The Fifth Trumpet: The First Woe
The first “woe” announced in Revelation 8 now begins.
“Then the fifth angel sounded…” — Revelation 9:1
John sees:
“…a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.” — Revelation 9:1
The “star” is described as a personal being (“to him was given”), indicating an angelic being who is permitted by God to open the abyss. Even here, notice that the key is given—God remains sovereign over every event.
When the abyss is opened:
“…smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace…” — Revelation 9:2
The smoke darkens:
“…the sun and the air…” — Revelation 9:2
Out of the smoke come terrifying creatures.
“Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth…” — Revelation 9:3
These are not ordinary locusts. They are given:
“…power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” — Revelation 9:3
They are commanded:
“…not to harm the grass of the earth…” — Revelation 9:4
Unlike natural locusts, their target is not vegetation but people:
“…who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” — Revelation 9:4
Again, God’s people are distinguished and protected. The torment lasts:
“…five months.” — Revelation 9:5
It is so severe that:
“In those days men will seek death and will not find it…” — Revelation 9:6
John then describes the locusts using vivid symbolic language. They appear like horses prepared for battle. They wear something like crowns. Their faces resemble men. Their hair resembles women’s hair. Their teeth are like lions. Their wings thunder like chariots. Their tails sting like scorpions. Their king is identified.
“And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit…” — Revelation 9:11
His Hebrew name is:
“Abaddon…” — Revelation 9:11
His Greek name is:
“Apollyon.” — Revelation 9:11
Both names mean Destroyer. John concludes:
“One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming…” — Revelation 9:12
This reminds us that evil is terrifying, but it is never independent of God. Even the powers of darkness operate only within the limits established by His sovereign authority. Those who belong to Him remain under His care.
The Sixth Trumpet: The Second Woe
The sixth angel now sounds.
“Then the sixth angel sounded…” — Revelation 9:13
A voice comes:
“…from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God…” — Revelation 9:13
The command is given:
“Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” — Revelation 9:14
These angels have been prepared:
“…for the hour and day and month and year…” — Revelation 9:15
Their release is not accidental. It occurs precisely according to God’s perfect timetable. The result is staggering.
“…to kill a third of mankind.” — Revelation 9:15
John hears the size of the army.
“Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million…” — Revelation 9:16
He then describes the horses. Fire. Smoke. Brimstone. Their mouths and tails become instruments of destruction.
“By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed…” — Revelation 9:18
Revelation 9 teaches that God’s judgments unfold according to His perfect timing. Nothing happens by chance. Even the most terrifying events of history remain under the absolute authority of the sovereign God.
Humanity Still Refuses to Repent
Perhaps the most tragic verses in the chapter come at the end. Despite these overwhelming judgments:
“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent…” — Revelation 9:20
Instead they continue worshipping:
“…demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood…” — Revelation 9:20
John also lists other persistent sins. They refuse to repent of:
– murders, – sorceries, – sexual immorality, – thefts.
“And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” — Revelation 9:21
The deepest tragedy is not merely the severity of God’s judgments. It is the hardness of the human heart apart from His transforming grace. This reminds us that miraculous signs and terrifying judgments alone cannot change a sinful heart. Only genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ bring true transformation.
Deeper Waters
Revelation 9 presents two of the most sobering judgments in the entire book: the fifth and sixth trumpets, also called the first and second woes. While the earlier trumpet judgments primarily affected the natural world, these judgments increasingly affect humanity itself. Yet throughout the chapter one truth remains unmistakable:
God is completely sovereign. Nothing occurs outside His permission. Nothing exceeds His authority. Nothing escapes His perfect timetable. ## The Fifth Trumpet — The Abyss Is Opened John begins:
**”a star fallen from heaven.”**
Unlike literal stars, this “star” is described as a personal being because:
**”to him was given the key.”**
Throughout Revelation, stars often represent angelic beings. The important point is that the key is given. Authority never belongs independently to this being. God alone authorises the opening of:
**”the bottomless pit.”**
The abyss appears elsewhere in Scripture as a place where certain demonic beings are restrained (see Luke 8:31; Revelation 20:1–3). When opened, smoke rises. Darkness spreads. The imagery recalls the spiritual darkness produced by sin and satanic deception. From the abyss emerge extraordinary:
**”locusts.”**
John repeatedly uses comparisons:
– like horses, – like crowns, – like men’s faces, – like lions’ teeth. Rather than encouraging speculative identification, the language communicates terrifying power, intelligence, organisation, and destructive capability. Unlike ordinary locusts, they do not attack vegetation. Instead they torment:
