Revelation 9:7-14 – Commentary

7-10. And the appearance of the locusts…for five months

all details are instruments of punishment. One more time we see thoroughness and severity of the judgment.

11. They have as king over them the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Destruction and in the Greek he has the name Appollyon. –

The Destroyer is God. God is the one who has been controlling these locusts. He has the power to destroy the wicked in judgment. There is no need to fear the Destroyer unless you are one of the unfaithful.

12. The first woe is past; behold two woes are still coming after these things. –

For the wicked this is just the beginning of judgment. More is still to come. Now we can certainly feel the need to be faithful in our lives.

13. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God. –

The ALTAR IS THE PLACE OF REFUGE FOR THE SAINTS. The voice from the altar is from God. God is speaking and is in control of the things which are about to happen.

14. one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, –

this is God who is speaking.

“Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” –

These are the four angels who were holding back the winds. They are of God. The river Euphrates was a place where men came from to bring pain and suffering to other men. The same was about to happen. Hurt and suffering is coming from God and is coming to the wicked.