1.
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
saw. App-133 .
star. The symbol of him who had already become "fallen" before John "saw". Compare Luke 10:18 . Isaiah 14:12 .
fall = fallen.
from. App-104 .
heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .
unto. App-104 .
earth. App-129 .
the . . . pit = the pit (Greek. phrear. Here, Revelation 9:2 .Luke 14:5 .John 4:11 , John 4:12 , "well") of the abyss (Greek. abussos. Here, verses: Revelation 2:11 ; Revelation 11:7 ; Revelation 17:8 ; Revelation 20:1 , Revelation 20:3 .Luke 8:31 .Romans 10:7; Romans 10:7 ). See App-197 .
2.
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
out of. App-104 .
furnace. Compare Revelation 1:15 . Indicating a place of fire, but not to be confused with Hades (Sheol) or with Tartarus. Compare Jeremiah 4:23-28 , where the judgments are against Judah and the Land. Here, John sees them extended to the whole earth.
by reason of Greek. ek. App-104 .
3.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
locusts. Greek. akris . Here; Revelation 9:7 . Matthew 3:4 .Mark 1:6 .
unto = to.
power. App-172 .
scorpions. Greek. skorpios. Here; verses: Revelation 9:5 , Revelation 9:10 . Luke 10:19 ; Luke 11:12 . As in Exodus 10:14 , these are no ordinary locusts, which "have no king" (Proverbs 30:27 ). See Revelation 9:11 and compare Joel 2:25 . Here "men" are the objects of their power to inflict hurt.
4.
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.
commanded = said.
that . . . not = in order that (Greek. hina). . . not ( App-105 ).
neither. Greek. oude.
but. Greek. ei ( App-118 ) me ( App-105 ).
only. The texts omit.
men . App-123 .
in = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .
5.
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.
that . . . not. As in Revelation 9:4 .
tormented. Greek. basanizo, literally to test (metals) by the touchstone, then to torture. Occurs: Revelation 11:10 ; Revelation 12:2 (pained); Revelation 14:10 ; Revelation 20:10 . See Matthew 8:29 . Mark 5:7 . Luke 8:28 . "Torment" is specially connected with demons.
five months. Compare the fixed periods of Numbers 11:19 , Numbers 11:20 ; 2 Samuel 24:13 ; where the term is taken literally, as it should be here also. The period of locusts is five months: May-September. See Genesis 7:24 .
torment. Greek. basanismos. Here; Revelation 14:11 ; Revelation 18:7 , Rev 10:15 . See App-197 . The verb, above.
he = it.
6.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
seek. As in Romans 2:7 .
not. The texts read "in nowise", the strong negative. App-105 .
shall flee = fleeth.
7.
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.
shapes = likenesses. See Romans 1:23 .
horses . See Joel 2 for similar creatures which (Revelation 2:8 ) it is impossible to wound or kill.
were. Omit.
Crowns. Greek. stephanos. Occ eight times in Rev., always connected with heavenly purposes except here.
8.
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9.
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
sound. Locusts in flight give out a great sound. These supernatural creatures will appal by the sound of their wings.
10.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
had = have.
11.
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
And. The texts omit.
over. App-104 .
in . . . tongue. Greek. Hebraisti.
Abaddon. Hebrew word. The "destruction" of Job 26:6 ; Job 28:22 ; Job 31:12 .Psalms 88:11 .Proverbs 15:11 ; Proverbs 27:20 . Here personified as Abaddon and Apollyon, the "Destroyer". Compare Isaiah 16:4 .Jeremiah 4:7 ; Jeremiah 6:26 . Daniel 8:24 , Daniel 8:25 ; Daniel 9:26 ; Daniel 11:44 .
his = a.
12.
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
One. i.e. the first woe.
and. Omit.
behold. App-133 .
more = yet.
hereafter. Greek. meta tauta.
13.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
a = one (Revelation 8:13 ).
four. Omit.
altar. See Revelation 6:9 .
14.
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
in. Greek. epi. App-104 .
Euphrates. Connected with the judgments of the great day. See Jeremiah 46:4-10 .
15.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
were = had been.
for. Greek. eis. App-104 .
an = the
hour, day, month, year. A fixed point of time, not a period of duration. The four notes of time being under one article and one preposition show that the occasion is one particular moment appointed by God.
for = in order. Greek. hina.
third part. See Revelation 8:7 .
16.
And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
army = armies.
two . . . thousand. Literally two myriads of myriads, a literal number which John heard and recorded. Compare Revelation 7:4 . See App-197 .
and. Omit.
17.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
vision. Greek. horasis. Occurs: Revelation 4:3 and Acts 2:17 . Compare App-133 .
on. App-104 .
of fire. Greek. purinos. Only here.
brimstone. Greek. theiodes. Only here.
brimstone. Greek. theion, six times in Rev., and in Luke 17:29 . See App-197 .
18.
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
By. Greek. apo. App-104 . as the texts.
three. The texts add "plagues". See App-197 .
by. Greek. ek. App-104 . The texts omit the last two occurances of ek : (by).
19.
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
their power. The texts read "the power of the horses".
serpents. Greek. ophis, as in Revelation 12:9 , Revelation 12:14 , Revelation 12:15 ; Revelation 20:2 . See Jeremiah 8:17 .
20.
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
rest. App-124 .
plagues. See note, Revelation 9:18 .
repented. App-111 .
that . . . not. See Revelation 9:5 .
worship. App-137 .
devils = demons. A worship which is widespread over the world at this hour, despite the Divine warnings. Distinguished from worship of idols.
idols = the idols. Greek. eidolon. Only occurrence in Rev. Not found in the Gospels.
neither, nor. Greek. oute.
see. App-133 . Compare Psalms 115:4-8 .
21.
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Neither = And . . . not ( App-105 ).
sorceries. Greek. pharmakeia. Occurs: Revelation 18:23 . See Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:20 (witchcraft).