- The Fifth Trumpet: (9:1-12):
Each of the first four trumpet judgements affect the physical universe in some way, but with the sounding of the 5th Trumpet the focus will shift from the physical to the spiritual realm.
When the 5th angel sounded his trumpet, John saw a star from heaven that had fallen to the earth. The star is not an inanimate piece of celestial matter, but an angelic being (Job.38:7). John identifies him as a living being. Jesus said that He had seen Satan fall like lightning from Heaven, so it can be assumed that the star is Satan (Lk.10:18) and he’s been told to open the shaft of the Abyss to release a swarm of “locusts.”When he opened the Abyss, vast volume of smoke issued from the abyss that the sun and the air were darkened by it.
The locusts are very strange never seen on Earth before. Normal locusts are vegetarian, but these are prevented from eating the grass, plants, or trees. Instead they attack people, but only unbelievers, and when they do they sting them like a scorpion would, causing pain so intense that their victims will pray for death. The devastating pain inflicted by these demons will be far worse than that of actual scorpions. And their leader is the angel of the Abyss, whose name means “Destroyer” in both languages. King Solomon (Pro. 30:27) informs us that normal locusts have no king but these have a king which speak of something different). Even today we can’t relate these so-called locusts to anything in our world. They’re clearly a demonic manifestation of some sort.But none of these torments turned the people of Earth from their rebellious ways.
Ex: One swarm of normal locusts over the Red Sea in 1889 was reported to have covered 2000 sq. miles. The destruction they can cause to the crops and other vegetation is staggering. Certainly Satan would want to kill all the unbelievers to keep them from repenting. But God in His mercy, will give people torment for 5-months (the normal life span of locusts). During this time, the unbelievers would hear the message preached by Jewish evangelists (1,44,000 saints), the 2-witnesses and other believers. These five months would the final opportunity for many people.
The appearance of locusts: (9:7-10):
- The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle.
- On their heads, as it were, crowns like gold. The crowns are not literal gold crowns, but give the appearance as gold. Perhaps, they shine like gold.
- Their faces were like the faces of men. The locust-like-creatures have both the characteristics of animals and humans.
- They had hair like the hair of women having a seductive character.
- Their teeth were like the teeth of lions, focuses attention on the destructive capabilities of these creatures. It is the sting of these creatures that man will fear, however, their appearance is not encouraging. These creatures have the ability to kill, but they are not permitted to do so.
- They had breastplates like breastplates of iron is perhaps a reference back to the animal-like characteristics. As horses prepared for battle, these creatures have a covering across their chest.
- The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots. John focus on the tremendous number of these creatures. The sound of their moving is like the moving of an army. Every intent is taken to terrorize mankind.
- They have tails like scorpions is the shape of the locusts’ tail.
- In their tails is their power to hurt men is again a focus on their authority. People will have no weapon that can harm them and no cure for the terrible torment they inflict.
- They have as king over them suggests that these locusts have order and purpose. These creatures have a unique purpose and as such are required a strict discipline, which perhaps explains their need for a king. (Pro.30:27 states) “The locusts have no king…” However, no contradiction exists here because these horrible locusts-like creatures only appear as locusts.
- The angel of the abyss is identified as king over the horrible locust-like-creatures. This angel is over the bottomless pit. It does not say that the angel is from the bottomless pit.