A STUDY OF REVELATION Chapter Nine

The sounding of the trumpets is symbolic of the gospel as prayed. Prayers of the persecuted saints as ascending up to the throne of God. The key passage of this section (8:3-6), reveals that every trumpet sounded is a response to prayer. This also is a complete view from the day of John till the end of time, hinting at but suppressing the final climax, as did the seals. While it is a complete view, like the seals, it is from a different angle of vision. The events of this section are not successive to the seal events, but synchronize with them. The two views are parallel.

Fall -- rather as Greek, "fallen." When John saw it, it was not in the act of falling, but had fallen already. This is a connecting link of this fifth trumpet with Rev. 12:8, 9, 12, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, for the devil is come down," & Isa 14:12, "How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning!" The bottomless pit -- Greek, "the pit of the abyss"; the orifice of the hell where Satan and his demons dwell. There arose a smoke—False doctrine, obscuring the true light of heaven.

Saracens - A member of a pre-Islamic nomadic people of the Syrian-Arabian deserts. An Arab or Muslim, especially of the time of the Crusades Muhammad - the founder of the religion of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of God Followers of Muhammad - tormented the Roman Empire from 612 AD – 762 AD 5 months = 150 years (1 Day = 1 year / 30 x 5 = 150) Appearance - Long hair, Turban, Armor – Ishmaelite s emblem of Locust. Judges 7:12

4 Angels of the Euphrates - It was customary to represent important events as occurring under the ministry of angels. The general meaning here is, that, in the vicinity of the river Euphrates, there were mighty powers which had been bound or held in check, which were now to be let loose upon the world. The reference refers to 4 Turkish groups (Arabs, the Saracens, the Tartars, the Turks) which rose to power bringing the fall to the Roman Empire. Constantinople – Last city to fall under Roman control to the Turks

We may understand the horsemen to refer to the myriads of Turkish cavalry arrayed in scarlet, blue, and yellow (fire, hyacinth, and brimstone), the lion-headed horses denoting their invincible courage, and the fire and brimstone out of their mouths, the gunpowder and artillery introduced into Europe about this time, and employed by the Turks; the tails, like serpents, having a venomous sting, the false religion of Mohammed.

Prayers of the saints that brought and end to their cruel persecutions and the fall of one of the worlds mightiest empires. Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. A estimated 1/3 part of the entire world died during the wars and persecutions of the dark ages.

Three woes are introduced. The first is directly attributed to Satan. Satan has been given liberty to open the bottomless pit. Hell's smoke ascends from the pit which has reference to the heresy and false teachings originating with the counterfeit religion. The locusts that came out of hell's smoke was the invasion of the territories discussed previously even the Holy Land itself. The land of Israel has almost been devastated by wars year after year. Modhammedism had full sway in Israel for some time and a Moslem Mosque was put on the foundation of Solomon's Temple. We see the weakening of pagan power in answer to prayer then a complete overthrow of pagan power in Rome.