Revelation 9:1 - 11 Who are these locusts representing?

[CTK]

I am now attempting to understand the 5th trumpet in Revelation 9: 1- 12 - the first Woe.

Now this is complicated! Any thoughts on these fellows and don't forget to comment on what the 5 months means - it is repeated twice within these few verses. Thanks

 

[ewq1938]

Rev 9:10. The scorpion sting (a needle like injection) is a a precursor to the mark since it happens in the 5th trump while the mark is in the 6th trump. The sting simply weakens them so they can be spiritually devoured which is how the scorpion prepares to devour it's prey:

https://www.terminix.com/pest-control/scorpions/behavior/what-do-scorpions-eat/

Venom is delivered to their prey through the stinger. The venom causes paralysis or death, but it also liquefies the insides of the prey. Once the victim is immobilized, scorpions use their sharp, claw-like mouthparts to remove portions of food. Scorpions can only digest liquids, so they also use these mouthparts to discard any solid matter that’s left after feeding.

Rev 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

G2759
????????
kentron
ken'-tron
From ??????? kenteo? (to prick); a point (“centre”), that is, a sting (figuratively poison) or goad (figuratively divine impulse): - prick, sting.
Total KJV occurrences: 5

 

[Verily]

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

That could fit too somewheres

 

[Verily]

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

That could fit too somewheres

They do not hurt the sealed

Rev 9:4 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.

Rev 9:5 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 striketh a man.

When the Spirit departed from Saul an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. And after Luke 10:19 Jesus says,

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 

[Verily]

Pharaoh called the natural locusts that were sent "death"

Exodus 10:17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.

Of these locusts

Exodus 10:14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

Says before them there was no such locusts and neither after them shall such be

Exodus 10:15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

Whereas these locusts come out of the smoke which also darkens the land but cannot be of the same such locusts (per Exodus 10:14)

Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Rev 9:4 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.

They only hurt those who are not sealed by God.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

That last one just seems to work so well in there, along with

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 

[Verily]

Men also seem to take on the characters of these same critters

Ezek 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

We have human vipers

Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Psalm 58:4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

Psalm 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips

Rom 3:3 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Similarly you have him sending such things shown here

Duet 32:24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.

Duet 32:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

Duet 32:34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?

 

[Verily]

I recall looking at the five months and the locusts the five months would bring me back to Elizabeth (mother of John the baptist) who was said to have hid herself for that specific time period. Which I was trying to get to fit somehow given her son John the baptist was said to have a specific diet of locusts and honey. Nothing ever come of that one. If you translate the months to days I recall someone else had brought to my attention that it lands you at the number of days of the flood waters in Genesis 7:24

 

[Galgal]

The 6th trumpet will be on Yom Teruah, 1 Tishrei. By this day, the Third Temple must be built, according to the prophecy of Ezekiel. From the 6th to the 7th trumpet, the chosen ones from the four winds, "the glory of the Lord," the messengers of Christ from all nations, will enter the eastern gate. On Yom Kippur, the eastern gate will close and it will be announced that the Lord God has entered the gate (Ezekiel 44:2).

From this we can assume that the 5 months of locusts will be the frenzy of the false evangelists of the false church of the false Christ, who will intimidate everyone with the construction of the Third Temple that has begun. Probably, the Temple will be built for five months.

 

[Verily]

These sort of sound similar, in the wording between these for example,

Rev 9:7a And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle,

Whereas here it says

Joel 2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

And of these it says,

Joel 2:6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

Back to Rev 9:7 and the crowns

Rev 9:7b And on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men

Speaks of crowned locusts here

Nah 3:17 Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.

These locusts also have a king over them

Rev 9:11 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 hath his name Apollyon.

Which is also interesting that of Leviathan it says,

Job 41:34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

And its written of pride that

Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

The name of the king of them is Abaddon which means "destruction" in the Hebrew tongue

And pride itself is also the devil's condemnation

1 Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

I didnt know this but the word "lifted up" there in 1 Ti 3:6 is derived from a verb which means to smoke

Lots of smoke going on must be a fire somewhere. Here is the lifting up of smoke mentioned here

Isaiah 9:18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

There is alot that meshes in the picture between pride which goeth before destruction (which is the name of the king over the crowned locusts) even as we similarly have Leviathan who is said to be the king over all the children of pride .

