In Revelation Chapter 4, the Apostle John was called up to the Throne Room of Heaven where he witnessed the Lord Jesus Christ take the Scroll of Destiny and begin to break its seven seals one by one.

As each of the first six seals were broken, severe judgments fell upon the globe, and one fourth of the population of the earth was killed. The unbelieving inhabitants of the earth became convinced of the reality of the God of Heaven, and God in His grace saved 144,000 Jews, protected them with His seal upon their foreheads, and sent them around the world proclaiming the gospel.

A great multitude of people were saved, some from every people group of the world, but many were martyred or killed in the cataclysmic judgments of these first years of the tribulation.

In chapter 8, the last of the seven seals on the scroll was broken by the Risen Christ. When it was, the scroll rolled open and for the first time in all eternity, the contents of the Scroll of Destiny, the Will of the Father, was revealed to the multitude, the elders, and even to the angels of heaven.

And like a great gasp of awe filled shock, John tells us “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”

Those in Heaven´s Throne Room saw that seven holy angels were about to be given trumpets, and when each of them blew their trumpet, judgments even more severe than had already befallen the earth would begin to fall.

At the blowing of the seventh trumpet, The Terrible Day of the Lord, long predicted by the Old Testament prophets, would begin to unfold. Thus the citizens of Heaven were dumbstruck in awe and reverential fear of the Almighty God.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult First Trumpet - 8:7 Hail, fire, blood fall on the earth 1/3 of the earth burned. 1/3 of trees destroyed. All grass destroyed. Second Trumpet - 8:8-9 Fiery “mountain” falls into sea 1/3 of sea becomes blood. 1/3 of sea life destroyed. 1/3 of ships destroyed.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult First Trumpet - 8:7 Hail, fire, blood fall on the earth 1/3 of the earth burned. 1/3 of trees destroyed. All grass destroyed. Second Trumpet - 8:8-9 Fiery “mountain” falls into sea 1/3 of sea becomes blood. 1/3 of sea life destroyed. 1/3 of ships destroyed.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult First Trumpet - 8:7 Hail, fire, blood fall on the earth 1/3 of the earth burned. 1/3 of trees destroyed. All grass destroyed. Second Trumpet - 8:8-9 Fiery “mountain” falls into sea 1/3 of sea becomes blood. 1/3 of sea life destroyed. 1/3 of ships destroyed.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult First Trumpet - 8:7 Hail, fire, blood fall on the earth 1/3 of the earth burned. 1/3 of trees destroyed. All grass destroyed. Second Trumpet - 8:8-9 Fiery “mountain” falls into sea 1/3 of sea becomes blood. 1/3 of sea life destroyed. 1/3 of ships destroyed.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult First Trumpet - 8:7 Hail, fire, blood fall on the earth 1/3 of the earth burned. 1/3 of trees destroyed. All grass destroyed. Second Trumpet - 8:8-9 Fiery “mountain” falls into sea 1/3 of sea becomes blood. 1/3 of sea life destroyed. 1/3 of ships destroyed.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult Third Trumpet - 8:10-11 Blazing “star” falls into rivers 1/3 of rivers made bitter. Many die. Fourth Trumpet - 8:12 Sun, moon, stars struck1/3 of light taken away.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult Third Trumpet - 8:10-11 Blazing “star” falls into rivers 1/3 of rivers made bitter. Many die. Fourth Trumpet - 8:12 Sun, moon, stars struck1/3 of light taken away.

I.THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Rev. 8:7-12) TrumpetEventResult Third Trumpet - 8:10-11 Blazing “star” falls into rivers 1/3 of rivers made bitter. Many die. Fourth Trumpet - 8:12 Sun, moon, stars struck1/3 of light taken away.

After these four horrific judgments fall upon the earth, God sends an angel flying through the sky warning the people of planet earth. Rev. 8:13b “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

The first of those woes is THE FIFTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT (Rev. 9:1-12)

The first of those woes is THE FIFTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT (Rev. 9:1-12)

Revelation 9:1–12 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 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

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.

7 The shape 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. 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. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

It is passages like this one that make many people throw up their hands and say, “How in the world do you figure out what this means?” But by now, you are getting accustomed to using our simple but effective tools of interpretation. We will apply them again and see the meaning unfold.

Here are the key interpretive questions: Who is the star fallen from heaven? (We say “who” instead of “what” because the star is called “him” and “he” in the next verses.)

Here are the key interpretive questions: Who is the star fallen from heaven? (We say “who” instead of “what” because the star is called “him” and “he” in the next verses.)

Here are the key interpretive questions: Who is the star fallen from heaven? (We say “who” instead of “what” because the star is called “him” and “he” in the next verses.)

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. In your online Bible search of “fallen” and “heaven”. You will get Rev. 9:1 and also Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...”

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. In your online Bible search of “fallen” and “heaven”. You will get Rev. 9:1 and also Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...”

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. In your online Bible search of “fallen” and “heaven”. You will get Rev. 9:1 and also Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...”

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. In your online Bible search of “fallen” and “heaven”. You will get Rev. 9:1 and also Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...”

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Also, if you enter “fall” and “heaven,” one of the verses you find is Luke 10:18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Why is he called a star?

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Also, if you enter “fall” and “heaven,” one of the verses you find is Luke 10:18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Why is he called a star?

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. See Job 38:7 where all the angels are called morning stars. Probably the one who is given the key to the bottomless pit is Satan, but it could be another one of the fallen angels (demons).

