Revelation 9: 12-21 - The Sixth Trumpet - Bible Studies With Mark

 

The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come. Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. [Rev 9:12-21 ESV] 

---

Revelation 9:12–21 describes the Sixth Trumpet, also known as the Second Woe. Following the locust plague of the fifth trumpet, this judgment shifts from spiritual torment to physical slaughter on a global scale.

The Release of the Four Angels (9:13–15)

The scene begins with a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God. In the Tabernacle, the horns of the altar were where sacrificial blood was applied; here, they cry out for justice.

• The Bound Angels: Four angels are released who had been bound at the Euphrates River. In biblical context, these are not holy angels (holy angels are not "bound"), but fallen spiritual entities held for a specific moment in history.

• The Precision of Providence: Verse 15 emphasizes God’s absolute sovereignty. These angels were prepared for "the hour and day and month and year."

The Resulting Slaughter

The purpose of their release is to kill one-third of mankind. When combined with the previous seal judgments (Rev 6:8), which killed one-fourth, over half of the earth’s population has been decimated by this point in the Tribulation.

---

The Infernal Army (9:16–19)

In Revelation 9:16–19, the imagery shifts from the release of the four angels to a detailed, terrifying description of the army they command. This passage is famous for its "200 million" count and its bizarre, chimera-like descriptions.

1. The Number: Two Myriads of Myriads

John states he "heard the number" of the horsemen: 200 million.

• The Scale: In the first century, an army of this size was inconceivable (the entire Roman army at its peak was roughly 450,000).

• The Source: Because John "heard" the number rather than counting them, it suggests a divinely revealed statistic meant to convey an overwhelming, unstoppable force.

2. The Breastplates: Fire, Hyacinth, and Sulfur

The riders are described with breastplates that match the weapons coming out of the horses' mouths. This creates a visual link between the rider and the destructive power of the mount.

• Fire (Red): Represents judgment and consumption.

• Hyacinth (Deep Blue/Smoke): Often interpreted as the dark, suffocating color of heavy smoke.

• Sulfur (Yellow): Associated with "brimstone," a classic biblical sign of divine retribution and the atmosphere of hell.

3. The Horses: Lion-Headed Destroyers

The horses are the primary actors in this judgment. John uses a hybrid of animal traits to describe something that likely transcended his vocabulary.

• The Heads of Lions: The lion's head symbolizes authority, ferocity, and the power to devour. Unlike the locusts in the previous woe, these creatures are equipped to kill. The imagery suggests a predator that is bold and unafraid.

• The Three-Fold Breath: Out of their mouths come fire, smoke, and sulfur. This is the "triple plague" that kills one-third of mankind. Whether this is a literal supernatural breath or John’s attempt to describe modern mechanized warfare (like tanks or artillery) from a first-century perspective remains a point of intense theological discussion.

• The Serpent Tails: In verse 19, John notes that their power is also in their tails.

  • The Structure: The tails are like snakes and have heads.

  • The Function: While the mouths kill, the tails "inflict injury." This suggests a two-pronged attack—death from the front and stinging, poisonous torment from the rear.

---

Summary of Symbolism

Image	Biblical/Symbolic Meaning
Lion Heads	Ferocious power and lethal intent.
Fire/Smoke/Sulfur	The elements of divine judgment (Sodom & Gomorrah).
Serpent Tails	Deception, venom, and the lingering "sting" of demonic influence.
200 Million	An army beyond human capacity; a global threat.

---

The Tragedy of Hardened Hearts (9:20–21)

Perhaps the most shocking part of this passage is the reaction of the survivors. Despite witnessing supernatural judgment and the death of billions, the "rest of mankind" does not repent.

Instead, they continue in two specific categories of sin:

1. Idolatry: The worship of demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, and stone—things that cannot see, hear, or walk.

2. Moral Depravity: John lists four specific vices they refuse to abandon:

   • Murders: A total disregard for the sanctity of life.

   • Sorceries: The Greek word is pharmakeia, often associated with drug-induced occult practices.

   • Sexual Immorality: (Porneia) A rejection of God's design for human relationships.

   • Thefts: A breakdown of law, order, and personal property.

---

Summary Table: The Sixth Trumpet

Element	Description
The Trigger	A voice from the horns of the golden altar.
The Agents	Four bound angels and a 200-million-man army.
The Location	The Euphrates River (a historical boundary of Israel’s enemies).
The Casualty Rate	One-third of the remaining human population.
The Human Response	Stubbornness, idolatry, and continued immorality.