Tyndale Open Study NotesRevelation 9

• The second series of judgments involves seven trumpets. Like the first series (Revelation 6:1–8:1), it includes a pause (10:1–11:14; compare 7:1–17) and concludes with a view of God's eternal kingdom (11:15–19; see 7:9–8:1).

• The trumpet judgments are similar to the ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7:14–11:10). They aim to show that earthly gods (or evil powers) are powerless and to clearly demonstrate God's power and control.

The fifth trumpet is the first of the three terrors (Revelation 8:13). It brings a judgment of locusts from the bottomless pit, a place of horror. Ancient cultures thought the ocean depths, or the Abyss, was a home for demonic forces (see study note on Genesis 1:2).

The fifth and sixth trumpets show how God's judgment affects people worldwide and highlight how worthless it is to resist God. These judgments should lead to repentance, but they do not. Sin controls people so much that they choose to worship the evil forces that harm them instead of repenting and turning to God.

The smoke from the pit made the sky dark, similar to the plague in Egypt (Exodus 10:21–29; see Matthew 27:45).

The locusts come down to earth from the smoke. They have the power to sting like scorpions. They are fiercer than those in the Egyptian plague (see Exodus 10:14–15). Instead of eating plants, these locusts attack people like stinging scorpions. Only people without the seal of God (see Revelation 7:1–8) experience this painful judgment. The stings cause painful torture but do not cause death (Revelation 9:5–6).

torment them for five months: This time period is a symbolically complete number based on the fingers on a hand. It is also the normal life span of locusts, suggesting that their entire purpose was to torture people.

• Some people view these locusts as symbols of attack helicopters, missiles, or other modern weapons. However, they originate from the Abyss, not from human creation. The description of these creatures, based on the appearance of locusts, is intended to cause fear and disgust.

• Their gold crowns show that their torment affects much of the earth.

• The king of the locusts is identified in three ways:

  1. as the angel from the bottomless pit, likely different from the fallen star in Revelation 9:1, who unlocked the abyss instead of coming from it;

  2. as Abaddon (meaning "destruction"), often associated with death (see Job 28:22; Psalm 88:11); and

  3. as Apollyon, the Destroyer (see 1 Corinthians 10:10).

• Although John does not directly link the devil with this king of the locusts, the prince of demons is associated with Satan in the Gospels (Mark 3:22–26; see Matthew 12:24–27; Luke 11:15–18). The New Testament also identifies the devil as the prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) and the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), suggesting he likely represents Satan. There is also a link to the Roman emperor Domitian, whose patron god Apollo was symbolized by the locust.

• The four horns of the gold altar (see Revelation 8:3) appear with the sixth trumpet blast. Many excavations have found altars with pointed horns at their four corners (see study note on Exodus 27:2).

• The voice has God's authority to command the release of the four angels.

• These angels are bound, indicating their evil nature (compare Revelation 20:2; 1 Enoch 10; contrast Revelation 7:1). Their location at the great Euphrates River likely refers to Assyria and Babylon, empires that destroyed the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, symbolizing destruction (see 2 Kings 17:22–24; 25:1–11).

hour and day and month and year: This four-part time designation shows that even evil forces must follow God's timing.

• The connection between the four angels and their army is unclear.

• two hundred million: This number symbolizes an extremely large group that cannot be counted. Even at its greatest strength, the ancient Roman army with twenty-one legions numbered only about 126,000 soldiers. It is not useful to use this number to identify any specific country with such an overwhelming destructive force.

• The riders wore armor in colors matching their horses' plagues:

  • red for fire,

  • blue for smoke, and

  • yellow for sulfur.

  These are signs of judgment in Scripture (see Revelation 14:10–11; 19:20; Genesis 19:24–28; Psalm 11:6; Ezekiel 38:22; Luke 17:29).

• The horses resemble the terrifying monsters from Greek stories depicted on ancient buildings and celebrated in old dramas.

• A third: See study note on Revelation 8:7–12.

• Even when faced with plagues and death, people do not automatically repent. They often continue their evil actions and worship demons and idols (things from the created world) instead of worshiping the Creator (see Revelation 13:4; 14:9–10; Romans 1:25; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 10:19–22).

• murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft: What people worship reflects how they live (see Revelation 21:8; 22:15; Romans 1:23, 29–32).

• Revelation shows how strongly sin controls people who do not believe. It is not logical for people to worship powers or beings that harm, torture, or kill them. Yet sin and rebellion against God can deceive people and draw them in with great power.