furnace. Compare Revelation 1:15 . Indicating a place of fire, but not to be confused with Hades (Sheol) or with Tartarus. Compare Jeremiah 4:23-28 , where the judgments are against Judah and the Land. Here, John sees them extended to the whole earth.
scorpions. Greek. skorpios. Here; verses: Revelation 9:5 , Revelation 9:10 . Luke 10:19 ; Luke 11:12 . As in Exodus 10:14 , these are no ordinary locusts, which "have no king" (Proverbs 30:27 ). See Revelation 9:11 and compare Joel 2:25 . Here "men" are the objects of their power to inflict hurt.
tormented. Greek. basanizo, literally to test (metals) by the touchstone, then to torture. Occurs: Revelation 11:10 ; Revelation 12:2 (pained); Revelation 14:10 ; Revelation 20:10 . See Matthew 8:29 . Mark 5:7 . Luke 8:28 . "Torment" is specially connected with demons.
five months. Compare the fixed periods of Numbers 11:19 , Numbers 11:20 ; 2 Samuel 24:13 ; where the term is taken literally, as it should be here also. The period of locusts is five months: May-September. See Genesis 7:24 .
torment. Greek. basanismos. Here; Revelation 14:11 ; Revelation 18:7 , Rev 10:15 . See App-197 . The verb, above.
Abaddon. Hebrew word. The "destruction" of Job 26:6 ; Job 28:22 ; Job 31:12 .Psalms 88:11 .Proverbs 15:11 ; Proverbs 27:20 . Here personified as Abaddon and Apollyon, the "Destroyer". Compare Isaiah 16:4 .Jeremiah 4:7 ; Jeremiah 6:26 . Daniel 8:24 , Daniel 8:25 ; Daniel 9:26 ; Daniel 11:44 .
hour, day, month, year. A fixed point of time, not a period of duration. The four notes of time being under one article and one preposition show that the occasion is one particular moment appointed by God.
Verse 1
saw. App-133 .
star. The symbol of him who had already become "fallen" before John "saw". Compare Luke 10:18 . Isaiah 14:12 .
fall = fallen.
from. App-104 .
heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .
unto. App-104 .
earth. App-129 .
the . . . pit = the pit (Greek. phrear. Here, Revelation 9:2 .Luke 14:5 .John 4:11 , John 4:12 , "well") of the abyss (Greek. abussos. Here, verses: Revelation 2:11 ; Revelation 11:7 ; Revelation 17:8 ; Revelation 20:1 , Revelation 20:3 .Luke 8:31 .Romans 10:7; Romans 10:7 ). See App-197 .
Verse 2
out of. App-104 .
furnace. Compare Revelation 1:15 . Indicating a place of fire, but not to be confused with Hades (Sheol) or with Tartarus. Compare Jeremiah 4:23-28 , where the judgments are against Judah and the Land. Here, John sees them extended to the whole earth.
by reason of Greek. ek. App-104 .
Verse 3
locusts. Greek. akris . Here; Revelation 9:7 . Matthew 3:4 .Mark 1:6 .
unto = to.
power. App-172 .
scorpions. Greek. skorpios. Here; verses: Revelation 9:5 , Revelation 9:10 . Luke 10:19 ; Luke 11:12 . As in Exodus 10:14 , these are no ordinary locusts, which "have no king" (Proverbs 30:27 ). See Revelation 9:11 and compare Joel 2:25 . Here "men" are the objects of their power to inflict hurt.
Verse 4
commanded = said.
that . . . not = in order that (Greek. hina). . . not ( App-105 ).
neither. Greek. oude.
but. Greek. ei ( App-118 ) me ( App-105 ).
only. The texts omit.
men . App-123 .
in = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .
Verse 5
that . . . not. As in Revelation 9:4 .
tormented. Greek. basanizo, literally to test (metals) by the touchstone, then to torture. Occurs: Revelation 11:10 ; Revelation 12:2 (pained); Revelation 14:10 ; Revelation 20:10 . See Matthew 8:29 . Mark 5:7 . Luke 8:28 . "Torment" is specially connected with demons.
five months. Compare the fixed periods of Numbers 11:19 , Numbers 11:20 ; 2 Samuel 24:13 ; where the term is taken literally, as it should be here also. The period of locusts is five months: May-September. See Genesis 7:24 .
torment. Greek. basanismos. Here; Revelation 14:11 ; Revelation 18:7 , Rev 10:15 . See App-197 . The verb, above.
he = it.
Verse 6
seek. As in Romans 2:7 .
not. The texts read "in nowise", the strong negative. App-105 .
shall flee = fleeth.
Verse 7
shapes = likenesses. See Romans 1:23 .
horses . See Joel 2:0 for similar creatures which (Revelation 2:8 ) it is impossible to wound or kill.
were. Omit.
Crowns. Greek. stephanos. Occ eight times in Rev., always connected with heavenly purposes except here.
Verse 9
sound. Locusts in flight give out a great sound. These supernatural creatures will appal by the sound of their wings.
Verse 10
had = have.
Verse 11
And. The texts omit.
over. App-104 .
in . . . tongue. Greek. Hebraisti.
Abaddon. Hebrew word. The "destruction" of Job 26:6 ; Job 28:22 ; Job 31:12 .Psalms 88:11 .Proverbs 15:11 ; Proverbs 27:20 . Here personified as Abaddon and Apollyon, the "Destroyer". Compare Isaiah 16:4 .Jeremiah 4:7 ; Jeremiah 6:26 . Daniel 8:24 , Daniel 8:25 ; Daniel 9:26 ; Daniel 11:44 .
his = a.
Verse 12
One. i.e. the first woe.
and. Omit.
behold. App-133 .
more = yet.
hereafter. Greek. meta tauta.
Verse 13
a = one (Revelation 8:13 ).
four. Omit.
altar. See Revelation 6:9 .
Verse 14
in. Greek. epi. App-104 .
Euphrates. Connected with the judgments of the great day. See Jeremiah 46:4-10 .
Verse 15
were = had been.
for. Greek. eis. App-104 .
an = the
hour, day, month, year. A fixed point of time, not a period of duration. The four notes of time being under one article and one preposition show that the occasion is one particular moment appointed by God.
for = in order. Greek. hina.
third part. See Revelation 8:7 .
Verse 16
army = armies.
two . . . thousand. Literally two myriads of myriads, a literal number which John heard and recorded. Compare Revelation 7:4 . See App-197 .
and. Omit.
Verse 17
vision. Greek. horasis. Occurs: Revelation 4:3 and Acts 2:17 . Compare App-133 .
on. App-104 .
of fire. Greek. purinos. Only here.
brimstone. Greek. theiodes. Only here.
brimstone. Greek. theion, six times in Rev., and in Luke 17:29 . See App-197 .
Verse 18
By. Greek. apo. App-104 . as the texts.
three. The texts add "plagues". See App-197 .
by. Greek. ek. App-104 . The texts omit the last two occurances of ek : (by).
Verse 19
their power. The texts read "the power of the horses".
serpents. Greek. ophis, as in Revelation 12:9 , Revelation 12:14 , Revelation 12:15 ; Revelation 20:2 . See Jeremiah 8:17 .
Verse 20
rest. App-124 .
plagues. See note, Revelation 9:18 .
repented. App-111 .
that . . . not. See Revelation 9:5 .
worship. App-137 .
devils = demons. A worship which is widespread over the world at this hour, despite the Divine warnings. Distinguished from worship of idols.
idols = the idols. Greek. eidolon. Only occurrence in Rev. Not found in the Gospels.
neither, nor. Greek. oute.
see. App-133 . Compare Psalms 115:4-8 .
Verse 21
Neither = And . . . not ( App-105 ).
sorceries. Greek. pharmakeia. Occurs: Revelation 18:23 . See Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:20 (witchcraft).