The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets Revelation 9:1-21

“And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.” (Revelation 9:1)

The Fifth Trumpet: Opening of the Bottomless Pit Demonic Locust Plague Opening of the Bottomless Pit Demonic Locust Plague Revelation 9:1-1 “And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.” (Revelation 9:2)

“And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. “ (Revelation 9:3)

“ And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” (Revelation 9:4) “ And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” (Revelation 9:4)

“And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. (Revelation 9:5-6)

“And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.” (Revelation 9:7-8)

“And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.” (Revelation 9:9-10)

The Impact of the Locusts (9:3-11) The Impact of the Locusts (9:3-11) These are not normal locusts! These are not normal locusts! They are given power as the power of scorpions. They are given power as the power of scorpions. They are told not to harm the vegetation of the earth (the normal food of locusts), but only men who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They are told not to harm the vegetation of the earth (the normal food of locusts), but only men who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. For a period of 5 months (the same period of time that normal locusts cause destruction) they torment men on the earth, not killing but stinging them with stings like that of a scorpion. For a period of 5 months (the same period of time that normal locusts cause destruction) they torment men on the earth, not killing but stinging them with stings like that of a scorpion. This torment is so bad that men will prefer death, but will not be able to find it. This torment is so bad that men will prefer death, but will not be able to find it.

“And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.” (Revelation 9:11-12)

The Characteristics of the Locusts (9:7-12) The Characteristics of the Locusts (9:7-12) These locusts are prepared to make war on men (cf. Joel 1-2). Their crowns signify victory in their mission. These locusts are prepared to make war on men (cf. Joel 1-2). Their crowns signify victory in their mission. Faces like men indicate intelligence beyond that of insects. Other unusual features: long hair like that of a woman, and teeth like those of a lion. The sound of their wings is like the sound of chariots, producing great fear in the hearts of their opponents. Faces like men indicate intelligence beyond that of insects. Other unusual features: long hair like that of a woman, and teeth like those of a lion. The sound of their wings is like the sound of chariots, producing great fear in the hearts of their opponents. As terrifying as this picture is, the real power of these locusts is in their tails, with their ability to sting like scorpions and torment men. As terrifying as this picture is, the real power of these locusts is in their tails, with their ability to sting like scorpions and torment men. Unlike real locusts, these have a leader whose name is !ADb;a] (Hebrew) and Apollu,wn (Greek). Both names mean “destroyer.” Unlike real locusts, these have a leader whose name is !ADb;a] (Hebrew) and Apollu,wn (Greek). Both names mean “destroyer.” Thus these are demons who take a locust-like form and torment men under the fifth trumpet judgment. Thus these are demons who take a locust-like form and torment men under the fifth trumpet judgment.

The Sixth Trumpet: Death to a Third of Earth’s Inhabitants (9:13-21) The Deadly Attack (9:13-19) The Deadly Attack (9:13-19) When the sixth trumpet sounds, a voice from the altar that stands before God (probably that of the same angel we met at 8:3) and commands the angel to release the four angels bound at “the Great River,” i.e. the Euphrates River. When the sixth trumpet sounds, a voice from the altar that stands before God (probably that of the same angel we met at 8:3) and commands the angel to release the four angels bound at “the Great River,” i.e. the Euphrates River. The Euphrates was one of the well known boundaries of the land promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18). The Euphrates was one of the well known boundaries of the land promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18). These four are fallen angels, who still do the bidding of Almighty God. They have been prepared by God for this very moment in time, and are released for the purpose of killing 1/3 of mankind. These four are fallen angels, who still do the bidding of Almighty God. They have been prepared by God for this very moment in time, and are released for the purpose of killing 1/3 of mankind.

“ And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. “ (Revelation 9:13-14)

“And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. “ (Revelation 9:15-16)

The Sixth Trumpet: Death to a Third of Earth’s Inhabitants (9:13-14) The Deadly Attack (9:13-19) The Deadly Attack (9:13-19) The 4 angels, once they are set free, become a massive army of mounted cavalry. John heard the number of them from someone as 200,000,000. The 4 angels, once they are set free, become a massive army of mounted cavalry. John heard the number of them from someone as 200,000,000. These clearly are not ordinary soldiers. In fact, it is not the riders that kill, but the horses, who are themselves girded for war with breastplates the color of fire and smoke and brimstone. These clearly are not ordinary soldiers. In fact, it is not the riders that kill, but the horses, who are themselves girded for war with breastplates the color of fire and smoke and brimstone. These horses have heads like lions and the ability to bring destruction by breathing out fire and smoke and brimstone from their mouths. The also have tails like serpents, with heads that are also able to inflict harm. These horses have heads like lions and the ability to bring destruction by breathing out fire and smoke and brimstone from their mouths. The also have tails like serpents, with heads that are also able to inflict harm. Once again, these are fallen angels (demons) who take on the form of a supernatural cavalry and are used by God to punish men on the earth. Once again, these are fallen angels (demons) who take on the form of a supernatural cavalry and are used by God to punish men on the earth.

“And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.” (Revelation 9:17-18)

The Sixth Trumpet: Death to a Third of Earth’s Inhabitants (9:20-21) The Response of the Survivors (9:20-21) The Response of the Survivors (9:20-21) In spite of the manifestation of God’s wrath all around them, the survivors of this judgment do not repent. In spite of the manifestation of God’s wrath all around them, the survivors of this judgment do not repent. Instead, they continue to worship man-made idols and the demons that are associated with idol worship. Instead, they continue to worship man-made idols and the demons that are associated with idol worship. Ironically, it is these very demons that are bringing death to 1/3 of mankind! But the earth-dwellers do not change their rebellious ways, and continue in their sins of murder, sorcery, immorality, and theft. Ironically, it is these very demons that are bringing death to 1/3 of mankind! But the earth-dwellers do not change their rebellious ways, and continue in their sins of murder, sorcery, immorality, and theft. ( Those who practice these same sins are excluded from the New Jerusalem, according to Rev 21:8 and 22:15.)