Hell on Earth - Revelation 9:1-21

Introduction

Revelation 9 unveils the dreadful diabolical deeds destined for the earth. The 5th & 6th trumpets sound forth the first and second “woe” judgments (8:13), signaling the seriousness and solemness of divine retribution upon a rebellious race. The phrase “the inhabiters of the earth” (8:13) describes not merely geographical residents, but a Moral Class - those whose hearts and hopes are set upon earth, who mind earthly things (Philippians 3:19). These Earth Dwellers have utterly rejected Jesus Christ, living for this life only, caring nothing for Heaven.

Part One: The 5th Trumpet - The First Woe: Demonic Torment Unleashed

1. The Personality Presented - (9:1)

The Fallen Star - Satan’s Sinister Standing

His Person Identified - Notice the pronoun “him” it reveals this star is an intelligent being, not a celestial body.

His Plunge Indicated - The verb “fall” suggest this had already occurred. It is a reference to Lucifer’s rebellion.

Revelation 8:10 “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;”

Revelation 12:7–9 “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Isaiah 14:12–15 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Luke 10:18 “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

His Parallel Illustrated - The passage in Luke confirms this star’s identity.

His Position Indicated - Satan stands as “the great enemy of God and man,” now he is granted temporary authority over the abyss.

2. The Pit Penetrated - (9:2)

The Dreadful Dungeon - The Abyss Accessed

The Pit’s Dread is Described - Even the demons feared the pit.

Luke 8:31 “And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.”

The Pit’s Detainees are Declared - Fallen angels are said to be held as prisoners in this pit.

Jude 6 “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

The Pit’s Depths Designated - The pit is located according to Ephesians in the lower parts of the earth. It is the realm Christ entered at death.

Ephesians 4:9 “(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”

The Pit’s Dominion Determined - Christ holds the authority over the abyss and He alone grants the key to Satan.

Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

There is a Doctrinal note which must be discussed at this point:

2 Peter 2:4–5 “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

Nor did God spare His own Son!

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Therefore, let no unrepentant sinner expect exemption from divine judgement.

3. The Plague Produced - (9:3-6)

The Tormenting Terror - Demonic Devastation

The Darkness that now is Descending - As a volcano eruption produces a black sulfuric smoke that darkens the sun, terrors more than human are now descending. These are demonic terrors that have been unleashed upon the earth.

The Demons that are Deployed - From the pit emerge demons to torment souls and bodies of those who rejected Christ.

The Duration is Defined - Five months of relentless torment upon humanity.

The Death so quickly Denied - (9:6) death itself quickly flees from the suffering.

During this time there are those who are protected (9:4) The locust only hurt the vegetation and unredeemed humanity. God’s sealed servants stand secure.

4. The Portrait Painted - (9:7-10)

The Infernal Infantry - Demonic Description

These are not ordinary locust, but these are intelligent demonic beings.

Exodus 10:12–25 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left. And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only. And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the Lord. And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God.”

Proverbs 30:27 “The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands;”

Feature Description Significance

Shape Like horses for battle Strength for warfare

Crowns Like gold upon heads Sovereignty claimed

Faces As faces of men Intelligence possessed

Hair As hair of women Seduction suggested

Teeth As teeth of lions Savagery displayed

Breastplates As iron armor Invincibility implied

Wings Sound of chariots Swiftness in attack

Tails Like scorpions with strings Suffering inflicted

5. The Prince Proclaimed - (9:11)

The Destroyer Disclosed - Satan’s Sinister Sovereignty

His Name Noted - Abaddon (Hebrew) = Destruction; Apollyon (Greek) = Destroyer

His Nature Noted - This king’s purpose is destruction. It is the opposite of Jesus Christ’s purpose to save. Jesus came to seek and save. This destroyer is someone else other than Satan.

2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Satan is not given the name of “Abaddon” or “Apollyon” Satan doesn’t arrive at the bottomless pit until Revelation 20:2-3.

His Network Noted - Ruling demons under his authority.

His Necessity Noted - Names given in Hebrew and Greek indicate judgement upon both Jew and Gentile.