REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 9.7
Gleanings from the Book of
Revelation:
A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study
Series
The
REVELATION TO JOHN
(The
Apocalypse)
Chapter
Nine
Judgment Resumed:
The Seven Trumpets
Trumpet Number 5: Woe Number 1
Demons from Hell: Their Appearance
(Verses 7-10)
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and
their faces were as the faces
of men.
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and
the sound of their wings was as
the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in
their tails: and their power was
to hurt men five months.
The
appearance of locust-like demons that spew from the Bottomless Pit may seem
exaggerated, but John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was instructed
by Jesus Christ, the Alpha, and the Omega
(cf.1:11), to accurately write in a book what he envisioned. Verses 7 through 10
present a detailed description, ten characteristics, and unusual features of
this demonic horde of hybrid locusts equipped for battle:
1. Their shapes
(verse 7)
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle
As
representatives of satanic power, the outer shells of this spiritual army of
destructive creatures are compared to horses armed and made ready for war.
Jeremiah 51:27 - Lift up a banner in the land! Blow the
trumpet among the nations! Prepare the
nations for battle…Appoint a commander against her [and] send up horses like a swarm of locusts. (NIV: emphasis mine).
2. Their heads (verse
7)
And on their heads were
as it were crowns like gold
The
answer as to why their heads appear to have crowns of gold is very simple: The
Greek word stephanos is used in this passage for a crown. They are not
badges of royalty or diadems. But you recall, stephanos were braided wreaths given to champions of battles or an
athletic competitor signifying victory, a victor's crown. Identifying crowns like gold merely symbolize their power
– A true picture of valorous triumphant
conquerors.
3. Their faces (verse
7)
And their faces were
as the faces of men
Speaking
in supernatural terms, their description does not identify them as men but
simply having faces that resemble men. Uniquely, they have rational
intelligence with the ability to follow and carry out orders or commands.
4. Their hair (verse
8)
And they had hair as the hair of women
Describing
demonic beings as having hair like women seems antithetical to this passage. However,
compare the account of Samson and his Nazarite
vow (cf. Numbers 6:2, 5). His long hair was his strength which persistently Delilah tricked him to reveal (cf.
Judges 16:6).
Regarding
hair Scripture informs:
1 Corinthians 11:14 – Doth (does) not
even nature itself teach you, that, if a man
have long hair, it is a shame unto
him?
1 Corinthians 11:15 - But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Even
though there seems to be a contradiction between Samson's case and Paul's
teaching: Samson was consecrated to God, but women's hair is used for their
glory. Both contain biblical principles – Consecration versus deception. In
this passage there is a certain allurement involved, i.e., luring men to their
doom. Even though locusts have antlers, long legs, and bristles on their
bodies, the depiction is one of long flowing hair as an intense seductiveness to
the vulnerability of minds, rather than the hearts of men.
5. Their teeth (verse
8)
And their teeth were as the
teeth of lions
Lion's
teeth are known to be sharp and slender ripping and tearing their prey into
pieces. So, the analogy is one of fierce cruelty as its ferociousness is demonstrated
in the Old Testament:
Joel 1:6-7 - For a nation is
come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are
the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. He hath laid my vine
waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are
made white.
6. Their attire
(verse 9)
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron
Breastplates
were worn as armor. When the Roman army engaged in battle, it afforded them to acquire
maximum protection against arrows, spears, and swords. Here spirits of the devil
sported something resembling breastplates of iron as indicative of
invulnerability and invincibility. A brief description is offered in Joel's
prophecy:
Joel 2:4, 5b - The appearance of them (the army of
locusts) is
as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run…as
a strong people set in battle
array.
The
word battle, of course, is also
speaking of calamity.
7. Their wings (verse
9)
And the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle
Scriptural
references to wings are usually associated with divine missions. In this
instance, John is vividly rendering myriads of chariots swiftly charging in a
confrontation. Imagine the noise of sizeable raining hailstones.
