Study of Revelation: The Fifth Trumpet – Locusts from the Bottomless Pit

The First Woe

At the sound of the 5th trumpet, Locusts from the bottomless pit are unleashed on the earth tormenting mankind for 5 months. In Revelation 9:1-2, we’re told about a “star” that has fallen from heaven and this “star” was given the key to the bottomless pit and is the one to open it. The bible itself emphasizes this star as “he” and “him”; “…To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit…” (Revelation 9:1-2).

From the passage, it’s clear that the imagery of a “star” here is used to speak of an angel. We see the use of the word”star” used many times in the bible to represent an angel or “stars” used for the heavenly host in general.

In Revelation 9:1 we’re also told this star fell “from heaven to the earth” most likely implying that this is a fallen angel being spoken of. The angelic host that serve God day and night are not described to us in the bible as “fallen”.

In his book, Revelation of Jesus Christ, the late John F. Walvoord – a highly respected theologian – also similarly elaborates on this star not being a literal star such as a meteor but as an angelic being, “The star here mentioned, however, seems to refer to a person rather than a literal star or meteor…That a literal star is not meant is evident from the part that to him was given the key, that is, the authority (Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:18), to open the bottomless pit. An intelligent being must be intended. It has been observed mat a star is used as a symbol of the angel, 1:20. As early as the days of Job, there is a similar use of the word… (Job 38:7),” (Revelation of Jesus Christ, 107).

E.W. Bullinger in his book, The Apocalypse or the “Day of the Lord”, also shares the same view regarding this star as an angel, “Angels are called stars in Job xxxviii. 7, and often in the Old Testament, the phrase “host of heaven” means the angels, as in 1 Kings xxii. 19. 2 Chron. xviii. 18. Ps. cxlviii. 2. Josh. v. 14…That the word “star,” here, is used for “angel” seems clear from the personal actions ascribed to it,” (The Apocalypse or the “Day of the Lord”, 213).

As horrible as this trumpet is, these locusts are not given full reign to do as they please. This again, is God’s mercy. “They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads,” (Revelation 9:4). Earlier, we saw that the 1st trumpet judgment struck 1/3 of the earth’s vegetation and here we see these locusts can not harm any vegetation which would be the 2/3 left from the previous trumpet judgement. Also this punishment is specifically geared towards the unrepentant believers as tribulation saints will be given protection.

These locusts don’t have the authority to kill but their role is to torment mankind for 5 months. Their torment is like the sting of a scorpion but it’s so bad that people want to die but can’t, “In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them,” (Revelation 9:6).

Locusts as Helicopters

One interpretation for the locusts is that they are helicopters. Some believe the physical descriptions of these locusts match physical descriptions of certain combat helicopters we have today. Those that hold this interpretation believe the faces like men are men in the cockpit, breastplates of iron being the armor of the helicopter, the sound of the wings is the sound of the propeller, and the teeth mentioned is the mouth depicted on some helicopters.

I personally do not subscribe to this view. The main flaw I see with this view is that it doesn’t account for how and why humans who would be piloting these helicopters will specifically aim for only those who aren’t sealed by God per Revelation 9:4. How will they know who has God’s mark and who doesn’t to avoid them? We also would need to take into account the weapons such an helicopter would have which would deal a decisive blow to any human being, a direct contradiction to Revelation 9:4 which commands these scorpions not to kill.

Locusts as Demons or Fallen Angels

The most common interpretation for the 5th trumpet locusts is that they are supernatural beings, either demons or fallen angels. I believe the biggest hint for their identities is Revelation 9:11, “And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon”. The king they had over them is noted to be an angel, most likely a fallen angel. This is not the first time we get mention of a fallen angels sealed at the bottomless pit. In Genesis 6:4, we’re told that the “sons of God” reproduced with women and bore giants as a result.

