From Behind The Veil (13)

The Sixth Trumpet – The Second Woe and the Release at the Euphrates

Revelation 9:13–16 KJV 1900

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

(Continue through Revelation 9:17–21 for full contect)

Revelation 9:17–21 KJV 1900

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Introduction

The fifth trumpet opened the abyss and released torment.

The sixth trumpet escalates from torment… to death.

This is the second woe.

Now the judgment intensifies to a level never seen before.

Behind the veil, we move from:

Spiritual oppression → To massive, physical destruction.

And this time, the judgment is not just allowed—it is scheduled.

The Voice from the Altar – Judgment Connected to Prayer

Scripture: Revelation 9:13

“…a voice from the four horns of the golden altar…”

This is the same altar we saw in:

Revelation 6 – the martyrs crying out Revelation 8 – the prayers of the saints rising

“Horns” – Greek: keras (Strong’s G2768)

Meaning:

• power • authority • strength

In the Old Testament, the horns of the altar represented:

Refuge Justice Authority

Exodus 30:10

“…Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns…”

Now a voice comes from that place.

Behind the veil we see:

The prayers that rose earlier are now being answered in judgment.

The Four Angels Bound at the Euphrates

Scripture: Revelation 9:14

“…Loose the four angels which are bound…”

“Bound” – Greek: deō (Strong’s G1210)

Meaning:

• to tie • to restrain • to imprison

These are not holy angels freely serving God.

These are restrained beings.

Now notice their location:

“…in the great river Euphrates…”

The Euphrates is significant throughout Scripture.

Genesis 2:14 – one of the original rivers of Eden Genesis 15:18 – boundary of the promised land Jeremiah 46:10 – place of judgment Revelation 16:12 – final gathering point for armies

The Euphrates represents:

• boundaries • transitions • conflict zones

Behind the veil we see:

This is not random—it is tied to a region of prophetic importance.

Appointed Time – Divine Precision

Scripture: Revelation 9:15

“…prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year…”

“Prepared” – Greek: hetoimazō (Strong’s G2090)

Meaning:

• to make ready • to prepare in advance

This is one of the most powerful statements in this passage.

This event was:

Planned Scheduled Prepared

Down to the exact time.

Nothing here is reaction.

Everything is pre-determined.

Behind the veil we see:

God’s timeline is precise—even in judgment.

One Third of Mankind Killed

Scripture: Revelation 9:15

“…for to slay the third part of men.”

“Slay” – Greek: apokteinō (Strong’s G615)

Meaning:

• to kill • to destroy

This is a massive escalation.

Fourth seal – one fourth of the earth affected Now – one third of mankind killed

This is global.

Unprecedented.

Behind the veil we see:

Judgment is increasing in both scale and severity.

The Army – 200 Million

Scripture: Revelation 9:16

“…two hundred thousand thousand…”

That is:

200,000,000

John says:

“I heard the number…”

This is not symbolic guessing.

This is a stated number.

Now the question arises:

Is this a human army or something else?

The description that follows gives clarity.

The Nature of the Army

Scripture: Revelation 9:17–19

“…horses… heads of lions… fire and smoke and brimstone…”

“…their tails were like unto serpents…”

This is not normal warfare imagery.

The elements include:

Fire (Strong’s G4442) Smoke (G2586) Brimstone (G2303 – sulfur, associated with divine judgment)

These are the same elements seen in:

Genesis 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah) Revelation 14:10 Revelation 19:20

This suggests:

This army is not purely human.

It carries supernatural characteristics.

Behind the veil we see:

This is a hybrid release—physical destruction with spiritual origin.

The Tragic Response – No Repentance

Scripture: Revelation 9:20–21

“…the rest of the men… repented not…”

This is one of the most sobering parts of the entire chapter.

After:

Mass death Mass destruction Clear judgment

Still…

No repentance.

They continue in:

Idolatry Murder Sorcery Fornication Theft

“Sorceries” – Greek: pharmakeia (Strong’s G5331)

Meaning:

• use of drugs • occult practices • spiritual deception

Behind the veil we see:

Judgment alone does not produce repentance.

A hardened heart resists even truth made visible.

Connection to the Sixth Bowl

Revelation 16:12

“…the great river Euphrates… dried up…”

Both the sixth trumpet and sixth bowl involve:

The Euphrates The movement of forces Preparation for final conflict

This shows:

The trumpet initiates something The bowl completes it

Behind the veil we see:

God is moving history toward a final confrontation.

Application

God’s timing is exact.

Nothing happens early or late.

2. Spiritual restraint exists.

These angels were bound—until God released them.

3. Judgment reveals the condition of the heart.

Even after everything, many still refuse to repent.

4. The unseen realm is real.

What happens on earth is often driven by what is released from beyond it.

Closing Insight

The sixth trumpet reveals a sobering truth:

When restraint is removed, destruction increases rapidly.

Behind the veil we see:

God is not reacting to history—He is directing it.

Even in judgment, there is order.

Even in chaos, there is control.

Next Session Preview

In the next session, we will move into Revelation 10 and the pause before the final trumpet.

A mighty angel will descend. A little book will be opened. And John will be told to eat the scroll.

This is a transition moment.

Before the final trumpet sounds, God reveals something deeper.

But remember this:

Before the final judgment is completed, God always gives revelation.