Revelation Part 38
Perhaps the most sobering part of the sixth trumpet is not the destruction itself, but the response of those who survive. Revelation 9:20–21 says that the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, still did not repent of the works of their hands.
The sixth trumpet marks the second of the three great woes and brings another dramatic escalation in the judgments of the Day of the Lord. In Revelation 9:13–14, John hears a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. This connects the sixth trumpet with the altar of incense and the prayers of God's people. The voice commands the sixth angel, who has the trumpet, to release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. These four beings have been restrained until this appointed time, demonstrating that even the forces of destruction operate only within the limits God permits. Nothing happens outside God's sovereignty.
The identity of these four angels is uncertain. One possibility is that they represent powerful fallen spiritual beings associated with the great kingdoms that have dominated the biblical story, such as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Another possibility is that they are powerful fallen angels who have been prepared for this particular moment and will direct an enormous military force against humanity. Whatever their precise identity, the passage emphasizes that they have been bound and that they are released at a specific time appointed by God. Their release demonstrates the reality of spiritual warfare and the destructive purpose of Satan's forces. Jesus described the thief as one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy in John 10:10. Revelation now portrays the devastating consequences of allowing these destructive forces to act.
Revelation 9:15–19 describes an enormous army released for the purpose of killing a third of mankind. This is an extraordinary escalation from the fourth seal, where authority was given to kill a fourth of the earth. If the two judgments are understood sequentially and literally as percentages of humanity, the combined effect would mean that roughly half of mankind has been killed. The scale of the destruction is almost impossible to comprehend. The passage describes an army of two hundred million, an immense number that emphasizes the overwhelming magnitude of the judgment.
The description of the army is highly unusual. John sees horses with riders wearing breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses are described as being like lions, and fire, smoke, and brimstone proceed from their mouths. Their tails are compared to serpents with heads that inflict injury. The repeated use of expressions such as "like" and "as" makes it difficult to determine whether John is describing literal creatures, supernatural beings, or symbolic representations of some kind of massive destructive force. The imagery may communicate the characteristics and effects of the army rather than provide a literal technological blueprint.
The enormous size of the army also raises questions about a strictly literal interpretation. The passage describes two hundred million mounted troops, yet that is more than three times the number of horses on earth today, and 10 times the amount that could be capable of any military endeavor. The point may therefore be less about calculating the precise composition of a human military force and more about communicating the unimaginable scale of destruction unleashed during this period. Revelation frequently uses vivid imagery to communicate realities that are difficult for human beings to comprehend.
The sixth trumpet is not merely another military conflict between human nations. The imagery points toward a combination of physical and spiritual destruction. The creatures possess characteristics associated with lions and serpents, and their weapons are fire, smoke, and brimstone. The serpent imagery is particularly significant because Scripture repeatedly associates the serpent with Satan and deception. The army therefore appears to represent spiritual forces of destruction operating under God's sovereign permission during the final period of judgment.
Perhaps the most sobering part of the sixth trumpet is not the destruction itself, but the response of those who survive. Revelation 9:20–21 says that the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, still did not repent of the works of their hands. In other words, even after experiencing unprecedented judgment, many people continued in rebellion against God.
Their refusal to repent reveals the depth of human depravity and sin. They continued to worship demons and idols made from gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood. These objects cannot see, hear, or walk, yet humanity continues to place its trust in created things rather than the Creator. This reflects the biblical warning against exchanging the worship of God for the worship of creation in Romans 1:25.
The sins listed in Revelation 9:21 are equally revealing. Humanity refuses to repent of murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, and thefts. The Greek word translated "sorceries" is related to pharmakeia, a word associated with magical practices and the use of drugs or potions. The list demonstrates that the problem is not simply that people lack evidence of God's existence. Their problem is rebellion. Even when confronted with extraordinary circumstances and proof of God’s omnipotence, many continue to cling to the practices that separate them from God.
These sins can also be understood as expressions of the same destructive impulses described earlier in Scripture. Murder destroys life. Sorcery represents dependence upon spiritual powers other than God. Sexual immorality corrupts God's design for human relationships. Theft is rooted in covetousness, greed, and the desire to possess what belongs to someone else. Together, these sins reveal a society increasingly centered on self, materialism, pleasure, power, and false worship.
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.
