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Revelation

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Revelation 9

Commentary · verses 1-21

This chapter continued to present the perspective from earth during the second half of the Tribulation.

1And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.

1And 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.

Commentary · verse 1

When the fifth trumpet sounded, a "star" fell from heaven to earth and to the "star" was given the key of the bottomless pit. If "star" meant being, could the star that the wisemen followed (Matthew 2:2) also have been a being?...an angel?

2And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up 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.

2And 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.

Commentary · verse 2

The "star" opened the bottomless pit and so much smoke rose up that it darkened the sun and air.

3And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

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

Commentary · verse 3

Locusts came out of the smoke and they had power as scorpions.

4And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.

4And 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.

Commentary · verse 4

The locusts were only to hurt those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads, those who did not heed the first four trumpets.

5And it was given them 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 it striketh a man.

5And 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.

Commentary · verse 5

To those who did not have the seal of God, the locusts could not kill but would torment for five months! The torment was as a scorpion striking a man, again, for five months!

6And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death fleeth from them.

6And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

Commentary · verse 6

This will be so painful that men will desire death but will not be given it. This would be an opportunity for these people to receive the judgment due them for not believing the first four trumpets, and then responding in faith towards God at the end of the five months.

Verses 7-10: more descriptions of the locusts.

7And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as it were crowns like unto gold, and their faces were as men’s faces.

8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to war.

10And they have tails like unto scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men five months.

11They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek tongue he hath the name Apollyon.

7And 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.

8And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9And 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.

10And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

11And 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.

Commentary · verses 7-11

The locusts' king was the angel of the bottomless pit, Abaddon (Hebrew) or Apollyon (Greek) meaning perdition/destruction.

12The first Woe is past: behold, there come yet two Woes hereafter.

12One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

Commentary · verse 12

One of the three woes mentioned in Revelation 8:13 was past. There were still two more to go.

13And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14one saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.

13And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Commentary · verses 13-14

When John heard the sixth trumpet sound, he heard a voice from the altar that was before God. The voice said to the sixth angel to let go the four angels that were bound in the great Euphrates River.

15And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.

15And 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.

Commentary · verse 15

The four angels were released and prepared to kill one third of all men.

16And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.

16And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

Commentary · verse 16

The number of the army of the horsemen was 200 million. An army of 200 million sounded impossible during John's time. However, today China could field an army of 200 million.

17And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates as of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone: and the heads of the horses are as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceedeth fire and smoke and brimstone.

18By these three plagues was the third part of men killed, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths.

17And 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.

18By 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.

Commentary · verses 17-18

By fire, smoke, and brimstone one third of all people that exist at that time will be killed. Remember, we already saw that one quarter of the world's population would be removed/killed in the first half of the Tribulation. If China brought her army to the Middle East through India, the entire population of India would make up 80% of the number of people killed according to verse 18. Notice, people from China's army and other countries could easily result in one third of all the people existing at that time being killed.

19For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they hurt.

20And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk: 21and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

19For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Commentary · verses 19-21

Apparently the relief from the scorpion torture will not result in unbelievers confessing and repenting. Like Pharaoh, it appears the inhabitants of earth will choose to harden their hearts...which actually makes it even easier for God to give prophecy about what will happen next. There was still one more woe to come.

Commentary · verse 21

Notice, the first explanation of the events for the Tribulation from beginning to end were given with six seals. The seventh seal was not a continuation of the six seals, it contained seven trumpets...which were concurrent with some of the seals but more concentrated: The first six trumpets gave a more specific explanation of the events for the second half of the Tribulation. Before we find out about the seventh trumpet, there was more layered information that was presented.

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