Revealing Revelation - The SixthTrumpet

Here we now deal with the second woe as introduced previously in the Chapter. This may be the most ominous of the destructive forced unleashed thus far. The graphic imagery appears to combine the unholy forces of the previous trumpet with a an overwhelming and unstoppable army never before witnessed or described.

But again, our knowledge of the Old testament and the events of the days surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem will help decipher exactly what message John is attempting to convey. Remember we have previously dealt with the time text that John is limiting these prophesies to and the cultural, spiritual and physical situation Jerusalem was in at the time.

Rev. 9:13-15 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, [14] saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” [15] So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

The first point to discuss is the significance of the River Euphrates in relation to Israel and in relation the Babylon as Israel is referred to later in the book.

Historically speaking all of Israel’s great enemies came from over the Euphrates River to conquer Israel. These nations included Assyria, Medo-Persia and, most notably, Babylon. This image of an army or enemy coming from the Euphrates would strike fear into the hearts of the Israelites as their reckoning would be in relation to the historic enemies.

This also quite nicely coincides with the historical account of the fearsome 10th Legion of Rome’s army that was stationed near the Euphrates and was called into action in the actual assault against Jerusalem. This connection should not be missed, but should also should not be seen as the primary focus of the prophecy. The point is that the “four angels” who had been created for this specific time and purpose were to come from the same direction as all of Israel’s great enemies and conquerors.

This also points to the limited scope of the prophecy as being related to Jerusalem and the Judean area. A great army is not to arrive from the Euphrates against Portugal, Southeast Asia or the United States. Like the Olivet Discourse, this prophetic judgment is limited to a specific people represented by the “mankind” who will be affected. This also matches the percentage of dead as the result of the assault against the city.

Another important fact to note is that this event was predetermined with a specific hour, day, month and year in mind. This was not a “Plan B” in the mind of God and had determined long before. this relates back both to the Jesus’ own Olivet Discourse prophecy and to Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy.

In the Olivet Discourse we learn of an army that would surround Jerusalem.

Luke 21:20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.”

This same image is derived from Daniel’s prophetic pronouncement of the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem as well.

Dan 9:26b And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

Who the Prince is and the timing of this prophecy amidst the context of this passage is dealt with previously in the posts related to Daniel’s 70 Weeks. The point of our discussion here is to note that both the Olivet Discourse and Daniel’s 70 Weeks predict an events in advance that was planned out long before it took place. This is not God reacting to some actions of Israel, but is rather part of the plan from the beginning!

Along with the above prediction the time constraints of the two predictions above also match the timing of the event surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Daniel notes that the actions (Messiah being cut off and finishing the transgressions specifically) that take place within the 70 Weeks (490 years) would determine the event in question while the Olivet Discourse plainly declares this event would take place within a generation of the prophesies pronouncement.

The ultimate point is that this event took place precisely at the time God determined it would. That is why earlier we saw angels restricting the onslaught of God’s judgmental wrath and while here we see them unleashed. These judgments are under God’s control at all times!

But what are we to make of this odd and horrifying description of the army in question?

Rev. 9:16-17 The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. [17] And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths.

In prophetic conferences we often hear of this amazing army of two hundred million that will soon swarm down upon defenseless Israel. How should one best understand them?

First off since no word for million is used by the Hebrews the real term is “two myriads upon myriads” or more easily understood, “twice ten thousand times ten thousand.” A quick study of the armies of both Israel and of her enemies will show the common usage of ten thousand. Even Saul killed his thousand but David his ten thousands. This symbolic number representing a large enemy is a popular phrase in the Old Testament.

This includes the Covenantal promise of God that with Him on their side Israel could chase off even ten thousand with just one hundred.

Leviticus 26:8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

With God on their side Israel could face any army of any size and even just one hundred could chase of ten thousand. Now, as a result of Covenantal unfaithfulness, Israel does not face the ten thousand of a large army, but TWO TIMES TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND! This is a covenantal curse judgment and so the number is beyond all imagination.

Also, despite the best attempts of many to claim that China has a similar sized army one must note that this army as described actually has that many on HORSEBACK! An army of that size would not even be able to maneuver within the limited land scope of the Judean area.

Of course the horrific imagery that describes the horses had lead many prophetic prognosticators to argue this must be a modern army of tanks. This makes the 200,000,ooo even more preposterous as the space limitations would dictate.

But more importantly when considering the above mentioned “leader” of this army from the North, not the following passage from the Psalms.

Psalm 68:17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

This imagery of twice ten thousand times ten ten thousand is taken from the Psalms to note both the overwhelming power and strength of the coming attack and who is directly responsible and leading that attack. This imagery is very familiar in the Old Testament where God was seen regularly leading pagan armies against Israel in acts of judgment or other pagan armies against other enemies as judgments against pagan nations.

This is no different. Note the picture of the judgement for Covenantal unfaithfulness as described in Old testament.

Deut. 28:49-65 The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, [50] a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young … [52] “They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the Lord your God has given you. [53] And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you …
[63] And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it …[64] “And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. [65] And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.