The Locusts of the Fifth Trumpet of Revelation 9

The locusts of the fifth trumpet described in Revelation 9 are a topic of much speculation. Some believe the locusts are actual locusts. Others believe that the locusts are demonic creatures.

I will provide insight about the locusts of the fifth trumpet in this article.

The Fifth Trumpet

The Fifth Trumpet Star

Revelation 9’s description of the fifth trumpet begins with a “star” descending to Earth. The “star” is given a key and opens the pit of the abyss (bottomless pit); giving locusts from the abyss access to Earth:

“(1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. (2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (3) And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth:” (Revelation 9:1-3)

The “star” is unlikely a real star because a real star descending to Earth would incinerate it. Some speculate that the star represents Jesus Christ because He has the keys to the abyss:

“(17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:17-18)

However, the star is unlikely Jesus because the star will be given the keys to the abyss. Christ already possesses the keys, so it makes little sense for Christ to hand the keys to Himself.

The “star” mostly likely is an angel because stars can symbolize angels in the Book of Revelation (see Revelation 1:20 and Revelation 12:4).

The Fifth Trumpet Locusts

The locusts from the abyss will cause problems for the wicked during their five months on Earth.

  • The locusts will torment those who do not have the “seal of God on their foreheads” (i.e. those with the Mark of the Beast).
  • However, the locusts will kill no one they torment. But, the torture will be so bad that many people will rather die than to endure more suffering:

“(4) And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. (5) And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. (6) And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” (Revelation 9:4-6)

Revelation 9:7-10 describes the appearance of the locusts:

“(7) And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. (8) And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. (9) And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. (10) And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.” (Revelation 9:7-10)

Are the Locusts Supernatural?

Some speculate about whether these locusts are supernatural entities. I believe these locusts are supernatural entities because they originate from the abyss, a spiritual place where evil souls are temporary held before their final judgment (see Revelation 17:8).[1]

Are the Locusts Demonic?

Some argue that these locusts are demonic because they will come out of the abyss. However, I disagree with the idea that the locusts are demonic. Here’s why:

  1. Nowhere in Revelation 9 does it directly say these locusts are demonic.
  2. I argue that these locusts are doing a good thing by torturing wicked people on Earth.
  3. It’s inconceivable that the wicked survivors of the fifth trumpet and the sixth trumpet events would worship demons as described in Revelation 9:20 if demonic creatures tormented them:

“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:” (Revelation 9:20)

The fifth trumpet locusts are tools used by God to punish the wicked of the earth. If you would like to learn more, I have an article about Apollyon/Abaddon, the leader of the locusts.

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Note

  1. Proverbs 30:27 says that natural locusts have no king over them. The locusts in Revelation 9 have a king. Therefore, it’s likely that the fifth trumpet locusts are not natural locusts.

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Wayne Croley
Wayne Croley

Hi! I’ve studied and written about Bible prophecy since I was a teenager. My goal is to make Bible prophecy easy for you to understand while avoiding the sensationalism seen elsewhere. I am the author of several end time books, including Prophecy Proof Insights on the End Times, a comprehensive book about the end times. I hold an M.B.A. and degrees in Managerial Economics and Political Science.

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  1. My friend, Myra, and I discussed this together. The insights given by you, Pastor Croley, and your followers, have been incredible. One of our conclusions was that God sends his word out through missionaries. When the word of God is not accepted, he sends harder driving messengers. I would rather hear the word of the Lord through gentle counsel rather than the stingers of super locusts.
    Suzanne

  2. Hi wayne, I have been on a spiritual journey and long to know the truth. My thought may be far out there but I agree with almost every aspect you touched on. To add to all of this, isn’t it amazing that Israel is God’s people. Didn’t Israel become an independent nation on May 14th, 1948? If you add the months from there Independence to the upcoming May 14th of 2022 you get exactly 888 months, now if I’m not being misled, doesn’t that number represent JESUS biblical number? To further add to this Donald Trump was born June, 14th 1946 and to the exact day May 14th 2022 you get exactly 911 months which seems to be quite a coincidence. He also made Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Do you have any knowledge or understanding of these things, I would be intrigued to know more, because that time is coming very soon. Thanks and God bless.

