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Revelation
Chapter Nine
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Fifth and the Sixth Angels Sounded
I. The fifth angel sounded (v.1-12):
A. the bottomless pit was opened (v.1-2)
B. the
locusts that can harm men were released (v.3-10)
C.
their king was the angel of the bottomless pit (v.11-12)
II. The sixth angel sounded (v.13-21):
A. the
four angels who are bound at the great river
B. the
number of the army of the horsemen that can kill mankind was two hundred
million (v.15-19)
C. the
rest of mankind
who were not killed
did not repent (v.20-21)
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Rev. 9:1 “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.”
YLT: “And the fifth
messenger did sound
and I saw a star out of the heaven having fallen to the
earth
and there was given to it the key of the pit of the abyss
”
Meaning
of Words: “star”: heavenly
body; “bottomless”: seeming to have no limit
fathomless; “pit”: well
cistern.
Literal Meaning: “Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star
fallen from heaven to the earth.”
“A star” this star was able to receive the key and therefore it was not a usual
star and it may refer to Satan (See Is. 14:12). Some Bible exegetes held that
it may refer to its angel Abaddon (See v.11)
however
it should be the angel
from the bottomless pit (See 11:7; 17:8). “Fallen from heaven to the earth” shows that it was cast to the earth from
heaven (See 12:9).
“To
him was given the key to the bottomless pit.” “The bottomless pit” formerly was the place to
imprison demons (See Luke. 8:31). “To him was given the key” means that it was allowed to release the
imprisoned demons (See 2Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Today there are still some spiritual wickedness
in high places and believers indeed wrestle with them instead of men of blood
and flesh (See Eph. 6:12). One day
Satan and its angels will be cast to the
earth (See 12:9).
2) The power of Satan and its angels was stronger
than that of men
however
without the permission of God
they were powerless
towards us----men of God (See Job. 1:12; 2:6).
Rev. 9:2 “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.”
YLT: “and he did open the
pit of the abyss
and there came up a smoke out of the pit as smoke of a great
furnace
and darkened was the sun and the air
from the smoke of the pit.”
Meaning
of Words: “arose”: come up
rise up; “great”: large
enormous; “darken”: make something dark
become dark.
Literal Meaning: “And he opened the bottomless pit” refers to releasing demons and from this
moment on
great disasters were brought to mankind.
“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.” Once demons came out of the pit
it was full of
the foul atmosphere.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The hell which temporarily imprisons the souls
of sinners after their death and the bottomless pit which imprisons demons seem
to be the great stove and the pain is tremendous (See Luke. 16:23-24; 8:28
31). However
compared with them
the pain of the lake of fire of eternity (See
20:10) is beyond description. And therefore believers have to rouse ourselves
to preach the gospel and try our best to save the souls of the word.
2) The reason why
the world seems to be dim and orderless is that the darkness is in power (See
Luke. 22:53). However
we believers have been delivered from the power of
darkness (See Col. 1:13) and we are no longer in the darkness and therefore we
have to watch and be sober (See 1Thess. 5:4-6).
Rev. 9:3 “Then out of the smoke
locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power
as the scorpions of
the earth have power.”
YLT: “And out of the
smoke came forth locusts to the earth
and there was given to them authority
as scorpions of the earth have authority
”
Meaning of Words: “locust”: grasshopper;
“power”: authority
liberty
might
strength.
Literal Meaning: “Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the
earth.” “Locusts” were not
the common ones but locusts that specially tormented men in the great
tribulation. If they were not the embodiment of demons
they were the monsters
possessed by demons at least.
“And
to them was given power
as the scorpions of the earth have power.” “Power” refers to a special kind of power
and potential energy which can harm men. “The scorpions have
power” indicates that their stings contain
toxins which can torment men who have been stung.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The woe of locusts that the Egyptians suffered
was intolerable on that day (See Exod. 10:12-17). The locusts shall directly
harm men in future (See v.4) and therefore we should not make light of them.
