Revelation 9

Revelation 9 depicts the continuation of God's judgments upon the earth during the end times, specifically through the fifth and sixth trumpets, also known as the first and second woes. These trumpet blasts unleash demonic forces that bring severe suffering upon those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. This chapter highlights the intensifying severity of God's judgments, intended to lead the unrepentant to repentance.

Revelation 9:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
3 And out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

These opening verses describe the fifth trumpet, where a star falls from heaven to earth, and is given the key to the bottomless pit (abyssos), releasing thick smoke that darkens the sun and air, followed by locusts with power like scorpions. The falling star represents a fallen leader or angel, most likely Satan, who is given temporary authority to unleash spiritual darkness (Isaiah 14:12, Luke 10:18). The bottomless pit symbolizes chaos and demonic activity, where forces of deception are restrained until this moment (Revelation 20:1-3, Luke 8:31). When opened, smoke rises, darkening the sun and air, representing widespread spiritual deception that blinds people from truth (2 Corinthians 4:4, John 8:12). Out of the smoke come locusts, but unlike natural locusts that destroy crops, these symbolize false religious movements, corrupted ideologies, and demonic deceptions that bring suffering and confusion. Their power like scorpions suggests spiritual torment and oppression, not physical destruction, showing that this trumpet is a judgment of deception and distress upon those who reject God's truth. This passage warns that when people reject God’s light, darkness overtakes them, leading to widespread suffering and deception.

Revelation 9:4-6 (NKJV)
4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

This passage describes the torment inflicted by the locusts from the bottomless pit, symbolizing false religious movements, oppressive ideologies, and demonic deceptions unleashed upon those who do not have the seal of God. Unlike real locusts, they do not harm vegetation but attack people, specifically those who have rejected God’s truth, while God’s faithful are protected (verse 4). These locusts do not kill but torment for five months, like the sting of a scorpion, causing mental, emotional, and spiritual distress rather than physical death (verse 5). This represents fear-based religious control, deception, and oppression, trapping people in despair and confusion. In verse 6, the suffering is so intense that people will seek death but not find it, meaning they will feel hopeless, lost, and desperate for relief but will not escape their torment. They may turn to false philosophies, destructive lifestyles, or even contemplate death, yet nothing will bring peace. This passage highlights God’s mercy, as the suffering serves as a wake-up call for repentance before final judgment. However, those who reject God’s truth will remain vulnerable to increasing deception and despair, leading to deeper spiritual suffering.

Revelation 9:7-10 (NKJV)
7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.
9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.
10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.

This passage describes the appearance and nature of the locusts from the bottomless pit, emphasizing their symbolic and terrifying role in bringing spiritual torment. Verse 7 describes them as horses prepared for battle, symbolizing their organized and militant nature, waging spiritual warfare. Their crowns of gold suggest false authority or deceptive victory, appearing powerful but leading people into error. Their faces like men symbolize intelligence and cunning, while their hair like women suggests seduction or attractiveness, showing that their deception is appealing. Verse 8 describes their teeth like lions, symbolizing ferocity and destruction, devouring those who fall into their deception. Verse 9 speaks of their iron breastplates, indicating invulnerability, meaning their false teachings and oppressive systems are deeply entrenched and hard to resist. The sound of their wings like chariots rushing into battle emphasizes their overwhelming and aggressive spread, reaching far and wide. Verse 10 compares their tails to scorpions with stingers, reinforcing that their power lies in deception and spiritual torment rather than physical destruction. Their ability to torment for five months suggests a specific period of intense suffering, during which people are trapped in confusion, oppression, and spiritual distress, showing that false religious systems and ideologies bring spiritual slavery rather than freedom.

