The Fifth Angel Blasts His Trumpet
Up to now, we have learned about what the first four angelic trumpet blasts mean.
Now we will learn what the fifth trumpet blast is and what it portends for the inhabitants of the earth in those future days after Christ’s 1000-year kingdom ends and Satan establishes his throne on the earth.
While it might not appear to some, the first four trumpet blasts actually describe the dragon’s expulsion from the heavenly realm down to the earth, his imprisonment, and release. (His release is the peals of thunder, rumblings, flashed of lightning and an earthquake as a result of the censer filled with fire (the key) – Revelation 8:5
The Dragon is angry and bitter.
As you will see later
The fifth angel sounds his trumpet.
The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (Revelation 9:1-6)
The star that falls from the sky is a powerful angel. This star has a key to the shaft of the Abyss. It was given to him. Who is this star that has the key to the shaft of the Abyss?
The answer can be found at Revelation 20:1-3 where it reads,
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
Note: The Revelation From Jesus Christ, which God gave him does not read like a novel. It will give an outline or overview of events and then later provide more details of those events. The scroll does not read in exact chronological order from Chapter 1 through Chapter 22.
Notice that a star falls from the sky at Revelation 9:1. At Revelation 20:1, an angel comes down out of heaven. In both accounts, a key to the Abyss is mentioned.
So, what is this?
At Revelation 9:1-2, we see the releasing or un-abyssing of the Dragon after being imprisoned for 1000 years.
At Revelation 20:1-3, we see the beginning of his imprisonment in the abyss.
This is where many may get confused. It seems out of order or backward. It is not. One must remember that this scroll does not read like a history book or other work many of us are used to reading.
Modern-day prose and compositional style should not be applied to ancient texts. That would be narrow-minded and arrogant.
You have to know that when similar events appear, some will be an overview (no details) and the others will be detailed; PLUS knowing when to fit them into the scheme of things with regards to the events within the seven seals, the seven trumpet blasts, and the last seven plagues.
The star or angel with the key is Michael, Jesus’ angelic and given name in heaven. Michael was the name given to him by his Father when he was created.
He is the Chief (Arch) Angel. There are no multiple Archangels. There is only one and his name is Michael. No other angel mentioned by name is given the title Archangel other than Michael. (Revelation 12:7 and Jude 9).
Michael is the only angel powerful enough to take hold of the Dragon (also a very powerful angel) and imprison him.
If you read the account at Revelation 12:7-8 of the war in heaven between “Michael and his angels” and the “Dragon and his angels” it is plain to see who Michael is. Michael has angels under him and his command.
Jesus ascended back to the place from where he came. It is logical thinking that he resumed the form, station, and rank he had before he was dispatched out of heaven.
He is not a man in that realm. He is an angel. The Chief angel.
So, it would be Michael who would Abyss the Dragon and Michael who would release him after 1000 years.
When this powerful angel opened the Abyss, smoke first rose up out of it. What is this smoke?
Dragons are often times portrayed as being fire-breathing. The smoke represents the utterances that come out of the dragon’s mouth: Lies and blasphemous things against God, His Messiah, the loyal angelic hosts, and His kingdom.
As the smoke rises out of the Abyss, it darkens the sun and sky. In other words, it clouds or contaminates the healthful and spirit-filled air (teachings) as a result of Christ’s 1000-year rule over the earth.
This smoke is not literal smoke. The smoke represents teachings, statements, and utterances that mislead and deceive. The smoke comes forth out of the Dragon’s mouth.
The smoke is the spirit of the Dragon’s poisonous and unhealthful teachings. It contaminates the clean spirit (teachings of Christ as a result of his 1000-year reign over the earth). This smoke (spirit) will engulf the entire earth.
Out of the smoke, locusts rain down on the earth. What are these locusts?
The locusts are the innumerable demons who were imprisoned with Satan the Devil for a thousand years.
They will go out and infect the entire earth in those future days to create a collective psychosis in the masses in support of Satan’s beast and its image. They are the collective psychosis.
These demons will first infect “The Ten Kings.” These are men who previously served with Christ during his 1000-year kingdom over the earth as kings and priests.
The Dragon enlists these men as his human agents on earth! They are the “Ten Horns or Ten Kings” mentioned in Revelation 17:12. They do not come out of heaven so they are not heavenly, they are from the earth. They come out of the Dragon’s smoke, not out of the Abyss.
These infected Ten Kings will pass their mental infection to everyone else. Demons need human or animal hosts to thrive and spread. Infecting the unsuspecting world in those future days will be easy for them.
In Revelation 17:12 we see the enlistment of the 10 Kings into the service of the Beast.
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
Notice that these ten kings will receive authority as kings along WITH the beast. Their authority comes from the Dragon. (Revelation 13:2)
Beginning at Revelation 9:7 we read …
The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
So, what is the appearance of these locusts? Do they have crowns?
