Introduction

• Revelation 8 begins with the seventh seal and then describes the casting down of the censer
• The casting down of the censer represents the beginning of judgment on the image of the beast
• The image of the beast was formed when the lamb-like beast became a church- state union by losing one of its horns (religious liberty) and enacting a universal Sunday Law
• The casting down of the censer marks the close of probation for lamb-like beast
• Once probation closes for the lamb-like beast it will no longer have special protection from God
• The first four trumpets are God’s warnings that the world’s probation is about to close
• The first trumpet represents both spiritual and literal warfare which will precede the overthrow of literal Israel
• The second trumpet describes the overthrow of literal Israel
• The third trumpet describes the reign of the 8^th king (the fallen star) who will poison one third of the world (the Christians)
• The fourth trumpet describes the spiritual darkness that follows the reign of the 8^th king (the false Christ)
• The last three woes are introduced by the eagle representing God’s protection of His people
• The last three trumpets are called woes because they are no longer warnings
• The last three trumpets are judgments
• Each of these woes gets progressively worse
• Each of these woes overlaps some of the seven last plagues
• Each of these woes occurs after God has sealed His people (Rev. 9:4)
• Each of these woes occurs after the close of probation for the world

 

 

Revelation 9:1 

“And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key of the shaft of the bottomless pit”.

 

Revelation 9:1

• The fifth trumpet is the first woe
• Historically, this trumpet has been applied to the Saracens:
• The “key” --- fall of Kohsrau. A.D. 628 which ended the Persian Empire
• The “pit”   --- the Arabian deserts from which Mohammed sent out his converts to the world
• In the last days this trumpet is describing events related to the reign of the 8^th king
• This fallen star is Lucifer called the “Day Star” in Isaiah 14:12-14 who seeks to rise above God. Strong's H1966 – heylel  Lucifer = "light-bearer"
  1. shining one, morning star, Lucifer
  2. of the king of Babylon and Satan (fig.)
  3. (TWOT) 'Helel' describing the king of Babylon
• In Rev 12:4,9 the stars are angels cast down with Satan their leader (the dragon who is the great star)
• This star is the same great star fallen from heaven described in Rev. 8:10,11 (3^rd trumpet)
• This star is called “Wormwood” (Rev.8:11)
• This star is Satan who desired to be above God but God put him in the abyss (pit) (Isaiah 14:14-18)
• Satan is described as being given the “key of the shaft of the bottomless pit”
• Satan had claimed God’s powers but God took away Satan’s powers
• The “bottomless pit” represents the circumstances  that God uses to control Satan
• This pit of circumstances is described in Rev. 20:2,3,7,8 where Satan is bound for 1,000 years so that he can no longer deceive anyone and then he is released
• The “pit” of circumstances in Rev. 9:1 is simply a different set of circumstances
• God has controlled Satan under certain circumstances since the creation of the earth
• In the Garden of Eden Satan could only tempt Adam and Eve with the tree
• If God had not limited Satan’s powers he would have long ago destroyed all of God’s people
• Satan has claimed this world as his since the garden however, God has not let Satan reign as world king
• During the fifth trumpet God will finally allow Satan to reign as world king which is why it is called a woe
• However, Satan will still be under God’s control since he cannot kill the wicked yet (Rev. 9:5)

 

Revelation 9:2

“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".

 

Revelation 9:2

• Historically, this text has been applied to the spread of Islam which darkened the sun of Christianity
• In the last days this text is describing what happens to a world ruled by Satan as the false Christ
• The smoke represents the falsehoods that Satan will cover the world with
• The darkening of the sun and air represent the obscuring of all truth
• This is a progression of the darkness described in the fourth trumpet which involved only one third of the world (the Christians) (Rev. 8:12)
• The darkness will now involve all of the world
• This woe is universal and worldwide

 

Revelation 9:3

 "Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth”.

 

Revelation 9:3

• Historically, the locusts have been applied to the Moslem Arabian armies
• In the last days these locusts represent Satan’s messengers sent out to the world to spread his lies
• The smoke represents the falsehoods
• These messengers will have power to rule
• These locusts will have the power of scorpions to harm mankind
• These locusts can only harm those who believe them
• God’s people are sealed and will not be misled by these messengers
• These messengers are Satan’s angels sent to mislead the world

 

Revelation 9:4 

“they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads”.

