REVELATION 9Revelation of Jesus | Revelation of JohnT: REVELATION 9:1-219:1,2 THE BOTTOMLESS PIT9:3, 7-9 THE LOCUST ARMY9:4-6 A REAL WARKINGS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH9:4 PROTECTED BY THE SEALWITNESS OF THE 144,000THE RAPTURE—WHEN?9:4,5,10 FIVE MONTHS—LITERAL OR PROPHETIC TIME?9:13,14 SIXTH TRUMPET, SECOND WOE9:15-21 A THIRD OF MANKIND KILLED

9:4-6 A REAL WAR

Since the locust army of Revelation 9 is the same as that described in Joel, its activity would also represent some kind of military equipment and operation. One artist has rendered a compelling comparison of literal locusts and attack helicopters.[1] The weaponry of the locusts seems to be somewhat unconventional, causing severe pain but not death—perhaps chemical, biological or radiation. “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree; but only those men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but but that they should be tormented five months; and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a man. In those days men shall seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them” (Revelation 9:4-6).

The picture that emerges is that out of the chaos which results from what seems to be a catastrophic military attack, perhaps nuclear (the first four trumpets), comes a major military operation which causes intense suffering. God’s people, protected by the “seal of God on their foreheads”, are shielded, even as the children of Israel in Egypt were protected from the plagues which fell upon the Egyptians.[2] Since wars involve at least two sides, it is reasonable to think that the first four trumpets represent a preemptive attack, and the fifth trumpet is a retaliation. A careful comparison of the prophecies of Revelation 9, Joel and Daniel 11 gives some intriguing clues as to the identity of the antagonists.

Joel indicates that the locust army will be defeated. “But I will remove far from you the northern army, and will drive him away into a barren and desolate land, with his face toward the eastern sea and his back toward the western sea. His stench will come up, and his foul odor will rise, because he has done monstrous things” (Joel 2:20). There are four points of particular interest in this passage: 1) This army is called the northern army (the ancient Hebrew and Greek read “the northern one” or “the from the north”). 2) The northern army will come to its end. 3) Defeat will take place between the two seas of Palestine, the eastern sea (the Dead Sea) and the western sea (the Mediterranean). 4) This will take place during “the Day of the Lord” when “the sun and moon grow dark” (Joel 2: 1, 10), in other words, the time of the end.

Continue to next section: KINGS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH



[1] Maniscalco, Joe, slide program “Revelation 9 and the Neutron Bomb”.

[2] Genesis 8:22,23, 9:4, 26, 10:23, 11:5-7.