Revelation 9

¹ 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.

² 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.

³ 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.

⁴ 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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

⁷ 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.

⁸ And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [the teeth] of lions.

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power [was] to hurt men five months.

¹¹ 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.

¹² One woe is past; [and], behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

¹³ And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

¹⁴ Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ And the number of the army of the horsemen [were] two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

¹⁷ 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.

¹⁸ 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.

¹⁹ 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.

²⁰ 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:

²¹ Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Overview of Revelation Chapter 9

Revelation Chapter 9 is a pivotal section in the apocalyptic narrative of the Book of Revelation, detailing the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments. This chapter emphasizes themes of divine judgment, the nature of evil, and the consequences of humanity’s rejection of God. The imagery is vivid and often unsettling, reflecting the intense spiritual warfare and the dire consequences of sin.

Structure of the Chapter

The chapter can be divided into two main sections:

1. The Fifth Trumpet (Verses 1-12)
   • The opening of the abyss
   • The emergence of locust-like creatures
   • The torment inflicted on humanity
2. The Sixth Trumpet (Verses 13-21)
   • The release of the four angels
   • The army of horsemen
   • The response of humanity to the plagues

The Fifth Trumpet (Verses 1-12)

In this section, the narrative begins with the sounding of the fifth trumpet, which results in a star falling from heaven to earth. This star is given the key to the abyss, symbolizing a significant spiritual authority.

• The Abyss: The abyss is portrayed as a place of confinement for evil spirits, suggesting that the unleashing of these spirits signifies a time of intense spiritual turmoil.
• Locusts as Agents of Torment: The locusts that emerge are described with terrifying imagery, resembling horses prepared for battle, and they are given power to torment those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
• Duration of Torment: The torment lasts for five months, emphasizing the limited but intense period of suffering inflicted upon the unrepentant.
• Nature of the Torment: The torment is likened to the sting of a scorpion, indicating both physical and psychological suffering.
• Desire for Death: The suffering is so severe that those tormented seek death but cannot find it, illustrating the depth of their anguish.

The Sixth Trumpet (Verses 13-21)

The sixth trumpet introduces a more catastrophic scenario, marked by the release of four angels bound at the Euphrates River. This section signifies a shift from spiritual torment to physical destruction.

• The Release of Angels: The four angels represent a divine judgment, unleashed to kill a third of mankind, suggesting a significant loss of life as a consequence of humanity’s rebellion.
• The Army of Horsemen: The description of the horsemen and their horses is vivid, with imagery of fire, smoke, and sulfur, symbolizing destruction and death.
• Divine Judgment: The plagues that follow the sixth trumpet are severe, leading to massive casualties, and serve as a direct consequence of humanity’s sins.
• Human Response: Despite the catastrophic events, the chapter concludes with a somber reflection on humanity’s refusal to repent. People continue in their idolatry, murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, and thefts, highlighting the hardness of their hearts.

Theological Themes

Revelation Chapter 9 presents several key theological themes:

• Judgment: The chapter underscores the reality of divine judgment against sin and rebellion, emphasizing that God’s patience has limits.
• Spiritual Warfare: The imagery of locusts and horsemen illustrates the ongoing battle between good and evil, as well as the consequences of spiritual disobedience.
• Repentance: The refusal of humanity to repent despite severe judgments highlights the persistent nature of sin and the need for genuine contrition.
• Hope and Warning: While the chapter depicts dire consequences, it also serves as a warning for believers to remain steadfast and for non-believers to seek repentance before it is too late.

Conclusion

Revelation Chapter 9 serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of divine judgment. The vivid imagery and intense suffering depicted in this chapter challenge readers to reflect on their spiritual state and the importance of repentance in the face of impending judgment.