2) The power of locusts was given by God
in other
words
the reason why they can harm men was God’s permission. They were
powerless without the permission of God. If we believers walk according to the will
of God
we are fearless in the face of the locusts.
Rev. 9:4 “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.”
YLT: “and it was said to them
that they may not injure the grass of the earth
nor any green thing
nor any
tree
but -- the men only who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads
”
Meaning of Words: “command”: say;
“green thing”: green; “seal”: brand.
Literal Meaning: “They were commanded not to harm the grass of the
earth
or any green thing
or any tree
” “any green thing” includes vegetables----the
nutrition that men need. Here their being commanded not to harm plants should
be related to keeping a group of men of God.
“But
only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” “Those men who do not have the seal of
God” refers to all men except one hundred and
forty-four thousand of the people of
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In order to keep the children of
2) Not only God and angels know who are truly of
God but also demons are acquainted with them (See Acts. 19:15). What’s the most
essential is that do you have “the marks of the Lord Jesus” in your bodies
(Gal. 6:17).
Rev. 9:5 “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.”
YLT: “and it was given to
them that they may not kill them
but that they may be tormented five months
and their torment as the torment of a scorpion
when it may strike a man;”
Meaning of Words: “kill”: with the aim
of killing; “torment”: pain
soreness; “strike”: sting
smite.
Literal Meaning: “And they were not given authority to kill them
but to torment them for five months.”
The purpose is letting those who have been struck live the life of “having no
reason to live and no reason to die”.
“Their
torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.” Probably the torment is intolerable that
men can neither eat nor sleep.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The woe of locusts has a limit (five months)
showing that God still hopes the world to repent to be saved. However
the fact
is that few men can repent because of torment (See v.20-21).
2) Many believers grow older and their common
attitude is that they are not afraid of death but they are afraid of tossing
about in the sickbed----they themselves not only suffered but also made their
family members involved. The fundamental way is to love the Lord as early as
possible and commit ourselves to the Lord at ease.
Rev. 9:6 “In those days men will
seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die
and death will flee
from them.”
YLT: “and in those days
shall men seek the death
and they shall not find it
and they shall desire to
die
and the death shall flee from them.”
Meaning of Words: “seek”: find out
desire; “not find”: not find out
not get; “desire”: long for
cannot wait for;
“flee”: escape
flee away.
Literal Meaning: “seek death…desire
to die” refers to seeking
relief from death and hoping that death can pay all debts. “Not find it…death will flee”
indicates that God never allowed them to get what they want.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God does not allow men to seek death in their pain
and men should not seek death today
even before the coming of the great
tribulation. Believers should not have the idea of suicide because it goes
against the rules of God.
2) Today the world is slaves of the devil because
of their fearing of death (See Heb. 2:14-15) and contrarily they fall into the
state that they desire to die but cannot find it. If we overcome the power of
death through our Lord Jesus Christ today (See 1Cor. 15:55-57)
we won’t desire
to die but cannot find it that day.
Rev. 9:7 “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.”
YLT: “And the likenesses
of the locusts like to horses made ready to battle
and upon their heads as
crowns like gold
and their faces as faces of men
”
Meaning of Words: “shape”: form;
“prepare”: make ready; “battle”: entering the field
war; “men”: human beings
the world.
Spiritual Meaning: “The shape of the locusts was like horses
prepared for battle.” It indicates that
their huge sizes and breaking in in full fury made men not dare to resist.
“On
their heads were crowns of something like gold
” it indicates that they seemed to be with
authority
that men yielded obedience to them willingly.
“And
their faces were like the faces of men.” “Men” is “human being” in the original. The faces
of men show the manner of wisdom and they can pass on ideas
that men were
driven by them.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The common trick of the heretical false teachers
is that they deter men first with impetus and show the manner of having the
spiritual authority to win a group of men who are dead set on following them.
