Revelation 9:7-12 (NKJV) The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
V7 “The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.” This is what he literally saw. My opinion: satan and his fellow fallen angels can transform/masquerade as good angels, monsters, etc. I know too much. So this is the description. Satan does not want peace and safety; he wants fear. Nevertheless, these monstrous fallen angels are a judgment. Instead of keeping them in the abyss, God releases these evil angels to cause havoc in the world. They like satan, his ways, and even worship him, so then they receive an eye for an eye punishment. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:14, 2 Corinthians 11:3 (Genesis 3:1-5), Deuteronomy 32:17 (these idols resemble bulls, calves, fish (Dagon), the multiple Hindu “gods,” etc.).
Revelation 9:7 (Walvoord Prophecy Commentary) “Since demons do not have physical shape, what John is seeing must symbolize demonic possession. The demons’ awesome combination of human and animal qualities depicts the fearful character of these instruments of divine judgment. This is in keeping with the general character of the book of Revelation as an unmasking of the true nature of Satan and evil. Wiersbe suggests that the features of these demons are Satan’s way of imitating the heavenly creatures described in Revelation 4:7.”
V8 “They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.” Compare Ganesha, Bathomet, Pan, Hanuman, and others.
V9 “And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.”
V10 “They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.” God is the supreme ruler who allows these evil, fallen angels authority to hurt for 5 months. This is a judgment.
V11 “And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” This king is a fallen angel who is among the hierarchy of strongest (Ephesians 6:12).
V12 “One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.” Every judgment is against certain gods (Exodus 12:12, 1 Samuel 5:3, and Isaiah 9:1), priorities of sinful, unbelieving humanity, who all trust in anything and everything other than Jesus Christ. Have nothing to do with any other being, spirit guide, etc. God’s judgments are horrifying. Eternity in hell will be torment.
There is a way to avoid God’s judgment. Ray Comfort does this in 1 minute (https://youtu.be/ats1_9DeMbg). I realize that many have questions and so on, the point is the Gospel is easy to understand. All sins are death penalty sins (Genesis 2:16-17, Romans 6:23, and James 2:10-11). The first judgment is physical death; the second judgment, if one does not place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, is the Lake of Fire (hell) forever and ever (Revelation 20:11-15).
We have all sinned. Each person has lied many times, stolen at least once, sexually lusted after others, blasphemed God, had idols in our hearts, coveted, etc. The penalty is death and eventually hell. Jesus Christ, God the Son and the Son of Man, came to earth to be the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). Either I pay the penalty for my sins in hell or a substitute does (Romans 6:23). Jesus is that substitute. He is sinless, is a human man, is God (John 1:1 Acts 20:28, and Hebrews 1:8), and a volunteer. He died on the Cross for all sins (1 Peter 2:24) and applied to those who believe in Jesus alone (Acts 4:12). He rose from death to prove His sinlessness (if He was a sinner, there would be an eternal punishment). See Romans 1:3-4 and 1 Peter 3:18. This Gospel can be believed (Luke 18:13, Genesis 15:6, Luke 23:43) and one saved from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9).
We learn:
- God hates sin
- There are consequences for sin
- Jesus is the only way for forgiveness of sins (we cannot do it ourselves)—Acts 4:12