Now,
these are not like today's vernacular, which includes:
1. Helicopters
2. Airplanes
3. Drones
Look
at the wording of John once again:
Revelation 9:9b – And the sound of their wings was like
the sound of moving chariots, of many horses running
into battle. (Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament: An Expanded Translation [William B. Publishing
Company, [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1961], 600).
The
implication of their swiftness almost compares to Alexander the Great's army as
it marched across continents and conquered vast territories.
8. Their tails (verse
10)
And they had tails like unto scorpions
The
scorpion is predominantly a symbol of evil. They are ugly. And, they are
intimidatingly frightening, especially those of the Middle Eastern deserts. Roman
soldiers during the time of Christ's crucifixion, borne flags displaying their
image.
9. Their weapons
(verse 10)
And there were stings in their tails
Tails
of scorpions cause severe pain and agony from their sting. Certain species
contain venom, symbolic of deadly power. However, during this judgment, they are
not authorized to hurt men.
10. Their power (verse
10)
And their power was
to hurt men five months
As
discussed in the previous study, men had a five-month reprieve from death. For
this reason, God's grace is once again demonstrated so that men repent from
their evil ways and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
(Verse 11)
And they (the
demonic locusts) had (have) a king over them, which
is the angel of the Bottomless Pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue
hath his name Apollyon.
Two
words emphatically describe their leader leaving no doubt in the reader's mind
as to whom John is describing. Both names are translated as destroyer, thus giving
a clear picture recognizing the destroyer of men's souls – Satan.
1. Abaddon: Manifested
is Abaddon, the Hebrew word for
perdition, destruction, or the destroyer
2. Apollyon:
In Greek terminology (the present participle of the verb to destroy), Apollyon
also means the destroyer, pointing directly to their king
Both
names define the destroyer. Isn't it interesting that he is revealed in
Revelation 9:11? The angel of the Bottomless
Pit is whom we labeled earlier, Jesus' great arch-enemy - Satan.
And they (the
demonic locusts) had (have) a king over them
Wherefore
the Devil himself is the king whom the armies of locusts obey. Thus, they
have a leader and are extremely well organized.
Fascinatingly,
earthly locusts are quite the opposite, i.e., by having a mob mentality:
Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts
have no king, yet go they forth all of them
by bands.
Commentary
And
so, during the first woe, death will not come to those who refuse to accept
Jesus Christ for five months. This will be an opportune time allotted to them
once again, an extension of God's grace for repentance. Consequently, at least
in Noah's day, people had every opportunity to repent before judgment occurred.
Once it began, however, the unrepentant people drowned.
Throughout
Job's dialogue between him and God, Job is asked:
Job 38:17 -
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
In
Job's ignorance, God was trying to convince him that he knew nothing in
comparison to His wisdom. However, by the Holy Spirit, we have been given the
full revelation of Hell, death, and Satan. It is our responsibility to heed
God's warnings and be in obedience to His precepts in the present. Also, we are
held accountable, as chosen ones, to tell others the good news of the Gospel,
and of judgment that looms ahead for those who do not repent and accept Christ
as Saviour.
To
quote Matthew Henry: "Those who find
mercy themselves should endeavour that through their mercy others also may
obtain mercy."
In
the words of Christ:
Luke 12:48b - For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will
ask the more.
Therefore
Paul writes concerning the Second Coming:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 - But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Even
though you may have peace with God, James offers encouragement to anyone
experiencing hardships and trials:
James 1:2-6 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (various) temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying (testing) of
your faith worketh patience. But let
patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom,
let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let
him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For
he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven
with the wind and tossed.
During
the next study, Trumpet Number Six is sounded and the Second Woe will be
revealed.
QUESTIONS:
1. Name some examples of demon possession in the Gospels?
2. Are locusts demons or demon-possessed?
3. Cite five characteristics of this army?
4. What is the significance of hair?
5. What are the Hebrew, Greek, and English names of their king?
6. Why is a five-month restriction mandated?
7. What is our responsibility as believers in the End Times?
If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing
to others.
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