| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Revelation
Chapter Nine
Revelation 9
The fifth angel sounds; and one who should have been by
position the instrument of light and governmental order over the earth was seen
as having lost his place; and the power to let loose the full darkening
influence of Satan was given him. He opened the bottomless pit-the place where
evil is shut up and chained; not where it is punished
that is
the lake of
fire. Supreme authority
and all heavenly light over the earth
and healthful
influence of order
were darkened and made to cease by the evil Satanic
influence which was let loose. Nor was this all: direct instruments of Satanic
power came out of this evil influence in numbers; crowds of moral locusts with
the sting of false doctrine in their tail. But it was not to destroy temporal
prosperity on the earth
but to torment the ungodly Jews; not to kill
but to
harass and vex them. This was to continue five months; for it is not the final
judgment. The torment was worse than death-pain and anguish of heart. But they had
the semblance of military imperial power
crowned
and with masculine energy
to those that met them; but they were
if seen behind and the secret disclosed
subject and weak: their faces were as the faces of men
their hair as the hair
of women. But they were armed in a steeled conscience. They were the direct
instruments of the power of Satan
and under his orders. The angel of the
bottomless pit-he who rules the depths of Satan's wiles
as the ruler of the
power of darkness-led them. We are too unbelieving as to the direct influence
of Satan in darkening men's minds when permitted
when men are given up to his
darkening influence. Cruel harassing torments
worse than death
with darkening
of their minds
become the portion of the once beloved people. One woe was
past.
The sixth angel sounds. The woe which follows is much more human and
providential. It is directed against the inhabitants of the Latin Empire. The
instruments of it are let loose from beyond Euphrates--a countless crowd of
horsemen. But they were not simply such. Their consciences and their words
both were in the power of Satan
but in judgment from God. But it now killed
men. Their mouths belched forth the power of Satan
and their influence in
doctrine was Satanic: with both they did hurt. I do not believe this death here
is mere temporal death (there may be such)
but
I suspect
making apostates.
The rest
who did not thus fall
did not repent of their idolatry and misdeeds.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Revelation》
Revelation 9
Chapter Contents
The fifth trumpet is followed by a representation of
another star as falling from heaven and opening the bottomless pit
out of
which come swarms of locusts. (1-12) The sixth trumpet is followed by the
loosing of four angels bound in the great river Euphrates. (13-21)
Commentary on Revelation 9:1-12
(Read Revelation 9:1-12)
Upon sounding the fifth trumpet
a star fell from heaven
to the earth. Having ceased to be a minister of Christ
he who is represented
by this star becomes the minister of the devil; and lets loose the powers of
hell against the churches of Christ. On the opening of the bottomless pit
there arose a great smoke. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the
eyes of men
by putting out light and knowledge
and promoting ignorance and
error. Out of this smoke there came a swarm of locusts
emblems of the devil's
agents
who promote superstition
idolatry
error
and cruelty. The trees and
the grass
the true believers
whether young or more advanced
should be
untouched. But a secret poison and infection in the soul
should rob many
others of purity
and afterwards of peace. The locusts had no power to hurt
those who had the seal of God. God's all-powerful
distinguishing grace will
keep his people from total and final apostacy. The power is limited to a short
season; but it would be very sharp. In such events the faithful share the
common calamity
but from the pestilence of error they might and would be safe.
We collect from Scripture
that such errors were to try and prove the
Christians
1 Corinthians 11:19. And early writers plainly
refer this to the first great host of corrupters who overspread the Christian
church.
Commentary on Revelation 9:13-21
(Read Revelation 9:13-21)
The sixth angel sounded
and here the power of the Turks
seems the subject. Their time is limited. They not only slew in war
but
brought a poisonous and ruinous religion. The antichristian generation repented
not under these dreadful judgments. From this sixth trumpet learn that God can
make one enemy of the church a scourge and a plague to another. The idolatry in
the remains of the eastern church and elsewhere
and the sins of professed
Christians
render this prophecy and its fulfilment more wonderful. And the
attentive reader of Scripture and history
may find his faith and hope
strengthened by events
which in other respects fill his heart with anguish and
his eyes with tears
while he sees that men who escape these plagues
repent
not of their evil works
but go on with idolatries
wickedness
and cruelty
till wrath comes upon them to the utmost.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Revelation》
Revelation 9
Verse 1
[1] And
the fifth angel sounded
and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and
to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And the fifth angel sounded
and I saw a star — Far different from that mentioned
Revelation 8:11. This star belongs to the
invisible world. The third woe is occasioned by the dragon cast out of heaven;
the second takes place at the loosing of the four angels who were bound in the
Euphrates. The first is here brought by the angel of the abyss
which is opened
by this star
or holy angel.
