Revelation 9:1-21 (July 16, 2025)

9:1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.[a] 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth; 9 they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.[b]

12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.

13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar 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, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. 17 And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire[c] and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Footnotes

Revelation 9:1 Greek the abyss; also verses 2, 11

Revelation 9:11 Abaddon means destruction; Apollyon means destroyer

Revelation 9:17 Greek hyacinth

Revelation 9

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Summary

As the fifth and sixth trumpets sound, the judgments intensify. These are no longer natural disasters but terrifying plagues beyond our realm, revealing the deeper realities behind human rebellion. When the fifth angel blows his trumpet, a star falls from heaven. It is given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit (v. 1). Smoke pours out, darkening the air, and from the pit emerge demonic locusts with terrifying power—not to kill, but to torment those without the seal of God for five months (vv. 3–5). These locusts represent spiritual deception and oppressive forces unleashed upon the unrepentant.

Then the sixth trumpet sounds (v. 13), and four bound angels are released to kill a third of mankind (v. 15). A massive army of horsemen appears, breathing fire, smoke, and sulfur. These images recall the plagues of Egypt and the power of death. Yet despite all this, the chapter ends with a haunting statement: “The rest of mankind… did not repent” (vv. 20–21).

This is a terrifying passage, and it is also deeply theological. Evil is real. However, God sets boundaries on the power of evil. Even terrifying judgment is ultimately meant to call sinners to repentance.

13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar 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, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

Who is God

God is sovereign over all things, including the rebellious and dark demonic beings. God is not the source of evil, and yet evil does not run free apart from God. The fallen star is given the key to the abyss (v. 1). The locusts are allowed to torment but not kill (v. 5). The angels of death are released at a specific hour determined by God (v. 15). Evil is not unleashed randomly—every movement is under God’s control. Satan is not God's equal. God rules over all, even as He permits the forces of evil to reveal human sin and bring justice.

God is also holy and patient. The horror of these judgments is not the final word—they are partial, restrained, and aimed at awakening a slumbering world. God could have brought destruction, but instead gives time to repent. His patience is meant to lead to salvation.

What is our Guilt

We are guilty of living in spiritual blindness. The people tormented in this chapter are those who do “not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (v. 4). They are vulnerable because they live apart from God. The locusts represent the spiritual agony of those enslaved to idols, false religion, and inner torment.

Yet even after divine warnings, humanity refuses to repent (vv. 20–21). This is our most profound guilt: stubborn idolatry. We worship evil spirits, trust in created things, such as material possessions, temporal pleasures, and earthly power over people. This is how we persist in our sins. We even call good "evil" and evil "good." We are unbothered by the judgment of God.

The list of sins in verse 21 is sobering: murder, sorcery (φαρμακεία—linked to occult practices), sexual immorality, and theft. These are not just personal failings—they are signs of a society under judgment, one that clings to sin despite divine warnings.

How does Grace Shine

Grace shines in the limits. The demonic forces are restrained. Their power is great, but not ultimate. Their time is limited. They cannot touch those sealed by God. For believers, the torment is not for them, because they belong to the Lamb who already bore their judgment.

Grace also shines in the call to repent. Even amid these horrors, the goal is not vengeance but redemption. The very fact that “the rest of mankind… did not repent” implies that repentance was still possible. God’s desire is that none should perish, even those walking in deep rebellion.

And grace shines most clearly in the cross. Jesus entered the darkest pit, bore the curse, and triumphed over demonic powers (Col. 2:15). For those in Christ, the plagues of Revelation are not wrath but warning signs—reminders of what we've been saved from and what others still need saving from.

Prayer

Sovereign and merciful God,

we tremble before your holiness. You alone rule over history, over angels and demons, over death and life.

Forgive us for our stubborn hearts—for the idols we cherish and the sins we excuse. Forgive us for forgetting the cost of our salvation and the depth of your mercy.

Thank you that in Christ we are sealed and secure. Thank you for your judgment is not the end, but your kindness leads to repentance.

Let us never grow cold to your warnings or deaf to your call. May we live as those awakened by grace, pointing others to the Lamb who rescues us from wrath.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• What spiritual realities might be hiding behind the visible trials and turmoil of our world?

• Are there areas in your life where you see the mercy of God calling you to repent?

• How can you live more intentionally as one who is sealed and protected by the Lamb?