Revelation 9:1-3; Locusts Upon the Earth

Revelation 9:1-3 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: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 

Locusts were released out of the bottomless pit. They are like scorpions – a large crab-shaped insect of the same family as spiders, with a poisonous stinger in its tail. 

There was a locust invasion that swept over farms in rural Kenya from December 2019 has left farmers like Ndavu not only counting crop losses, but struggling with emerging environmental and health problems. The swarms have been the worst seen in Kenya for 70 years, and experts are concerned that swarms later in the year will be even larger.

Desert locusts, or Schistocerca gregaria, have often been called the world’s most devastating pest, and for good reason. Swarms form when locusts’ numbers increase and they become crowded. This causes a switch from a relatively harmless solitary phase, to a gregarious, sociable phase. In this phase, the insects are able to multiply 20-fold in three months and reach densities of 80 million per square kilometer. Each can consume 2g of vegetation every day – combined, a swarm of 80 million can consume food equivalent to that eaten by 35,000 people a day.

In 2020, locusts have swarmed in large numbers in dozens of countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea, India, Pakistan, Iran, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia. When swarms affect several countries at once in very large numbers, it is known as a plague.

Ndavu’s village of Mathyakani, which covers about 50 sq km (19 sq miles), is home to about 10,000 people. At Ndavu’s 1.6 hectares (four acres) of land, the locust swarms destroyed produce worth 50,000 Kenyan shillings ($460/£350), which she was set to begin harvesting in July.

“I have gone through a lot of challenges growing up as an orphan,” says Ndavu. “But this locust invasion is more than a challenge. It is a matter of life and death because it has left us hungry and confused.” [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200806-the-biblical-east-african-locust-plagues-of-2020]

It is recorded in Revelation 9:3 that there is coming in the future a locusts plague that attack not crops but man. They come in swamps. There is already great devastation when locusts attack crops but here in the fifth trumpet judgment, they are directed to attack rebellions men who reject God.

There are two words translated “power” in verse 3. It is the word “exousía” from éxesti, it is permissible, allowed. Permission, authority, right, liberty, power to do something (Acts 26:12). As “éxesti” denies the presence of a hindrance, it may be used either of the capability or the right to do a certain action. The words éxesti and exousía combine the two ideas of right and might. As far as right, authority, or capability is concerned, it involves ability, power, strength (dúnamis) as in Matt. 9:8; 28:18. [Zodhiates]

The locusts will be directed by God, given the power to inflict pain upon men on earth who have not the seal of God in their foreheads (v4).

Great misery will come upon those on earth who reject their Creator God. It is a sad prospect that men would willingly choose to refuse the gospel.

More than physical torment, there is an eternal torment for the unbelieving which is far worse. Jesus related the true account of a rich man’s unbearable torment in hell.

Luke 16:22-26 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

May men everywhere be awakened to the perils of their soul with Christ. May the truth of the coming judgment be a point of truth to persuade men to repent of their sins and give their lives to Christ. Amen.