Falling to the earth — Coming swiftly and with great force.
And to him was given — when he was come.
The key of the bottomless pit — A deep and hideous prison; but different from "the lake of
fire."
Verse 2
[2] And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit
as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by
reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there arose a smoke out of the pit — The locusts
who afterwards rise out of it
seem to be
as we shall
afterwards see
the Persians; agreeable to which
this smoke is their
detestable idolatrous doctrine
and false zeal for it
which now broke out in
an uncommon paroxysm.
As the smoke of a great furnace — where the clouds of it rise thicker and thicker
spread far and wide
and press one upon another
so that the darkness increases continually.
And the sun and the air were darkened — A figurative expression
denoting heavy affliction. This smoke
occasioned more and more such darkness over the Jews in Persia.
Verse 3
[3] And
there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given
power
as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And out of the smoke — Not out of the bottomless pit
but from the smoke which issued thence.
There went forth locusts — A known emblem of a numerous
hostile
hurtful people. Such were the
Persians
from whom the Jews
in the sixth century
suffered beyond expression.
In the year 540 their academies were stopped
nor were they permitted to have a
president for near fifty years. In 589 this affliction ended; but it began long
before 540. The prelude of it was about the year 455 and 474: the main storm
came on in the reign of Cabades
and lasted from 483 to 532. Toward the
beginning of the sixth century
Mar Rab Isaac
president of the academy
was
put to death. Hereon followed an insurrection of the Jews
which lasted seven
years before they were conquered by the Persians. Some of them were then put to
death
but not many; the rest were closely imprisoned. And from this time the
nation of the Jews were hated and persecuted by the Persians
till they had
well nigh rooted them out.
The scorpions of the earth — The most hurtful kind. The scorpions of the air have wings.
Verse 4
[4] And
it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth
neither
any green thing
neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal
of God in their foreheads.
And it was commanded them — By the secret power of God.
Not to hurt the grass
neither any green
thing
nor any tree — Neither those of low
middling
or high
degree
but only such of them as were not sealed - Principally the unbelieving
Israelites. But many who were called Christians suffered with them.
Verse 5
[5] And to them it was given that they should not kill them
but that they
should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a
scorpion
when he striketh a man.
Not to kill them —
Very few of them were killed: in general
they were imprisoned and variously
tormented.
Verse 6
[6] And
in those days shall men seek death
and shall not find it; and shall desire to
die
and death shall flee from them.
The men —
That is
the men who are so tormented.
Verse 7
[7] And
the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on
their heads were as it were crowns like gold
and their faces were as the faces
of men.
And the appearances —
This description suits a people neither throughly civilized
nor entirely
savage; and such were the Persians of that age.
Of the locusts are like horses — With their riders. The Persians excelled in horsemanship.
And on their heads are as it were crowns — Turbans.
And their faces are as the faces of men — Friendly and agreeable.
Verse 8
[8] And
they had hair as the hair of women
and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had hair as the hair of women — All the Persians of old gloried in long hair.
And their teeth were as the teeth of lions — Breaking and tearing all things in pieces.
Verse 9
[9] And
they had breastplates
as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their
wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And the noise of their wings was as the noise
of chariots of many horses — With their war-chariots
drawn by many
horses
they
as it were
flew to and fro.
Verse 10
[10] And
they had tails like unto scorpions
and there were stings in their tails: and
their power was to hurt men five months.
And they have tails like scorpions — That is
each tail is like a scorpion
not like the tail of a scorpion.
To hurt the unsealed men five months - Five prophetic months; that is
seventy-nine common years So long did these calamities last.
Verse 11
[11] And
they had a king over them
which is the angel of the bottomless pit
whose name
in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon
but in the Greek tongue hath his name
Apollyon.
And they have over them a king — One by whom they are peculiarly directed and governed.
His name is Abaddon —
Both this and Apollyon signify a destroyer. By this he is distinguished from
the dragon
whose proper name is Satan.
Verse 12
[12] One
woe is past; and
behold
there come two woes more hereafter.
