The Fifth Angel Sounds Revelation 9:1-21

NKJV Notes by Pastor Mike Sasso

Introduction

In chapter eight we saw the seventh seal of the great scroll in heaven opened by Jesus Christ. As the seventh seal was opened we saw seven angels standing before God, preparing to blow the seven trumpets. We discovered that these trumpets are the battle charges of heaven. With each trumpet sound God is declaring war on the God-hating inhabitants of earth. With each trumpet sound God is releasing more of His wrath upon the earth. This is a picture of indescribable wrath and judgment. Hell itself is seen in chapter nine as the bottomless pit is opened and every imaginable evil is released on the earth.

Keep in mind as you continue your study of these chapters that even scholars from the same theological camps will disagree upon the exact meanings of some of the things we are studying. Many scholars consider chapter nine to be the most difficult chapter of the entire book. May God give you a heart to receive what the Spirit has specially for you. We know that all scripture is inspired by God and profitable (2 Tim. 3:16-17). So pray that you will profit according to the will of God as you study these verses together.

TRUTH APPLIED:

1. Before you begin your study of chapter nine, review as a group the seven seals and their meaning. (Revelation chapters 6-8)

2. What exactly does all this mean? What is the point of this difficult text?

3. Where is the Christian Church and what are they doing at this time?

Before proceeding on to these study notes take the time to read this entire chapter aloud with your group.

STUDY NOTES: verse 1 v. 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. – The context of this verse reveals that this “star” that had fallen from heaven is a person, a “him.” Theories of who this star is vary greatly. This star has been supposed to mean everyone from Jesus to Satan, from Martin Luther to the Pope.

I believe this star is none other that Satan himself. Notice this star had already fallen from heaven to earth. John is describing one already fallen.

Compare this text with what God says to Satan in Isaiah 14:12.

Read Isaiah 14:12 in context (at least v. 12-17) in a few different translations.

Particularly interesting is the way this verse is translated in the NASB translation - ““How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!” Isaiah 14:12, NAS95.

For further study, also compare Ezekiel 28:17 & Luke 10:18 with this text.

Notice also that this “star” was “given” a key. Satan has no power other than that which is given to him by God. And when God gives anything to Satan, it is ultimately to fulfill His own purposes and plans, not Satan’s; i.e. the story of Job (Job 1:12, 2:6).

Some believe that this is the same star mentioned in 8:10.

TRUTH APPLIED:

1. Many find it disturbing that Satan would be given a key (v. 1). But it is important to keep in mind that God can use anyone, even Satan, to accomplish His will. Often, God has used the wicked to bring about judgment. Can you think of some biblical examples of this?

STUDY NOTES: verse 2 v. 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. – The bottomless pit or “abyssos” is a sort of prison for demons (see Luke 8:31, 2 Peter 2:4, and Jude 6). It seems God is using Satan to release hell on earth. Most likely, Satan is attempting to accomplish his own will and not God’s as he releases all these evil forces from their prison. Always remember that our Almighty God has a way of using the actions of Satan and his forces to, at the end of the day, accomplish His plan.

The atmospheric condition here is a description made often in scripture of what the Great Tribulation will be like. See Isaiah 13:9-10; Joel 3:14-15; Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:19-27. TRUTH APPLIED:

2. Many have the false idea that Satan rules in hell. We know from Rev. 20:10 that Satan will actually be a victim of hell, not a ruler. How then do we explain Satan having the key to the bottomless pit here in verse one?

