Revelation 9:4-8 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. 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. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
We begin this study by analyzing the result of the 5th trumpet of chapter 9 in the book of Revelation. Through the sounding of the 5th trumpet, and an angel comes down from heaven with a key to the bottomless pit (a portal of Hell). Since the ocean bottom is the deepest part of the earth it is also the closest location to hell. The verses before our main text mention fire and smoke appearing from nowhere and a special type of strange-looking locust with a specific task.
‘And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree;‘
Referring to our main text, verse 4 mentions what the locusts are commanded not to do and through this, we learn that they are not normal locusts that eat vegetation, but demonic creatures.
Demonic locusts torment human beings
‘but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.‘
The commands given to the locust army are not to kill human beings but to torment them.
‘but that they should be tormented five months‘
This locust swarm’s torment toward humans (without the seals of God) lasts 5 months.
‘and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion,‘
The torment is like a sting of a scorpion.
‘And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.‘
We learn in verse 6 the type of torment these humans are put through, which is so painful that they try to commit suicide but are not able to die.
Chronologically speaking, when we analyze the 4th seal which talks about death and hell it makes sense to put the events of the 4th seal before the 5th trumpet. During the 5th trumpet, death flees from those who seek it as opposed to the many lives death and hell claim during the opening of the 4th seal. This is the time where those that seek a covenant with death and hell will seek death but will not be able to attain it. Satan is a liar and will betray people by denying them death. Refer to the Book of Isaiah for this covenant.
Physical description of demonic locusts
‘And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle‘
These physical characteristics of this demonic army include the likeness of a horse unto battle (can allude to them having horse hoofs). They are literal locusts with demonic features, not evil spirits or representations of spirits. Some think of them as strong people with disheveled hair, but the Bible says locusts.
‘and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women,‘
The locusts wear gold crowns and have the faces of a man but the hair of a woman (symbolism for transgender characteristics which are demonic).
Long hair for women
The fact that verse 8 mentions specifically the hair of a woman lets us know that God sees a distinction between the hair of a man and the hair of a woman (no universal appearance).
1 Corinthians 11 gives us insight into the hair of women which is described as long as opposed to a man’s hair which is supposed to be short.
1 Corinthians 11:14-15 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Some people pull up evidence of Wesley or Jesus having long hair. But that’s because they belong to an Old Testament period, where God said that the Jews were supposed to be a peculiar people. If we want to dress like Wesley, then please dress as a puritan.
For further reading,
– Verse by verse commentary on Revelation