One woe is past; behold
there come yet two
woes after these things — The Persian power
under which was the
first woe
was now broken by the Saracens: from this time the first pause made
a wide way for the two succeeding woes. In 589
when the first woe ended
Mahomet was twenty years old
and the contentions of the Christians with each
other were exceeding great. In 591 Chosroes II. reigned in Persia
who
after
the death of the emperor
made dreadful disturbances in the east
Hence Mahomet
found an open door for his new religion and empire. And when the usurper Phocas
had
in the year 606
not only declared the Bishop of Rome
Boniface III.
universal bishop
but also the church of Rome the head of all churches
this
was a sure step to advance the Papacy to its utmost height. Thus
after the
passing away of the first woe
the second
yea
and the third
quickly
followed; as indeed they were both on the way together with it before the first
effectually began.
Verse 13
[13] And
the sixth angel sounded
and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden
altar which is before God
And the sixth angel sounded — Under this angel goes forth the second woe.
And I heard a voice from the four corners of
the golden altar — This golden altar is the heavenly pattern
of the Levitical altar of incense. This voice signified that the execution of
the wrath of God
mentioned verses 20
21
Revelation 9:20
21 should
at no intercession
be delayed any longer.
Verse 14
[14]
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet
Loose the four angels which
are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Loose the four angels — To go every way; to the four quarters. These were evil angels
or they
would not have been bound. Why
or how long
they were bound we know not.
Verse 15
[15] And
the four angels were loosed
which were prepared for an hour
and a day
and a
month
and a year
for to slay the third part of men.
And the four angels were loosed
who were
prepared — By loosing them
as well as by their
strength and rage.
To kill the third part of men — That is
an immense number of them.
For the hour
and day
and month
and year — All this agrees with the slaughter which the Saracens made for a long
time after Mahomet's death. And with the number of angels let loose agrees the
number of their first and most eminent caliphs. These were Ali
Abubeker
Omar
and Osman. Mahomet named Ali
his cousin and son-in-law
for his successor; but
he was soon worked out by the rest
till they severally died
and so made room
for him. They succeeded each other
and each destroyed innumerable multitudes
of men. There are in a prophetic Com. Years. Com. Days. Hour....... 8
Day............ 196 in all 212 years. Month........... 15.........318 /
Year............ 196.........117 / Now
the second woe
as also the beginning
of the third
has its place between the ceasing of the locusts and the rising
of the beast out of the sea
even at the time that the Saracens
who were
chiefly cavalry
were in the height of their carnage; from their
first caliph
Abubeker
till they were repulsed from Rome under Leo IV. These 212 years may
therefore be reckoned from the year 634 to 847. The gradation in reckoning the
time
beginning with the hour and ending with a year
corresponds with their
small beginning and vast increase. Before and after Mahomet's death
they had
enough to do to settle their affairs at home. Afterwards Abubeker went farther
and in the year 634 gained great advantage over the Persians and Romans in
Syria. Under Omar was the conquest of Mesopotamia
Palestine
and Egypt made.
Under Osman
that of Afric
(with the total suppression of the Roman government
in the year 647
) of Cyprus
and of all Persia in 651. After Ali was dead
his
son Ali Hasen
a peaceable prince
was driven out by Muavia; under whom
and
his successors
the power of the Saracens so increased
that within fourscore
years after Mahomet's death they had extended their conquests farther than the
warlike Romans did in four hundred years.
Verse 16
[16] And
the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and
I heard the number of them.
And the number of the horsemen was two
hundred millions — Not that so many were ever brought into
the field at once
but (if we understand the expression literally) in the
course of "the hour
and day
and month
and year." So neither were
"the third part of men killed" at once
but during that course of
years.
Verse 17
[17] And
thus I saw the horses in the vision
and them that sat on them
having
breastplates of fire
and of jacinth
and brimstone: and the heads of the
horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and
smoke and brimstone.
And thus I saw the horses and them that sat
on them in the vision — St. John seems to add these words
in the
vision
to intimate that we are not to take this description just according to
the letter.
Having breastplates of fire — Fiery red.
And hyacinth —
Dun blue.
And brimstone — A
faint yellow. Of the same colour with the fire and smoke and brimstone
which
go out of the months of their horses. And the heads of their horses are as the
heads of lions - That is
fierce and terrible.
And out of their mouth goeth fire and smoke
and brimstone — This figurative expression may denote the
consuming
blinding
all-piercing rage
fierceness
and force of these
horsemen.
Verse 18
[18] By
these three was the third part of men killed
by the fire
and by the smoke
and by the brimstone
which issued out of their mouths.
