Analysis of Revelation Chapter 9
Revelation Chapter 9 is a continuation of the divine vision that the Apostle John records, providing a vivid and symbolic description of events unfolding as part of the prophetic end times. This chapter primarily focuses on the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments, contributing to the series of woes foretold in earlier chapters. The rich imagery and metaphorical language in this chapter demand a nuanced and detailed analysis to unravel the meanings behind these apocalyptic visions.
Verses 1-2: The Fifth Trumpet and the Fallen Star
“The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.”
In the first two verses, John describes the fifth angel sounding his trumpet, and a significant event unfolds: a star falls from the sky to the earth. This star is not just a celestial body but rather symbolically represents a being, most likely an angel or a spiritual entity, often believed to be Satan or a high-ranking fallen angel as described in Isaiah 14:12 (“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!”). This fallen star is given the key to the Abyss, signifying divine permission to unleash what is contained within.
Opening the Abyss results in smoke rising like that from a gigantic furnace, obscuring the sun and the sky. This imagery portrays the release of chaos, disorder, and spiritual darkness, which suggests a significant increase in demonic influence and activity on the earth. The darkening of the sun and sky represents a loss of clarity, truth, and spiritual illumination, mirroring a world engulfed in moral and spiritual obscurity.
Verses 3-6: The Locusts from the Abyss
“And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.”
The locusts emerging from the smoke are not ordinary insects but rather demonic entities with a mission of torment. These locusts are given power akin to that of scorpions, emphasizing their ability to inflict severe pain. However, their task is unique: unlike natural locusts that destroy vegetation, these are instructed to target only humans who lack the seal of God on their foreheads. This specifies that those faithful to God are protected from this particular judgment.
The torment these locusts inflict lasts for five months, which is the typical lifespan of a locust swarm, indicating a complete cycle of suffering. The pain inflicted is likened to a scorpion’s sting, known for its excruciating and intolerable nature. The description of people seeking death but unable to find it underscores the intensity of their suffering — a deep psychological and physical torment that drives them to yearn for an end but without reprieve. This scenario draws a parallel to the consequences of rejecting divine grace and living outside God’s protection, highlighting the severe repercussions of spiritual rebellion.
Verses 7-10: Description of the Locusts
“The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.”
John provides a detailed physical description of these locusts, emphasizing their terrifying and otherworldly appearance. They resemble horses prepared for battle, indicating their readiness for warfare and destruction. The crowns of gold on their heads suggest authority and a semblance of conquering power. Their human-like faces imply intelligence and cunning, while their hair like women’s hair and teeth like lions’ teeth add to their fearsome and grotesque image — combining beauty with ferocity.
The breastplates of iron signify invulnerability and strength, making them formidable adversaries. The noise of their wings, akin to the thunderous sound of many horses and chariots, reflects their overwhelming and intimidating presence. Their ability to torment with stinger-laden tails like scorpions indicates their primary function is to inflict severe, relentless pain.
Verses 11-12: The King of the Locusts
“They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer). The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.”
The locusts have a king, the angel of the Abyss, named in Hebrew Abaddon and in Greek Apollyon, both names meaning “Destroyer.” This figure likely represents a high-ranking demonic entity or even Satan himself, who wields significant destructive power. The fact that these locusts function under a king highlights an organized and purposeful malevolence driven by their leader.
The passage notes that this event constitutes the first woe, with two more yet to come, indicating a progression of increasing severity in the divine judgments to follow. This serves as both a warning and a reminder of the escalating nature of the tribulations described in Revelation.
Verses 13-15: The Sixth Trumpet and the Release of the Four Angels
“The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.”
With the sounding of the sixth trumpet, a voice from the four horns of the golden altar commands the release of the four angels bound at the Euphrates River. The golden altar with its four horns is a significant location in the heavenly sanctuary, symbolizing the intersection of divine judgment and mercy.
These four angels, long prepared for this decisive moment, are unleashed to execute a severe judgment resulting in the death of a third of mankind. The Euphrates River holds historical and prophetic significance, often seen as a boundary and source of major conflict. The release of these powerful, destructive forces from the Euphrates symbolizes the unleashing of a catastrophic and unprecedented divine judgment.
Verses 16-19: The Plague of Mounted Troops
“The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand—I heard their number. The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.”
John reports the staggering number of mounted troops: “twice ten thousand times ten thousand,” which equals 200 million, indicating an immensely vast and overwhelming force. The description of the horses and riders suggests a terrifying and supernatural aspect. The fiery red, dark blue, and sulfur yellow breastplates signify their destructive nature tied to elements of fire and brimstone, evoking images of hellish torment.
The horses’ heads resemble lions, reinforcing their fierceness and their mouths emit deadly fire, smoke, and sulfur. These elements bring about the plagues that kill a third of humanity, implying both literal and symbolic devastation caused by these unleashed demonic forces. The power within these horses lies not only in their mouths but also in their tails, which like snakes, inflict severe injury.
Verses 20-21: The Resulting Hardness of Heart
“The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
Despite the catastrophic devastation and the clear demonstration of divine judgment, those who survive these plagues remain unrepentant. This highlights the hardness of human hearts and their steadfast devotion to sin and idolatry. The failure to abandon the worship of demons and idols, despite their evident impotence, underscores a deep-seated spiritual blindness and rebellion.
Moreover, there is no repentance for other grave sins such as murder, sorcery (or involvement in occult practices), sexual immorality, and theft. This persistent unrepentance in the face of overwhelming evidence of God’s power and judgment reveals the profound depth of human depravity and resistance to divine authority. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent sin and the rejection of God’s offer of salvation.
Conclusion
Revelation Chapter 9 offers a vivid and dramatic glimpse into the severity of the trumpet judgments during the end times. The chapter underscores the reality of divine judgment, the power and organization of demonic forces, and the profound spiritual warfare that will characterize the last days.
Its detailed descriptions of the locusts, the release of the four angels, and the vast mounted troops serve to paint a picture of unparalleled suffering and destruction. Yet, amidst this chaos, the chapter also reveals a profound aspect of human nature—the tendency to cling to sin despite overwhelming evidence of divine displeasure. This chapter calls readers to reflection, emphasizing the necessity of repentance and the dire consequences of spiritual rebellion.
Overall, Revelation Chapter 9 serves as a compelling and sobering reminder of the reality of divine justice and the ultimate triumph of God’s sovereign plan over the forces of evil.