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| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Chapter 9 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
Verse 1 (Judgement)
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.
Here at the 5th trump John sees a light descending rapidly from heaven. When it reaches the
ground John observes that this is not merely a burning meteor, but some person to whom the key
to the bottomless pit is given. The one given the key is not identified.
Verse 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.
John next beholds the opening of the shaft and he at once sees a mass of smoke pour out. It is
difficult to imagine a bottomless pit gushing forth smoke that darkens the sun and air. The pit is
an abyss. An abyss is a great shaft like a well which is bottomless. This word occurs seven times
in Revelations an twice in the New Testament. It is an intermediate place of punishment of the
fallen angels and demons.
Verse 3 (Judgement)
Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the
scorpions of the earth have power.
Now amid the smoke John beholds locust pouring out. These are given the power of scorpions.
Here we have locust with the mobility of the grasshopper and the horrible sting of the scorpion.
Verse 4 (Judgement)
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.
It was commanded them that they accomplish G-d's permissive will and they instinctively obey.
Locust thrive by devouring rapidly that which grows and is green. They will in some divine way
not be able to bite those who have been sealed. Thus G-d will have mercy upon those who turn
from their sins to trust in Him. yet most will harden their hearts as did Pharaoh. Some of the
deepest areas in the world are found in the oceans. These are called trenches. The deepest
trench in the Pacific is the Mariana which is almost seven miles deep. The Atlantic's deepest
trench is the Puerto Rico Trench. While the locust may appear strange, today scientist are
baffled by the new breeds of insects and animals. In the summer of 1969 the 17 year locust
emerged four years early. In some parts of Chicago there were a million and a half locust per
acre. Florida wildlife experts worry about the walking catfish which can jump four feet out of the
water, moves over land with will and kills everything it comes in contact with. Today in the U.S.
the Formosan termite, fire ant and killer bees pose a peril and threaten to upset the balance of
nature.
Verse 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.
The exact length of this locust plague is five months. We are not told as to why the plague
ceases. Perhaps they die off naturally or a chemical/mechanical way is discovered to annihilate
them.
Verse 6
In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will
flee from them.
People will be in extreme misery from the stings and wish to die, but the stings are not fatal.
Verse 7-10 (Judgement)
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. 8 They had hair like women’s
hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 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. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to
hurt men five months.
The Apostle now describes them. We don't know exactly what these are. There are three
hypothesis: 1.) They are a new species of the grasshopper family similar to the 17 year locust. 2.)
They are some form of demon spirits which G-d permits loose and which enter the locust. 3.)
They are a modern army wearing gas masks and perhaps in helicopters with bayonets. Vietnam
vets witnessed how the enemy built huge underground complexes with as many as 500
connecting rooms. A flying jet belt has been invented. When worn it an fly men at various speeds
and altitudes. Men could carry cylinders which emit biological chemicals causing painful stings.
Verse 11 (Judgement)
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.
In Hebrew Abaddon means destroyer or destruction. In Greek it means one who is destroying.
Verse 12 (Judgement)
One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
Here we see that these trumpet woes come not all at once, but one after another. The locust
plague of the 5th trumpet was filled with more horror thus called a woe. Two more woes are yet
to come.
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.
Here at the 5th trump John sees a light descending rapidly from heaven. When it reaches the
ground John observes that this is not merely a burning meteor, but some person to whom the key
to the bottomless pit is given. The one given the key is not identified.
Verse 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.
John next beholds the opening of the shaft and he at once sees a mass of smoke pour out. It is
difficult to imagine a bottomless pit gushing forth smoke that darkens the sun and air. The pit is
an abyss. An abyss is a great shaft like a well which is bottomless. This word occurs seven times
in Revelations an twice in the New Testament. It is an intermediate place of punishment of the
fallen angels and demons.
Verse 3 (Judgement)
Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the
scorpions of the earth have power.
Now amid the smoke John beholds locust pouring out. These are given the power of scorpions.
Here we have locust with the mobility of the grasshopper and the horrible sting of the scorpion.
Verse 4 (Judgement)
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.
It was commanded them that they accomplish G-d's permissive will and they instinctively obey.
Locust thrive by devouring rapidly that which grows and is green. They will in some divine way
not be able to bite those who have been sealed. Thus G-d will have mercy upon those who turn
from their sins to trust in Him. yet most will harden their hearts as did Pharaoh. Some of the
deepest areas in the world are found in the oceans. These are called trenches. The deepest
trench in the Pacific is the Mariana which is almost seven miles deep. The Atlantic's deepest
trench is the Puerto Rico Trench. While the locust may appear strange, today scientist are
baffled by the new breeds of insects and animals. In the summer of 1969 the 17 year locust
emerged four years early. In some parts of Chicago there were a million and a half locust per
acre. Florida wildlife experts worry about the walking catfish which can jump four feet out of the
water, moves over land with will and kills everything it comes in contact with. Today in the U.S.
the Formosan termite, fire ant and killer bees pose a peril and threaten to upset the balance of
nature.
Verse 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.
The exact length of this locust plague is five months. We are not told as to why the plague
ceases. Perhaps they die off naturally or a chemical/mechanical way is discovered to annihilate
them.
Verse 6
In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will
flee from them.
People will be in extreme misery from the stings and wish to die, but the stings are not fatal.
Verse 7-10 (Judgement)
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. 8 They had hair like women’s
hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 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. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to
hurt men five months.
The Apostle now describes them. We don't know exactly what these are. There are three
hypothesis: 1.) They are a new species of the grasshopper family similar to the 17 year locust. 2.)
They are some form of demon spirits which G-d permits loose and which enter the locust. 3.)
