Revelation Chapter 9 in the Amplified Bible “The Fifth Trumpet—the Bottomless Pit” & “The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East”

Revelation Chapter 9 continues with the narrative of the trumpet judgments, detailing the fifth and sixth trumpets, which are also referred to as the first two woes. This chapter introduces more vivid and terrifying imagery to describe the judgments unleashed upon the earth, focusing on the demonic forces that torment those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads and the massive army that kills a third of mankind. Below is a detailed exposition of Revelation Chapter 9 from the Amplified Bible , its relevance to today's believers, and a brief introduction and summary.

Introduction

Revelation Chapter 9 deepens the unfolding of divine judgment through the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets, presenting stark images of supernatural punishment and warfare. This chapter's events emphasize the spiritual battle behind earthly struggles and the severe consequences of persistent rebellion against God. It serves as a warning against complacency and a call to repentance and spiritual vigilance.

Now Let’s Eat Some Meat!

Verses 1-2: “Then the fifth angel sounded [his trumpet], and I saw a star (angelic being) that had fallen from heaven to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit (abyss) was given to him (the star-angel). He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke like the smoke of a great furnace flowed out of the pit; and the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the pit.”

The fifth trumpet reveals a star fallen from heaven to earth, given the key to the shaft of the abyss, releasing smoke and darkening the sky, symbolizing a release of demonic forces.

Relevance to Today’s Believers: This imagery warns of the destructive power of evil when it is allowed to operate unchecked, reminding believers of the need for spiritual discernment and the protection offered by faith in Christ.

Verses 3-6: “Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power [to hurt] was given to them, like the power which the earth’s scorpions have. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but [to hurt] only the people who do not have the seal (mark of ownership, protection) of God on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment and cause them extreme pain for five months; and their torment was like the torment from a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die [to escape the pain], but [will discover that] death evades them.”

From the smoke emerge locusts with the power to torment like scorpions, targeting those without God's seal. The torment is so severe that victims seek death, but it eludes them.

Relevance to Today’s Believers: The locusts symbolize the destructive consequences of sin and evil. This serves as a metaphor for the spiritual torment that comes from turning away from God, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's seal of protection through a relationship with Jesus.

Verses 7-11: “The locusts resembled horses prepared and equipped for battle; and on their heads appeared to be [something like] golden crowns, and their faces resembled human faces. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates (scales) like breastplates made of iron; and the [whirring] noise of their wings was like the [thunderous] noise of countless horse-drawn chariots charging [at full speed] into battle. They have tails like scorpions, and stingers; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months. They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss (the bottomless pit); in Hebrew his name is Abaddon (destruction), and in Greek he is called Apollyon (destroyer-king)”

The locusts are described with human, animal, and military characteristics, led by their king, the angel of the abyss named Abaddon or Apollyon, meaning Destruction.

Relevance to Today’s Believers: This description underscores the intensity and horror of judgment against those who rebel against God, calling believers to live lives that resist evil and proclaim the gospel of salvation.

Verse 12: “The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.”

The first woe is past, and two more are announced, indicating escalating judgments.

Relevance to Today’s Believers: This serves as a reminder of the escalating consequences of continued unrepentance and the need for vigilance in faith.

Verses 13-15: The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East “Then the sixth angel sounded [his trumpet], and I heard a solitary voice from the four horns of the golden altar which stands before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the [appointed] hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.”

The sixth trumpet releases four angels bound at the Euphrates River, who are prepared to kill a third of mankind, emphasizing the preparedness and specificity of divine judgment.

Relevance to Today’s Believers: This passage highlights God's sovereignty and control over the timing and agents of judgment, urging believers to trust in God's justice and to intercede for the world.

Verses 16-19: “The number of the troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten thousand (two hundred million); I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw the horses and their riders in my vision: the riders had breastplates [the color] of fire and of hyacinth (sapphire blue) and of brimstone (yellow); and the heads of the horses looked like the heads of lions; and from out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone (burning sulfur). A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came from the mouths of the horses. For the power of the horses [to do harm] is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and it is with them that they do harm.”

A vast army of horsemen is described, causing destruction through plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur, representing divine retribution.

Relevance to Today’s Believers: ?The imagery of a vast, destructive army symbolizes the severe consequences of sin and rebellion against God. It calls believers to awareness of the spiritual warfare around them and the urgency of sharing the message of salvation.

Verses 20-21: “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent even then of the works of their hands, so as to cease worshiping and paying homage to the demons and the idols of gold and of silver and of bronze and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries (drugs, intoxications) nor of their [sexual] immorality nor of their thefts.”

Despite these judgments, the rest of mankind does not repent of their sins, illustrating the hardness of human hearts.

Relevance to Today’s Believers: ?This stubborn refusal to turn to God in repentance serves as a stark warning against hard-heartedness and complacency. It challenges believers to examine their lives for unrepentant sin and to pursue a deeper commitment to God.

Summary

Revelation Chapter 9 portrays the severe and supernatural dimensions of God's judgments through the fifth and sixth trumpets, emphasizing the real and present danger of evil and the critical importance of spiritual protection and repentance. For today's believers, this chapter serves as a vivid reminder of the spiritual battle at play in the world and the necessity of aligning with God through faith, repentance, and active engagement in spiritual warfare. It underscores the urgency of the gospel message and the need for a steadfast, faithful witness in a world that often refuses to acknowledge its need for God. The chapter calls for a renewed commitment to prayer, vigilance, and the pursuit of holiness in the face of spiritual adversity.

If You Have Ears To Hear, Then Hear It!