Revelation Chapter 9

Rev. 9:1,2, 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. And 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.

The fifth trumpet says that a star from heaven falls to earth, now if you cross reference that to Rev. 12:4&9, you will see that this must refer to a fallen angel. This angel receives the key to the bottomless pit, meaning Hades, which in the Old Testament was the holding place for the spirits of the dead. It is the place to which Christ went down to and preached to the captives. At His resurrection took the Old Testament saints with Him to Paradise. But the unbelievers of the Old and New Testament are still in this place awaiting the judgment. In Christ's time it was divided into two parts, one part called Abraham's Bosom, the other part was called hell separated by a gulf but within viewing distance of each other. We will see later on that this is the Abyss where the Antichrist will come up from because we know that He is a dead man that will come to life.

This angel opens the bottomless pit and smoke pours out darkening the sun and air.

Rev. 9:3-12,

3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. And 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.

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 like the faces of men.

8 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth.

9 And 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.

10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.

11 And 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, still two more woes are coming after these things.

If you were to turn to Joel 2:1-11, you will see the prophet describing the events of the fifth trumpet.

Verses 3&4, I believe that what comes out of the smoke are demonic beings that by their appearance are locusts. These locusts were given power to harm only the people that did not have the seal of God in their foreheads. They could not touch the 144,000. Here we see God's protection. We also see that God limits the amount of destruction that is being done to what He allows them to do because God has always been in control. Nothing happens that God does not permit and He is in control during the outpouring of His wrath.

Verses 5-12, Notice they were not given the authority to kill, but to torment like the torment of a scorpion. Notice that the events of third trumpet lasts for five months. This is the time when men will seek death and not find it. The pain inflicted by these demonic locusts is so severe that people will desire to die but will not be able to. Verses 7-10 tells us what the Locusts were like, here symbolism is used to describe what the locusts looked like. Their appearance and sound will be terrifying, their breastplates may indicate that man-made weapons cannot destroy them. Verse 11, identifies their king as the angel of the bottomless pit who has the Hebrew name ABADDON, meaning Destruction and the Greek name APOLLYON, meaning Destroyer.

Rev. 9:13-21.

13 Then 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 who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at 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.

16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and 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.

20 But the rest of mankind, who were 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 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Here we have the sixth trumpet which is the second woe. The four angels of (V.14) again, must be fallen angels, since holy angels are not bound. These angels will be exceedingly evil and destructive, but note, they do not have the power to release themselves and do their own evil work on the earth. Instead they are held back by God and will be released at a specific time doing only what He allows them to do.

Babylon is an area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. It was referred to in history as a part of the fertile crescent. I will suggest to you later in our study that false religion had its start in Babylon and that New Age is simply a going back to Babylonianism. So these angels will be released from where false religion had its start. This was the area where the Gulf War was fought. In (v. 15), we have one third of all the people killed. In chapters 6,7,8, one fourth of mankind were killed. Thus over one-half of the world's people will have been killed since the wrath of God began. Even more would have been killed if God had not set limits on the destruction. In (v. 16) we have an army of 200 million, now, there are those who say this is a human army, maybe it is, but I suspect that it is a demonic army because they are led by four of Satan's angels. Verse 17, says that there are three plagues, fire, smoke and brimstone. Verse 18, says that the one third that are killed, are killed by these three plagues coming out of the mouths of the horses. Verse 19, says that they also had power in their serpent like tails, which had heads, to do harm.

The implications of these trumpets as they are blown are staggering and yet (v. 20 & 21) inform us that men do not repent from their sins, and (2 Thess. 2:10-12) tells us why; "...because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Does this remind you of the pharaoh of Egypt prior to the exodus? When men are involved in wickedness and judgment comes they just get more rebellious. So after these trumpet judgments the hearts of men are still wicked toward God.

May I inject something here. Stay away, avoid, flee, run away from anything that smells of the occult such as weegie boards, ambulates, charms, palm reading, horoscopes, or anything else that is even remotely connected to the occult. The reason is that Satan and demons will influence people through these kinds of things. The Antichrist will employ these methods during his reign where idols of himself will be demonically used to accomplish his purpose. That is not to say that you have to be afraid of the occult, greater is He that is in you then He that is in the world, so you can confront the occult in the name of Jesus, using the authority of His name to expose the occult for what it is and what it does, but never play with the tools that the occult uses.

We have come to the end of chapter nine and in chapter ten we will see a shift, we will see a shift in emphasis, we will see a shift in language which begins a new phase. So before we go on there are things that we need to look at so we can better understand chapters 10 & 11. Because these chapters bring these items together sequentially exactly the way they should be.

