Revelation 9: The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

Revelation 9: The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

The fifth angel blew his trumpet

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9 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. ² He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. ³ Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. ⁴ They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵ They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. ⁶ And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

⁷ In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, ⁸ their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth; ⁹ they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. ¹⁰ They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. ¹¹ They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come

¹² The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.

¹³ Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, ¹⁴ saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” ¹⁵ So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. ¹⁶ The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. ¹⁷ And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. ¹⁸ By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. ¹⁹ For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

²⁰ The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, ²¹ nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

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Chapter Analysis

Revelation 9: The Fifth And Sixth Trumpets

The Fifth Trumpet: The Bottomless Pit Is Opened

📖 Revelation 9:1–6

¹ The fifth angel sounded, and John saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.
² He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke came out like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke.
³ Out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and they were given power like scorpions.
⁴ They were commanded not to harm the grass, any green thing, or any tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
⁵ They were not allowed to kill them, but only to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
⁶ In those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will desire to die, but death will flee from them.

🔹 The Truth

The fifth trumpet reveals judgment coming from the bottomless pit.

These locusts are not ordinary insects, because they do not harm vegetation.

God sets limits on their power, their target, and their time.

🔹 The Promise

Those sealed by God are under His authority and protection.

✅ Conclusion

The fifth trumpet shows that even terrifying judgment is not uncontrolled. God remains sovereign over every power that is released.

The Appearance Of The Locusts

📖 Revelation 9:7–12

⁷ The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were something like crowns of 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 They had breastplates like iron, and the sound of their wings was like many chariots with horses rushing into battle.
¹⁰ They had tails like scorpions, with stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt people for five months.
¹¹ They had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.
¹² The first woe had passed, but two more woes were still coming.

🔹 The Truth

The description of the locusts shows terror, deception, strength, and torment.

They are ruled by the angel of the bottomless pit.

Their king is associated with destruction.

🔹 The Promise

Even the forces of destruction can only do what God allows.

✅ Conclusion

This passage warns that spiritual darkness is real, destructive, and terrifying. Yet God is still above it all.

The Sixth Trumpet: Four Angels Released

📖 Revelation 9:13–16

¹³ The sixth angel sounded, and John heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God.
¹⁴ The voice told the sixth angel with the trumpet to release the four angels who were bound at the great river Euphrates.
¹⁵ The four angels, who had been prepared for that hour, day, month, and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
¹⁶ The number of the army of horsemen was two hundred million, and John heard their number.

🔹 The Truth

The sixth trumpet brings an even greater judgment.

The four angels are released at the exact time appointed by God.

A third of mankind is killed, showing the terrible seriousness of God’s wrath.

🔹 The Promise

God’s timing is exact. Nothing happens too early, too late, or outside His rule.

✅ Conclusion

The sixth trumpet shows that God’s judgment is appointed, precise, and fearful.

The Army Of Horsemen

📖 Revelation 9:17–19

¹⁷ John saw the horses and their riders. The riders had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.
¹⁸ By these three plagues, fire, smoke, and brimstone, a third of mankind was killed.
¹⁹ Their power was in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails were like serpents with heads, and with them they harmed people.

🔹 The Truth

The army brings death through fire, smoke, and brimstone.

The imagery shows fierce, destructive, and deadly judgment.

God allows this judgment to fall on a rebellious world.

🔹 The Promise

God’s Word reveals these things ahead of time so people will take His warnings seriously.

✅ Conclusion

The army of horsemen shows that the judgments of God are not symbolic of small troubles. They are severe warnings of His holy wrath.

Mankind Still Refuses To Repent

📖 Revelation 9:20–21

²⁰ The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, still did not repent of the works of their hands. They continued worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk.
²¹ They also did not repent of their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, or thefts.

🔹 The Truth

Even after severe judgment, many people still refuse to repent.

Idolatry is not harmless; behind false worship is spiritual darkness.

Sin hardens the heart when people reject God’s mercy and warnings.

🔹 The Promise

God exposes man’s rebellion so the need for true repentance becomes clear.

✅ Conclusion

Revelation 9 ends with one of the saddest truths in Scripture: judgment alone does not soften the heart. Man needs the mercy of God and true repentance.

Summary Conclusion

Revelation 9 shows the fifth and sixth trumpets. Terrifying judgments are released, yet they remain under God’s authority and limits. The chapter reveals the seriousness of spiritual darkness, the certainty of God’s appointed judgment, and the hardness of mankind when people refuse to repent.

Final Questions For You

1. What does Revelation 9 teach about God’s authority over even destructive powers?
2. Why is it so serious that mankind still refuses to repent after judgment?
3. How does this chapter show the need for salvation, mercy, and a changed heart?