 

Revelation 9:4

• Historically, this text has been applied to the Saracens who protected the land and conquered the people
• In the last days these messengers are told not to harm the grass, the green growth or the trees
• In Rev.8:7 the trees and grass represent literal or spiritual Israel (God’s people past & present)
• In Rev. 9:4 the grass, the green growth and the trees represent God’s sealed people

 “but only those of mankind”

• This phrase can introduce a new group (i.e. those who are not sealed)
• However, this phrase can also connect back to the prior phrase (the grass, green growth and trees) which would suggest that the grass, green growth and trees are those of mankind  who are sealed, compared to those who are not sealed
• The only people who can be harmed are those “who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads”
• This text shows that God’s people are sealed prior to or at the beginning of the 5^th trumpet
• The falsehoods brought by Satan’s angels will not affect God’s sealed people
• Those who do not have God’s seal will have Satan’s seal or mark on their “forehead or on his hand” (Rev.14:9)
• Those who have Satan’s mark will receive God’s wrath which is the 7 last plagues (Rev. 14:10,15:1,16:2)
• Once God’s people are sealed (the 144,000) then the 4 angels will be released to harm the earth and the sea (Rev. 7:2-4)
• This harming represents the 7 last plagues which are poured out on the earth and the sea, etc. (Rev. 16:2,3,4)
• Therefore, the fifth trumpet is marked by three important events:
• Satan is allowed to become world king  (released from the pit of circumstances God is holding him in)
• God’s people are sealed  and probation is closed
• The plagues will begin to fall

 

Revelation 9:5

 “they were allowed to torture them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion, when it stings a man.”

 

Revelation 9:5

• Historically, this verse has been applied to 1299-1449 when the Turkish Empire was on the rise (150 days = 150 years)
• In the last days God will continue to control Satan for the first 5 months of his reign as world king
• Satan will not be allowed to kill the wicked indiscriminately until the 6^th trumpet
• In the last days, this “five months” is 150 days and not 150 years
• 150 years is not consistent with an end time event
• The physical torture correlates with the first plague poured out on the earth (sores on the wicked) (Rev.16:2)
• This torture will be painful but not fatal

 

 

Revelation 9:6

 “And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flies from them.”

 

Revelation 9:6

• This torture will be terrible but they will not die
• Men will long to die but will “not find it”
• This correlates with the 1^st plague where men “cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores” (Rev.16:11)
• This will only affect those with the “mark of the beast” (Rev.16:2)

 

Revelation 9:7

 “In appearance the locusts were like horses arrayed for battle; on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces”.

 

Revelation 9:7

• Historically, this text has been applied to Arabian military cavalry
• In the last days, “like horses arrayed for battle” suggests power
• These messengers of Satan will have great power to rule over men
• These “locusts” are Satan’s angels
• These angels wear crowns of authority made of gold
• These crowns suggest victory over the world
• These angels will appear human and have human faces and rule over humanity

 

Revelation 9:8 

“their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth.”

 

Revelation 9:8

• Historically, this text has been applied to the long hair of the Arabian troops
• In the last days the “hair like women’s hair” suggests the beauty of Satan’s angels
• The “teeth like lions’ teeth” suggests the strength and power and danger associated with these angels

 

Revelation 9:9

  “they had scales like iron breastplates, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle”.

 

Revelation 9:9

• Historically, this text has been applied to the attacking Turks from 1299-1449
• In the last days the “iron breastplates” suggest that these angels will be extremely resistant to attack
• The “wings” of these locusts are real and consistent with the locusts representing Satan’s angels
• The “noise of many chariots” suggests the power of these angels
• This is the first time in earth’s history that God has allowed Satan to reveal his angels to the world and it will be extremely convincing

 

Revelation 9:10

 “they have tails like scorpions, and sting, and their power of hurting men for five months lies in their tails.”