STUDY NOTES: verses 3-12 v. 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. – Again the context of this text dictates that these are not literal locusts but demonic forces. And again we see that these evil forces are “given power” in order to ultimately accomplish God’s judgment. v. 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. – Locusts can be a terrible havoc. But they do not usually attack men, but the green things of the earth. Here we see the opposite is true. God’s elect 144,000 have been sealed with a seal on their foreheads in 7:3. Now we see that this was a mark of protection from this demonic horde. v. 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. – Once more the commentators offer up varied and wild explanations of this event. Some propose that these locusts will be some sort of modern-day weaponry such as Cobra helicopters releasing toxin gases from their tails. But it seems more likely from the context that these are in fact demons released from the bottomless pit to torture godless mankind. v. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. – How can this be? Here is a description of a condition of life where the misery of living is so tormenting that death is preferable. Because of his extreme pain and torment, man has become suicidal. But for some reason he cannot find death. Some explain this condition as a result of advanced, modern medicine or technology that keeps man alive. But you would think that even in that case, man could destroy himself if he really wanted to. I believe that all explanations fall short here unless we are observing a powerful sort of demonic possession of mankind. In this case the demon is in full control of the man and will not allow him to take his own life. This prospect makes the horror movies of Hollywood look like children’s bedtime stories.

The irony here is that when the righteous sought life they were not allowed to live, and here the wicked seek death but are not allowed to die. In 6:16 these hardened sinners were begging the mountains and rocks to fall on them. v. 7-10 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. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 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. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. – Rather than grope for some figurative or allegorical meaning behind this strange description of the locusts, it is probably best to take this description at face value. If John did indeed see an army of demons coming out of the bottomless pit, then this is simply John’s description of what the demons looked like. Why the power of these scorpions sting lasts five months is not explained. v. 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. – Proverbs 30:27 tells us that the locusts of the earth have no king. So here we have more evidence that this is no ordinary locust army. Aboddon means “destruction.” Apollyon means “destroyer.” Again, this “angel” who is their “king” is called a “he.” This person is either a high-ranking demon or Satan himself.

What an accurate picture of Satan and his mission! ““The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy….” John 10:10a, NKJV. v. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. – A “woe” is an exclamation of great grief. One might suppose that we have just experienced all three “woes” of 8:13. But we now discover that we are only one third through the worst of the worst. It is now clear that each woe of 8:13 corresponds with one of the last three trumpet blasts of the seven angels who stand before God’s throne.

TRUTH APPLIED:

3. What are some of the various explanations you have heard of what this locust army is? What do you think is the correct explanation?

4. How might it be possible for men to seek death and not be able to die?

5. Does John’s description of the locust’s appearance mean anything in particular? (v. 7-10)

6. Why do you think Rev. 8:13 calls what we have just studied a “woe”?

7. Review as a group the first five trumpet blasts and their meanings.

The Sixth Trumpet and Second Woe

As the judgment of God continues we now approach the sounding of the sixth trumpet.

