Revelation 9:8-12 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. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 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. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

‘And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron;‘

We see that the locusts are protected by armor (iron breastplates).

‘sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.‘

The sound of their wings is akin to the sound of battle-ready horses. Some commentators believe that the sound of the wings fits the description of helicopters, however, the verse is to be taken literally as it has been taken since the beginning of the introduction of these locusts. We take the fact that they come up from Hell (bottomless pit) literally, so it is necessary to continue to do so when it comes to the locusts’ appearance and characteristics for the correct interpretation.

‘And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails‘

The tail these locusts have is like a scorpion. Similar to the sound of the wings, this information is also used to support the notion that these locusts are helicopters with a weapon on their tails. Although not entirely correct, there might be a truth in this assumption. Recall how John saw many things from the future, including future technology. Because of his unfamiliarity with the terms, we would coin for our current technology, he would have to describe the things he saw in a way that the people of his time could understand.

We know for a fact that these locusts are demoniac creatures because they come up from the bottomless pit. However, the idea that they might also be some sort of technology (similar to an airplane) is also plausible. Thus, we get the idea that these demoniac creatures can be intermingled with technology. Refer to Daniel 2 prophecy iron (technology) mixed with clay (human).

‘and their power was to hurt men five months.‘

Their task was to torment humanity for 5 months. Because of this length of time, we cannot assume that the 7 trumpets mentioned in Revelation all occur immediately one after another. Certain events have to happen in order for the next trumpet to sound, which can also be tied with the opening of the 7 seals (events of trumpets and seals intertwine).

‘And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit,‘

There is a king over these locusts: an angel of the bottomless pit. In the book of Proverbs, there is a mention of locusts having no king which further proves that these particular locusts mentioned in Revelation 9 are not ordinary locusts.

‘whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.‘

The names of this angel are Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek. The names mean ‘perdition’ in English. 2 Thessalonians 2 and John 17 gives us the identity of this demoniac angel which is the son of perdition or the Antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Perdition is often attributed to Satan so the phrase ‘son of perdition’ means that the Antichrist is the son of Satan.

John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Judas Iscariot was also described as the son of perdition in John 17, so this supports the idea that Judas Iscariot (his spirit) is the Antichrist.

‘One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.‘

The torment of the locusts is only the beginning of the woes as there are three altogether; more woes after this first one will come to pass.