  3. I agree with your article. John uses 11 similes in describing these beings; but the one time he does not use “like” or “as” is when he tells us what he saw: he saw locusts! He did not say “like a locust” or “as a locust.” I feel quite sure that he knew what locusts look like. My question is this: how does fit into the name of their king as found in verse 11? That is one part of this passage that I have not come to be able to explain if indeed these are literal locusts. What are your thoughts?

  4. It appears that a fallen star is commissioned to open the bottomless pit. It is not one of the angels of God. The idea is that John did not see a star fall, but that he saw a “fallen star”. (“And I saw a star, out of heaven having fallen”.)
    Letting loose these locusts is a forerunner of a greater scourge because out of the Abyss (bottomless pit, abussos) the beast arises (Rev xi 7, xvii 8). The Abyss will be the prison of Satan during the 1000 year reign of Christ. It is not to be confused with gehenna or the lake of fire and furthermore it is differentiated in Rev xvii 8 from being perdition. Satan will emerge from the Abyss after the thousand years and then be cast into the lake of fire.
    It is interesting that the 5th Trumpet also marks the first of three “woes” to the inhabitants of the earth. The first four are somewhat preparatory warnings to men concerning the nature of their sin and gullt and impending judgement. The first four seals and trumpets have shown wonders in earth, sea, air and heaven.
    The first woe OPENS THE ABYSS! Can the mind fathom how awful the world will become then? Judgement being passed out in the likeness of locusts (see Joel i, ii), headed by Apollyon, THE DESTROYER. The next woe (trumpet 6) will kill a third part of men. God reserves His longsuffering till the end, since even after one third are killed, men repented not. Those last three tumpets are going to blow.
    Getting back the the locust-like creatures, they are natural and supernatural. Natural locusts usually ravage the land for 5 months, typically May through September. They destroy vegetation though. These are forbidden to hurt the green grass, herb or tree; only the men who do not have the seal of God upon their foreheads. Clearly, by their physical description, they are demonic. They only punish those devoted to the beast, tormented for 5 months. They have “authority” to do so, as do other creatures in The Revelation that spoil, destroy, infect and corrupt the earth. During The Tribulation, man seems to lose dominion over creatures of the earth. “Woe” indeed!

  5. Perhaps in this day of Artificial intelligence, mankind is this very day developing these “Locusts”.
    Some of the robots, and drones made today have the face of a man and are made of steel and iron.

    • I’ve given that thought too. The tiny swarms of drones. Micro chipping people clones and genetically modified organisms Sounds suspicious to me. If you don’t have the chip you probably will get stung. 🤷‍♀️. Idk but every bit of that is scary.

  6. Good article Wayne. We can also tell these creatures from the abyss are not the same locust we think of because Exodus 10:14 tells us, And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, NEITHER AFTER THEM SHALL BE SUCH. Joel 2 also describes these end time creatures before the day of the Lord also referencing the appearance unto horses. The number 5 represents Gods grace and these creatures are during the 5th trumpet and torment men for 5 months. Men cannot die during this woe it is not until the sixth trumpet is blown and the next woe that men are killed by the next beast.

    • I don’t think the locusts of Joel are the same locusts of Revelation 9. The reason is that I think the events of Joel will occur later in the end time timeline.

  7. HI WAYNE, THE SO CALLED PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS HAVE ONE AIM..TO MAKE MEN REPENT THE LOCUSTS ARE THE SAME HUMAN ARMY MENTIONED IN JOEL 2 10 … THE LORD THINDERS AT THE HEAD OF ..HIS..ARMY THOSE KILLED BY THE PLAGUE , NOT LITERALLY OF COURSE , CHANGED THEIR WAYS STOPPED WORSHIPPING DEMONS ECT AND ACCEPTED THE TRUTH …NOTE THAT THOSE NOT KILLED STILL DID NOT REPENT,,,THW WHOLE BOOK OF REVELATION IS ABOUT CONVERSION TO TRUTH THIS WILL RESULT IN THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON YHE GREAT ,BY THE DESTROY OUR LORD JESUS