2) There is a group of preachers with bad
intentions in the church. They appear to be good before men
however
they obey
no law in private and they are indeed the classic “hypocrites” (See Matt.
23:27-28).
Rev. 9:8 “They had hair like
women's hair
and their teeth were like lions' teeth.”
YLT: “and they had hair
as hair of women
and their teeth were as of lions
”
Meaning of Words: “women”: wives.
Spiritual Meaning: “They had hair like women's hair
” It indicates that the appearance can
attract men and deceive them.
“And
their teeth were like lions' teeth.”
It indicates that their have the power of swallowing up men
however
the power
was only used for threat because they were not allowed to kill men (See v.5).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Women’s hair” is also a sign of authority (See
1Cor. 11:10). Some people are obedient apparently
however
they do not obey
anyone in the depth of their hearts. It is the most difficult to deal with this
group of men in the church.
2) Some people have a glib tongue and do not
forgive men. Some even get a place in Christianity by their eloquent tongue
(instead of the spiritual life).
Rev. 9:9 “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.”
YLT: “and they had
breastplates as breastplates of iron
and the noise of their wings as the noise
of chariots of many horses running to battle;”
Meaning of Words: “breastplates”:
chest-plates
corselet; “run”: walk hastily; “battle”: war.
Spiritual Meaning: “And they had breastplates like breastplates of
iron
” it means that no
men can harm them.
“And
the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses
running into battle.” It means that
their impetus was so formidable that men surrendered without a fight.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Defense is the best tactic in the spiritual
battles (See Eph. 6:14-17). One makes himself stand in the invincible position
first and then begins to attack the enemies.
2) Some people have good reputation
however
their
presence is average. What’s strange is that today many young Christians
like
carnal “fans”
unexpectedly like worshipping the spiritual idols in admiration.
Rev. 9:10 “They had tails like
scorpions
and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men
five months.”
YLT: “and they have tails
like to scorpions
and stings were in their tails; and their authority to
injure men five months;”
Meaning of Words: “scorpion”: sting.
Literal Meaning: it means that they
had the power to harm men (See v.5). “Five months” indicates that they had to
return to the bottomless pit again fifth months after they had been released.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Many times
things unworthy of importance like
“tails” contrarily bring in serious consequents. Christians should treat
everything
big and small
as the same (taking service for example
we should
begin from the small things).
2) Many doctrines pleasant to hear always hide
“scorpions” in them
that those who listen to them are deceived and harmed
unconsciously. We should learn from men in
Rev. 9:11 “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.”
YLT: “and they have over
them a king -- the messenger of the abyss -- a name to him in Hebrew
Abaddon
and in the Greek he hath a name
Apollyon.”
Meaning of Words: “angel”: messenger;
“Abaddon”: a destroying angel; “Apollyon”: a destroyer.
Literal Meaning: “And they had as king over them the angel of the
bottomless pit” “The angel of the bottomless
pit” is the beast that made war against the two witnesses and killed them
(See 11:7) and it is also the beast that carried the great harlot (See 17:8).
“Whose
name in Hebrew is Abaddon
but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” The original meaning of the two names of “Abaddon…Apollyon” is “the
destroyer” and it shall destroy marvellously on the earth (See Dan. 8:23-25)
however
it shall go into destruction itself finally (See 17:8 “perdition”).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The thief does not come except to steal
and to
kill
and to destroy. The Lord Jesus has come that they may have life
and that
they may have it more abundantly (See John. 10:10). Christians should regard
providing life as their own responsibility and should never be “destroyers”.
2) Many people seem to build up the church
apparently
however
they actually destroy the church. All those who desire to
serve in the church should be careful----we should never be the followers of
“Abaddon”
and be deceived by “Apollyon” unconsciously and we will destroy
ourselves as a result.
Rev. 9:12 “One woe is past. Behold
still two more woes are coming after these things.”
