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Revelation 9:1-21 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 the fifth G3991 angel G32 sounded, G4537 and G2532 I saw G1492 a star G792 fall G4098 from G1537 heaven G3772 unto G1519 the earth: G1093 and G2532 to him G846 was given G1325 the key G2807 of the bottomless G12 pit. G5421

2 And G2532 he opened G455 the bottomless G12 pit; G5421 and G2532 there arose G305 a smoke G2586 out of G1537 the pit, G5421 as G5613 the smoke G2586 of a great G3173 furnace; G2575 and G2532 the sun G2246 and G2532 the air G109 were darkened G4654 by reason of G1537 the smoke G2586 of the pit. G5421

3 And G2532 there came G1831 out of G1537 the smoke G2586 locusts G200 upon G1519 the earth: G1093 and G2532 unto them G846 was given G1325 power, G1849 as G5613 the scorpions G4651 of the earth G1093 have G2192 power. G1849

4 And G2532 it was commanded G4483 them G846 that G3363 they should G91 not G3363 hurt G91 the grass G5528 of the earth, G1093 neither G3761 any G3956 green thing, G5515 neither G3761 any G3956 tree; G1186 but G1508 only G3441 those men G444 which G3748 have G2192 not G3756 the seal G4973 of God G2316 in G1909 their G846 foreheads. G3359

5 And G2532 to them G846 it was given G1325 that G3363 they should G615 not G3363 kill G615 them, G846 but G235 that G2443 they should be tormented G928 five G4002 months: G3376 and G2532 their G846 torment G929 was as G5613 the torment G929 of a scorpion, G4651 when G3752 he striketh G3817 a man. G444

6 And G2532 in G1722 those G1565 days G2250 shall men G444 seek G2212 death, G2288 and G2532 shall G2147 not G3756 find G2147 it; G846 and G2532 shall desire G1937 to die, G599 and G2532 death G2288 shall flee G5343 from G575 them. G846

7 And G2532 the shapes G3667 of the locusts G200 were like G3664 unto horses G2462 prepared G2090 unto G1519 battle; G4171 and G2532 on G1909 their G846 heads G2776 were as it were G5613 crowns G4735 like G3664 gold, G5557 and G2532 their G846 faces G4383 were as G5613 the faces G4383 of men. G444

8 And G2532 they had G2192 hair G2359 as G5613 the hair G2359 of women, G1135 and G2532 their G846 teeth G3599 were G2258 as G5613 the teeth of lions. G3023

9 And G2532 they had G2192 breastplates, G2382 as it were G5613 breastplates G2382 of iron; G4603 and G2532 the sound G5456 of their G846 wings G4420 was as G5613 the sound G5456 of chariots G716 of many G4183 horses G2462 running G5143 to G1519 battle. G4171

10 And G2532 they had G2192 tails G3769 like G3664 unto scorpions, G4651 and G2532 there were G2258 stings G2759 in G1722 their G846 tails: G3769 and G2532 their G846 power G1849 was to hurt G91 men G444 five G4002 months. G3376

11 And G2532 they had G2192 a king G935 over G1909 them, G848 which is the angel G32 of the bottomless pit, G12 whose G846 name G3686 in the Hebrew tongue G1447 is Abaddon, G3 but G2532 in G1722 the Greek tongue G1673 hath G2192 his name G3686 Apollyon. G623

12 One G3391 woe G3759 is past; G565 and, behold, G2400 there come G2064 two G1417 woes G3759 more G2089 hereafter. G3326 G5023

13 And G2532 the sixth G1623 angel G32 sounded, G4537 and G2532 I heard G191 a G3391 voice G5456 from G1537 the four G5064 horns G2768 of the golden G5552 altar G2379 which G3588 is before G1799 God, G2316

14 Saying G3004 to the sixth G1623 angel G32 which G3739 had G2192 the trumpet, G4536 Loose G3089 the four G5064 angels G32 which G3588 are bound G1210 in G1909 the great G3173 river G4215 Euphrates. G2166

15 And G2532 the four G5064 angels G32 were loosed, G3089 which G3588 were prepared G2090 for G1519 an hour, G5610 and G2532 a day, G2250 and G2532 a month, G3376 and G2532 a year, G1763 for to G2443 slay G615 the third part G5154 of men. G444

16 And G2532 the number G706 of the army G4753 of the horsemen G2461 were two hundred G1417 thousand G3461 thousand: G3461 and G2532 I heard G191 the number G706 of them. G846

17 And G2532 thus G3779 I saw G1492 the horses G2462 in G1722 the vision, G3706 and G2532 them that sat G2521 on G1909 them, G846 having G2192 breastplates G2382 of fire, G4447 and G2532 of jacinth, G5191 and G2532 brimstone: G2306 and G2532 the heads G2776 of the horses G2462 were as G5613 the heads G2776 of lions; G3023 and G2532 out of G1537 their G846 mouths G4750 issued G1607 fire G4442 and G2532 smoke G2586 and G2532 brimstone. G2303

