Revelation 9 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Revelation 9. On the ordinary theory ch. 9 continues the account of the trumpets commenced in Revelation 8. But if we follow Charles in excising Revelation 8:7-12, there were originally not seven but three trumpets, an account of two of which forms the theme of ch. 9.

The Fifth Trumpet or the First Woe. The seer sees a star fallen on the earth. The star seems to represent a person, possibly Satan (cf. Luke 10:18). abyss: the word properly means bottomless, and is used in OT of the abode of the dead, e.g. Psalms 71:20. The abyss is approached by a shaft or well, here translated pit, which is closed and kept under lock and key.

Revelation 9:3. out of the smoke came. locusts: cf. Exodus 10:13 and Driver's quotation of the observations of a modern traveller: we observed large dark clouds resembling smoke moving to and fro. One morning these clouds came down and proved to be locusts. (CB, Joel, p. 90). power was given to them: these locusts were specially endowed with the scorpion-like power of tormenting men.

Revelation 9:4. not hurt the grass: this conflicts with Revelation 8:7, where, as the result of the first trumpet, all green grass was burnt up. seal of God: Revelation 7:3 ff *.

Revelation 9:5. five months: this is supposed to represent the ordinary duration of a plague of locusts. The object of the plague is not to kill, but to torture and torment.

Revelation 9:7. like unto horses: this description is taken from Joel 2:4. crowns. men's faces: these two features seem to be peculiar to the locusts of the abyss; there is nothing about the ordinary locust to account for this description.

Revelation 9:11. They have. as king: In Proverbs 30:27 it is stated that locusts have no king, but these locusts belong to the abyss. Abaddon: the word only occurs in what is known as the Wisdom Literature (Job 26:6; Job 28:22; Psalms 88:11; Proverbs 15:11 *, etc.), where it means ruin or destruction, either on earth or in Sheol. Here Destruction is personified. Apollyon is the Greek equivalent for Abaddon.

The Sixth Trumpet or the Second Woe. The loosing of the four angels of death, and the slaughter of a third part of the human race.

Revelation 9:13. the horns: the corners. the golden altar: cf. Revelation 8:3.

Revelation 9:14. Loose the four angels: these angels are kept bound in the river Euphrates (cf. Revelation 16:12) waiting for the day of vengeance. There is a striking parallel in a Syriac Apocalypse of Ezra, Let these four kings be loosed which are bound near the great river Euphrates which shall destroy a third part of mankind. Many commentators see in this reference an expectation that the armies of Parthia were soon to be loosed on the Roman Empire.

Revelation 9:16. The figure 200, 000, 000 is probably derived from Psalms 68:17, The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands.

Revelation 9:17. hyacinth is sometimes used as (a) the name of a precious stone (Revelation 21:20), (b) of a dye, i.e. blue. The breastplates appeared as flame-coloured, smoky blue, and yellow like sulphur.

[Revelation 9:19. their tails: The Parthians twisted their horses-' tails to a point. There may be a further reference to their skill in shooting backwards. A. J. G.]

Revelation 9:20. the rest of mankind, i.e. the two-thirds who were not killed. worship devils: both in OT and NT the worship of the pagan world is said to be given to demons (cf. Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalms 106:37; 1 Corinthians 10:20).

Revelation 9:21. The four sins mentioned in this verse are the characteristic vices of the pagan world. For the connexion between idolatry and immorality cf. Romans 12:1-21. [sorceries: the Gr. word means magic spells inciting to illicit lusts. A. J. G.]