**”only those men who do not have the seal of God.”**
This distinction is crucial. God’s servants remain under His sovereign protection. The torment lasts:
**”five months.”**
Even here, judgment remains limited. Its duration is fixed. Its target is defined. Its authority is restricted. The locusts cannot exceed the limits established by God. The suffering becomes so intense that:
**”men will seek death.”**
Yet even death remains under God’s authority. No one dies outside His sovereign will. The locusts have a king. John names him:
**”Abaddon.”**
Or in Greek:
**”Apollyon.”**
Both names mean:
**”Destroyer.”**
Throughout Scripture, Satan ultimately seeks destruction. Christ, by contrast, came that His people:
**”may have life.”** (John 10:10)
The contrast could not be greater. ## The Sixth Trumpet — The Second Woe The sixth trumpet begins at:
**”the golden altar.”**
Earlier in Revelation, this altar was associated with the prayers of God’s people. Now judgment proceeds from God’s own holy presence. The command comes:
**”Release the four angels.”**
Notice these angels have been:
**”bound.”**
Unlike God’s holy angels, these appear to be restrained until the precise moment appointed by God. Again the emphasis is God’s sovereignty. They have been prepared:
**”for the hour and day and month and year.”**
History unfolds according to God’s perfect calendar. Nothing occurs prematurely. Nothing occurs late. Everything happens precisely when God ordains. John hears:
**”two hundred million.”**
Whether understood literally or symbolically, the emphasis is overwhelming military power beyond ordinary human comprehension. The horses breathe:
– fire, – smoke, – brimstone. These images consistently portray divine judgment throughout Scripture. The devastation is enormous.
**”a third of mankind.”**
Yet even this remains partial. God’s judgments continue to demonstrate both justice and restraint. ## Humanity’s Tragic Response The chapter’s greatest tragedy appears not in the judgments themselves but in humanity’s response. John writes:
**”they did not repent.”**
Despite overwhelming evidence of God’s power, many continue rebelling against Him. Their sins include:
### False Worship They continue worshipping:
**”demons.”**
Idolatry ultimately leads away from the true God toward spiritual deception. John also lists:
– gold, – silver, – brass, – stone, – wood. These idols cannot:
– see, – hear, – walk. Humanity continues trusting powerless substitutes rather than the living God. ### Moral Rebellion John lists four representative sins:
– murders – sorceries – sexual immorality – thefts The word translated:
**”sorceries.”**
comes from the Greek word pharmakeia, referring in the ancient world to occult practices frequently associated with the use of potions or drugs in pagan worship. More broadly, it speaks of spiritual rebellion against God through occult practices.
The deeper issue is not merely individual sins. It is persistent refusal to repent. The judgments expose what already exists within the human heart. Without God’s transforming grace, even extraordinary demonstrations of divine power cannot produce genuine repentance. This confirms what Jesus repeatedly taught throughout the Gospels. External signs alone never create saving faith. Only the gracious work of God transforms the heart. ## Judgment and Mercy Together Even amid terrifying judgments, Revelation 9 still demonstrates God’s mercy. Notice the repeated limitations:
– five months, – one third, – appointed timing, – protected servants. God’s judgments are never uncontrolled expressions of anger. They are measured, purposeful, and completely just. Even now they serve as warnings calling people to repentance before the final judgment arrives. ## The Contrast with the Sealed People Throughout Revelation 7 and 9, an important contrast emerges. Those without God’s seal experience judgment. Those belonging to God remain securely His. The ultimate difference between these two groups is not personal merit. It is their relationship to the Lamb. Only those redeemed by Christ stand safely under God’s sovereign care. Revelation 9 encourages us to: re.member that God remains completely sovereign over every spiritual power, – refuse to fear evil more than they trust Christ, – recognise that Satan’s kingdom ultimately produces destruction, – understand that God’s judgments are always perfectly measured, – take seriously the danger of hardening the heart against God’s truth, – reject every form of idolatry and occult involvement, – pursue continual repentance rather than resisting God’s conviction, – rejoice that Christ knows and protects His own, – proclaim the Gospel urgently while God’s patience continues, – and rest confidently in the authority of the victorious Lamb.
Ultimately, Revelation 9 points us again to Jesus Christ, the sovereign Lord who alone possesses authority over both heaven and earth. Even the abyss opens only at His command, and every judgment unfolds according to His perfect timetable. The chapter reveals both the terrifying consequences of persistent rebellion and the amazing security of those who belong to Him. While humanity apart from Christ hardens its heart even under judgment, those sealed by the living God remain safely under the care of the Good Shepherd. Therefore, Revelation 9 calls every reader to flee from the kingdom of destruction and take refuge in the Lamb, whose mercy is still offered today and whose sovereign rule will one day bring evil to its complete and final end.