YLT: “The first wo did go
forth
lo
there come yet two woes after these things.”
Literal Meaning: “two more woes” refers to the woes of the sixth trumpet
(See v.13-21) and the seventh trumpet (See 11:14-15; 16 to 18).
Rev. 9:13 “Then the sixth angel
sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is
before God
”
YLT: “And the sixth
messenger did sound
and I heard a voice out of the four horns of the altar of
gold that is before God
”
Meaning of Words: “altar”: the altar
of incense; “horn”: the horn of the altar of incense.
Literal Meaning: “the golden altar” refers to the golden altar of
incense----the altar before the throne upon which the prayers of all the saints
were offered (See 8:3-4). “The
four horns of the golden altar” is the place upon
which the high-priest put the blood when he made an atonement (See Lev. 16:18).
Spiritual Meaning: “And I heard a voice from
the four horns of the golden altar which is before God
” it has two symbolizations: 1) the golden altar is
the place upon which the prayers of all the saints were offered
symbolizing
that the prayers of all that saints for their revenge had the clear answer and
God’s severe judgment on men shall be carried out. 2) The four corners of the
golden altar were the place upon which the blood of atonement was put
showing
that God’s judgment based on the redemption of Christ. Men brought themselves
the judgment of God because they were unwilling to receive the work of Christ’s
redemption.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God listens all our prayers offered to Him
however
the time and the way that He answers our prayers depend on Himself.
And our responsibility is not hesitating to present prayers.
2) All that God has done for the world have been
accomplished through the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore God judges men
according to whether they are willing to receive the gospel----whether men
receive the great work of redemption that Christ has accomplished.
Rev. 9:14 “saying to the sixth angel
who had the trumpet
‘Release the four angels who
are bound at the great river
YLT: “saying to the sixth
messenger who had the trumpet
`Loose the four messengers who are bound at the
great river
Meaning of Words: “bound”: be in
bonds; “
Literal Meaning: “the great river Euphrates” Rive Euphrates was within the borders of
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Unexpectedly Satan and its angels can be used by
God. God can use every negative person or thing to accomplish His will.
Believers should not perceive men or things according to the right and wrong
but seek whether it seems good in the sight of God
no matter we are in the
favorable circumstances or the adverse circumstances (See Matt. 11:25-26).
2) All the great events happened in the countries
in the
Rev. 9:15 “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.”
YLT: “and loosed were the
four messengers
who have been made ready for the hour
and day
and month
and
year
that they may kill the third of men;”
Meaning of Words: “prepare”: make
ready.
Literal Meaning: “So the four angels
who had been prepared” “had been prepared” we do not clearly know
what they had prepared
however
God knew it.
“For
the hour and day and month and year
were released to kill a third of mankind.” “The hour and day and month and year” Summing up the ideas of the Bible
exegetes
there are two meanings: 1) it took place in the certain time set by
God. 2) The time that they killed men was one year and one month and one day
and one hour.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Only those who “have been prepared” can be used
by God. All believers who are willing to serve God
have you been prepared?
2) To everything there is a season (Eccl. 3:1-8).
And everything carries on in the time set by God and it shall accomplish in the
due time. The Lord Jesus said that
My time is not yet come: but your time is
always ready (See John. 7:6). Wish that we learn to wait for the time of God.
Rev. 9:16 “Now the number of the
army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.”
YLT: “and the number of
the forces of the horsemen two myriads of myriads
and I heard the number of
them.”
Meaning of Words: “horsemen”: war
horse; “army”: soldier.
Spiritual Meaning: “Now the number of the army of the horsemen was
two hundred million;” “the army of the
horsemen” should not refer to the real horses and soldiers because: 1) the horses
described in v.17-19 are not the real horses. 2) There aren’t so many horses in
the whole world. 3) Horses are seldom used in battles nowadays. 4) Just as the
locusts were not real in the woe of locusts in the first trumpet
the army of
the horsemen in the sixth trumpet should refer to others.
