Five trumpets have already blown in Revelation and, as a
result, devastation has ravaged the planet and tormented many of her
inhabitants. After reading/studying what we have looked at so far in our
journey through this book, some might begin to wonder, “Why seven trumpets, why
not just one big one?” or, even better “why three waves of judgment? Why seals,
trumpets, and bowls?” More to the point, some might ask, “Why doesn’t God just
get on with it and execute his wrath all at once?” Today, as we take a look at
John’s description of the sixth trumpet, judgment is increased even further.
What is God up two. The plagues described so far (and those to come) demonstrate
two truths about our sovereign Lord: 1) he is holy and takes sin seriously 2) he
provides opportunity to the undeserving for forgiveness and redemption. These
truths are reiterated in Revelation 9:13-21 and remind us of how important it
is to share the gospel why there is still time for us to do so.
1) The Demand of the
Angel-9:13-15
When “the sixth angel sounded” his trumpet, John “heard a
voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God” (9:13). The
location of the voice (the golden altar) connects what follows in this trumpet
judgment with the calls for retribution in Revelation 6:10-11 and 8:3-5 from
the same space.
Revelation 6:10-“and they cried out with a loud
voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You
refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the
earth?’”
Revelation 8:3-4-“Another angel came and stood at
the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given
to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints
on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the
incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of
the angel’s hand.”
The prayers of the martyrs who have died at the hands of
wicked oppressors are now being answered in this unfolding saga as this voice
calls forth from the same place that the cries for vindication were uttered—the
altar. The four horns of this golden altar probably refer to the four
protruding corners of the structure itself that together demonstrate the
strength and power of God.
This voice, probably of an angel (see 14:18; 16:7; 19:5),
was “saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels
who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’…” (9:14). Though the beings to be
released per this command are referred to as “angels,” good angels are never
bound (see 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 20:1ff) (Thomas, Revelation, 43). Therefore, these angels are probably fallen angels
that have, until now, been bound on the
earth until this divinely-appointed time. Once released, these will be able
allowed to perform as agents of God’s wrath. The judgment that they will be
used to execute is connected to a particular geographical position “at the
great river Euphrates.” This river forms one of the borders of the land
promised to Abraham all the way back in Genesis 15:18. It is also the natural
border that separated Israel from her two chief historical enemies, Assyria and
Babylon. Interestingly, the same region remains unfriendly to the Jewish people
to this day. In Isaiah 8:7, the Assyrian invaders were described as “the mighty
floodwaters of the River” and in ancient times many of the terrible invasions
of Palestine—by the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians—came across the
Euphrates. As such, it became more than just a natural boundary for Israel; it
was also a symbol of foreign invasion (Osborne, Revelation, 378-79). Preparations for a new invasion appear to be
suggested in the introduction of this sixth trumpet.
A familiar note of the sovereignty of God is sung again in
verse 15 when John reveals, “And the four angels, who had been prepared for the
hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third
of mankind” (9:15). Notice, even these murderous angels are at the beck and
call of God who has decided exactly what moment they would be loosed upon the
earth. The Lord is still in the driver seat, even here. Unlike the previous
plague of demonic locusts that was sent to torment men for five months, these
four fallen angels are actually given the go ahead to kill 1/3 of mankind. Much
like an angel of death was sent to kill the first born sons of Egyptians in the
Exodus, so too are these fallen angels of death sent to kill 1/3 of mankind all
over the earth!
Remember, in Revelation 7:3, four angels had “power to harm
the land or the sea” and were restrained “until we have put a seal on the
foreheads of God’s slaves.” The saints have since been sealed and the time has
come for their vindication. This “time” takes place after the first four
trumpets disturbed the natural order (land, sea, fresh water, and sky) and after
the fifth trumpet had people crying out for death (once they were stung by
demonic locusts). All of these previous judgments culminate here as a third of
the world’s population is destroyed. According to Osborne, that is “more than
the accumulated deaths of all the wars of the twentieth century put together”
(over two billion dead!) (Osborne, Revelation,
380). While the death tole of the seals was a quarter of the population;
now, in the trumpets, this figure swells to 33.3%--the same proportions that
were affected by the first four trumpets and their attack on the land, sea,
freshwater and sky. In those judgments as in this one, God still exercises
restraint and provides, surprisingly enough, an opportunity for people to heed the
warning that this mass destruction provides and accept his grace in repentance and
faith before it is too late.
2) The Description of
the Armies-9:16-17
John continues with a description of the armies amassing
near the Euphrates in verses 16-17. First he counts their ranks—“the number of
the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them”
(9:16). This immediate shift from 4 angels to 200 million strong suggests that
either a human army very quickly assembles in this region (Thomas) or that the
four angels suddenly transform into this terrifying cavalry of 200 million
(Osborne) or that the four angels have power over ungodly forces that are
portrayed as a multitude of armies on horses (Beale). Just to give you an idea
of how large this number would have been to the original audience, consider
that the size of the Roman army in the first century was composed of about
125000 soldiers (with an auxiliary army of comparable size) (Lane, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, 1:197).
The legion described in this context is 1000 times that number! It almost seems
as though John can’t believe the number himself as he states at the end of
verse 16—“I heard the number of them” (i.e., “no really, that what they told
me!”).
After reporting their number, John describes what this army
looks like, complete with some of its capabilities—“ And this is how I saw in
the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates
the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses
are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and
brimstone…” (9:17). There are many parallels between this army and the locusts
described in 9:1-12. For instance, both descriptions include a central figure
of a warhorse with grotesque features. Both are also demonic in nature and
bent on destruction. However, a difference between these two is that this army
can kill while the locusts could only torment.