18 By G5259 these G5130 three G5140 was G615 the third part G5154 of men G444 killed, G615 by G1537 the fire, G4442 and G2532 by G1537 the smoke, G2586 and G2532 by G1537 the brimstone, G2303 which G3588 issued G1607 out of G1537 their G846 mouths. G4750

19 For G1063 their G846 power G1849 is G1526 G2076 in G1722 their G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 in G1722 their G846 tails: G3769 for G1063 their G846 tails G3769 were like G3664 unto serpents, G3789 and had G2192 heads, G2776 and G2532 with G1722 them G846 they do hurt. G91

20 And G2532 the rest G3062 of the men G444 which G3739 were G615 not G3756 killed G615 by G1722 these G5025 plagues G4127 yet G3777 repented G3340 not G3777 of G1537 the works G2041 of their G846 hands, G5495 that G3363 they should G4352 not G3363 worship G4352 devils, G1140 and G2532 idols G1497 of gold, G5552 and G2532 silver, G693 and G2532 brass, G5470 and G2532 stone, G3035 and G2532 of wood: G3585 which G3739 neither G3777 can G1410 see, G991 nor G3777 hear, G191 nor G3777 walk: G4043

21 Neither G2532 G3756 repented they G3340 of G1537 their G846 murders, G5408 nor G3777 of G1537 their G846 sorceries, G5331 nor G3777 of G1537 their G846 fornication, G4202 nor G3777 of G1537 their G846 thefts. G2809

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Revelation 9

Commentary on Revelation 9 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 9

In this chapter we have an account of the sounding of the fifth and sixth trumpets, the appearances that attended them, and the events that were to follow; the fifth trumpet (v. 1-12), the sixth (v. 13-21).

Rev 9:1-12

Upon the sounding of this trumpet, the things to be observed are,

  • 1. A star falling from heaven to the earth. Some think this star represents some eminent bishop in the Christian church, some angel of the church; for, in the same way of speaking by which pastors are called stars, the church is called heaven; but who this is expositors do not agree. Some understand it of Boniface the third bishop of Rome, who assumed the title of universal bishop, by the favour of the emperor Phocas, who, being a usurper and tyrant in the state, allowed Boniface to be so in the church, as the reward of his flattery.
  • 2. To this fallen star was given the key of the bottomless pit. Having now ceased to be a minister of Christ, he becomes the antichrist, the minister of the devil; and by the permission of Christ, who had taken from him the keys of the church, he becomes the devil's turnkey, to let loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ.
  • 3. Upon the opening of the bottomless pit there arose a great smoke, which darkened the sun and the air. The devils are the powers of darkness; hell is the place of darkness. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by extinguishing light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. He first deceives men, and then destroys them; wretched souls follow him in the dark, or they durst not follow him.
  • 4. Out of this dark smoke there came a swarm of locusts, one of the plagues of Egypt, the devil's emissaries headed by the antichrist, all the rout and rabble of antichristian orders, to promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty; and these had, by the just permission of God, power to hurt those who had not the mark of God in their foreheads.
  • 5. The hurt they were to do them was not a bodily, but a spiritual hurt. They should not in a military way destroy all by fire and sword; the trees and the grass should be untouched, and those they hurt should not be slain; it should not be a persecution, but a secret poison and infection in their souls, which should rob them of their purity, and afterwards of their peace. Heresy is a poison in the soul, working slowly and secretly, but will be bitterness in the end.
  • 6. They had no power so much as to hurt those who had the seal of God in their foreheads. God's electing, effectual, distinguishing grace will preserve his people from total and final apostasy.
  • 7. The power given to these factors for hell is limited in point of time: five months, a certain season, and but a short season, though how short we cannot tell. Gospel-seasons have their limits, and times of seduction are limited too.
  • 8. Though it would be short, it would be very sharp, insomuch that those who were made to feel the malignity of this poison in their consciences would be weary of their lives, v. 6. A wounded spirit who can bear?
  • 9. These locusts were of a monstrous size and shape, v. 7, 8, etc. They were equipped for their work like horses prepared to battle.
    • (1.) They pretended to great authority, and seemed to be assured of victory: They had crowns like gold on their heads; it was not a true, but a counterfeit authority.
    • (2.) They had the show of wisdom and sagacity, the faces of men, though the spirit of devils.
    • (3.) They had all the allurements of seeming beauty, to ensnare and defile the minds of men-hair like women; their way of worship was very gaudy and ornamental.
    • (4.) Though they appeared with the tenderness of women, they had the teeth of lions, were really cruel creatures.
    • (5.) They had the defence and protection of earthly powers-breastplates of iron.
    • (6.) They made a mighty noise in the world; they flew about from one country to another, and the noise of their motion was like that of an army with chariots and horses.
    • (7.) Though at first they soothed and flattered men with a fair appearance, there was a sting in their tails; the cup of their abominations contained that which, though luscious at first, would at length bite like a serpent and sting like an adder.
    • (8.) The king and commander of this hellish squadron is here described,
      • [1.] As an angel; so he was by nature, an angel, once one of the angels of heaven.
      • [2.] The angel of the bottomless pit; an angel still, but a fallen angel, fallen into the bottomless pit, vastly large, and out of which there is no recovery.
      • [3.] In these infernal regions he is a sort of prince and governor, and has the powers of darkness under his rule and command.
      • [4.] His true name is Abaddon, Apollyon-a destroyer, for that is his business, his design, and employment, to which he diligently attends, in which he is very successful, and takes a horrid hellish pleasure; it is about this destroying work that he sends out his emissaries and armies to destroy the souls of men. And now here we have the end of one woe; and where one ends another begins.