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. See Job 38:7 where all the angels are called morning stars. Probably the one who is given the key to the bottomless pit is Satan, but it could be another one of the fallen angels (demons).

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. See Job 38:7 where all the angels are called morning stars. Probably the one who is given the key to the bottomless pit is Satan, but it could be another one of the fallen angels (demons).

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. We look up the word bottomless and find it is “abyssos” which is translated “abyss,” and the Greek word is used 9 times in the N.T., 7 of those in Revelation.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. We look up the word bottomless and find it is “abyssos” which is translated “abyss,” and the Greek word is used 9 times in the N.T., 7 of those in Revelation.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. We look up the word bottomless and find it is “abyssos” which is translated “abyss,” and the Greek word is used 9 times in the N.T., 7 of those in Revelation.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. The 2 other times are Luke 8:31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Romans 10:7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. Wow! This tells us some stuff! The demons possessing Legion begged Christ not to send them to the abyss, so apparently the abyss is a prison to which demons can be sent.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. Wow! This tells us some stuff! The demons possessing Legion begged Christ not to send them to the abyss, so apparently the abyss is a prison to which demons can be sent.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. Wow! This tells us some stuff! The demons possessing Legion begged Christ not to send them to the abyss, so apparently the abyss is a prison to which demons can be sent.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. Romans makes a reference to Christ being in the abyss after He died and before He rose!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 6. Look at the meanings of words in the original language as needed. Romans makes a reference to Christ being in the abyss after He died and before He rose!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Are there any Scriptures that speak of a prison for fallen angels and to which Christ went in between His death and resurrection?

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Now, I am going to admit that finding Scripture as described above is not an easy task. This is why Revelation is the final book of the Bible. You need the books of the Bible that precede Revelation to understand the Revelation.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. If you have read through the Bible thoroughly and have studied it even moderately, you will probably know that there is some Scripture somewhere that deals with all of this. You may not remember where it is, but you know it is there. That is a start.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. But even if you do not know if such a Scripture exists, with the aid of search engines today, you can find it. You may have to do a good number of searches, and read those Scriptures and their context.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. You could do searches on any of the following words: angels, demons, spirits, abyss, prison. If you did that, and you read every verse you found, you would find the key verse. If you searched on the words spirits and prison together, you would only find a single verse, but it would be the jackpot!

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. 1 Pet. 3:19. Add verses 18 and 20 for the complete thought. Then you would thrust your fist in the air and say, “YES!”

1 Peter 3:18–20 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Ah-ha! Link this verse with Rom. 10:7 above and we know that the prison for spirits (angels) is in the abyss and that some of these fallen angels were confined there because of their disobedience during the days of Noah.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Ah-ha! Link this verse with Rom. 10:7 above and we know that the prison for spirits (angels) is in the abyss and that some of these fallen angels were confined there because of their disobedience during the days of Noah.

RULE APPLIEDRESULT 4. Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Ah-ha! Link this verse with Rom. 10:7 above and we know that the prison for spirits (angels) is in the abyss and that some of these fallen angels were confined there because of their disobedience during the days of Noah.

If you keep following the references, you will find 2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 5, and Gen. 6:1-8. When you have studied it all you will learn that during the days of Noah, some of the fallen angels possessed the bodies of men and thus cohabitated with human women, producing giants and other abnormal offspring.

God put these particular demons (not all demons) in a prison called Tartarus in the abyss in the center of the earth, where they are being held for the final judgment. They will be unleashed for a season as a part of this judgment, taking on the form of creatures that look like locusts but sting like scorpions.

Now, simply reading the text and letting the plain sense make sense, we can answer the following questions.

What are these locust-like creatures that come out of the pit? General appearance is like that of a locust. But they have... – a shape like a horse arrayed for battle – appearance of gold colored crowns upon their heads – faces like men's faces

What are these locust-like creatures that come out of the pit? General appearance is like that of a locust. But they have... – a shape like a horse arrayed for battle – appearance of gold colored crowns upon their heads – faces like men's faces

What are these locust-like creatures that come out of the pit? General appearance is like that of a locust. But they have... – a shape like a horse arrayed for battle – appearance of gold colored crowns upon their heads – faces like men's faces

What are these locust-like creatures that come out of the pit? General appearance is like that of a locust. But they have... – long hair – lion-like teeth – breastplates like iron – noisy wings

What are these locust-like creatures that come out of the pit? General appearance is like that of a locust. But they have... – long hair – lion-like teeth – breastplates like iron – noisy wings

What will they do? Sting like scorpions – cannot kill – painful torment for 5 months – Those with the seal of God on their forehead are protected.

What will they do? Sting like scorpions – cannot kill – painful torment for 5 months – Those with the seal of God on their forehead are protected.

What will they do? Sting like scorpions – cannot kill – painful torment for 5 months – Those with the seal of God on their forehead are protected.

What will they do? Sting like scorpions – cannot kill – painful torment for 5 months – Those with the seal of God on their forehead are protected.

What will they do? Sting like scorpions – cannot kill – painful torment for 5 months – Those with the seal of God on their forehead are protected.

Who is king over these creatures? The leader of this demonic band is called Abaddon or Apollyon. Both names mean "Destroyer," and this demon seems to be one of the imprisoned angels rather than Satan himself.

Rev. 9:12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. CONCLUSION: Next week we will examine the second woe which is also the sixth trumpet, then the text takes an intermission in the action of the trumpet judgments to let us see something else happening in heaven and something else happening on earth (Chapter 10).