Revelation 9:1-21

In Revelation chapter 9, John reveals the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets—the first and second “woes”—which bring God’s continued judgment upon the world. John opens with a scene in which he says, “I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him” (Rev. 9:1). This “star” is an angel sent to release demonic creatures from their current state of captivity (Rev. 9:2-3), and once released are sent on a specific mission to torment “only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Rev. 9:4), and are “not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months” (Rev. 9:5). Their authority is limited concerning their target, the extent of the injury inflicted, and the duration of their activity. The pain imposed by these creatures will prompt men to seek death, but it will flee from them (Rev. 9:6). John then provides a detailed description of these creatures as having features like a locust, with faces of men, long hair like women, teeth like a lion, breastplates of iron, wings, and tails like a scorpion (Rev. 9:7-10). The leader of this army is called Abaddon, and Apollyon, which means “destroyer” (Rev. 9:11). The fifth trumpet concludes the first “woe” (Rev. 9:12). Then the sixth angel sounded his trumpet in heaven, and he was commanded to release “the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates” (Rev. 9:14). These four angels are given authority to kill a third of mankind (Rev. 9:15), and to accomplish this task they command an army of two hundred million soldiers—whether demons or men is not certain—who send plagues upon mankind (Rev. 9:16-19). Elisha the prophet once saw an angelic army (2 Ki. 6:13-17). The two “woes” described in Revelation chapter 9 correspond with the words of Daniel and Jesus concerning the destruction that will come during the Great Tribulation, and that if God did not intervene, all mankind would be destroyed (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21-22). Those people who remain alive after this destruction refuse to repent of their idolatry and sinful ways (Rev. 9:20-21). “At least three realities stand out from this chapter: (1) the reality and power of the unseen world of demons and Satan; (2) the reality of a God who judges; and (3) the reality of the hardness of sinful human hearts.”[1]

 

[1] Charles C. Ryrie, Revelation, Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago, Ill. Moody Press, 1996), 76.