There is also a crown of pride mentioned here

Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower

 

[quietthinker]

If the book of Revelation is as it says at its outset, a Revelation of Jesus Christ, how do these various interpretations reveal Jesus Christ?
From what I see delivered here there is no reference to him apart from some contextually removed things he said.

 

[Galgal]

Let's go in order.

Revelation 9:1 - John saw a spiritual leader, the "star Wormwood," fall into the "land" of religion. And this leader received the key to what was hidden in this world ("bottomless pit" = "sea" = unbelieving world).

Revelation 9:2 - This leader opened the well of the depths of this world with the key, and "smoke" came out of it. If the prayers of the saints are compared to the fragrance of incense, then the prayers of sinners are acrid smoke. This smoke comes from the "furnace", that is, from the torments of sinners in this world. The "sun" is the image of Christ, the "air" is the environment of this world, the spirit of this world, where the "prince of this world" reigns. The image of Christ has faded in this world, and the satanism of the moods of people in this world has increased.

Revelation 9:3 - Because of the "smoke" of the prayers of sinners, false evangelists, "locusts," have appeared. They have received the power to cause mental pain to people, like the stings of scorpions.

Revelation 9:4 - And this "locust" of false evangelists did not harm the "grass" of religious traditions and rituals in denominations, they did not harm the "trees" like the tree of knowledge ("fig tree") or the tree of meekness ("willow"), but they harmed only believers who did not have the seal of the Holy Spirit, who did not have the power of the Holy Spirit, "foolish virgins", whose lamps of fulfilling the commandments were extinguished in the atmosphere of turmoil that engulfed the whole world.

Revelation 9:5 - And these false evangelists could not "kill" these believers so that they would forget about God ("death" is when a believer falls away from God, the source of life for believers). These believers suffered for 5 months, watching the construction of the Third Temple in Israel. And this mental torment was like a scorpion bite.

Revelation 9:6 - In those days, such believers, living according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit, will want to “die,” forget about God, become unbelievers - but they will not be able to do this until the eastern gate of the Temple is closed, at the 7th trumpet.

Revelation 9:7 - These false evangelists were like those who had the power of the spirit ("horses"). On their "heads" in the spirit they had crowns like the crowns of the saints, but spiritually they were men, not Christ.

Revelation 9:8 - These were not men of faith like the 144,000, but "women" like Eve, listening to the world around them and ignoring the commandments of God. And they were courageous predators like lions.

Revelation 9:9 - These false evangelists had the breastplate of their false faith. The noise of their religious meetings was like the noise of chariots running to war.

Revelation 9:10 - These false evangelists had false prophets, "tails," in their prayer groups. And these meetings of theirs harmed the believers for 5 months.

Revelation 9:11 - The false evangelists had as their king the angel of the depths of this world, whose name is Destroyer (the opposite of the name Jesus).

Then the eastern gates of the Third Temple built in Israel open and saints from all nations begin to enter the gates of the temple. This continues from the 6th trumpet to the 7th, from Yom Teruah to Yom Kippur, when in the middle of the day the eastern gates will be closed forever. After this event, the Church of all denominations loses its meaning, because the whole world has already believed in God, the only question is with whom God is - with the locusts of the false evangelists of the "beast" of Prosperity, or with the poor saints who sacrificed themselves to God in the eastern gate of the Temple. This question will be resolved during the vials of wrath.

 

[IronMaiden]

I am now attempting to understand the 5th trumpet in Revelation 9: 1- 12 - the first Woe.

Now this is complicated! Any thoughts on these fellows and don't forget to comment on what the 5 months means - it is repeated twice within these few verses. Thanks

Hi, CTK.
In Revelation 9:3, the “locusts” are symbolic of malevolent beings (men) that come with Satan at the 6th trump. They come with power to do spiritual battle, but they are NOT allowed to harm those who have the Word of God sealed in their minds. This is the great tribulation, the tribulation of Satan as the Antichrist, the time of Jacob’s trouble. Jesus tells us not to be deceived by the deception of the latter days.