“I
heard the number of them.” This number was
disclosed to John and we believe that it must be good in the sight of God. The
Bible exegetes had many different guesses about it
for example: 1) the number
of men was as much as two hundred million. And the main war chariots were the
tanks. 2) The ton of the might of the nuclear warheads was as much as two
hundred million. 3) The biochemical dose was as much as two hundred million.
The other guesses are not described here one by one.
Rev. 9:17 “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.”
YLT: “And thus I saw the
horses in the vision
and those sitting upon them
having breastplates of fire
and jacinth
and brimstone; and the heads of the horses as heads of lions
and
out of their mouths proceedeth fire
and smoke
and brimstone;”
Meaning of Words: “vision”: scene;
“out of”: sending out.
Spiritual Meaning: “And thus I saw the horses in the vision:” “I saw…in the vision” since it is called
“the vision”
he should not have seen the real things (See Acts. 12:9). And it means
that the things that he saw all had the spiritual meanings (See Acts. 10:11-16
28).
“Those
who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red
hyacinth blue
and sulfur
yellow;” “those who sat on
them” were described in this sentence
however
“horses” were described in the
following sentence. Probably those who sat on horses and horses were lumped
together purposely because “fire
smoke
and brimstone” in this sentence
was similar to “the
fire and the smoke and the brimstone”
in the following sentence in the appearance. Please note that “having breastplates”
is to protect themselves and it is not “like breastplates of iron” (See v.9)
and those who sat on them did not have the weapons to kill men
showing that
those who sat on horses and horses seemed to be one.
“And
the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths
came fire
smoke
and brimstone.”
“The heads of lions” describe that it was extremely terrible (See 1Pet. 5:8).
“Fire
smoke
and brimstone” these three things
are the features of Hell and the lake of fire (See 19:20) and they describe
that it was with the power of Hell. “Out of their mouths” describes that “out
of their mouths” there was the power of causing death (See 18-19).
Rev. 9:18 “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.”
YLT: “by these three were
the third of men killed
from the fire
and from the smoke
and from the
brimstone
that is proceeding out of their mouth
”
Literal Meaning: “a third of mankind was
killed” the number of men
who died during the period of the great tribulation was quite considerable. If
we do not count the men who died from the second seal to the fourth seal (See
6:3-8) in the great tribulation and only count “many men” who died from the
first trumpet to the sixth trumpet (See 8:7-12)
the whole number probably
surpassed the half of the population of the whole earth.
Rev. 9:19 “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.”
YLT: “for their
authorities are in their mouth
and in their tails
for their tails like
serpents
having heads
and with them they do injure;”
Meaning of Words: “power”: might;
“harm”: injure.
Spiritual Meaning: “their tails are like serpents” describes their relation with Satan (See
12:9). “Having
heads; and with them they do harm”
the tails had heads
showing that this horse had two heads: it had a big head
like the head of lion in the front and a small head like a serpent at the back.
The front one killed men openly and the back one killed men by the way of
deceit.
Rev. 9:20 “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.”
YLT: “and the rest of
men
who were not killed in these plagues
neither did reform from the works of
their hands
that they may not bow before the demons
and idols
those of gold
and those of silver
and those of brass
and those of stone
and those of wood
that are neither able to see
nor to hear
nor to walk
”
Meaning of Words: “the rest”: the
remaining ones; “worship”: adore.
Literal Meaning: “But the rest of mankind
who were not killed by
these plagues
did not repent of the works of their hands
” “the rest of mankind
who were not killed by these plagues” refers to the survivals of the great
disaster. “Did not repent” indicates that they did not change their view for
their experiences. “The works of their hands” refers to idols.
“That
they should not worship demons” “worship demons”
indicates that they apparently worshiped idols but actually worshiped demons
because demons hid themselves behind the idols to usurp men’s worship to God
that He deserves.
