The Cleansing Begins
People reading the Revelation are confused when they take the letter as a play-by-play prophecy of end time events. It’s not. Things we observe in chapter nine are not only prophetic of future events, they happened throughout the church age. Remember, John wrote the book of Revelation as an instructional letter to the church. Messengers carried the letter out of John’s prison cell in the form of a cryptogram.
Chapter nine seems to show hell breaking loose on earth. Satan’s minions, held captive in the pit since chapter seven, will be loosed upon the earth. But in the spirit world, it has already happened.
The Bottomless Pit
Revelation 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. 2 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.”
Here we again a star falls from heaven. The amplified translation and others use the term “had fallen.” The Greek piptō petō means to come down from above, to be thrust down. This phrase is definitely past tense. In this case, a fallen star refers to a fallen angel, probably Satan. (Jude 13) In Luke 10:18, Jesus said; “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Lightning is the Greek word astarpe, literally “glare,” bright, shining. Revelation 9:1 translates the word as “star.” Star is the Greek word astre, the root of the word astarpe. Astre means “strewn,” a star. We use astre for our words, asteroid and astronomy.
This fallen angel is given the keys to the bottomless pit. Some translations use the word abyss. The Greek word is abussos, the “deep place,” hell. (Matthew 16:19) This angel is “given the keys.” The entrance to the abyss is under God’s control. Jesus took back the keys to hell and death from Satan. (Revelation 1:18) Now is the time to release all the demonic forces held back since the four angels took them captive in chapter seven.
The angel “opened the pit . . . and smoke arose.” Satan opens the abyss and the imprisoned demonic hordes are released on the world, and they’re desperate! Like smoke from massive forest fires darken the sun, so do these hordes further darken “the light” in the world.
Joel 2:2 and 10
3 “Out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. To them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men have not the seal of God on their foreheads.”
These locusts are commanded not to harm any green thing. Obviously, these are not actual locusts, which only eat vegetation. These locusts are symbolic. They represent demonic spirits and demons; the army of Satan. They are commanded not to harm anything except those of mankind not “sealed.” Who is sealed and protected? Refer to chapter seven, verse three.
5 “To them (locusts) was given they should not kill them (men), but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.”
Scorpion stings are rarely fatal to a human. These locusts are not allowed to kill anyone; only to torment them. Satan cannot kill a man unless man gives him permission. God gave us free will, and authority over what happens in our lives. We are given a choice between blessing and the curse in Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight.
We are all familiar with the funeral aphorism, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.” This is a phrase taken out of context, uttered by Job trying to justify his losses. (Job 1:20) God does not kill. Jesus Himself said, “Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I come to bring abundant life.” (John 10:10) In the case of the flood God used to destroy the world, Mankind did not need to die. All of righteous Noah’s neighbors stood around while he built the ark, rather than trust God and built arks of their own. Or, they could have helped Noah build his. Rather, The Word tells us they all ignored God and “went about their sinful lives, marrying and giving in marriage.” Luke 17:26-27
Job himself admitted why Satan stole his family and possessions. He said, “. . . The thing I greatly feared has come upon me.” (Job 3:25) Fear is the opposite of faith. Consider fear antifaith. Only in faith can we defeat Satan and keep him at bay. Man allows himself to be killed or destroyed by choosing sin, which causes fear rather than faith. “The wages of sin is death . . .” (Romans 6:23) We (mankind) choose to turn ourselves over to Satan for destruction.
These locusts tormented only “five months.” Five months is the normal life span of a locust. Five is the number of grace. God’s grace is such that the onslaught lasts only for an ordained time span. “If these days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect’s sake, the days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:22
The word translated “elect” here is the Greek eklektos, which means “chosen ones,” those chosen or picked out by God. During the time of judgement some chosen ones will still run, as God, the “Hound of Heaven,” chases after them.
These demons torment like the sting of a scorpion strike. A scorpion represents a scourge, a whip; something which stings. Evil men scourged innocent Jesus. Now, it is time for the tables to be overturned, and for the Lamb to exact vengeance.
In those days men will “seek death and will not find it.” There is a fate worse than death; to fall into the hands of an angry God. (Job 3:20-26) Light will exist for Men at this time; in fact, they will be aware the light is diminished. (Refer to Revelation 8:12, the fourth trumpet). They will be aware of what is happening to them, and recognize God’s wrath is being poured out upon them. Their consciences will be pricked and tell them they are wrong, but their evil, pride, bitterness, and hatred will not allow them to repent.
