Revelation 9: Trumpets, Locusts, and Repentance

Short answer: Revelation 9 recounts the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments. The fifth releases tormenting locusts from the abyss, and the sixth releases four angels and a vast army that kills a third of mankind, yet the survivors do not repent.

What Revelation 9 says

The fifth trumpet sounds, and a fallen star receives the key to the pit of the abyss. When he opens it, smoke rises like a furnace, darkening the sun and air. From the smoke come locusts with scorpion-like power. They are commanded not to harm grass, green plants, or trees, but only people without God's seal on their foreheads. Their torment lasts five months, not killing but causing agony like a scorpion's sting. In those days people will seek death but not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them. The locusts have shapes like war horses, golden crowns, human faces, women's hair, lions' teeth, iron breastplates, and wings sounding like chariots rushing to battle. Their tails have stings to harm for five months. Their king is the angel of the abyss, named Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek. This is the first woe, with two more to come.

The sixth trumpet sounds, and a voice from the horns of the golden altar before God commands the sixth angel to release the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates. These angels had been prepared for a specific hour, day, month, and year to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops is two hundred million. In the vision, the horses and riders wear breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The horses' heads are like lions' heads, and from their mouths come fire, smoke, and sulfur. By these three plagues a third of mankind is killed. The power of the horses is in their mouths and tails; their tails are like serpents with heads, and with them they harm.

Despite these judgments, the rest of mankind who were not killed do not repent of the works of their hands. They continue to worship demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. They also do not repent of their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, or thefts. The chapter ends with this stark refusal, highlighting the hardness of the human heart even under severe judgment.

The movement of the chapter is from the fifth trumpet's torment to the sixth trumpet's deadly army, and then to the unrepentant response of humanity. The first woe passes, and two more are announced. The sixth trumpet brings a massive army that kills a third of mankind, yet the survivors do not turn from their sins. The chapter does not describe the seventh trumpet; it focuses on these two judgments and the persistent rebellion of people.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “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.” (Revelation 9:1) — This verse introduces the fifth trumpet and the fallen star who receives the key to the abyss, setting the stage for the locust judgment.
• “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.” (Revelation 9:6) — It vividly portrays the desperation of those tormented, seeking death but unable to find it, showing the severity of the judgment.
• “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.” (Revelation 9:15) — This verse marks the release of the four angels prepared for a precise time to kill a third of mankind, emphasizing God's sovereign timing.
• “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.” (Revelation 9:20) — It reveals the tragic outcome that despite plagues, the rest of mankind did not repent, highlighting human hardness of heart.

Gospel connection

Revelation 9 continues the trumpet judgments that call humanity to repentance, yet the chapter ends with people refusing to turn from idols and wickedness. This mirrors the broader biblical story where God sends warnings and judgments, not desiring that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The hardness seen here points to the need for a new heart, which the gospel provides through Jesus Christ. While the judgments in this chapter are severe, they serve as a backdrop to the mercy offered in Christ, who bore the ultimate judgment for sin so that those who turn to him may be spared.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to examine their own heart. It warns against the stubbornness that refuses to repent even when faced with consequences. It invites us to turn from any idols we may be clinging to, whether material possessions, personal comfort, or self-reliance, and to seek God while there is time. It also calls for sober-mindedness, recognizing that God's judgments are real and that his patience is meant to lead us to repentance. The reader is encouraged to respond to God's warnings with humility and faith, not with a hardened heart.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not identify the fallen star as Satan or any specific historical figure, nor does it explain the nature of the locusts beyond their description. It does not state that the two hundred million horsemen are a literal human army or a symbolic force. It does not specify the identity of the four angels bound at the Euphrates, nor does it describe the outcome of the seventh trumpet. The text is silent on the exact timing of these events and on the fate of those who do repent. It also does not claim that these judgments are the final ones, as it notes that two more woes are coming.

Questions for study

1. What is the significance of the locusts being commanded not to harm the grass or trees, but only those without God's seal?
2. Why do you think the people who experience torment seek death but cannot find it, and what does this reveal about the nature of the judgment?
3. How does the description of the locusts and their king, Abaddon or Apollyon, contribute to the overall message of the fifth trumpet?
4. What does the release of the four angels at the Euphrates and the vast army tell us about God's control over the timing and scope of judgment?
5. Why is it significant that the rest of mankind did not repent after such severe plagues, and what does this say about the human condition?

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Related studies: Revelation 1 Bible Study, Revelation 10 Bible Study, Revelation 11 Bible Study, Revelation 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

What are the locusts in Revelation 9?

The chapter describes them as creatures that come from the smoke of the abyss, with power like scorpions, commanded to torment only those without God's seal for five months. It does not explicitly say they are demons, but they have a king named Abaddon or Apollyon.

Who are the four angels bound at the Euphrates?

The text does not identify them beyond saying they are angels prepared for a specific time to kill a third of mankind. It does not say whether they are fallen angels or servants of God.

Why does the chapter emphasize that people did not repent?

It highlights the hardness of the human heart even under judgment, showing that repentance is not automatic and that people can persist in idolatry and sin despite severe consequences.