STUDY NOTES: verses 13-21 v. 13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God - In the tabernacle and temple of Israel, the golden altar was the altar of incense, which was a representation of the prayers of God’s people (see also 8:3). The corners of the golden alter each had a horn on which the atoning blood was applied. This altar of incense stood in the outer sanctuary immediately before the Ark of the Covenant, where God dwelt between the cherubim, and from which it was separated by the inner veil (Ex. 30:27, 31:8; 1 Chron. 6:49; Luke 1:11). So God Himself is about to give a command. v. 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." – This is a hint to the thought that spirit beings are territorial. We might think of spirit beings as limitless and free, having no boundaries. But this is not the case (see Dan. 10:20). Euphrates was the Eastern boundary of Israel (see Gen. 15:18). The river Euphrates was also the natural boundary between the Eastern and Western ancient world. We also know that Eden was West of the Euphrates. Israel is clearly God’s precious and chosen land. v. 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. – It appears from the context of this verse that these four angels are evil angels of Satan’s domain. But whether evil or good they will accomplish God’s good plan. The world population is currently over 6 billion (in 2006). These four angels have been prepared for a mass slaughter and are waiting for their command to kill over 2 billion people! v. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. – The four angels will not accomplish their massacre of over 2 billion people without help. They have a great army. This army is tremendous in size. The combined forces of all armies of both sides in world war two were only around 70 million. The world has never seen an army of this size in action. v. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. – Again, some commentators see this army as a great army amassed with tremendous array of advanced weaponry. They seek to equate their description to modern, technological suits, headsets, weapons and such. But since this army belongs to the four angels, it is more likely another picture of a demonic terror campaign. v. 18-19 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed--by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. – Again I prefer to take this description at face value as John describing a demonic horde rather than try to equate these things to modern warfare. John says, “By these three plagues…” And that is just what they are, Plagues of God’s judgment upon godless man. v. 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. – You would think that the survivors of this massacre might repent and cry out to God for mercy. But it really shouldn’t surprise us that men at this time will, as they have in times past, stubbornly cling to their idolatry rather than to acknowledge the one true God. They are being tortured and ruled by demons. Yet they worship the very thing that is destroying them. This is always the way of sin. v. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. – It is interesting that of all sins of mankind that could be mentioned, these four are the main focus of offense. This list of spiritual crimes is probably a good summary of the most popular sins of man. Murders could be referring to anything from the unjustified taking of any life in anger, to the persecution of the saints, to the slaughter of the innocent in abortion. Sorceries here is the Greek word pharmakeia (far-mak-i'-ah), which refers to witchcraft, magic and the use of drugs to produce spells or other desired effects. Immorality here is the Greek word porneia (por-ni'-ah), which covers all sexual sins from incest to homosexuality to sex with animals. Its implications are so broad that it would be simpler to describe this sin as any sexual activity outside of marriage. Thefts are quite simply acts of taking something that doesn’t belong to you. Are these four sins not the most popular among men? The amazing thing is that after all this; men are still not willing to forsake their sins..

TRUTH APPLIED:

1. Tell the story in your own words. What happened when the sixth angel sounded his trumpet?

2. What was the response of mankind to these judgments of God? What does this tell you about the heart of man?

3. What are the four sins mentioned in this text that men refused to repent of? Why do you think these four sins in particular were mentioned? 4. Do you think the purpose of the tribulation is to bring men to repentance or merely to pour out His wrath? Do you think that there is a chance of some of these wicked people repenting?

5. What lessons can you take from this chapter to apply to your life today?

6. What does this chapter reveal to you about the character of God?

For further Study…

In his series “The Book of Revelation, a Commentary,” Chuck Missler has compiled an interesting comparison between the judgments of Egypt and the judgments of Revelation.

Exodus vs. Revelation

1) Jacob’s trouble: affliction (Is. 60:14; Jer. 30:5-8) 2) Cry to God; heard (Jer. 31:18-20) 3) God will command oppressors: let them go (Is. 43:6) 4) 2 witnesses, with miracles before enemies (Rev. 11:3-6) 5) Enemies will also perform (Rev. 13:14,15) 6) Sore judgments from God (Jer. 25:15, 6) 7) God will protect His people (Rev. 7:4; 12:6; 14-16) 8) Water turned to blood (Rev. 8:8; 11:6; 16:4,5) 9) Satanic frogs (Rev. 16:13) 10) Plague of locusts (Rev. 9:2-11) 11) Boils and pains (Rev. 16:2) 12) Hailstones from heaven (Rev. 8:7) 13) Darkness (Is. 60:2; Rev. 16:10) 14) Hearts hardened (Rev. 9:20,21) 15) Death to multitudes (Rev. 9:15) 16) Israel to be delivered (Zech. 14:3,4; Rom. 11:26)

CONCLUSION:

As we read through these chapters of Revelation, there is one thing we can know for sure. The further we read, the more we are sure that we don’t want to be found on the wrong side of this conflict. Thank God for Jesus Christ! I am truly and deeply grateful for the promises of God found in Christ.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” –Romans 8:1, NKJV

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” –John 1:17, NKJV

So what can we get from this apocalyptic vision? How can all this be applied to our lives in a beneficial way? Well, as the Apostle Peter wrote: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you” (2 Peter 3:8-15, NKJV).

All God's Grace to You in Christ, Mike Sasso