Revelation 9: Locating the Locusts in Prophecy

Revelation 9

1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

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

4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like to horses prepared to battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

10 And they had tails like to scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue has his name Apollyon.

12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like to serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The prophecy of the locusts in Revelation 9 has already been fulfilled in the past. This vision symbolizes the rise and impact of the Mohammedan religion and the Saracen and Ottoman empires.SITI July 6, 1888, page 411.3+1

Understanding the Symbolic Locusts in Revelation 9

The locusts described in Revelation 9 are not literal insects but represent a powerful military force that brought significant woe to a portion of mankind.EVRR256+2

• Symbolism of Swarming Numbers and Warfare: Locusts in Scripture often symbolize swarming, innumerable multitudes, and devastating forces. The Arab tribes, known for their great speed, irresistible progress, and widespread conquests, were aptly symbolized by swarms of locusts.EVRR282+15 This imagery also extends to their military tactics, particularly their strong cavalry and archers, which caused great terror. Revelation 9:7+1EVRR282+2

• Origin and Purpose: The locusts are depicted as emerging from a "bottomless pit" Revelation 9:1-3, which in a symbolic sense describes the source and inspiration of these forces as originating from Satan.EVRR346+2 This indicates that the rise of Mohammedanism, symbolized by the smoke and locusts, was a significant woe permitted by God, even serving to protect true Christianity by hindering the early development of papal apostasy.EVRR294

• Characteristics of the Army: The description of the locusts aligns with historical accounts of the Saracen warriors. They had "breastplates like breastplates of iron" Revelation 9:9, which Arab authorities confirm.EVRR282 Their appearance was "like horses prepared for battle" Revelation 9:7, a fitting description as their military force was primarily cavalry. The sound of their wings was "like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle" Revelation 9:9, aptly describing the terrifying rush of Arab cavalry.EVRR282+1 The term "Apollyon," the king of these locusts in Revelation 9:11 means "destroyer" and is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Abaddon."ETI Apollyon.2

• Duration of Torment: The prophecy states their power was to "hurt men five months" Revelation 9:5+3. In prophetic interpretation, a day often represents a year.SBBS 586.1 Therefore, five prophetic months (30 days/month x 5 months = 150 days) equate to 150 years of torment.BHB 121.3+1 This period marks the duration of the Saracen conquest and influence, starting from the Ottoman government's first attack on Eastern Rome on July 27, 1299, and extending 150 years to July 27, 1449.BHB 121.3 This first woe tormented men, but did not kill a third of mankind, as occurred with later trumpets.EVRR296

Prophetic Context and Significance

The book of Revelation, especially chapters 9 and 13, consistently uses symbols to represent earthly governments and spiritual forces. Revelation 9 specifically describes the rise of the Mohammedan religion.SITI July 6, 1888, page 411.3+3 The detailed prophecies in Daniel and Revelation are designed to give us light regarding the closing scenes of this world's history and the soon-coming transfer of all earthly governments to the great King of Righteousness. Revelation 14:6-7+2DAR 4.5 They stand as counterparts and should be studied together.DAR1909 3.4

The fulfillment of these prophecies demonstrates God's foreknowledge and His active hand in human history. God challenges false gods to show what will happen in the future, proving His own divine wisdom and power. Jeremiah 10:12+1CET 250.1 This deep knowledge of God, revealed through prophecy, is a source of wisdom, strength, and life for those who embrace it. Ecclesiastes 7:12+2PTUK June 29, 1899, page 406.3

The understanding of prophecies, particularly those in Daniel and Revelation, was foretold to increase greatly in "the time of the end." Daniel 8:171MR 63.1+1 This ongoing revelation of truth confirms the legitimacy of our faith and encourages a deeper study of God's Word.ARSH August 2, 1864, page 79.1+3

Thus, the prophecy of the locusts in Revelation 9 refers to historical events that have already taken place, serving as a powerful testimony to the accuracy of biblical prophecy.