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Revelation 9

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1The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him.

2He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit.

3Then out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don't have God's seal on their foreheads.

5They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person.

6In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

7The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people's faces.

8They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like those of lions.

9They had breastplates, like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, or of many horses rushing to war.

10They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months.

11They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon."

12The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.

13The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14saying to the sixth angel who had one trumpet, "Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!"

15The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind.

16The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them.

17Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur.

18By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths.

19For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm.

20The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn't repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn't worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk.

21They didn't repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.

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Revelation 9:1-12 Verses 1-12

Upon sounding the fifth trumpet, a star fell from heaven to the earth. Having ceased to be a minister of Christ, he who is represented by this star becomes the minister of the devil; and lets loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ. On the opening of the bottomless pit, there arose a great smoke. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by putting out light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. Out of this smoke there came a swarm of locusts, emblems of the devil's agents, who promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty. The trees and the grass, the true believers, whether young or more advanced, should be untouched. But a secret poison and infection in the soul, should rob many others of purity, and afterwards of peace. The locusts had no power to hurt those who had the seal of God. God's all-powerful, distinguishing grace will keep his people from total and final apostacy. The power is limited to a short season; but it would be very sharp. In such events the faithful share the common calamity, but from the pestilence of error they might and would be safe. We collect from Scripture, that such errors were to try and prove the Christians, 1Co 11:19. And early writers plainly refer this to the first great host of corrupters who overspread the Christian church.

Revelation 9:13-21 Verses 13-21

The sixth angel sounded, and here the power of the Turks seems the subject. Their time is limited. They not only slew in war, but brought a poisonous and ruinous religion. The antichristian generation repented not under these dreadful judgments. From this sixth trumpet learn that God can make one enemy of the church a scourge and a plague to another. The idolatry in the remains of the eastern church and elsewhere, and the sins of professed Christians, render this prophecy and its fulfilment more wonderful. And the attentive reader of Scripture and history, may find his faith and hope strengthened by events, which in other respects fill his heart with anguish and his eyes with tears, while he sees that men who escape these plagues, repent not of their evil works, but go on with idolatries, wickedness, and cruelty, till wrath comes upon them to the utmost.

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Afflictions and Adversities: Obduracy In Revelation 9:20, 21

Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. / Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft.

Armies: Compared to Locusts Revelation 9:3, 7

And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. / And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads, and faces like the faces of men.

Armies: Figurative Revelation 9:16

And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number.

Astronomy: Sidereal Phenomena Revelation 9:1, 2

Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss. / The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.

Brass: Articles Made of Idols Revelation 9:20

Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Breastplate for Soldiers: Bright and Shining Revelation 9:17

Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.

Breastplate for Soldiers: Made of Iron Revelation 9:9

They also had thoraxes like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

Breastplate: Armor for Soldiers Revelation 9:9, 17

They also had thoraxes like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. / Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.

Brimstone: Figurative Revelation 9:17, 18

Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur. / A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.

Cavalry: Mounted: On Horses Revelation 9:16–18

And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number. / Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur. / A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.

Chariot: Chariots of God Revelation 9:9

They also had thoraxes like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

China Revelation 9:16–18

And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number. / Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur. / A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.

Copper Brass: Made Into: Idols Revelation 9:20

Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Crown: Symbolical Revelation 9:7

And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads, and faces like the faces of men.

Darkness of Judgments Revelation 9:2

The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.

Day: Prophetic Revelation 9:15

So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

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