Revelation Session 18

Revelation 9 continues the sequence of trumpet judgments and focuses on the fifth and sixth trumpets, often called the first two “woes.”

Fifth Trumpet (First Woe)

• A “star” falls from heaven to earth and is given the key to the bottomless pit (Abyss).
• When the pit is opened, smoke pours out, darkening the sky.
• From the smoke come locust-like creatures with terrifying, almost demonic features.
• They are not allowed to harm vegetation, but instead torment people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads.
• Their torment is like the sting of a scorpion and lasts five months.
• People suffer so intensely that they seek death, but cannot die.
• The locusts are led by a king called Abaddon (Hebrew) / Apollyon (Greek), meaning “Destroyer.”

Sixth Trumpet (Second Woe)

• Four angels bound at the Euphrates River are released at a specific appointed time.
• They lead a massive army of 200 million mounted troops.
• The horses are described as breathing fire, smoke, and sulfur, which kill a third of humanity.
• Despite these catastrophic events, the survivors still refuse to repent of their sins—such as idolatry, murder, sorcery, immorality, and theft.

Key Themes

• Judgment and warning: The plagues are severe but still allow opportunity for repentance.
• Spiritual warfare: The imagery suggests demonic forces at work.
• Human stubbornness: Even in extreme suffering, many refuse to turn from wrongdoing.

(NOTE) The Abyss in Revelation 9 represents a controlled realm of evil and chaos, from which destructive forces can be released—but only under God’s authority. It highlights both:

• The reality of spiritual evil
• And the fact that it is not ultimately in control