Revelation 9

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him.

He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit.

Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads.

They were given power, not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a person.

In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces.

They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions.

They had breastplates like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots and horses rushing to war.

They have tails like those of scorpions, with stingers. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months.

They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is “Abaddon”, but in Greek, he has the name “Apollyon”.

The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.

The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,

saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!”

The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind.

The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them.

Thus I saw the horses in the vision and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur.

By these three plagues, one third of mankind was killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths.

For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads; and with them they harm.

The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which can’t see, hear, or walk.

They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter depicts the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets, unleashing the first two of three woes upon the earth. It reveals a surge of supernatural judgment through locusts from the abyss and a vast army of horsemen, emphasizing divine restraint and the persistent hardness of human hearts despite overwhelming suffering.

Flow.

The fifth angel sounds, and a star with the key to the abyss opens the pit, releasing smoke that darkens the sun and air.
Locusts emerge with authority to torment only those without God’s seal, for five months, causing agony likened to scorpion stings.
These locusts are described with warrior-like features and are governed by Abaddon, the king of the abyss.
The sixth angel sounds, releasing four bound angels at the Euphrates, who lead 200 million horsemen who kill a third of humanity with fire, smoke, and sulfur from their mouths.
Despite these judgments, the survivors continue in idolatry, violence, and immorality, showing no repentance.

Connections. Following chapter 8, which introduces the trumpet judgments beginning with natural disruptions, chapter 9 intensifies the severity with supernatural plagues targeting humanity directly. The first four trumpets affected creation broadly (hail, fire, sea, rivers, sun), but now the fifth and sixth trumpets bring focused, agonizing judgments on unsealed people, introducing demonic agency and human moral failure. The unresolved rebellion here—despite escalating woes—sets the stage for the final trumpet in chapter 11, which will culminate in the judgment of the dead and the vindication of God’s servants, showing that divine patience has limits.

What it teaches. God’s judgment is both restrained and purposeful, preserving creation (e.g., grass unharmed, WCF 5.6) while allowing intense suffering to reveal human rebellion. The sealed, protected people of God (cf. ) are distinguished from the condemned, affirming that divine sovereignty governs both salvation and judgment (WCF 3.7; HC LD 1). The impenitence of the survivors, even after overwhelming signs, echoes the hardness of heart seen in Scripture (e.g., Pharaoh under plagues), teaching that miraculous judgments do not necessarily produce repentance (Canons of Dort 3/4.9). The imagery of locusts and horses draws on prophetic warnings of God’s use of instruments to execute wrath (Joel 2; cf. WCF 17.1 on the believer’s protection in tribulation), yet here they serve a limited, appointed time—highlighting God’s control over evil.

Apply. The persistence of sin amid divine warnings calls vigilance to trust God’s grace while there is time for repentance.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.