By these three —
Which were inseparably joined.
Were the third part of men — In the countries they over-ran.
Killed —
Omar alone
in eleven years and a half
took thirty-six thousand cities or
forts. How many men must be killed therein!
Verse 19
[19] For
their power is in their mouth
and in their tails: for their tails were like
unto serpents
and had heads
and with them they do hurt.
For the power of these horses is in their
mouths
and in their tails — Their riders fight retreating as well as
advancing: so that their rear is as terrible as their front.
For their tails are like serpents
having
heads — Not like the tails of serpents only. They
may be fitly compared to the amphisbena
a kind of serpent
which has a short
tail
not unlike a head from which it throws out its poison as if it had two
heads.
Verse 20
[20] And
the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of
the works of their hands
that they should not worship devils
and idols of
gold
and silver
and brass
and stone
and of wood: which neither can see
nor
hear
nor walk:
And the rest of the men who were not killed — Whom the Saracens did not destroy. It is observable
the countries they
over-ran were mostly those where the gospel had been planted.
By these plagues —
Here the description of the second woe ends.
Yet repented not —
Though they were called Christians.
Of the works of their hands — Presently specified.
That they should not worship devils — The invocation of departed saints
whether true
or false
or doubtful
or forged
crept early into the Christian church
and was carried farther and
farther; and who knows how many who are invoked as saints are among evil
not
good
angels; or how far devils have mingled with such blind worship
and with
the wonders wrought on those occasions? And idols - About the year 590
men
began to venerate images; and though upright men zealously opposed it
yet
by
little and little
images grew into manifest idols. For after much contention
both in the east and west
in the year 787
the worship of images was
established by the second Council of Nice. Yet was image worship sharply
opposed some time after
by the emperor Theophilus. But when he died
in 842
his widow
Theodora
established it again; as did the Council at Constantinople
in the year 863
and again in 871.
Verse 21
[21]
Neither repented they of their murders
nor of their sorceries
nor of their
fornication
nor of their thefts.
Neither repented of their murders
nor of
their sorceries — Whoever reads the histories of the
seventh
eighth
and ninth centuries
will find numberless instances of all
these in every part of the Christian world. But though God cut off so many of
these scandals to the Christian name
yet the rest went on in the same course.
Some of them
however
might repent under the plagues which follow.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Revelation》
Chapter 9. Locusts and the Mounted
Troops
Still Not
Repentant
Still Worshiping Demons
I. The First
Woe of the Fifth Trumpet
II. Harm Those
Who Do Not Have Seals
III. The Second
Woe of the Sixth Trumpet
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
Chapter Nine General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To review the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets 2) To offer an explanation concerning the significance of these visions SUMMARY
Following the ominous warning of the angel (eagle) in the previouschapter
the fifth angel sounds his trumpet. John sees a star fallenfrom heaven
to whom is given the key to the bottomless pit. As thepit is opened
smoke arises that darkens the sun and air. Then locustswith power like scorpions came out of the smoke to whom was given
power to harm only those who did not have the seal of God on theirforehead. Their power was limited only to torment
not kill
and onlyfor five months. Even so
men wished they could die. John describesthe appearance of the locusts
and identifies their king as the angelof the bottomless pit whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek isApollyon
both meaning "destruction". Thus ends the first "woe"
withtwo more to come (1-12). When the sixth angel sounds his trumpet
John hears a voice from thefour horns of the golden altar before God. It tells the sixth angel torelease four angels who have been bound at the river Euphrates . Theseangels had been prepared for the hour
day
month and year
to kill athird of mankind. At this point John hears the number of an army oftwo hundred million horsemen. Describing the colorful breastplates of
those on the horses
he also relates how the lion-like heads of thehorses blew fire
smoke and brimstone which killed a third of mankind.They also did much harm with serpent-like tails. Despite these two "woes"
the rest of mankind did not repent of their idolatry
murders
sorceries
sexual immoralities and thefts (13-21). As one can imagine
attempts to interpret these visions have been manyand some quite fanciful. Together with the first four trumpets
Isuggest the fifth and sixth trumpets signify tools at God's disposal tobring wrath upon the persecutors of His people. Though allowed to go
only so far
Satan's influence can have the effect of weakening anation from within. There is also the threat of external invasion byenemy forces. Therefore I concur with Summers and others that thevision of locusts from the bottomless pit symbolizes the hellish