That they are “horses” also connects these figures to
warfare as horses in the Bible are usually found in episodes of war. The riders
of these apocalyptic horses adorned breastplates of fiery red “the color of
fire” (the same color used later for the red dragon in Revelation 12 and
earlier for the second horsemen in Revelation 6 that symbolized war). The
themes of evil and wrath are indicative of these distinct colors. The heads of
these horses are like lions—devouring lions that are comparable to Satan
himself (1 Peter. 5:8). Lions in Revelation imbue terror (in their roar-10:3),
ferocity (in their teeth-9:8), and destructiveness (in their mouth-13:2)
(Thomas, Revelation 8-22, 48).
However, aside from their fiery appearance and their ferocious face, the most
destructive characteristic of this cavalry is their mouths which emit fire and
brimstone. In the Old Testament fire and brimstone/sulfur is often employed to
indicate fatal judgment.
Genesis 19:24-“Then the Lord rained down on Sodom and
Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”
Ezekiel 38:22-“With pestilence and with blood I will
enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops,
and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain,
with hailstones, fire and brimstone.”
This idea of fatal judgment is also highlighted by the fire
and brimstone emanating “from the mouth” of these creatures (9:17). Later two
witnesses will shoot fire from their mouths to kill enemies. Even later Jesus
will annihilate his enemies with a sword from his mouth. If out of the mouth
the heart speaks, here it is speaking wrath and judgment upon those on earth
who have not been sealed by God.
3) The Devastation of
the Plagues-9:18-19
In keeping with the purpose for this horde revealed in verse
15, “a third of mankind was killed by these three plagues” (the fire, smoke,
and brimstone at the end of verse 17) (9:18a). This plague finds no parallel
except for in Sodom in Gomorrah where these three elements are also employed to
judge a wicked people (Gen. 19:24, 28). While the devastation in Sodom and
Gomorrah was reserved to a couple of cities, here, the human tole is worldwide.
The tole on human life will come “by the fire and the smoke
and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. For 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 do harm” (9:18b-19). This added description
of fire-breathing demonic horses with tails like snakes is as grotesque as it
is frightening. The introduction of the snake and the repetition of the “mouth”
(the power of the horses is in their mouths) in this context also suggests that
the judgment is two fold—a judgment of deception and death. Much like the
deceiving serpent tempted Eve to her sin and death through his manipulative
words in Genesis 3, it is possible that these creatures deceive the masses and
then kill off those who are vulnerable in the end (the unsealed) (Beale).
There is an awful lot of communication taking place in
Revelation. Jesus speaks, the One on the throne speaks, angels speak, John
speaks, etc. However, so too do demons, monsters, and later dragons and beasts.
All of this speech highlights the significance of messages spoken from
different speakers and provides a warning against entertaining the wrong narrative.
O that the church would be discerning in a world saturated with communication.
4) The Denial of the
Survivors-9:20-21
As dire as this text proves to be, what is even more tragic
is what is revealed at the chapter’s end—“The rest of mankind, who were not
killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not
to 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 not walk” (9:20). Though God
is showing restraint by not annihilating mankind altogether and is providing
another chance to turn to him, many of the lost do not make the most of such. Instead they continue their willful denial of
Christ. Rather than being broken by these blows so as to repent and worship the
Lord, these stubbornly cling to their idolatry and decide to continue their worship
things. In many ways, this is similar to what is said in the Book of Romans.
Romans 1:25 -“For they exchanged the truth of God for
a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is
blessed forever. Amen.”
Not only do these prove to be unrepentant of their
idolatry, many of the lost during this period will also prove unrepentant of
their wicked behavior—“and they did not repent of their murders nor their
sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts” (9:21). To be sure, if
one is worshiping the wrong god (if one is idolatrous), you can expect that
he/she will also endorse wicked behaviors. This is true of these who in the
end, in spite of all of the catastrophe around them, choose their own way
rather than God’s way.
This stubbornness in the midst of judgment is similar to
what we read about in Exodus with Pharaoh. It took nine plagues before Pharaoh
finally relented and allowed God’s people to escape slavery in Egypt. However,
even then, he changed his mind and chased after them. This is because, as the
Bible says, “the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not listen to them,
just as the LORD had spoken to Moses” (Exod. 9:12). While there are various
interpretations of exactly what this means, one things is certain: those who don’t
respond positively to the revelation of God will experience a hardened heart
much like these we read about in Exodus and Revelation. Paul reveals as much
when he says, “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you
are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God,” (Rom. 2:5). Patterns of unbelief over long
periods of time, like calluses, decrease one’s sensitivity to the redemptive overtures
of God.
So What?
In lieu of the description of this coming judgment on an
unbelieving world, the church ought to eagerly share the message of the Gospel
that saves from the wrath of God. Jesus took on what we deserved—punishment for
sin—so that we would not have to suffer what we all have coming to us. Turning
away from our dependency on ourselves or any other thing and embracing his
grace through faith is the only remedy for our problem. Is your problem yet
solved in the person and work of Jesus? If not, salvation is available! Respond
to his call upon your life! Heed the word of the Lord before the cotton the
world would place in your ears becomes too dense to hear it! Accept the grace
God gives before you become too content with your life as it is! Turn from your
sin before it becomes too familiar to deny!
For those who already have experienced salvation through Christ,
pray! Pray that people would be
broken so that they are made aware of their desperation for what only Jesus can
provide. Pray that ears would be unclogged so that people might hear the
message of the gospel. Pray that hearts might be softened so that we might be
used of God to share the love of Jesus in a winsome way. Pray these things and
then do them. Share Christ’s love with someone this week. Share the gospel
truth with a friend or neighbor. Share how God has healed your brokenness. Pray
for these things and do these things before the trumpets sound!
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