Revelation (Adults)

Chapter 9

Lesson written by David Riggs and Murray Wade

Read the background information, the chapter, and answer the questions below.

SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In this chapter we begin a study of the three woe trumpets. These will be more severe than the first four (corresponding to what was said in 8:13). The fifth angel sounded (or first woe) and John sees a star fall from heaven to the earth. The star becomes personified for he receives the key to open the bottomless pit. This star is probably not Satan as most commentaries state, but is the angel which has the "key" of the bottomless pit (see Revelation 20:1). The bottomless pit ("pit of the abyss" ASV) as seen from other verses is the abode of the devil (Revelation 17:8; 20:1-3). When he opened the bottomless pit, a great smoke ascended from it and out of the smoke came forth locusts and they were given power like that of scorpions. From the time of Moses locusts have been instruments of divine judgment (Exodus 10:3-6; Deuteronomy 28:38-42; 1 Kings 8:37; Joel 2:1-11, 25). Here they are commanded to hurt only those men who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

In the book of Revelation we have: [1] Those who have the seal God on their foreheads (7:3-8). [2] Those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (9:4). [3] Those who have the mark of the beast (13:16-17, 14:9,11; 16:2; 19:20). [4] Those who did not have the mark of the beast (15:2; 20:4).

The sixth angel and trumpet (or second woe) describes the unleashing of armies that bring destruction to a third part of those without the seal of God in the foreheads. These may have been the Parthians in the East--from the land of the Euphrates. As always, John's use of the term "Euphrates" is figurative and not literal. God's forces of vengeance against the persecutors (a theme of the book, 6:9-11; 7:13-17; 13:7-8; 16:6-7; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2; 20:4), were held in restraint at their border until a time determined by Him. The destruction of the enemies of God's people would shortly come to pass. The theme of the book is not "God's determined punishment on Israel" as some claim.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR REVELATION 9

1. What authority were the locusts given in the 5^th trumpet (i.e., 1^st woe) and for how long?

2. In verses 7-10 there are 8 descriptions of the locusts. Please try to list them.

3. Who were protected from the locusts?

4. In verse 13 the golden altar is mentioned. When has this been mentioned in Revelation before?

5. How many horsemen came from the 6^th trumpet (i.e., 2^nd woe)? What were they to do?

6. What resulted from the three plagues mentioned?  

7. Did the locust, the army, and the plagues bring about repentance?