Keraia
Revelation 9

Revelation 9:7

The Fifth Trumpet · Revelation 9:1–12
Read Revelation 9

Translations

Modern
And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the likenesses of the locusts were like horses having been prepared for battle, and upon their heads were something like crowns, like gold, and their faces like the faces of men.
Latin
Et similitudines locustarum, similes equis paratis in prælium: et super capita earum tamquam coronæ similes auro: et facies earum tamquam facies hominum.

Original

Greek
English
And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men.

Notes

Revelation 9:7–10

  • Some people view these locusts as symbols of attack helicopters, missiles, or other modern weapons. However, they originate from the Abyss, not from human creation. The description of these creatures, based on the appearance of locusts, is intended to cause fear and disgust.

  • Their gold crowns show that their torment affects much of the earth.

Revelation 9:1–12

The fifth trumpet is the first of the three terrors (Revelation 8:13). It brings a judgment of locusts from the bottomless pit, a place of horror. Ancient cultures thought the ocean depths, or the Abyss, was a home for demonic forces (see study note on Genesis 1:2).

Revelation 9:1–21

The fifth and sixth trumpets show how God's judgment affects people worldwide and highlight how worthless it is to resist God. These judgments should lead to repentance, but they do not. Sin controls people so much that they choose to worship the evil forces that harm them instead of repenting and turning to God.

Revelation 8:2–11:19

  • The second series of judgments involves seven trumpets. Like the first series (Revelation 6:1–8:1), it includes a pause (10:1–11:14; compare 7:1–17) and concludes with a view of God's eternal kingdom (11:15–19; see 7:9–8:1).

  • The trumpet judgments are similar to the ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7:14–11:10). They aim to show that earthly gods (or evil powers) are powerless and to clearly demonstrate God's power and control.

Theme notes and profiles

Visions

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Bottomless Pit Crown Head Place of the Dead Scorpion

Topics

Armies: Compared to Locusts Crown: Symbolical Locust: Devastation By Locust: Symbolical Locusts The Locust: Like to Horses Prepared for Battle Trumpet: Symbolical Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Locusts