The phrase, “seek death and not find it,” does not mean they will try to kill themselves and be unable to do so. Rather, this refers to the conscience of man, the Holy Spirit’s voice, man’s God consciousness. They will do whatever they can to kill their spirit and consciences, so as not to listen to God, or be aware of Him. They hope in doing so, they will escape judgement. Many do so today, with drugs, alcohol, sex, or money. “. . . Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their consciences seared with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Jonah 1:1:3
God the Holy Spirit will not allow them to forget. This constant reminder will be part of the torment man will go through at this time. They will remember those “sealed,” possibly close family members, over whom demonic torment has no effect. The ungodly will recognize and reject the truth. This will only add to their bitterness and hatred toward God. In rejecting repentance, they seal their fate.
Satan’s Demonic Armies
The scene which follows is a picture of the demonic armies of Satan. These are not the armies of the Antichrist; his armies come with the sixth trumpet, verse thirteen.
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 the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lion’s teeth. 9 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.”
The horse is symbolic for power, strength, and conquest. Remember the four horses and riders from chapter six. The demonic army is bent on conquering the earth and the spirit world by force from the four horsemen and armies of God. They are using scorched earth tactics. If Satan can’t receive mankind’s worship, he doesn’t want God to receive any either. So the marching orders of Satan’s armies are to destroy mankind. These demons will meet their Waterloo in the final battle of Armageddon with the armies of the Antichrist. Actually, they are gathered together in Revelation sixteen verse sixteen, but the actual battle takes place in the nineteenth chapter, starting at verse seventeen.
These demonic spirits wear “crowns of something like gold.” In Numbers chapter sixteen, two-hundred and fifty elders rebelled against Moses and Aaron, and tried to usurp their authority. These elders made censors out of bronze (brass) and offered incense to the Lord, which they did not have the authority to do. With disobedient hearts they offered up a substitute offering of their own hands. (Cain and Abel, Genesis 4:1-6) Because of these elders’ disobedience and heart attitude, God destroyed them to purge the sin from among the people.
Here in Revelation nine verse seven, brass crowns represent demons who try to usurp authority from Christ. Crowns are symbolic of ruling, or kingship. They call themselves rulers, but with fake credentials and artificial authority.
“Faces like men” refers to the physical appearance, the “visage” of these demons. John says “their shape is like a horse.” He is speaking figuratively about the way they move and act. The Greek word is homoios: similar in appearance or character, resembling. Their actual physical appearance is of a man. These demons take on the form of men. This means they can mix in with men and be mistaken for men. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; in so much, if possible they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24) This prophecy by Jesus warned Christians throughout the church age.
In fact, “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14
These demons had hair like women’s hair. In 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, Paul tells us, a woman’s hair is a covering; her glory. Hair is symbolic for a covering of glory. These demons are are glorious, handsome, beautiful, wondrous to behold. Theirs is the glory of the flesh, not of God.
Breastplates of iron refers to armor and defense. Iron is symbolic for strength, inflexible, crushing rule. “Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he harshly oppressed the children of Israel.” Judges 4:3
Iron breastplates symbolize the crushing down of all opposition with their iron rule. This happens in many places today under totalitarian rule. These symbols John uses remind many of the ruthlessness of the Assyrian army, who ran roughshod over much of the area between Babylon and Rome. Infamous for their iron chariots; they crushed everything in their path. They are unstoppable.
Israel did defeat them on occasion, with God’s divine intervention. 2 Kings 18 and 19
The wings of these demons will sound like chariots and horses. Wings are symbolic for supernatural transport. The movements of this demonic army will not be in secret. They will move openly, like an army on the move. Man will discern this army’s war plans but will be unable to stop them. The first thing a tyrannical government does is disarm the people.
10 “ They had tails like scorpions, with stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 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. 12 One woe is past, behold two more are yet to come.”
