Revelation 8:5-9:21
As we enter into this section of Scripture, it would be helpful for us to remember two things. First, what is being presented here is a vision. Remember that, when we saw Jesus in Revelation 5, He was presented to us as a lion who was, in fact, a sheep, and not only a sheep, but a sheep with seven horns and seven eyes. This informs how we should understand this section. We are given pictures that communicate spiritual truths in a symbolic way. The second thing we need to remember is that Revelation is a letter written to the churches and letters such as this were read out loud to a gathered congregation. As the letter was read, the people were expected to understand what was being read to them. They didn’t have the luxury of calling out to the elder who read the letter and asking him to slow down and dissect every tiny detail. No, they heard the vision, made the connections to the Old Testament that the images appealed to, and they got the point without venturing into wild speculations over every little detail. Remembering these two things will serve us well in our study of Revelation.
Now, let’s do a little review. In chapter 6, with the opening of the seals, our focus has been on the people of God. The opening of the first four seals, brought war, famine, inflation, pestilence, etc. and the question was raised, “What about the people of God? Does all of this mean that they will also face God’s wrath?” The answer comes back, “No.” In chapter 7, we find God’s people sealed, marked as His own, and protected from His wrath. Instead of wrath, they receive the promise of eternal life in the New Heavens and New Earth where there will be no hunger, thirst, or suffering. Then, last time, we came to chapter 8 where the prayers of God’s people are placed upon the altar before God and mixed with incense that represents the prayers of the Holy Spirit and Christ as they intercede for us. We concluded with verse 5 where we are shown that these prayers are answered in the form of God’s judgment on the wicked. Thunder and lightning and earthquakes being common descriptions of God’s mighty presence, and the censer is filled with fire and thrown to the earth.
Main Points of this Section of Scripture
In 8:2 we were told that seven trumpets had been given to seven angels who stand before God. Now that the censer filled with fire has been thrown to the earth, it was time for the trumpets to be blown and, with the blowing of the trumpets, we see the perspective change. We are no longer looking at events as they relate to God’s people, but we are looking at events from the perspective of what happens to those who refuse God’s offer of grace and mercy through Christ. As we do, we learn several things that make up the main points of this section:
• As the end grows closer, things on earth will get worse.
• Much of it what will happen will be due to the activity of Satan.
• In the face of these things, the church should not despair as Satan has no authority beyond what God gives him.
• As the end draws near, much of Satan’s activity is focused on the lost.
• We should not be surprised when the world continues in their unbelief and rebellion no matter how bad things get.
• The call remains to those who do not believe: repent before it is too late.
Old Testament Background
Now, how were the original hearers intended to pick up on these points as this letter was read to them? What connections were they to make to what they already knew from Scripture?
First, let’s consider the seven trumpets. Is there another place in Scripture where seven trumpets are at the center of God’s activity? Indeed, there is. Joshua chapter 6 presents us with the story of the fall of Jericho. As Joshua prepared to lead the people of God into the promised land, he sent spies into the land to see their prospects of entering in without trouble. Were enemies lying in wait who will prevent God’s people from entering? The spies find the city of Jericho where the enemies of Israel dwelt. They learn, however, that the people of Jericho had heard the news of how God had been at work on behalf of His people in freeing them from Egypt and defeating their enemies along the way. The city’s inhabitants were so afraid of facing the same fate that they had closed all the gates of the city to secure it from attack. Having received this report, Joshua is told by God that He has given Jericho into his hands. Joshua was to get seven priests with seven trumpets and they were to lead a march around the city, encircling it one time every day for six days. On the 7th day, however, they were to march around the city seven times and, then, the priests were to blow the trumpets, the people were to shout, and they would all watch as the walls around Jericho would fall. The blast of seven trumpets lead to the downfall of the city that stood between them and the promised land that lay ahead. And, now, here in Revelation, the blast of seven trumpets heralds the fall of wicked city Babylon making way for the people of God to enter into the eternal land of promise.
