The Seventh Seal - The Fifth Trumpet Judgment: Hell on Earth
(Rev. 9:1–12) Part II

I. The Rise of Demonic Power (v.1-3)
A. The fifth trumpet is the unleashing of demonic forces upon the earth.
B. These locusts (or demons) are fallen angels who originally rebelled with Satan and have been confined to the abyss.
C. These demons will have the authority to persecute mankind on the earth.
a. General Facts Concerning Angels:
1. Angel comes from the Greek word angelos meaning messenger or sent one.
2. They are personal beings (Isa. 7:14)
3. They are created beings (Ezek. 28:13; Col. 1:16)
b. The Activities of Angels:
1. They are messengers (Dan. 9:21)
2. They are ministering Spirits (Luke 22:43)
3. They are used as instruments of judgment (Acts 12:23)
4. They influence world powers, though they are under God’s sovereignty. (Col. 1:16)
5. They are at times allowed to influence the created order (Job 1; Rev. 7:1)
b. Classification of Angels:
1. Governmental rulers (Eph. 3:10; 6:12; Col. 1:16).
2. Elect Angels (1 Tim. 5:21). It is clear that the non-elect angels are those who followed Satan in his rebellion against God.
3. Fallen Angels or Demons (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 12:4)
4. Cherubim (Ezek. 10:6-7) & Seraphim (Isa. 6:1-6).
5. Selected individual angels: Michael (Dan. 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7-12); Gabriel (Dan. 8:15-27; 9:20-27; Lk. 1:26-33
c. Demon Possession in the Bible:
1. It is limited to a certain era of history.
2. It is limited to certain areas.
3. A demon cannot possess Christians. (1 Jn. 4:4; James 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19; Mt. 12:44-45; Acts 5:1-4)
4. How a Christian may avoid becoming influenced by Satan or demons (Eph.6:11)
5. It was instrumental in establishing the Lordship of Christ.

II. The Restrictions of Demonic Persecution (v.4-6)
A. The demons are not to afflict any natural resource (trees, grass) or the elect [Rev.7:4; Ezk. 9:4-6]. (v.4)
B. The demons were not allowed to kill anyone, only torment them. (v.5)
a. What this torment may include:
1. Mass Pain and suffering
2. Mass Demonic possession (cf., Mt. 8:28; Mk. 5:2-5; Lk 8:28-29)
C. Men will want to die but be unable to do so. (v.6)

III. The Reputation of Their Demonic Pursuits (v.7-10)
A. They are war like spirits prepared to destroy God’s plans.
a. Some interpretative challenges of John’s description

IV. The Ruler of This Demonic Pack (v.11-12)
A. The leader is identified as an angel. (v.11)
a. Some identify this as Satan. However, Satan is currently out of the abyss whereas this angel comes from inside the abyss.
b. Some say this is the Antichrist. However, the antichrist is a man (Dan. 7:8; 8:23; 11:37; 2Th. 2:3). This being is an angel.
B. John warns that even though this judgment was bad, it is still not over. (v.12)
a. Even in the face of judgment, most people will not repent and trust Christ.(Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9,11)


Point to Ponder:
While God’s judgment of sin and sinners in the future is severe, His grace and mercy in the present can deliver anyone from His wrath to come. Will you be saved from it?


Willem Berends, “The Biblical Criteria for Demon-Possession,” Online. Accessed June 1, 2021. https://www.galaxie.com/article/wtj37-3-02
Robert Dean Jr., “Demon Possession and the Christian,” Online. Accessed June 1, 2021. https://faithconnector.s3.amazonaws.com/chafer/files/v14n1_1_demon_possession_and_the_christian.pdf
John F. MacArthur Jr., Revelation 1–11, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 260.
Ibid., 261.
John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Moody Press: Chicago, 1966), 164.
MacArthur, MNTC, 262.
Henry M. Morris, The Revelation Record: A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Prophetic Book of the End Times (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 1983), 163.
Walvoord, Revelation, 162.
Tony Garland, “Revelation Commentary,” Online. Accessed June 4, 2021. https://www.preceptaustin.org/revelation_commentaries
MacArthur, MNTC, 261.