Rev 9:13-21

Here let us consider the preface to this vision, and then the vision itself.

  • I. The preface to this vision: A voice was heard from the horns of the golden altar, v. 13, 14. Here observe,
    • 1. The power of the church's enemies is restrained till God gives the word to have them turned loose.
    • 2. When nations are ripe for punishment, those instruments of God's anger that were before restrained are let loose upon them, v. 14.
    • 3. The instruments that God makes use of to punish a people may sometimes lie at a great distance from them, so that no danger may be apprehended from them. These four messengers of divine judgment lay bound in the river Euphrates, a great way from the European nations. Here the Turkish power had its rise, which seems to be the story of this vision.
  • II. The vision itself: And the four angels that had been bound in the great river Euphrates were now loosed, v. 15, 16. And here observe,
    • 1. The time of their military operations and executions is limited to an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year. Prophetic characters of time are hardly to be understood by us; but in general the time is fixed to an hour, when it shall begin and when it shall end; and how far the execution shall prevail, even to a third part of the inhabitants of the earth. God will make the wrath of man praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain.
    • 2. The army that was to execute this great commission is mustered, and the number found to be of horsemen two hundred thousand thousand; but we are left to guess what the infantry must be. In general, it tells us, the armies of the Mahomedan empire should be vastly great; and so it is certain they were.
    • 3. Their formidable equipage and appearance, v. 17. As the horses were fierce, like lions, and eager to rush into the battle, so those who sat upon them were clad in bright and costly armour, with all the ensigns of martial courage, zeal, and resolution.
    • 4. The vast havoc and desolation that they made in the Roman empire, which had now become antichristian: A third part of them were killed; they went as far as their commission suffered them, and they could go no further.
    • 5. Their artillery, by which they made such slaughter, described by fire, smoke, and brimstone, issuing out of the mouths of their horses, and the stings that were in their tails. It is Mr. Mede's opinion that this is a prediction of great guns, those instruments of cruelty which make such destruction: he observes, These were first used by the Turks at the siege of Constantinople, and, being new and strange, were very terrible, and did great execution. However, here seems to be an allusion to what is mentioned in the former vision, that, as antichrist had his forces of a spiritual nature, like scorpions poisoning the minds of men with error and idolatry, so the Turks, who were raised up to punish the antichristian apostasy, had their scorpions and their stings too, to hurt and kill the bodies of those who had been the murderers of so many souls.
    • 6. Observe the impenitency of the antichristian generation under these dreadful judgments (v. 20); the rest of the men who were not killed repented not, they still persisted in those sins for which God was so severely punishing them, which were,
      • (1.) Their idolatry; they would not cast away their images, though they could do them no good, could not see, nor hear, nor walk.
      • (2.) Their murders (v. 21), which they had committed upon the saints and servants of Christ. Popery is a bloody religion, and seems resolved to continue such.
      • (3.) Their sorceries; they have their charms, and magic arts, and rites in exorcism and other things.
      • (4.) Their fornication; they allow both spiritual and carnal impurity, and promote it in themselves and others.
      • (5.) Their thefts; they have by unjust means heaped together a vast deal of wealth, to the injury and impoverishing of families, cities, princes, and nations. These are the flagrant crimes of antichrist and his agents; and, though God has revealed his wrath from heaven against them, they are obstinate, hardened, and impenitent, and judicially so, for they must be destroyed.
  • III. From this sixth trumpet we learn,
    • 1. God can make one enemy of the church to be a scourge and plague to another.
    • 2. He who is the Lord of hosts has vast armies at his command, to serve his own purposes.
    • 3. The most formidable powers have limits set them, which they cannot transgress.
    • 4. When God's judgments are in the earth, he expects the inhabitants thereof should repent of sin, and learn righteousness.
    • 5. Impenitency under divine judgments is an iniquity that will be the ruin of sinners; for where God judges he will overcome.