 

[3 Resurrections]

I am now attempting to understand the 5th trumpet in Revelation 9: 1- 12 - the first Woe.

Now this is complicated! Any thoughts on these fellows and don't forget to comment on what the 5 months means - it is repeated twice within these few verses. Thanks

This 5th trumpet judgment is ancient history. None of it is destined for our future.

Typically in Israel for the five summer months running from May to September, literal locusts often arrive to plague the landscape. John was borrowing from this literal locust phenomenon and using that as imagery for the plague which the Roman troops stationed in Judea were going to become for the citizens of that country.

One of the most corrupt Roman governors in Judea was named Gessius Florus. Around Passover in AD 66, Florus decided that he would use the soldiers under his command to harass and oppress the Jewish citizenry in order to goad them into rebellion against Rome. He hoped by this means to distract Rome's attention from the massive amount of theft Florus had been performing in his role as governor over Judea. Josephus documents this period of increased Roman oppression in Wars 2.14.3-283, and Wars 2.15.3-318, and Wars 2.16.1-333, and Wars 2.17.4-420.

Florus succeeded in his goal of inciting rebellion in Judea during this tormenting 5-month period between May and September in AD 66. Eleazar the governor of Jerusalem's temple reacted to this oppression by taking away the daily sacrifice for Rome and the Roman emperor, and forbidding any foreigner to present a gift to the temple. This offensive act along with other Zealot massacres of the Roman troops in Judea launched the war with the Romans, with Cestius Gallus bringing his armies in October of AD 66 to surround Jerusalem.

Pay careful attention to the phrases "hair as the hair of women" and "on their heads were as it were crowns like gold". This is a description of the style of "Gallic G" helmet worn by the Romans during this period. A trailing horsehair crest was mounted on top in a "crista" setting, along with a brass border of trim on the forehead of the helmet's rim that resembled the band of a crown. We have samples of these Gallic G helmets that have been found in Colchester Britain from Nero's AD 60-61 war in Britain against Queen Boudica. So these helmets were still in use in AD 66.

Moreover, the "tails like unto scorpions" is a description of the ballistic field weapon the Roman used that was literally called a "scorpion". The spring tension mechanism that operated it was called "tormenta". And the "breastplates of iron" for these "locusts" were the Roman chest plates of body armor.

The tormented target of these Roman soldier "locusts" was not the believers (the ones who were "sealed"), but the Jewish citizenry of Judea.

 

[tailgator]

I am now attempting to understand the 5th trumpet in Revelation 9: 1- 12 - the first Woe.

Now this is complicated! Any thoughts on these fellows and don't forget to comment on what the 5 months means - it is repeated twice within these few verses. Thanks

I don't know what they are,but it wouldn't surprise me if they are man made.

Revelation 9
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.

Enlarge the picture to get a better view.

 

[Marty fox]

I am now attempting to understand the 5th trumpet in Revelation 9: 1- 12 - the first Woe.

Now this is complicated! Any thoughts on these fellows and don't forget to comment on what the 5 months means - it is repeated twice within these few verses. Thanks

The answer is in reading the whole chapter of Joel chapter 2.

Joel describes the army of locus as an army coming against Jerusalem. Peter in Acts chapter 2 tells us when this was going to happen in the first century as the last part of Joel chapter 2 ties to Acts chapter 2.

5 months was also the approximate time of the siege in 70Ad and the average life span of a locus.

 

[CTK]

This 5th trumpet judgment is ancient history. None of it is destined for our future.

Typically in Israel for the five summer months running from May to September, literal locusts often arrive to plague the landscape. John was borrowing from this literal locust phenomenon and using that as imagery for the plague which the Roman troops stationed in Judea were going to become for the citizens of that country.

