The Fifth Trumpet

Rev 9:1-11;

Looking at the Seven Trumpets:

Most likely these are a revisitation of God’s justice that is poured out on the earth, but from a different perspectives

The trumpets and the bowls have echos of the plagues that got sent upon Egypt in the book of Exodus (Show Slide)

Trumpets are Split into sections, much like the seals:

Four Trumpets, and interlude, and then 3 more trumpets

Review of Trumpets

First Trumpet: Impacts the Land

Hail and fire (mixed with blood, obviously symbolic)

Echoes the plague of hail (Exodus 9:23-24)

Result?

Affects livestock, vegetation, atmosphere

Results in Famine

Second Trumpet: Impacts the Sea

Echoes the first plague of Egypt

The Nile likely literally turned to blood (narrative)

John picks up on that language and uses it apocalyptically to describe the effect that God’s judgement will have on the seas.

Main Point: God’s judgement will impact the oceans and seas

Food supply will be impacted

Natural Disasters? Tsunami would ensue

One third of the seas - probably not literal.

Third Trumpet: Impacts Rivers and Springs

A star called “Wormwood” falls from heaven and embitters the fresh water supply.

Rivers and Streams are supposed to be refreshing, but life on earth is polluted because of sin.

Fourth Judgement: Impacts the Sky

This recalls the plague of darkness upon Egypt

Interlude

Revelation 8:13 (ESV)

Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”

This interlude highlights the fact that the last three judgements will be worse than the first four.

Those who Dwell on Earth = Unbelievers

Believers and unbelievers alike are impacted by natural disasters

We need not fear the last three judgements though:

They only impact unbelievers. Those who have God’s mark will stand!

Unbelievers should be filled with horror!

Today: Fifth Trumpet

Verse 1:

Revelation 9:1 (ESV)

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) Star fallen from Heaven

Possibilities:

The consensus seems to be that this is an angel that falls from heaven. The debate seems to come with what kind of angel this is.

Good Angel (Thomas Schreiner)

He argues that in other places in Revelation, the angles that do God’s bidding are His angels.

2. A Fallen Angel

The falling start could represent an angel’s moral fall

3. Satan Himself

v. 11 seems to allude to Satan, but it is difficult to tell if the figure in that verse is the same fallen angel from verse 1.

B) The Bottomless Pit

The angel was granted a key to “open the bottomless pit.”

Symbolic language; simply means the realm where Satan dwells

The “key” simply means that the angel is granted authority to rule over those in the pit, implying that the angel’s authority is given by God.

Note: Key point is that God works through all and is sovereign over all things. When we see the pervasiveness of evil in our world, we must remember that God is still at work, which is meant to give believers hope and encouragement.

Verse 2

Revelation 9:2 (ESV)

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.

A) Rising Smoke

Smoke denotes judgement

This part of the judgement echos the plague of darkness upon Egypt.

Genesis 19:28 (ESV)

And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

Isaiah 34:10 (ESV)

Night and day it shall not be quenched;

its smoke shall go up forever.

From generation to generation it shall lie waste;

none shall pass through it forever and ever.

G.K. Beal - “The judgement formerly limited to the demonic realm is being extended to the earthly realm.”

B) Darkness

2...The sun and the air were darkened.

Often in the NT, darkness symbolizes spiritual blindness. In particular, John uses this symbol.

John 3:19–21 (ESV)

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John 8:12 (ESV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 11:10 (ESV)

But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

John 12:35–36 (ESV)

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

1 John 1:5 (ESV)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

*Whereas the first four trumpets depict judgements upon the created world, with the fifth trumpet, demons are commissioned to bring anguish upon those who have rejected God. It seems that those who have rejected God are tormented with spiritual darkness and hopelessness.

V. 3: Locusts

Revelation 9:3 (ESV)

Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.

Through the smoke, John sees locusts emerging upon the earth.

Locusts represent God’s judgment, again, echoing one of the plagues the Lord poured out on Egypt.

The locusts are likened to having the power of scorpions.

The locusts may refer to a human invasion.

More likely these are demonic beings. In the Scripture, scorpions are associated with the demonic.

Luke 10:19 (ESV)

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

It seems these are not literal locusts, but are likely demonic beings.

The fact that they are “given power” tells us that God has absolute sovereignty over the instruments of plagues, just as He did with the plagues that came upon Egypt.

V. 4

Revelation 9:4 (ESV)

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.

Again, being that the locusts don’t devour the plants or trees, suggests that they are not literal. These are demons from the abyss.

As the first four judgements harmed the land, seas, and sky, this judgement is directly against human beings.

The beings cannot harm those who have God’s seal on their foreheads.

Seal is a way of saying that they belong to God.

2 Corinthians 1:22 (ESV)

and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

God’s people (those who are in Christ) will not be harmed by these demonic beings.

V. 5

Revelation 9:5 (ESV)

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.

A) Explanation

Five is a symbolic number, which signifies a limited period of time.

The demons are allowed to torment unbelievers, but not to kill them.

Only 25 of the 1,500 known species of scorpions can kill humans. And even of the 25, it is rare for their sting to kill a healthy adult.

The stings are nonetheless extremely painful and can cause paralysis, convulsions, and shortness of breath.

B) Interpretation

The Greek word translated, “torment” can mean to vex with grievous pains in body or mind.

Many scholars believe that the torment described here is primarily spiritual and physical, since the word is often associated in Revelation with weeping and mourning.

V. 6

Revelation 9:6 (ESV)

And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

The fact that “people will seek death” seems to confirm their psychological distress and hopelessness.

These people desire death, but at the same time fear to die.

They are so anguished that they want life to be over, but they realize they are separated from God and yet have no hope for comfort in death.

Christians go through tribulation, but we have both the will to live and hope in death.

Philippians 1:21 (ESV)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

John 16:33 (ESV)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Christians have peace in tribulation; unbelievers can find no peace—no rest.

(The demoniac, crying out night and day).

V. 7

Revelation 9:7–10 (ESV)

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, their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 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. They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails.

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, their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth;

Think of locusts with long hair and crowns, and human faces… this is your worst nightmare come to life.

They had breastplates of iron, suggesting that they can’t be harmed.

They have tails like scorpions

This is symbolic language used to convey the horrors of God’s judgement against those who reject Him.

Revelation 9:11 (ESV)

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.

This verse confirms the demonic nature of the locusts

Actual locusts do not have a king, but these creatures do!

The King is likely Satan himself.

Apollyon means “destroyer;” Satan is the one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy.

The locusts become his agents of destruction.

The Hebrew, “Abaddon” has the same meaning, either “destruction” or “place of destruction.”

Application

We should question God’s justice

If we read this and ask “why God,” then we don’t understand the seriousness of sin.

2. When the powers of evil are doing their worst, we can be assured that God is in control.

3. The worst tribulation in the world right now is that fact that people have lost their minds. They are miserable and hopeless, and thus, it is clear, they are—in some sense—under Satan’s domain.

Think of the people who have rejected God.

Are they happy?

Are they content?

4. Warning:

Revelation is written primarily for Christians, reminding them not to flirt with the secular world or compromise with it, because it will ultimately be destroyed.

5. We should not envy our persecutors.

We should pity those who reject God and persecute us.

They will suffer more than we could ever imagine.

6. Be spurred on to evangelize