Tails like scorpions is symbolic for the end, that which stings, that which brings death.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 tells us, the sting of death is sin, and the wages of sin is death. To the redeemed, no sin, no sting of death exists. “O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
This sting and torment over evil men will last five months. Again, five is the number of grace. The torment will last for God’s perfect time. God’s grace is sufficient to keep what is delivered to Him against that day! 2 Timothy 1:12
The Hebrew word, Abaddon, is translated “destruction.” Apollyon is the Greek word apolluon, “destroyer.” These are names of Satan, the destroyer. John 10:10
13 “The sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, “Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.” 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.”
Four is the number of the world, or creation. 1 Kings 1:50 tells us the horns of the altar represent safety from retaliation, or request for mercy. To ask for sanctuary, one caught hold of the horns of the altar. The horns were smeared with the blood of the sacrifice of atonement. Grasping the horns meant: “My sins are atoned for; I am no longer guilty.”
The voice from the horns of the altar is the collective voice of those under the altar in chapter eight, verses four and five. They call down the plague and God’s vengeance by reason of their innocence. Their sins are atoned for by the blood of the Lamb’s sacrifice. They are redeemed. They will now be avenged.
The voice calls out, “liberate the four angels.” These angels are bound at the river and must be liberated or loosed. Some scholars believe these are powerful angels set as heavenly guards at the east bank of the Euphrates, to hold back the army waiting on the other side. They are God’s angels. Why would they need to be liberated?
The key words here are “loosed” and “bound.” Loose is the Greek lyo, to loose, release, untie, break free. Bound is the Greek deo, to tie, bind, or imprison.
These four angels represent the spirit of worldliness, or antichrist. Michael and his angels imprisoned him in Revelation chapter seven, verse one, waiting for the time to be released upon the world for the final battle with the armies of Christ.
The river Euphrates became the perfect historical boundary of Israel. Beyond lay Babylon and Assyria. Genesis 15:18
Babylon is symbolic for apostasy and worldliness
Assyria is symbolic for paganism and sin
Assyrians were a pagan people, related to the Babylonians but much fiercer warriors. God used the Assyrians to terrify and punish disobedient Israel. So will this army rise up to terrify a disobedient world. They will kill one third of mankind. Again, the number one third is divine completeness. God’s work is about to be completed.
The Armies of Antichrist
16 “Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.”
What follows is a vision of the armies of the Antichrist. They are a counterfeit of Christ’s armies. (Revelation 19:11-21) Two hundred million represents an impossible number to imagine.
Remember; in Revelation all numbers mean something. Two hundred million is ten thousand times ten thousand times two. Two is the number of witness and confirmation. Ten is the number of judgement. Ten thousand times ten thousand is an “uncountable number.” An uncountable number will witness the judgement God is about to unleash as man destroys himself.
In chapter five, verse eleven, ten thousand times ten thousand is the number of saints gathered around the throne in heaven. This is the same number used to number God’s armies. Psalms 68:17-18
17 “Thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 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. 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.”
In these verses, the horses are the most terrifying aspect of the army. Police forces in major cities still use officers on horseback for riot and crowd control because of the ability of horses to intimidate and terrify. A horse is symbolic of power, strength, and conquest. These horses’ “heads are like lions.”
A lion is symbolic for courage and boldness
The head is symbolic for thoughts, mind, and intellect
These horses are bold as lions with thoughts only of conquest.
Note the color of the riders’ breastplates: fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. They match the smoke, fire, and brimstone (sulfur) the horses exhale.
Brimstone (yellow) is symbolic of the judgement and punishment from God.
Smoke (hyacinth) is symbolic for the presence of God
Fire (red) represents purification
These horses and riders represent judgement. The ungodly are being punished, the earth is being cleansed and purified of sin. Revelation 8:7
The horses’ “power is in their mouths and in their tails.”
Mouth represents their testimony
Tail is symbolic for the end, or death
They had tails like a serpent. Serpent represents subtlety, deception, and lies. The punishment and death brought by these armies come from the satanic lies and deceptions they speak. Man’s dominion on earth will end as it began. This is fitting. As in the garden of Eden, the serpent will again beguile his victims.
“Don’t worry, God isn’t real. It’s all a myth.”
“Truth is not relevant. Times change.”
“If it feels good, do it. The end justifies the means.”
“They don’t want you to enjoy your life.”
“Did God really say that? You’ll not surely die.”
“This is all coincidence.”
“You, too, can be God.”
20 “But the rest of mankind, those 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. 21 They did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immoralities or their thefts.”