The second thing to notice is what happens with the blowing of the trumpets. When the angels blow the trumpets, what befalls the earth in many ways resembles the plagues in Egypt. In fact, the first trumpet corresponds to the seventh plague; the third trumpet corresponds to the second plague; the fourth trumpet corresponds to the ninth plague; and the fifth trumpet corresponds to the eight plague. Furthermore, one of the things that shocks us most with the story of the Egyptian plagues is that, despite all that fell upon Egypt, Pharoah’s heart remained hardened and he would not let the people of Israel go. Now, here in Revelation, with the blowing of the trumpets come plagues sent upon the earth but we read in 9:20 that, “The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands.”
These two Old Testament stories interwoven here in chapters 8 and 9 are more important for grasping the meaning of this section of Scripture than our understanding why the locusts look like they are wearing golden crowns (9:7). The wicked city of Babylon, which stands for the world order that stands in opposition to God’s kingdom, like Jericho, stands between God’s people and the enjoyment of the promised land. But, like Jericho, God will bring it crashing down. Before He does so, however, He sends plagues as both a judgement and warning. But, like Pharoah, those opposed to God will have hearts hardened in resistance to Him to the very end. And consider that Pharoah was his own people’s worst enemy. His refusal to bow to the commands of God caused the Egyptian people to lose everything. The one whom they followed led them to their own destruction. So it is in this world. Following the prince of this world, Satan, will lead the lost to their own destruction.
The Trumpets
The first four trumpets, in many ways, echo the first four seals in that they represent tribulation falling upon the earth that affects the land, the sea, even the skies, but these come with an intensification of the destruction. Here we find another Old Testament allusion. The extent of the judgments, in each case is 1/3 of the earth (and the sun, moon, and stars). This echoes Ezekiel 5 where God, coming in judgment against rebellious and idolatrous Jerusalem, says, “A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst….Thus shall my anger spend itself and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the LORD- that I have spoken in my jealousy- when I spend my fury upon them” (Ezekiel 5:12-13). Surely these first four trumpets are expressing the same ends. God’s judgment upon rebellious and idolatrous mankind comes in the form of famine as vegetation is destroyed, the ability to transport food and supplies is interrupted, fish and other food gathered from the sea is limited, water is rendered undrinkable, and the regularity of the sun and moon, day and night, which supports the growth of crops, is hindered.
In Revelation 18, there is an interesting parallel to the second trumpet. Babylon is likened to a great millstone thrown into the sea and, in watching the fall of the city, the shipmasters and sailors cry out over her destruction as they see the means by which they gained wealth destroyed (18:17-19). So, perhaps, the second trumpet can be likened to the collapse of cities and the resulting financial hardships that follow. The imagery of Wormwood making the waters bitter is another Old Testament allusion, this time coming from Jeremiah where God’s judgments against the idolatrous people of Israel involved Him giving them “poisonous water to drink” (Jer. 9:15).
The overall picture here involves famine and other sources of suffering sent as forms of God’s judgment. Should God’s people be alarmed? We recall, in 7:1-3, that the people of God were sealed so that any harm that came to the “earth, sea or trees” did not affect them. We can conclude, therefore, that what is described here in the first four trumpets is judgment specifically sent by God against the ungodly.
In verse 13, we have the cry of an eagle declaring “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow.” Much like the call of the seraphim, “Holy, Holy, Holy” emphasized that God’s holiness was unlike any other, so here, three woes proclaim that His judgment is about to become incredibly fierce and that the final judgment is just on the horizon.
We now come to chapter 9 and the fifth angel blows their trumpet and John says he saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth and this angel was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit or, literally, “the abyss.” This “star” is referring to a personality as it was given a key with which it opens the pit. Who is this?
We find our answer in Luke 10:17-20. The 72 disciples, whom Jesus had sent out to spread the message of the kingdom, returned to Him declaring, “Even the demons are subject to us in your name.” Jesus responds, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” The fact that this one who opened the pit is referred to as an angel that is king over those that came from the pit and his name is Abaddon or Apollyon which mean “destroyer” (9:11) most certainly points to the fact that this is Satan. He opens the pit and what comes forth is an army of demons who are permitted to afflict the inhabitants of earth, “but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (9:4).