Revelation 9:7-8 describes them …
The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.
They have crowns of gold on their heads! This indicates that they will have authority as kings! There is more!
They have human faces! So, these locusts are human, but under demon influence! They will have great authority working alongside and inside of the Beast (Satan’s throne).
That they are demon-infected humans, and they have mouths to speak. To speak to influence and with great authority within Satan’s throne.
These 10 kings (locusts) will be the ones showing love, concern, and a nurturing spirit before the people. Thus, the meaning that their hair was like women’s hair.
But at the same time, they exercise their authority in support and defense of the Beast with an iron hand and will exact harsh punishment on non-supporters/worshipers of the Beast and its image. Thus, the breastplates of iron and teeth are like lions’ teeth.
These locusts (10 kings) are many. Their collective voices are loud and heard worldwide. They are powerful and strong in what they can do to others in issuing rewards, praise, or punishment. Thus, the meaning of their wings being like thundering horses and chariots rushing into battle. They are quick to defend the Beast and exact punishment on those who do not support the Beast and its image.
At the initial set up of Satan’s throne, these locusts are told not to change what Christ’s 1000-year reign established on the earth. What will that be? Paradise conditions! The inhabitants of the earth will be one people and at peace with one another. All fully reconciled to their Creator.
They (the locusts) were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Revelation 9:4)
Also initially, their powers fall short of taking a life.
They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes.
So, those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads would not be killed but tormented by the utterances of the locusts.
This torment is not literal physical torment. It is a shaking up of the healthful and life-giving spirit within the masses in those future days.
This torment infects and conflicts the masses. The locusts (10 kings) will be the mouthpiece that will influence the masses to worship/support the Beast and its image.
“Do we worship the Beast or do we remain loyal to God” is what it boils down to.
This is something new entering into the equation. The masses will be placed under strong and threatening compulsion to join the Dragons army to do battle against something coming down out of heaven, God’s Kingdom.
God’s kingdom will destroy The Dragon once and for all forever. The Dragon knows this.
The locusts are so convincing, influential, powerful, and fearful, that the masses will be led to believe that the Beast is invincible. Nothing – not even something coming down out of heaven – can destroy it.
People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 13:4)
NOTE: The locusts – or 10 kings – were persons who served with Christ as kings and priests during his 1000-year reign. They inherited administration over the earth after Christ’s rulership ended. But as we saw at Revelation 17:12, these 10 kings submitted their inheritance to the Beast. Thus, naturally, the people would have no reason not to trust the persons who have served as kings and priests with Christ for 1000 years over them. The Dragon has them now to serve his Beast.
The compulsion from the locusts (10 kings) upon the masses to serve and worship the Beast and its image, people will seek to die rather than bow down. But they will not be able to die as they have been given the lives they have by the grace of God through His son. All alive in those days will have been resurrected from the dead by Christ as one of the great acts of his 1000-year kingdom over the earth. I will be one who is resurrected along with anyone reading this.
So, to commit suicide would be a sin that cannot be forgiven. While they will seek death, they know that they cannot die by their own hands and neither by the 10 kings.
Just as God sent his angel to protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, God will protect the lives of all the faithful. Only the non-tested -those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads – will be stung or tormented. They will be cast into a state of confusion and vulnerability.
Now as for these locusts, they have a king over them. Who is this king?
They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer). – Revelation 9:11
The king over them is referred to as the angel of the Abyss. This angel is none other than Satan the Devil. The original Serpent. The Dragon.
The Dragon is the one who gives power and great authority to the Beast. And since the 10 kings (locusts) are enlisted into the service of the Beast, they too receive their power and authority as kings from the Dragon. So the Dragon is their king … for a relatively short period of time. (Revelation 17:12)
This angel has a name. In Hebrew, he is known as Abaddon, and in Greek Apollyon (which means Destroyer).
So the Dragon -angel of the Abyss – is known by several names.
What is it that the Dragon comes forth out of the Abyss to destroy? Stay tuned!
The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come. (Revelation 9:12)
The stage after this first woe (distressful time period over the earth) is set. The masses have been misled, deceived, and placed under compulsion to serve and worship the Beast and its image; to defend it against any who would wage war against it.
The propaganda that spews forth out of the mouth of the Dragon through his human locust is so strong and pervasive, the Dragon will have conditioned the masses to fight against something that will come down out of heaven.
So, the Dragon will have his angels – a third of all of the angels – and his human worshipers prepared to engage in a spiritual battle with God and His Kingdom.
Thus, the future fulfillment of what is written at Ephesians 6:12 …
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Next, learn about the second woe that the earth will experience as a result of The Dragon and his angel’s evictions from heaven.
The sixth angel blasts his trumpet.