One of the most corrupt Roman governors in Judea was named Gessius Florus. Around Passover in AD 66, Florus decided that he would use the soldiers under his command to harass and oppress the Jewish citizenry in order to goad them into rebellion against Rome. He hoped by this means to distract Rome's attention from the massive amount of theft Florus had been performing in his role as governor over Judea. Josephus documents this period of increased Roman oppression in Wars 2.14.3-283, and Wars 2.15.3-318, and Wars 2.16.1-333, and Wars 2.17.4-420.

Florus succeeded in his goal of inciting rebellion in Judea during this tormenting 5-month period between May and September in AD 66. Eleazar the governor of Jerusalem's temple reacted to this oppression by taking away the daily sacrifice for Rome and the Roman emperor, and forbidding any foreigner to present a gift to the temple. This offensive act along with other Zealot massacres of the Roman troops in Judea launched the war with the Romans, with Cestius Gallus bringing his armies in October of AD 66 to surround Jerusalem.

Pay careful attention to the phrases "hair as the hair of women" and "on their heads were as it were crowns like gold". This is a description of the style of "Gallic G" helmet worn by the Romans during this period. A trailing horsehair crest was mounted on top in a "crista" setting, along with a brass border of trim on the forehead of the helmet's rim that resembled the band of a crown. We have samples of these Gallic G helmets that have been found in Colchester Britain from Nero's AD 60-61 war in Britain against Queen Boudica. So these helmets were still in use in AD 66.

Moreover, the "tails like unto scorpions" is a description of the ballistic field weapon the Roman used that was literally called a "scorpion". The spring tension mechanism that operated it was called "tormenta". And the "breastplates of iron" for these "locusts" were the Roman chest plates of body armor.

The tormented target of these Roman soldier "locusts" was not the believers (the ones who were "sealed"), but the Jewish citizenry of Judea.

I think you are indeed on target the 5 months represents the period between the two harvests, however, this is speaking of the future, not the past. Revelation is symbolic and i believe these trumpets are God’s warnings before He acts and judges all who fail to repent. I think the hair metaphor represents the allure or attraction to the (locust like man - little horn), while the gold- LIKE crown represents his attempt to represent the one true God - he thinks he is god on earth.

But this 5th trumpet is indeed very challenging.

 

[CTK]

The answer is in reading the whole chapter of Joel chapter 2.

Joel describes the army of locus as an army coming against Jerusalem. Peter in Acts chapter 2 tells us when this was going to happen in the first century as the last part of Joel chapter 2 ties to Acts chapter 2.

5 months was also the approximate time of the siege in 70Ad and the average life span of a locus.

Thanks, but this is written after 70AD. This, to me, is all about the end times. These locusts are only allowed to torment, not physically harm, only those not sealed or not found to be within the definition of “grass, green things, or trees. God has limited their attacks to those that have or are continuing to reject Him before judgement.

 

[Marty fox]

Thanks, but this is written after 70AD. This, to me, is all about the end times. These locusts are only allowed to torment, not physically harm, only those not sealed or not found to be within the definition of “grass, green things, or trees. God has limited their attacks to those that have or are continuing to reject Him before judgement.

I believe that revelation was written before 70AD there is no solid proof when it was written so after 70AD isn't a fact but a view and things change after the 5 months.

Joel & Revelation describe the very same thing and Peter tells us when these things happen. Add the fact that Peter Joel Revelation and the Olivet Discourse (which is the destruction of Jerusalem) use the very same symbolic descriptions sun, moon & stars.

Let the bible interpret the bible.

 

[TribulationSigns]

This 5th trumpet judgment is ancient history. None of it is destined for our future.

Mark 8:22-25

• "And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
• And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
• And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
• After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly."

Revelation 9:3-4

• "And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
• 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."

Foolishness to those remaining in blindness seeing men as trees, but a revelation of cryptic imagery to those who have the seal of God in their foreheads to understand the trees are men. For we preach the hidden manna of Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks all foolishness! Revelation 9 has NOTHING to do with first century as you think!

One of the most corrupt Roman governors in Judea was named Gessius Florus. Around Passover in AD 66, Florus decided that he would use the soldiers under his command to harass and oppress the Jewish citizenry in order to goad them into rebellion against Rome. He hoped by this means to distract Rome's attention from the massive amount of theft Florus had been performing in his role as governor over Judea. Josephus documents this period of increased Roman oppression in Wars 2.14.3-283, and Wars 2.15.3-318, and Wars 2.16.1-333, and Wars 2.17.4-420.