 

Revelation 9:10

• Historically, this text has been applied to 1299-1449
• In the last days “like scorpions, and sting” refers to the falsehood that will poison men’s minds
• This torture “ hurting men” will last 5 months and be replaced with death in the next trumpet
• They can only hurt the unsealed (Rev. 9:4)

 

Revelation 9:11

  “They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abad'don and in Greek he is called Apol'lyon (or Destroyer)”.

 

Revelation 9:11

• Historically, this text has been applied to the king of the Turks, Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire
• In the last days, this text confirms the connection between the locusts (Satan’s angels) and their “king” (Satan)
• The “angel of the bottomless pit” is Satan
• This is the only time in Revelation that Satan is referred to as “king”
• The locusts have an angel king over them
• The “bottomless pit” represents the circumstances under which Satan is controlled by God
• Satan is now allowed by God to reign as world king
• Satan had previously been allowed to ascend from some of these circumstances as the 8^th king (Rev. 17:8-11; 11:7)
• However, God had not fully released Satan’s circumstances as the 8^th king
• Satan becoming world king is the first woe but he still cannot kill men indiscriminately
• Satan is called “Abad’don” or “Apol’lyon” which means destroyer or destruction
• Destruction is exactly what Satan will do under the next trumpet

 

Revelation 9:12

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

 

Revelation 9:12

• This text confirms that the fifth trumpet is the first woe
• It is a “woe” or judgment because Satan has been released from God’s restrictions and allowed to reign as world king
• The world is in total spiritual darkness
• The next two “woes” get progressively worse
• The second woe will allow Satan to kill as many wicked as he wishes because God will release His four angels
• The third woe is the Second Coming

 

Revelation 9:13

 “Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God”.

 

Revelation 9:13

• Historically, this text has been applied to the Turkish Empire during its period of domination
• In the last days the 6^th trumpet describes the last half of Satan’s reign as world king
• During Satan’s first five months of reign he could not kill the wicked (Rev. 9:5)
• During the 6^th trumpet Satan will be allowed to be the “destroyer” (Rev.9:11)
• The “voice” heard represents God’s voice of vengeance
• The “altar” is in God’s throne room
• The altar with “the four horns” refers to the 5^th seal where the souls under the altar cry out for vengeance (Rev. 6:9,10)
• Their waiting time is now over, the number of God’s people is complete (Rev.6:11)
• Probation closed when the sealing was complete which occurred prior to the 5^th trumpet (Rev. 9:4)

 

Revelation 9:14 

“saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates’”.

 

Revelation 9:14

• Historically, the “four angels” have been applied to four Turkish sultans and the Euphrates was the actual river
• In the last days, the “four angels” bound represent God’s control over Satan
• God will now release Satan from this control and Satan will be allowed to destroy his enemies
• The four angels “are bound at the great river Euphrates”
• These four angels are locally bound (Euphrates) as compared to the 4 angels holding the 4 winds which are world wide (Rev.7:1)
• They are bound here because this is where the final world war will originate
• The four angels “are bound at the great river Euphrates”
• This verse correlates with the 6^th plague where the river Euphrates is dried up to make way for the kings of the east (Rev. 16:12)
• Satan is reigning in Jerusalem, Israel (the city “where their Lord was Crucified”) (Rev.11:8)
• The four angels “are bound at the great river Euphrates”
• Satan will be the king that the world will try to overthrow
• Satan will be alarmed by the news from the north and east and he will go forth to destroy many (Dan. 11:44)

 

 

 

Revelation 9:15

“So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of mankind.”

 

Revelation 9:15

• Historically, the hour, day, month and year have been considered 391 years and 2 weeks and a third as a substantial part
• At the time of the end, the phrase “the hour, the day, the month, and the year” refers to the exact time when God will allow this battle to happen
• This phrase correlates with Matthew 24:36 where Jesus is describing His Second Coming as a specific day and hour
• This battle will be closely associated with Jesus Second Coming (see Rev. 16:12-21)
• This battle will kill one third of the world (also see Rev. 9:18)

 

Revelation 9:16

“The number of the troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number.”

 

Revelation 9:16

• Historically, this has been interpreted as a vast innumerable number
• At the time of the end, this number represents those involved in the final world war
• This number is 200 million people which suggests global warfare

 

Revelation 9:17

“And this was how I saw the horses in my vision; the riders wore breast plates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulphur, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulphur issued from their mouths.”

