Revelation 9:7-12
In verses 7-10 John gives quite a detailed description of the locusts. Something about the look of these evil creatures must have given him the impression of locusts. Locusts are considered a plague even in today’s world and since they are coming to be a plague, this could be why he called them locusts.
The details of this description have been associated with many physical ideas as stated previously, from armies to something mechanical. However, John was describing what he saw as characteristics of these evil creatures.
We should not think that what John is describing has to relate with something physical to understand it. Reflect back to chapter 4 and the description of the four beasts which are Cherubs around the Throne. Consider the multi faceted characteristics they have and how strange they would look to us if we were observing them.
Throughout the Old Testament prophecies we see strange descriptions of the things the prophets saw. How about Daniel using the images of animals to represent different empires he saw in his visions. He also described the beast empire as a frightening image that is to come in the Tribulation Period.
Let’s just say that these particular evil creatures are fallen angels and are actually evil cherubs. Since we know the good cherubs have multi faceted features then it would make perfect sense for these evil ones to have multi faceted features as well.
Let’s begin with the description of the locust being like horses prepared for battle. This characteristic could represent their eagerness to attack their victims. In Job 39:19 a descriptive is given of a war horse. This descriptive is of a horse biting at the bit to attack, so this is not a strange characteristic concerning these locusts.
Apparently John recognizes these locusts have been given a measure of authority, so he uses an example of a crown or in the Greek rendering it is likened to a winner’s wreath. That was something common in the day that John lived, so whatever is on their heads he associates with something he was very familiar with. He understood that they have the power to attack whomever they have been given authority to harm.
The faces of men could represent that they have intelligence and are not just beasts. The hair of a woman could be the seductive nature of these evil spirits. With all the temptation in the world, mankind has been ignorant of the seductiveness of the devil and his cohorts. Additionally, they could use this similarly to a snake drawing in their victim before they strike.
Teeth of lions could represent what 1 Peter 5:8 describes as ‘the devil roaming about as a lion seeking whom he may devour.’ John could be saying these evil spirits are fierce and ready to devour whomever they come in contact with that do not carry the seal of God.
Concerning the breastplates of iron; this could represent strength and indestructibility. The Roman army was represented this way in the statue that the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream of the four different empires found in the book of Daniel. The Roman army was considered one of the most fierce and indestructible armies of its day.
Since John is in the spirit realm while observing these scenes, to see a swarm of evil spirits rush out of the pit and to hear what he describes as the sound of chariots would not be unusual. As you may recall, on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, they all heard a sound as of a mighty rushing wind.
In 2 Kings 6:17 we can see that Angels had surrounded the Syrian army and the Angels were described as being in fiery chariots and horses.
The sting which is in their tail is like as a scorpion as discussed earlier. Deuteronomy 28:13 uses the reference of being the head and not the tail. Being the tail is considered a defeated, insecure place to be. In Leviticus 26:16 we find that terror is assigned to those that oppose God.
So this could be a reference to the terror that will strike in the heart of mankind. Not to mention evil spirits can be behind every type of illness and pain on some level, so they could invoke something of a miserable illness in the process as well.
Verses 11-12 discuss the king of the bottomless pit which is satan and the demonic locusts. How do we know this king is satan? First he was the one we discussed opening the pit with the key that he was given.
Next, two names are given to him, one out the Hebrew and the other out of the Greek. They both define him as ‘the destroyer.’ In John 10:10, Jesus described the devil as the one that comes to kill, steal and to destroy; evidently he will live up to his name for a time during the Tribulation Period.
This is just the first woe of the three; there are still two to come!
