Revelation | Reading Plan + Study Questionsنموونە

REVELATION 9

THE FIRST SIX TRUMPETS BRING DEVASTATION + DESTRUCTION

As the fifth angel blows his trumpet, John sees a star fall from heaven to Earth. This fallen star is given a key to a bottomless pit, from which dark smoke arises like that of a furnace. Out of the smoke come fierce scorpion-like locusts. These terrifying creatures have the power to torment the unrepentant for five months. During that time, the people long for death, but the scorpions will not kill them.

These locusts are ruled by the fallen star, the angel of the bottomless pit. Many interpret the fallen star as a reference to the fall of Satan, when Satan rebelled against God and fell from heaven (See Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:17–20).

As the sixth angel blows his trumpet, John hears a voice from the golden altar before God. This voice releases four angels, unleashing a vast and terrifying army that kills a third of humanity with fire, smoke, and sulfur. The horses of the army have heads like lions, and the tails of serpents.

Despite the severity of these plagues, the survivors still refuse to repent. Instead, they continue worshipping demons and manmade idols. The first five trumpets are reminiscent of the plagues sent on Egypt: hail, blood, drought, darkness, and locusts. Those who did not repent are like Pharaoh, who had a hardened heart despite the many plagues (See Exodus 7–11). This shows that God’s wrath alone does not bring about repentance.

STUDY QUESTIONS

In Luke 10:17–20, Jesus mentioned seeing Satan fall like lightning from heaven. How might this statement connect to the falling star in Revelation 9:1?