Revelation 9:11 (NKJV)
11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

This verse reveals that the locusts from the bottomless pit have a king over them, unlike natural locusts, which usually have no leader (Proverbs 30:27). This king is the angel of the bottomless pit, named Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek, both meaning "Destroyer." This indicates that the leader of these demonic forces is Satan himself, who is given temporary authority to bring deception and destruction (John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 11:14). The fact that he rules over these locusts confirms that their mission is not just random chaos but a targeted spiritual attack, leading people away from God and into deception. His name emphasizes his nature—not as a life-giver but as one who seeks to ruin and enslave humanity through lies, false teachings, and oppression. This verse highlights the ongoing spiritual war, showing that Satan is actively working to lead the world into darkness, but ultimately, his reign is limited, and God is still in control. It serves as a warning to those who reject God’s truth, as they become vulnerable to the deceptions and destruction orchestrated by the Destroyer himself.

Revelation 9:12 (NKJV)
12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

This verse serves as a transitional statement, marking the end of the first woe with the cessation of the locust plague, and setting the stage for further judgments. It reminds the reader of the escalating nature of the divine judgments yet to unfold, emphasizing the progressive intensity aimed at bringing about repentance.

Revelation 9:13-15 (NKJV)
13 Then 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 who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
15 So the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

This passage describes the sixth trumpet, where the sixth angel sounds his trumpet, and a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God commands the release of four angels bound at the Euphrates River. The golden altar is associated with the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-4), indicating that this judgment is connected to divine justice. The four angels, who were bound, suggest they are fallen angels—demonic forces previously restrained by God (2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6). Their release marks a major escalation in judgment, leading to the death of a third of mankind. Verse 15 emphasizes that they were prepared for a specific hour, day, month, and year, showing that God allows judgments at His precise timing. The Euphrates River is linked to Babylon, a biblical symbol of spiritual confusion and false religious systems (Jeremiah 50:38, Revelation 17:5). This judgment suggests widespread destruction through war, deception, and spiritual corruption, affecting both physical life and eternal salvation. Spiritual confusion can kill physically by leading to destructive ideologies, wars, and religious extremism, but it also kills spiritually, causing people to reject truth and be eternally lost. This passage serves as a warning that as deception increases, destruction follows, urging people to seek God's truth before it is too late.

Revelation 9:16-19 (NKJV)
16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire, smoke, and brimstone.
18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire, the smoke, and the brimstone which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do harm.

This passage describes the vast army of 200 million horsemen, unleashed as part of the sixth trumpet judgment, bringing massive destruction. Verse 16 highlights the overwhelming scale of this army, likely not a literal human force but a demonic or spiritual power, following the release of the four fallen angels. Verse 17 describes the horses with breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow, colors symbolizing fire, smoke, and brimstone, which are often associated with divine judgment (Genesis 19:24, Luke 17:29). Their heads like lions represent power and ferocity, indicating that this force is both militant and demonic. Verse 18 states that a third of mankind is killed by fire, smoke, and brimstone, signifying massive destruction through war, chaos, and spiritual deception. Verse 19 reveals that their power is in their mouths and tails, with tails like serpents, reinforcing the idea that deception and false teachings are a key part of this judgment. The serpent imagery points directly to Satan, the great deceiver (Revelation 12:9), showing that this army is empowered by demonic lies, manipulations, and false doctrines that bring destruction not only physically but eternally. This passage warns that as Satan’s deceptions increase, suffering will escalate, urging people to repent before even greater judgments come.

Revelation 9:20-21 (NKJV)
20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.
21 And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.

This passage describes humanity’s response after the devastating plagues of the sixth trumpet, revealing that even after a third of mankind is killed, the rest refuse to repent. Verse 20 states that despite witnessing such great destruction, people continue to worship demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, showing their deep spiritual blindness. This highlights how idolatry is not just about physical statues but includes false religious systems, materialism, and anything placed above God (Exodus 20:3-5, 1 Corinthians 10:20). Their refusal to repent demonstrates that judgment alone does not change hardened hearts—true repentance requires surrender to God. Verse 21 lists their continued sins: murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, and thefts. The term sorceries (Greek: pharmakeia) can refer to witchcraft, occult practices, or drug-related deception, showing widespread spiritual corruption. Despite suffering immense destruction, these people cling to their sinful ways, proving that as deception increases, rebellion against God becomes even stronger (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). This passage warns that those who reject God’s truth become so hardened that even severe judgments do not bring repentance, showing that only those who turn to God will escape the final destruction to come.