If you take Revelation as literal as possible in its sequence, there is evidence that the sixth trumpet ends the seventieth week of Daniel. Now remember that we get the structure for what we have been discussing out of the book of Daniel. The reason we do that is because Christ in His Olivet Discourse goes back to Daniel and says, "When you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, let the reader understand." So as you follow the sequence of events that you see in the book of Revelation you also see that it follows exactly the events that He shared with His disciples in the Olivet Discourse. So we have this seven-year period of time called the seventieth week of Daniel. In the middle of this week is when Antichrist sets himself up in the temple as God and begins what Rev. 12;12 calls the wrath of Satan, he begins the great persecution of the elect of God, known as the great tribulation.

However, Daniel tells us something else, he puts at the end of the seven years another 30 days and another 45 days before the book of Revelation shows you the Millennium. So you have a 7 year period of time, you have a 30 day period of time, you have a 45 day period of time and then you have a 1000 year period of time over which Christ will rule. That is the time line that is established by the book of Daniel. My belief is that the sixth trumpet of chapter 9, ends the seventieth week. Let me show you why I have come to that conclusion. Follow with me because it is not easy to explain.

When the fifth trumpet judgment is over, it says that the first of three woes are past. The sixth trumpet is the second woe, now notice that the first six trumpets follow each other in succession, when the events of one is finished the events of the other starts. At the end of the bad events of the sixth trumpet there is a break before the seventh trumpet is blown which permits a very interesting thing to happen. In chapter 11:3, authority is granted to God's two witnesses to prophesy for 1260 days and we will discuss this a little later, but the two witnesses prophesy for exactly for three and one-half years. Now the question, what three and one-half years do they prophesy, the first three and one-half or the second three and one-half? Well the text goes on to talk about how they die and how they are resurrected three and one-half days later (v.11), and when this is finished (v.14) says that the second woe is past.

Now there is no question that the fourth and fifth seal occurs in the second half of the seventieth week. Then we see the sixth seal with its signs in the sun, moon and stars which will cut the great tribulation short and the seventh seal which will allow the large scroll to be opened which will begin the wrath of God which also, without question, takes place within the last half of the seventieth week. If the two witnesses live for three and one-half years, then killed and raised after three and one-half days, which will end the second woe, now, the first woe which is the fifth trumpet is after the church is raptured which is sometime within the last three and one-half but before the end of the week, they must minister during the last half of the seventieth week. The two witnesses are said to have ministered for 1260 days, which are three and one-half years; they die after the sixth trumpet but are resurrected before the seventh trumpet. Because a literal interpretation of Revelation demands that the trumpet judgments come out of the seventh seal, which by definition must occur during the second half of the week, the two witness must live during the second half of the week. Therefore the last event of the seventieth week is the sixth trumpet.

This troubles a lot of people because, most people who take a literal view of eschatology would at the end of the seventieth week, have the bowl judgments, Armageddon, and the physical return of Christ to be completed. I will attempt to show you, that is just not the case without leaving any question in your mind about it.

So the end of chapter nine ends the seventieth week. Therefore, in chapters 10 & 11, we move into a time frame after the seventieth week is over, known as the 30-day reclamation period. Here we will have the seventh trumpet and the bowl events happening.

Now there are three events that we have to follow very carefully that are taught in the Old Testament, even though we cannot be precise as to the timing of these events in the Old Testament, in the book of Revelation we can be very precise because that is what chapters 10 & 11 deal with after the seventieth week is complete. One is the salvation of Israel, all throughout the Old Testament God says that the day is going to come when all Israel will be saved. Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah, and others refer to this. The second thing, is that God will take control of the earth again. We know that now, Satan has power on earth because Adam gave it to him and his kingdom is evident on earth right now and he will continue to be until Christ comes and puts him down. The third thing is the destruction of Antichrist. If you don't understand these three things you will never understand Revelation. Once we take a look at the Old Testament passages regarding this and then look at Revelation 10 & 11, you will see that it comes together beautifully.

