Revelation Part 36
The first four trumpets have primarily focused on physical effects upon the earth. The final three are different and are identified as three “woes.”
Revelation 8:13 then provides a transition to the final three trumpets:
“I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!’”
The first four trumpets have primarily focused on physical effects upon the earth. The final three are different and are identified as three “woes.” The word signals a further escalation in the severity of what is coming. Revelation 9 moves from environmental and physical judgments toward spiritual tribulation as demonic forces are released from the bottomless pit to torment humanity.
The progression of Revelation continues to intensify. The first four trumpets have demonstrated God's power over the physical creation. Now the final three trumpets will reveal the spiritual dimension of the conflict and bring humanity closer to the climax of the Day of the Lord. These events reinforce the same lesson repeated throughout Scripture: God has revealed what is coming so that His people will watch, remain faithful, repent, and be ready.
Revelation 9:1–2 describes John seeing a star that had fallen from heaven and being given the key to the bottomless pit, or Abyss. The language strongly suggests that this "star" is an angelic being. One possible identification is Satan himself. Isaiah 14:12–15 describes the fall of the one who sought to exalt himself above God, while Ezekiel 28:11–16, in its description of the king of Tyre, uses imagery that extends beyond an earthly ruler and points to Satan's presence in Eden and his expulsion from God's mountain. Jesus Himself said in Luke 10:18,
"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."
He then told His disciples that He had given them authority over the power of the enemy. These passages remind us that the events described in Revelation are not merely political or military conflicts. They are part of a much larger spiritual battle.
The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes that the real battle behind human events is spiritual. Ephesians 6:10–12 tells believers to put on the whole armor of God because our struggle is not ultimately against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and spiritual hosts of wickedness. Satan operates through deception, influence, temptation, and accusation. Therefore, the weapons of God's people are also spiritual. In 2 Corinthians 10:3–4, Paul explains that although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. Our weapons can destroy arguments and every proud presumption that sets itself against the knowledge of God. Revelation 9 brings this spiritual conflict into the dramatic events surrounding the Day of the Lord.
The fifth trumpet also appears to correspond with a later stage in Satan's expulsion from heaven. Revelation 12 describes a future war in heaven in which Satan and his angels are finally cast down to the earth. Until that point, Scripture indicates that Satan has had access to God's presence as an accuser. Job 1:6 presents Satan appearing among the sons of God, while Revelation 12:10 calls him
"the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night."
Revelation 12:9 identifies him as the serpent of old who deceives the whole world and describes his angels being cast down with him. Thus, the fifth trumpet may represent a moment when Satan's forces are unleashed in an unprecedented way. His activity on earth is intensified by the demons already present in the world, the fallen angels associated with him, and spiritual beings that have been restrained in the bottomless pit.
The bottomless pit is especially significant because it is not merely a symbolic description of evil. Revelation presents it as a place of spiritual incarceration. Satan himself will eventually be confined there during the thousand-year reign described in Revelation 20:1–3. Yet Christ ultimately controls the key to death and Hades. Revelation 1:18 records Jesus saying,
"I have the keys of Hades and of Death."
Even when Satan is permitted to exercise tremendous power, he does so only within limits established by God. The events of the fifth trumpet demonstrate the terrifying consequences of God allowing restrained spiritual powers to be released for a specific purpose and period of judgment.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