They are a modern army wearing gas masks and perhaps in helicopters with bayonets. Vietnam
vets witnessed how the enemy built huge underground complexes with as many as 500
connecting rooms. A flying jet belt has been invented. When worn it an fly men at various speeds
and altitudes. Men could carry cylinders which emit biological chemicals causing painful stings.
Verse 11 (Judgement)
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.
In Hebrew Abaddon means destroyer or destruction. In Greek it means one who is destroying.
Verse 12 (Judgement)
One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
Here we see that these trumpet woes come not all at once, but one after another. The locust
plague of the 5th trumpet was filled with more horror thus called a woe. Two more woes are yet
to come.
Trumpets
1.) 1/3 Earth Smitten
2.) 1/3 Sea Smitten
3.) 1/3 Rivers Smitten
4.) 1/3 Sun, Moon and Stars Smitten
5.) Locust Torment Men for 5 Months
6.) 200,000,000 Horsemen Slay 1/3 of Men
7.) Heavenly Temple
1.) 1/3 Earth Smitten
2.) 1/3 Sea Smitten
3.) 1/3 Rivers Smitten
4.) 1/3 Sun, Moon and Stars Smitten
5.) Locust Torment Men for 5 Months
6.) 200,000,000 Horsemen Slay 1/3 of Men
7.) Heavenly Temple
1/2
Hour
Silence
Hour
Silence
Seals
1.) Antichrist
2.) War
3.) Famine
4.) Death 1/4 of Earth
5.) Martyrdom
6.) Heavenly and Earthly Disturbances
7.) Trumpet Judgements
1.) Antichrist
2.) War
3.) Famine
4.) Death 1/4 of Earth
5.) Martyrdom
6.) Heavenly and Earthly Disturbances
7.) Trumpet Judgements
Verse 13 (Judgements)
Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which
is before God,
Here at the trumpet sound of the sixth angel a voice comes from the horns of the altar. The altar
was a place of sacrifice for sin and to the horns of the alter victims were sometimes tied (Psa.
118:27). Fugitives would clasp a horn of the alter and ask for mercy (IKings 1:50-51). The
voices from the horns would seem to signify a cry for the judgement of sin.
Verse 14 (Judgements)
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the
great river Euphrates.”
Here the coming of the army of 200 million horsemen is somehow associated with the River
Euphrates. Looking at the Euphrates on the globe. An army from Russia, Iran, China, or India
marching into either the Holy Land or Africa could hardly avoid crossing the Euphrates.
Verse 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.
Here we are told that G-d has foreordained this event long before it will happen. The death toll
will be frightful. One-third of men will be killed. Here we see a third of the world's population
slain or what seems to be more likely because of the mentioning of the Euphrates a third of those
in the battle region will be slain.
Verse 16
Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of
them.
Here we see an army of 200 million. In John's day this number of mounted troops in an army
was inconceivable, but today there are countries and alliances that could easily amass this many
soldiers.
Verse 17-19
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. 18 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. 19 For their power[a] is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like
serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
Here is a description much like that of the locust of verse seven through ten. John is describing
the creatures in terms of his experience and vocabulary.
Verse 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.
The mass of those on earth at this time who have been spared death reveal the hardness of their
sinful hearts by their continued refusal to repent despite the awful evidence of G-d's judgement
which is everywhere around them. They follow and give allegiance to those false prophets and
doctrines which are inspired by Satan and his demons. The unrepentant worship gold and silver
worldly wealth replaces the one true living G-d. They worship that which is made-brass, stone
and wood.
Verse 21
And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries[b] or their sexual immorality or their
thefts.
These men are filled with violence and hate they continue in occultism, astrology, and narcotic
euphoria their immorality reigns again as it did in the days of the Fall of Rome. Thus after the
holocaust of the seven seals and of the first 6 trumpets the world as a whole yet stands fast in its
sin.
Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which
is before God,
Here at the trumpet sound of the sixth angel a voice comes from the horns of the altar. The altar
was a place of sacrifice for sin and to the horns of the alter victims were sometimes tied (Psa.
118:27). Fugitives would clasp a horn of the alter and ask for mercy (IKings 1:50-51). The
voices from the horns would seem to signify a cry for the judgement of sin.
Verse 14 (Judgements)
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the
great river Euphrates.”
Here the coming of the army of 200 million horsemen is somehow associated with the River
Euphrates. Looking at the Euphrates on the globe. An army from Russia, Iran, China, or India
marching into either the Holy Land or Africa could hardly avoid crossing the Euphrates.
Verse 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.
Here we are told that G-d has foreordained this event long before it will happen. The death toll
will be frightful. One-third of men will be killed. Here we see a third of the world's population
slain or what seems to be more likely because of the mentioning of the Euphrates a third of those
in the battle region will be slain.
Verse 16
Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of
them.
Here we see an army of 200 million. In John's day this number of mounted troops in an army
was inconceivable, but today there are countries and alliances that could easily amass this many
soldiers.
Verse 17-19
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. 18 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. 19 For their power[a] is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like
serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
Here is a description much like that of the locust of verse seven through ten. John is describing
the creatures in terms of his experience and vocabulary.
Verse 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.
The mass of those on earth at this time who have been spared death reveal the hardness of their
sinful hearts by their continued refusal to repent despite the awful evidence of G-d's judgement
which is everywhere around them. They follow and give allegiance to those false prophets and
doctrines which are inspired by Satan and his demons. The unrepentant worship gold and silver
worldly wealth replaces the one true living G-d. They worship that which is made-brass, stone
and wood.
Verse 21
And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries[b] or their sexual immorality or their
thefts.
These men are filled with violence and hate they continue in occultism, astrology, and narcotic
euphoria their immorality reigns again as it did in the days of the Fall of Rome. Thus after the
holocaust of the seven seals and of the first 6 trumpets the world as a whole yet stands fast in its
sin.
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