AM Bible Study Group; June 24, 2009
Revelation 9:13-21
Theme: This passage describes the unleashing of the locusts from the abyss upon the earth at the blowing of the fifth trumpet.
The blowing of the first trumpet impacted the trees and green grass (Revelation 8:7). The second impacted the sea, the ships and the marine life (vv. 8-9). The third impacted the rivers and springs of water—this time resulting in the death of many people (vv. 10-11). The fourth impacted the light upon the earth from the sun, moon and stars. But as horrible as all four were, the are distinguished in their woefulness from the three, much more woeful blasts of the trumpet that remain.
With the blowing of the fifth trumpet, it appears that the dividing wall between the earth and hell itself is permitted to be breached; and a plague of locusts is brought on the earth unlike any other. Though many have sought to spiritualize and symbolize the things described in this passage, there’s no real warrant to do anything but take these words as they are.
I. THE RELEASE OF THE LOCUSTS (vv. 1-3).
A. At the sounding of the fifth trumpet, John says that he saw “a star fallen from heaven to the earth” (v. 1). This doesn’t appear to be the same sort of star as is described in verse 10; because this star is clearly ‘personal’. The Bible describes angelic beings as “stars” (Job 38:6-7); and says that some of them fell to the earth through Satan (Revelation 12:4). This appears, then, to be an angelic being—not seen as merely “falling”, but as having already “fallen”—who is given authority and power to open a place called “the bottomless pit” (or, literally, the shaft of the abyss). This is a dreadful place—so dreadful that demons once begged Jesus not to cast them there (Luke 8:31).
B. Upon the opening of the bottomless pit, smoke arose that was so thick that it was described as being like the smoke of a great furnace. It was so thick, in fact, that it obscured the sun; and the air became darkened because of it (v. 2). What a dreadful and ominous sight this will be to the people of the earth!
C. The sight of the smoke of the abyss would be frightening enough. But we’re told that from out of that smoke came a swarm of locusts upon the earth (v. 3). These are no ordinary locusts. As we will see later, they are intelligent and obey orders. And we’re told that they have “power as the scorpions of the earth have power”. Note that this power was not natural to them, but was something that was “given” to them. These may be some kind of demonic beings that are given a dreadful and monstrous form.
II. THE IMPACT OF THE LOCUSTS (vv. 4-6).
A. Note that they are given commands (v.4). They are specifically told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree—which would make them unlike any natural swarm of locusts mankind had ever seen before. Rather, they are told specifically to only harm “those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads”. This reminds us of the 144,000 sealed servants of God mentioned in 7:1-8; but it doesn’t necessarily mean that sealed servants of God are on the earth at this time. (The argument of this study is that they had been taken out of the earth in chapter 7.) Rather, the mention of this is only meant to highlights that those are harmed who do not have the seal of God.
B. The form of harm they are given to bring upon human beings is to torment them—much as a scorpion’s sting would harm a person today (v. 5). They are not permitted, however, to kill people; but only to harm them. Note also that they are permitted to bring this harm on people for five-months—again, distinguishing them from any other sort of earthly locusts.
C. The agony that they will bring upon people is so great that they will seek death (v. 6). They will, in fact earnestly desire to die. But death will evade them. It’s hard to fathom this dreadful judgment!—a judgment so great that one aspect of it is that people will not be permitted to die!
III. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE LOCUSTS (vv. 7-11).
A. They are, in shape, like horses. Locusts have often been noted for their horse-like appearance. These particular locusts are shaped like horses fitted for battle.
B. On their heads are crowns that appear to be made of something like gold. Imagine how the light would flash as they flew!
C. Their faces were like the faces of men! What monstrosities!
D. They appear to be hairy—having hair like women. But there’s nothing beautiful about them.
E. Their teeth were like the teeth of lions. Perhaps they bite as well as sting.
F. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron. People will try to destroy them; but they are indestructible.
G. The sound of their wings was deafening—like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. What a dreadful sound! Imagine the terror it would inspire!
H. They have tails like scorpions—with stingers! Imagine—stinging scorpions that can fly! They thus have the power to hurt people for five months. This time-period is repeated, not only in order to stress the dreadfulness of it, but also to stress the limitation of it.
I. They have a ruler. He is the angel of the bottomless pit. He may be the same angel that opened the pit (in v. 1); but this is not necessarily so. In any event, they are under his rule; and his name is described in Hebrew as Abaddon and in Greek as Apollyon—both of which mean “destruction” or “destroyer”.
IV. THE SOBERING CONCLUSION (v. 12).
When all this is done, we’re told that this was only one “woe”. Two more follow! How could anything be more dreadful?
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This underscores the blessedness of the saints; who, as 1 Thessalonians 4:9 says, are not appointed for wrath. But it also underscores our need, as Christ’s people, to tell others about Him now—while they can be delivered from the wrath to come!