“And
idols of gold
silver
brass
stone
and wood
which can neither see nor hear
nor walk.” “Which can neither
see nor hear nor walk” refers to the features of idols. “Gold
silver
brass
stone and wood” refers to the nature of idols.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Those who worship the idols were obsessed by
some devilish ideas. They were affected so deeply that they still obstinately
adhered to error though they had experienced great disasters. Few men who had
fallen into heresies can come to their senses quickly and completely.
2) The reason why men are unwilling to worship the
true God is that they trust in “their own hands” too much. The proud hold that
“man's determination will conquer nature” and they prefer relying on the
products of their hands to willingly relying on the hands of God.
Rev. 9:21 “And they did not repent
of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
YLT: “yea they did not
reform from their murders
nor from their sorceries
nor from their whoredoms
nor from their thefts.”
Meaning of Words: “murder”: slaughter;
“sorcery”: witchcraft; “sexual immorality”: the extramarital sexual
relationship.
Literal Meaning: the word “and”
points out men’s second kind of sin. According to the Bible
men have two kinds
of sins: “ungodliness” and “unrighteousness” (See Rom. 1:18). V.20 refers to
the ungodliness to God and this verse indicates that men indulge themselves in
doing unrighteous things. “Their
murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts” refers to the typical examples of all the
dirty and unrighteous things.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men’s “ungodliness” to God brings in the worship
to idols (See v.20). Once men worship idols
they connect with various kinds of
“unrighteous” things and it is the inevitable result.
2) The trend of the world is becoming more and more
evil unless men improve their relation with God. Punishment
instruction
morals
the public opinion
the practice of moral things
burning joss sticks
worshipping Buddha and etc cannot reform the present social situation. Only
repenting to God and fearing God from men’s hearts have the hope of reversing
the declining tendency.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Lessons Learned from the Fifth and the
Sixth Woes
I. The origin of the woes: Satan and its
angels----a star fallen from heaven to the earth (v.1)
the angel of the
bottomless pit (v.11) and the four angels who are bound at the great river
II. The targets of the woes: men who were condemned
by God---- men who do not have the seal of God on their
foreheads (v.4) and men who worship Satan and idols (v.20).
III. The ways of the woes: it began with bitterness
and ended with death----to torment them for five months (v.5) and to kill a
third of mankind on the hour and day and month and year (v.15).
IV. One of the tools of the woes: locusts (7-10)
A. like horses prepared for battle
(v.7)----breaking in in full fury and overwhelming others without a fight
B. on
their heads were crowns of something like gold (v.7)----it shows that they are
with power and men have to obey them
C.
their faces were like the faces of men (v.7)----it shows that they have wisdom
and are good at driving men
D.
having hair like women's hair (v.8)----the appearances attract men and make
them be deceived
E.
their teeth were like lions' teeth (v.8)----threat and fright and the carrot
and stick
F.
having breastplates like breastplates of iron (v.9)----protecting itself and
standing in the invincible position
G. the
sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running
into battle (v.9)----the formidable impetus
H.
having tails like scorpions (v.10)----having the power of tormenting men
V. The second of the tools of the woes: the two
hundred million of the army of the horsemen (v.17-19)
A.
having breastplates of fiery red
hyacinth blue
and sulfur yellow
(v.17)----uniting with horses
B. the
heads of the horses were like the heads of lions (v.17)----the terrible
appearance
C.
coming fire
smoke
and brimstone (v.17)----with the power of Hell
D. out
of their mouths (v.17-18)----having the power of killing men out of their mouth
E. their
tails are like serpents (v.19)----having close relation with Satan
F.
having heads and with them they do harm (v.19)----killing men by the way of
deceit
VI. The result of the woes: they still did not
repent (v.20-21)
A.
they still worshipped Satan and idols (v.20)
B.
they still did the works of murders or sorceries or sexual immorality or thefts
(v.21).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren