Revelation 9

The Fifth Trumpet: Locusts from the Abyss

¹The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him.

²He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit.

³Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

⁴They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads.

⁵They were given power, not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a person.

⁶In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

⁷The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces.

⁸They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions.

⁹They had breastplates like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots and horses rushing to war.

¹⁰They have tails like those of scorpions, with stingers. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months.

¹¹They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is “Abaddon”, but in Greek, he has the name “Apollyon”.

¹²The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.

The Sixth Trumpet: Army from the Euphrates

¹³The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,

¹⁴saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!”

¹⁵The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind.

¹⁶The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them.

¹⁷Thus I saw the horses in the vision and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur.

¹⁸By these three plagues, one third of mankind was killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths.

¹⁹For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads; and with them they harm.

²⁰The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which can’t see, hear, or walk.

²¹They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

Previous Revelation 8

Next Revelation 10

Revelation 9 presents the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments, unleashing supernatural torment and destruction upon the earth. The fifth trumpet releases demonic locusts from the abyss that torment unbelievers for five months, while the sixth trumpet frees four angels who lead a massive army that kills one-third of humanity. Despite these devastating plagues, the surviving remnant refuses to repent of their idolatry and sins, demonstrating humanity's hardened resistance to God's judgment.

Context

Following the first four trumpet judgments affecting nature in chapter 8, chapter 9 escalates to direct supernatural attacks on humanity, setting up the final trumpet judgment in chapter 11.

Key Themes

Outline

1-2
The Abyss Opened A fallen star opens the bottomless pit, releasing dark smoke that darkens the sky.
3-6
Demonic Locusts Released Supernatural locusts emerge with power to torment unsealed humans for five months.
7-12
Description of the Locusts The locusts appear as grotesque warrior-creatures led by Abaddon, the angel of destruction.
13-16
The Sixth Trumpet Sounds Four bound angels are released from the Euphrates to lead a massive army.
17-19
The Demonic Army A 200-million strong cavalry with lion-headed horses kills one-third of mankind with fire, smoke, and sulfur.
20-21
Humanity's Unrepentance The surviving population remains hardened in idolatry, murder, sorcery, and immorality despite the judgments.

The Fifth Trumpet: Locusts from the Abyss

9:1–9:12

apocalyptic vision anguished

The fifth trumpet releases demonic locusts from the abyss to torment those without God's seal for five months. These creatures are led by Abaddon/Apollyon and cause such agony that people seek death but cannot find it.

theme_rarity

John's locusts bear crowns and human faces while wielding scorpion stings, uniquely blending imperial imagery with demonic torment in a creature that defies both natural and mythological categories.

The Sixth Trumpet: Army from the Euphrates

9:13–9:21

apocalyptic vision wrathful

The sixth trumpet releases four bound angels at the Euphrates who lead a massive army that kills one-third of humanity. Despite these plagues, the remaining people refuse to repent of their idolatry and sins.

theme_rarity

Despite witnessing apocalyptic devastation that kills one-third of humanity, the survivors' stubborn refusal to repent reveals how deeply entrenched human rebellion becomes against divine judgment.

Insight Rare Theme

John's locusts bear crowns and human faces while wielding scorpion stings, uniquely blending imperial imagery with demonic torment in a creature that defies both natural and mythological categories.

Insight Rare Theme

Despite witnessing apocalyptic devastation that kills one-third of humanity, the survivors' stubborn refusal to repent reveals how deeply entrenched human rebellion becomes against divine judgment.