolls and execute God's perfect will (Revelation 5:1-5). The final outcome of these judgments is not chaos, but the glorious revelation of Christ's righteous rule and the ultimate redemption of His people.