These “sons of God” are in fact angels. I go into this idea in depth in my series on Genesis 6. This idea is seen in Jude 1:6 and 2 Peter 2:4-5 and specifically talks about the punishment for these angels’ transgressions. They both say they were chained under darkness reserved for judgement. II Peter 2:4 gives us a better hint at where this “darkness” is, stating that God cast them to “hell”. Usually the word “hell” in the bible is translated from the Hebrew word “Sheol” or from the Greek word “Hades” meaning an abode for the dead. However, here in Greek it’s “tartaroō” or also known as “tartarus”.

The ancient Greeks regarded tartarus as a dungeon of torment for the wicked dead “where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds”. It can be defined as the “deepest abyss of Hades”. Tartarus as a concept here was most likely used because it was a well known idea of the time in the area. In Luke 8:31, we also see a demon beg Jesus not to send him into the “abyss” which we can assume is the bottomless abyss and by extension most likely tartaros in II Peter 2:4-5.

Understanding this, we can now apply this to Apollyon as well as the “locusts”. Apollyon is regarded as an angel who is king over the bottomless pit, most likely a higher ranking angel who was part of the “sons of God” from Genesis 6:4 along with the “locusts”. These may be fallen angelic beings that are now released for this purpose before their final judgement. Looking at Luke 8:31, we also know that demons can end up at the bottomless pit as well so Apollyon may be the only angel while the locusts are in fact demonic entities. Either way, I believe these are supernatural beings.

John Walvoord, also believing these locusts to be demons ties in the nature of demonic affliction to these locusts and how a Christ rejecting mankind will be afflicted for 5 months, “As is common in demonic affliction as recorded in the Gospels, those in the grip of demons are not free to exercise their own will and therefore are not free to take their own lives. Even the hope of death to deliver them from their present troubles is taken away from them in that dark hour. They are left to face then-trial and affliction without any way of escape,” (Revelation of Jesus Christ, 109).

Walvoord also states his views concerning the physical characteristics of these locusts, “In verse 9, the locusts are declared to have breastplates of iron, implying that they are immune to destruction. They are also equipped with wings which give forth the sound of many chariots going to battle, implying speed and the impossibility of evading their attack. Particular attention is given to their tails, which are compared to those of scorpions and by which they have power to hurt men for five months,” (Revelation of Jesus Christ, 110).

Bullinger also believes these locusts are supernatural in nature but due to their appearance, likens them to cherubim, “These were no ordinary locusts. Those that came in the plagues of Egypt were no common locusts either, for we are told “before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such” (Ex. x. 14). Ordinary locusts have “no king” (Prov. xxx. 27); but these have; and his name is given (verse 11). They seem, from their description, to be a kind of Infernal Cherubim. The horse, the man, the lion, and the scorpion are combined in them,” (The Apocalypse or the “Day of the Lord”, 215).

The Seal of God

The last thing I wanted to touch on for the 5th trumpet are those who have the seal of God on their foreheads (Revelation 9:4). This is the only group exempt from the torment of the 5th trumpet’s locusts. We first get mention of the seal of God in Revelation 7 before the trumpet judgments begin, “Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads,’” (Revelation 7:2-3). We can see this in places such as 2 Timothy 2:19 and John 6:27.

In Ezekiel 9, we get a similar picture of people being sealed before a coming judgement,

…And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.’ To the others He said in my hearing, ‘Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark…’ (Ezekiel 9:3-6)

This mark on the foreheads of believers would be a spiritual mark used as identification of God’s chosen. This idea of a spiritual mark is why many also believe the mark of the beast may not be physical but is actually a spiritual identification to those who worship the antichrist. Some believe having the mark on the forehead means you’re thinking and heart is evil while the mark on your hand represents doing evil.

I don’t agree with this view because we know those who don’t have it can’t buy or sell. No one would be able to discern who truly has this mark in order to buy or sell if it’s a spiritual one.

If you enjoyed this study, you can find similar studies on the book of Revelation here including the 7 Churches of Revelation, the 24 Elders, the 4 living creatures, 4 Horseman, etc.

Sources

1. Tartarus – Blue Letter Bible