 

Revelation 9:17

• Historically, the colors of fire (red), sapphire (blue), and sulphur (yellow) were applied to the Turkish uniform
• At the time of the end, this verse is describing modern warfare with gunfire coming from the mouths of the horses (tanks, etc.)
• The “lions’ heads” suggest ferocity
• The “fire and smoke and sulphur” are linked to the plagues literally and symbolically:
• Literally        --- Rev. 9:18, called plagues
• Symbolically  --- fire, the 4^th plague: smoke, the 5^th plague, and sulphur, the 6^th plague

 

Revelation 9:18

 “By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulphur issuing from their mouths.”

 

Revelation 9:18

• Historically, “a third” was considered a substantial part and was applied to the Turks
• These three: fire, smoke, and sulphur are called “plagues”
• These three “plagues” will kill one third of mankind
• These three “plagues” represent the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th plagues which includes the Battle of Armageddon

 

Revelation 9:19 

“For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; their tails are like serpents, with heads, and by means of them they wound.”

 

Revelation 9:19

• Historically, the horsetail was the Turkish standard
• At the time of the end, this text is describing modern warfare
• The horses are tanks and artillery which can wound from the front or rear
• Spiritually, the serpent represents deception and the mouth represents the lies that deceive
• Deception is the sign that Jesus warned would be the sign of the end
• When these plagues occur all on whom they fall will have been deceived
• These events will be followed by Jesus’ 2^nd Coming

 

Revelation 9:20

  "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 either see or hear or walk”.

 

Revelation 9:20

• This verse emphasizes that a significant portion of mankind was destroyed but the rest survived
• It is clear that these three “plagues” are the source of death
• The “rest of mankind” who were not killed by these plagues did not repent
• This lack of repentance parallels the 4^th and 5^th plagues where the wicked refuse to repent and curse God (Rev. 16:9,11)
• These survivors continue to worship demons (Satan, as the false Christ, and his angel messengers) and idols which cannot see or hear (wealth, power, position, etc.)

 

Revelation 9:21

 “nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their immorality or their thefts.

 

Revelation 9:21

• This list of sins is similar to the lists in Revelation 21:8 and Revelation 22:15 which describe the sins of the wicked who are lost
• The immorality or prostitution connects them to Babylon, the mother of harlots (Rev. 17:5)
• The sorcery and murders also connects them to Babylon (Rev. 18:23)
• All those who refuse to come out of Babylon will “share in her plagues” (Rev. 18:4)

 

Summary

• The 5^th trumpet describes Satan when he is released by God (out of the pit) and is allowed to be the king of the world

• The 5^th trumpet is the first woe and marks the sealing of God’s people and the close of probation
• The 5^th trumpet marks the release of the 4 angels of Revelation 7:1
• The 5^th trumpet marks the beginning of God’s wrath and the 7 last plagues
• During the 5^th trumpet the first 3 plagues will fall
• The 7 last plagues will fall on those with the mark of the beast (Rev. 16:2)
• The 5^th trumpet lasts for 5 literal months
• Satan is not allowed to kill the wicked during this trumpet but he can torture them
• The locusts represent Satan’s angels who will deceive the world
• Satan is called king in this trumpet but his real name is destroyer
• The 6^th trumpet is the 2^nd woe
• The three woes are God’s judgment on the earth
• The 6^th trumpet occurs when God releases His 4 angels at the Euphrates freeing Satan to kill his enemies
• Satan was partially released from the pit when he became the 8^th king (Rev. 11:7)
• He was further released from the pit when he became the world’s king (Rev. 9:1,2)
• Satan is now fully released when the 4 angels are released (Rev. 9:14,15)
• The 6^th trumpet marks Satan’s final release from God’s rules of engagement
• The first three plagues will fall during the 5^th trumpet
• The 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th plagues will fall during the 6^th trumpet
• One third of mankind will die during the 6^th trumpet once God releases Satan
• The 6^th trumpet will include the world’s final world war: Armageddon
• Those wicked not killed during the 6^th trumpet will be slain during the 7^th (Jesus’ 2^nd Coming)