ScriptureDepth's study of Revelation 9
“They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.”
Revelation 9:21
John recounts the state of humanity after the plagues, noting that they did not repent of their 'murders' and other sins, revealing their hardened hearts.
What Revelation 9 is about
The fifth angel sounded, and a star fell from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the abyss. When he opened the pit, smoke rose like a furnace, darkening the sun and air. Locusts emerged from the smoke, given power like scorpions, instructed not to harm the earth's greenery but to torment those without God's seal for five months. Their torment was severe, making people seek death (vv. 1-6). The locusts resembled war horses, wore crowns, and had human-like faces and hair. They had lion-like teeth and iron breastplates. Their wings sounded like chariots. Their tails had the power to harm for five months (vv. 7-11). A warning of woes follows, as the first woe is past, with two more to come (v. 12). The sixth angel sounded, freeing four angels bound at the Euphrates, prepared to kill a third of mankind. The horsemen’s number was two hundred million, and they caused great destruction (vv. 13-19). Despite these plagues, those not killed did not repent of their sins or idolatries (vv. 20-21).
The chapter leaves the reader contemplating the persistent refusal of mankind to repent despite severe judgment.
Revelation 9 at a glance
- Revelation 9:1–2The Fifth Trumpet Sounds
- Revelation 9:3–6Locusts from the Abyss
- Revelation 9:7–11Description of the Locusts
- Revelation 9:12A Warning of Woes
- Revelation 9:13–15The Sixth Trumpet Sounds
- Revelation 9:16–19The Cavalry of Death
- Revelation 9:20–21Unrepentant Humanity
Key verse: Revelation 9:21
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Revelation 9 (WEB)
The Fifth Trumpet Sounds Revelation 9:1–2
1Verse 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. 2Verse 2. He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit.
Locusts from the Abyss Revelation 9:3–6
3Verse 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. 4Verse 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. 5Verse 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. 6Verse 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.
Description of the Locusts Revelation 9:7–11
7Verse 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. 8Verse 8. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. 9Verse 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. 10Verse 10. They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. 11Verse 11. They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is “Abaddon”, but in Greek, he has the name “Apollyon”.
A Warning of Woes Revelation 9:12
12Verse 12. The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.
The Sixth Trumpet Sounds Revelation 9:13–15
13Verse 13. The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14Verse 14. saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!” 15Verse 15. The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind.
The Cavalry of Death Revelation 9:16–19
16Verse 16. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them. 17Verse 17. Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the horses’ heads resembled lions’ heads. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. 18Verse 18. By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. 19Verse 19. 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 harm.
Unrepentant Humanity Revelation 9:20–21
20Verse 20. The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can’t see, hear, or walk. 21Verse 21. They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Revelation 9
Judgment
Judgment is evident as the fifth and sixth trumpets sound, leading to severe consequences for humanity. In verses 20-21, the text notes that the rest of mankind, who were not killed, 'didn’t repent of the works of their hands,' which included idol worship and immoral actions. This judgment unfolds through the torment inflicted by the locusts and the destruction brought by the cavalry, highlighting divine retribution for unrepentant behavior.
Repentance
Repentance is addressed explicitly in vv. 20-21, where it is noted that the survivors 'didn’t repent' despite experiencing horrific plagues. They continued in their sinful practices, such as worshipping demons and committing thefts. This lack of repentance highlights a critical response that is expected from humanity in the face of divine judgment, yet it shows a consistent refusal to turn away from sin.
Explore repentance in the Bible →Spiritual warfare
Spiritual warfare manifests in Revelation 9, especially through the imagery of the locusts and the angel of the abyss. In verses 1-3, the fallen star receives the key to the abyss, unleashing tormenting locusts with the power of scorpions. This depiction illustrates a cosmic battle between divine forces and evil entities, affecting both the spiritual realm and earthly inhabitants.
Divine sovereignty
Divine sovereignty is evident in the orchestration of the trumpets and the release of angels bound at the Euphrates in verses 13-15. The text presents the plagues and torment as not random occurrences, but as actions under divine control, as the angels are prepared for a specific time to execute judgment. This indicates that all events, including those of destruction, occur within God's authority.
Chapter outline
How Revelation 9 unfolds
Revelation 9:1–2 The Fifth Trumpet Sounds
The fifth angel sounds the trumpet, and a fallen star is given the key to the abyss (v. 1). This star opens the abyss, releasing smoke that darkens the sun and air (v. 2).
Revelation 9:3–6 Locusts from the Abyss
Locusts emerge from the smoke, granted power like scorpions (v. 3). They are instructed to torment only those without God's seal on their foreheads, not harming the earth itself (vv. 4-5).
Revelation 9:7–11 Description of the Locusts
The locusts resemble 'horses prepared for war' with human-like faces and hair like women’s hair (v. 7). They have tails like scorpions that can 'harm men for five months' and are led by their king 'Abaddon' (v. 11).
Revelation 9:12 A Warning of Woes
A declaration states, 'The first woe is past' and warns that 'there are still two woes coming after this' (v. 12).
Revelation 9:13–15 The Sixth Trumpet Sounds
The sixth trumpet sounds, and a voice from the altar commands the release of four angels bound at the Euphrates (vv. 13-14). These angels are prepared to kill a third of mankind (v. 15).
Revelation 9:16–19 The Cavalry of Death
The number of horsemen is 'two hundred million' (v. 16). Their destructive power kills 'one third of mankind' through fire, smoke, and sulfur from their mouths (vv. 18-19).
Revelation 9:20–21 Unrepentant Humanity
Survivors of the plagues 'didn’t repent of the works of their hands' and continued worshiping idols and engaging in 'murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts' (vv. 20-21).
Key verses
Revelation 9:21John recounts the state of humanity after the plagues, noting that they did not repent of their 'murders' and other sins, revealing their hardened hearts.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Revelation 9
- observeIn v1, who is the 'star' that fell from the sky?
- observeIn v4, why are the locusts told not to hurt the grass of the earth or trees?
- interpretThe name 'Abaddon' in v11: what does this tell us about the king of the locusts?
- interpretIn v20, what does the refusal to repent of 'idols' indicate about worldly priorities?
- applyWhen have you experienced a time of torment where you felt like 'death will flee' from you?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Revelation 9
- Revelation 8Revelation 9:1 and Revelation 8:10Both describe a fallen star: Revelation 9:1 says, “a star from the sky which had fallen,” while Revelation 8:10 mentions, “a great star fell from the sky.”
- Ezekiel 9Revelation 9:4 and Ezekiel 9:4Both mention a seal on foreheads: Revelation 9:4 says, “only those people who don’t have God’s seal,” while Ezekiel 9:4 commands, “set a mark on the foreheads.”
- Revelation 7Revelation 9:4 and Revelation 7:2Both reference a seal of God: Revelation 9:4 mentions, “those people who don’t have God’s seal,” while Revelation 7:2 speaks of “the seal of the living God.”
- Revelation 16Revelation 9:14 and Revelation 16:12Both speak of angels at the Euphrates: Revelation 9:14 refers to, “the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates,” and Revelation 16:12 says, “the great river, the Euphrates.”
- Joel 2Revelation 9:2 and Joel 2:10Both mention darkness: Revelation 9:2 says, “the sun and the air were darkened,” while Joel 2:10 notes, “the sun and the moon are darkened.”
- Revelation 6Revelation 9:6 and Revelation 6:16Both express a desire for death: Revelation 9:6 states, “In those days people will seek death,” while Revelation 6:16 says, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face.”
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