What I would like to establish first is that the Antichrist does not die at the end of the seventieth week. Turn to Dan. 12:11, "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away", and according to Dan. 9:27, that happens at the midpoint of the week, "and the abomination of desolation is set up", which according to 2 Thess. 2:4, also occurs at the midpoint of the week, "there shall be 1290 days." Now 1290 days is three and one-half years plus 30 days. Daniel here is referring to the duration of the abomination. In other words, Antichrist's desecration of the temple (by stopping the sacrifice and demanding the world's worship from "the holy place") will continue from the middle of the week for 1290 days "until complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate" (Dan. 9:27). We therefore know with certainty that Antichrist will be destroyed on the last day of the thirty-day period--exactly 1290 after he desecrates the temple. As we shall see this is in perfect keeping with a literal sequential view of the book of Revelation. A literal hermeneutic of Revelation demands that the day of the Lord will continue after the seventieth week is complete, culminating later in the great battle of Armageddon. The key, then to making the obvious sequence of Revelation fit Daniel's seventieth week is to understand one simple fact--that Antichrist will not be defeated and evicted from earth's premises until the end of the thirty days that follow the close of the seventieth week. Then the sequence of the seals, trumpets, bowls, and Armageddon move smoothly, one after the other, perfectly harmonizing the prophecies of Daniel given over 600 years earlier. But you say, according to Rev. 13:5, Antichrist is given 42 months, yes, that is the amount of time he is given authority to act, that does not mean he is killed at that time. When you understand that point in your mind, Revelation makes sense in coming together. Now we get the seven years from the book of Daniel, and it is the Olivet Discourse that gives the right to use the book of Daniel. It is also the same book that gives us the 30 days, yet very few, if any, scholars take into account this 30 day period.

Now you may say that is fine, but isn't Israel saved at the end of the 30 days? And doesn't God take His reign at the end of the 30 days? The answer to both these questions is no. First let's talk about the salvation of Israel. Turn to Dan. 9:24, follow carefully as I read. The context of Daniel is this, Israel was in trouble, they had violated the commandment of God and the curse was upon them and they came to Daniel and said, "how much longer do we have to undergo this? Daniel informed them that the curse was upon the nation and the holy city, and it will be for 490 more years. Okay, listen to what verse 24 says, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. 490 years is the jail sentence, but notice the reason, "to bring in everlasting righteousness," there is your first hint of salvation. Who is he talking to? The nation of Israel, what he is saying is, look you are not going to be saved during the seventieth week but you will be saved after the 490 years are finished.

Hosea 5:3-6, I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; for now, O Ephraim, you commit harlotry; Israel is defiled. They do not direct their deeds toward turning to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is in their midst, and they do not know the LORD. The pride of Israel testifies to his face; therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them. With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; he has withdrawn Himself from them.

Israel had committed spiritual adultery, an offense so serious in God's eyes that "they will go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them." A few verses later the Lord declares directly through His prophet, " I will go away and return to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me" (v.15). Dan. 9:24, reveals when "in their affliction they will earnestly seek me." "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and for the holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity." Paul tells us that this partial hardening [that] has happened to Israel will continue "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (Romans 11:25). In other words Israel as a nation will not "acknowledge their guilt and seek my face" until after the seventieth week is complete. Only then can and will all Israel...be saved; just as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob" (Rom. 11:25&26).

Hosea goes on to reveal the exact day when Israel will acknowledge her sin and the exact day when the Lord will bring salvation to Israel. Immediately after the seventieth week is complete--on the first day following, when Israel has atoned for her sin--that chastened and repentant generation will say, " Come let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day that we may live before Him" (Hos. 6:1&2). The next verse goes on to say "His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the rain watering the earth" (v.3). When Christ comes to save the remnant of Israel that survives the seventieth week, He will come in person. After the completion of the seventieth week, when the sin of Israel has finally been atoned for, Israel will repent of her sin and three days later will be spiritually and physically united with her Messiah. This is one-half day before the two witnesses will be resurrected that Israel will be saved. You may say you are only assuming this here, but what seems to be the case here is without question documented when we get to Revelation chapter ten.

The other thing is that God will rule over the nations, now I just want to show you a couple of things regarding this. Turn to Dan. 7:9-12, "I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; his garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time."

What you see here is the sequence of setting up of the thrones, Christ taking His seat on the throne and the destruction of Antichrist. To show you that this is not taking scripture out of context, look at Dan. 2, here we see Nebuchadnezzar's statue of all the beast empires that will dominate Israel from the time of the writing of the book of Daniel until the last days. Dan. 2:44, "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

God sets up a kingdom while these nations are still in existence and His kingdom consumes all these other kingdoms and His kingdom endures forever. We see the kingdom set up as in Dan. 7 before the entire destruction of Nebuchadnezzar's statue, before the court sets and brings final judgment upon the nations we see the kingdom coming back to God.

Four things to remember:

#1. The sixth trumpet ends the seventieth week and chapters 10 & 11 moves us into the 30 days.

#2. Antichrist is destroyed at the end of the 30 days, not at the end of the seventieth week.

#3. Israel is saved when they have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ on the third day following the close of the seventieth week.

#4. God sets up His kingdom then He destroys the nations at the battle of Armageddon. It is important, if you want to understand Revelation to know this sequence.