This vision given to John is likely informed, not only by the tenth plague of Exodus 10, but even more so by Joel chapters 1 and 2, where God’s judgment is likened to swarms of locusts that have lion’s teeth, the appearance of war horses and warriors, and who bring fire and destruction with them darkening the sun and moon. So much energy has been spent on trying to figure out what the locusts are, with some arguing that John had been given a vision of Apache helicopters. But figuring out what John is saying is really not that hard once you remember that he has been given the same sort of visions that the prophets of the Old Testament had. He is using the same imagery, the same allusions. The original hearers were not mystified by these prophecies because they knew their Old Testament Scriptures and John was using illustrations that were familiar to them and should be familiar to us. Some of the details, however, seem to come, not from the Scriptures, but from nature. For example, in verse 5, we are told that they were given permission to torment the people for five months. Why five months? It could be because the lifecycle of a locust is 3-5 months. So, the picture given here is that of demons given permission to afflict mankind for as long as they have strength to do so but, just as with Satan in the book of Job, they are prohibited from killing, but only to bring torment.
The torment that they bring comes like the sting from a scorpion. Why is it likened to that? Returning to Luke 10:17-20, we find Jesus saying, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” These demons may be scary and dangerous, but not to the children of God whose names are written in heaven because God’s name is written on their forehead (Rev. 7:3).
In verse 13, the sixth angel blows his trumpet and a message comes from the altar before God where the prayers of God’s people have been laid, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” The fact that they are released points to the fact that they have been held there against their wills. Why at the Euphrates river? Because it was beyond the river that the enemies always came. Warnings came in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Joel of enemies who would come across the river to afflict Israel. In Jeremiah 46:2f, we read: “Concerning the army of Pharoah Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish….Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle! Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! ...He said, “I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.”
It always seemed to be that danger came from the direction of the Euphrates. In fact, when John was writing this, Rome’s greatest fear was that the Parthian calvary which was on the other side of the Euphrates, was prepping for an invasion. Perhaps that situation was what made this vision so powerful to those who heard it, and how could it not be? As the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month and the year, were now released to kill a third of mankind, a calvary of 200 million horses come storming across the Euphrates. It is likely that the number 200 million is simply another way of saying, “they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number” (Jer. 46:23).
These horses are clearly demonic and their power to destroy, “is in their mouths and in their tails” (vs. 19). Although we do not know for sure what this is referring to, it is difficult to not think of the fiery serpents of Numbers 21 and the sulfur and fire that rained down on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) when reading of the plagues brought by this calvary. It is important to remember that these plagues are falling upon those who have refused to repent. The children of God have been set aside and protected from these assaults. Satan is attacking and killing his own. In his 1977 hit “Only the Good Die Young,” Billy Joel croons, “They say there's a heaven for those who will wait, Some say it's better but I say it ain't, I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, The sinners are much more fun, You know that only the good die young.” Catchy tune, memorable lyrics but a deceptive lie of the devil. He entices and then he devours. That is our world today. The world offers that which it cannot fulfill, Satan promises that which he knows will only kill. Even knowing the depravity of man’s heart, we cannot help but be shocked when we read, “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood” (vs. 20). This does not have to be you. While there is still time, the call to you is to repent and believe upon Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
1. It is no wonder that Satan is called “the deceiver,” as he promises life but only delivers death and he turns on the very ones that belong to him. This describes not only the things to come, but the way things are today. What are some examples of Satan’s devices at work today?
2. The images described in this passage can be very frightening, but they should not be for the children of God. Why not?
3. Have you read authors, or heard preachers, describe the locusts as John’s attempt to describe helicopters, a vision of a future that he could not possibly make sense of? Did this lesson help you to make better sense of the passage? What are two things we need to always remember when approaching the visions of Revelation?
