THE FIFTH TRUMPET

 

THE FIFTH TRUMPET Continuing a study of Revelation REVELATION 9.1 The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. 9.2 He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a great burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. 9.3 Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 9.4 They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads. 9.5 They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. 9.6 In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 9.7 The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces. 9.8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. 9.9 They had breastplates, like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, or of many horses rushing to war. 9.10 They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. 9.11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is “Abaddon” (or destruction), but in Greek, he has the name “Apollyon”, which means “Destroyer”. 9.12 The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.  -WEB Bible. John describes something that was difficult for ancient illustrators to imagine. The top illustration (above) is from 1320 A.D. and the artist tried his best to imagine the vision. But we know more than that artist did. John seems to describe modern airplanes and air warfare in his vision. And the torment caused by the locusts might be chemical warfare. The hair could be exhaust from warplanes, streaming across the sky. Even 100 years ago it would have been hard for the readers of Revelation to understand. It wasn't until World War II that fighter planes were used extensively in warfare. (We did use some fighter planes in World War I, but planes were still very new.) Or, St. John may have seen drones in flight. Armed drones are being used extensively in the current war in the Middle East, as well as Ukraine. The star that falls from heaven is Lucifer, the rebellious angel (Satan) who is also depicted as the great dragon in Revelation. This event is described in a later chapter of Revelation. The 5th Trumpet is the “first Woe” predicted by the Eagle in last week’s lesson. The study of Revelation will continue on Thursdays. IMAGE CREDIT: The ancient manuscript illustration is from the Welles Apocalypse, by English artist Peter of Peckham, circa 1320 A.D, depicting his interpretation of the locusts.  The photo beneath it shows the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy, public domain image.