First Two Woes (Revelation 9)

Let’s now take a look at the fifth and sixth trumpets, also known as the first two of three woes, in Revelation 9.

5th Trumpet 1st Woe - The Abyss

Revelation 9:1 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.

A star falling from heaven to earth is reminiscent of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:14-18; Luke 10:18) and the bottomless pit, better rendered as the abyss, elsewhere mentioned as a place of restraint for the demons (Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4).

Revelation 9:2 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.

Are demons let loose for a while? The influence of such evil ones is the opposite of the smoke of the incense or our prayers. It is a smoke that blocks out the light of the glorious gospel.

Revelation 9:3 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.

Locusts are suggestive of a swarm, but unlike ordinary locusts, these arise from the smoke coming out of the pit with deadly power, like that of a large army (Joel 2).

Revelation 9:4 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.

These armies of locusts will only hurt the non-Christians, those not sealed by the Holy Spirit in their foreheads, but having the mark of the beast instead.

Revelation 9:5 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.

The natural time of a locust plague can be 5 months, often from April to September. This can also mean 150 prophetic days or years, or it can also be symbolic of a short time.

Revelation 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

This seeking death is descriptive of extraordinary suffering, whereby death would bring relief.

Revelation 9:7 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.

Locusts look like they have little like horseheads and are called little horses in several languages. It’s easy to imagine a war machine and battle helmets in this imagery.

Revelation 9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

Perhaps these are warriors from a culture where men grow long hair like women. Perhaps something about their helmet or equipment gives them this appearance.

Revelation 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.

This is reminiscent of the sound of a great army. Modern war machines, such as attack helicopters are also very loud. The spiritual battle in the world also rages on.

Revelation 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

Again the damage done by these is limited in time.

Revelation 9:11 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.

The angel of the abyss is probably the devil. The name Abaddon or Apollyon signifies the destroyer and the son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Revelation 9:12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

So, each of these last 3 trumpets is a woe.

6th Trumpet 2nd Woe - 200 Million

Revelation 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

Picturing heaven in such language ties the Old Testament Temple, with its golden altar of incense, and the New Testament together as one unified revelation of God.

Revelation 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Important events are often initiated by angels. These angels are bound, and thus likely demons, symbolically captive in Babylon.

Revelation 9:15 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.