Florus succeeded in his goal of inciting rebellion in Judea during this tormenting 5-month period between May and September in AD 66. Eleazar the governor of Jerusalem's temple reacted to this oppression by taking away the daily sacrifice for Rome and the Roman emperor, and forbidding any foreigner to present a gift to the temple. This offensive act along with other Zealot massacres of the Roman troops in Judea launched the war with the Romans, with Cestius Gallus bringing his armies in October of AD 66 to surround Jerusalem.

Pay careful attention to the phrases "hair as the hair of women" and "on their heads were as it were crowns like gold". This is a description of the style of "Gallic G" helmet worn by the Romans during this period. A trailing horsehair crest was mounted on top in a "crista" setting, along with a brass border of trim on the forehead of the helmet's rim that resembled the band of a crown. We have samples of these Gallic G helmets that have been found in Colchester Britain from Nero's AD 60-61 war in Britain against Queen Boudica. So these helmets were still in use in AD 66.

Moreover, the "tails like unto scorpions" is a description of the ballistic field weapon the Roman used that was literally called a "scorpion". The spring tension mechanism that operated it was called "tormenta". And the "breastplates of iron" for these "locusts" were the Roman chest plates of body armor.

The tormented target of these Roman soldier "locusts" was not the believers (the ones who were "sealed"), but the Jewish citizenry of Judea.

No, that's another of the many inconsistencies with the prophecy (Matthew 24:21) and the 70 AD theory where Preterists declares the great tribulation of saints took place in 70 AD based on what Roman soldiers wore on their head and breast?! Not only that, but that it was such as was not since the beginning of this world to that time, nor ever would be--as "required" by the Matthew 24 prophecy. An astounding declaration that it itself should invalidate the 70 AD theory. This is also why partial Preterists (and whatever other name they give themselves) divide the same verse into two different eras "because" they know it is inconsistent otherwise, and so they attempt to separate what is obviously a narrative of those same days.

Matthew 24:29

• "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"

Full Praeterists at least confess it's one era and at least admit this all happened long ago. By contrast, the Partial Praeterist theorists and others calling themselves Futurists, Amillennialists, Postmillennialists, Premillennialists, and such, do all sorts of exegetical and hermeneutical gymnastics in a vain attempt to get around this clear passage. That "immediately" after the tribulation of those days the sun be darkened, when the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, they struggle to account for. This prophecy can be one of two things. The fall of National Israel as the "representation" of the Kingdom of God on earth, or the fall of the church as spiritually Babylon. Neither of which took place in 70 AD!

"truth inspires change -WiseManSay"

 

[3 Resurrections]

No, that's another of the many inconsistencies with the prophecy (Matthew 24:21) and the 70 AD theory where Preterists declares the great tribulation of saints took place in 70 AD based on what Roman soldiers wore on their head and breast?!

You are misunderstanding my reply, TS. The 5-month period of the Roman soldiers under Gessius Florus harassing and tormenting the Jews in Judea was NOT - repeat - NOT the "Great Tribulation". Those 5 months were the period of May through September in AD 66, which was just prior to that "Great Tribulation" / "Days of Vengeance" breaking out. That unequalled and unsurpassed Great Tribulation in Judea lasted from the beginning of the war in late AD 66 until AD 70. Those 3-1/2 years were the time when Jerusalem / Babylon became "a habitation of devils" and "a prison for every unclean spirit" (Rev. 18:2), just as Christ and the prophets had foretold would happen to that "wicked generation" in its "last state" (Matt. 12:43-45). No nation or city will ever experience the likes of that kind of tribulation ever again.

And "immediately after those days" of the AD 66-70 Great Tribulation, Christ returned bodily to the Mount of Olives to take all His resurrected saints back to heaven with Him at His second coming return, just as He had predicted in Matthew 16:27-28, while some of those He had personally preached to in that first-century generation were still alive.