< Revelation 9 >
1 The fifth angel blew his trumpet. Then I saw [an evil angel. He was like] a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. He was given {[Someone] gave him} the key to the shaft [that descended] ([to] the underworld/[to] the deep dark pit). (Abyssos )
And the fifth angel sounded; and I saw a star, which fell from heaven upon the earth. And there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. (Abyssos )
2 When he opened that shaft, smoke arose from it like smoke from a huge burning furnace. The smoke prevented [anyone from seeing] the sky and the light of the sun. (Abyssos )
And he opened the pit of the abyss; and smoke issued from the pit, like the smoke of a furnace that is in blast; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. (Abyssos )
3 Locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth. [They were given] {[God] gave them} power [to sting people], like scorpions [sting people].
And out of the smoke, came locusts upon the earth: and power was given them, like that which scorpions have on the earth.
4 [God] told the locusts that they should not harm grass, nor any plants, nor any tree. [God said that they should harm only] those people who did not have a mark on the forehead [to show that they belonged to God].
And it was commanded them, that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any herb, nor any tree; but only the persons, who had not the seal of God upon their foreheads.
5 [God] did not allow the locusts to kill those people. Instead, [he] allowed them to continue torturing people for five months. When they tortured people, the pain those people felt was like the pain a scorpion causes when it stings someone.
And it was given them, that they should not kill them, but should torment them five months: and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a person.
6 During the time [when the locusts torture rebellious people, the pain will be so bad that] people will want to find a way to die, but they will not be able to [PRS].
And in those days, men will desire death, and will not find it; and they will long to die, and death will fly from them.
7 The locusts looked like horses that are ready for battle. They had on their heads what looked like golden crowns. Their faces were like the faces of people.
And the appearance of the locusts was this; they were like the appearance of horses prepared for battle; and on their heads, was, as it were a coronet, resembling gold; and their faces were like the faces of men.
8 They had [long] hair like the [long] hair of women. Their teeth were [strong], like lions’ teeth.
And they had hair, like the hair of women: and their teeth were like those of lions.
9 They wore metal breastplates. [When they were flying], their wings made a noise like the roar when many horses [pull chariots as they are] rushing into battle.
And they had breastplates, like breastplates of iron: and the sound of their wings, was like the sound of the chariots of many horses rushing into battle.
10 They had tails like scorpions have. With their tails they stung [people] for five months.
And they had tails like those of scorpions, and stings; and with their tails they had the power of hurting men five months.
11 The king who ruled over them was the angel of the underworld. His name in the Hebrew language is Abaddon. In the Greek language it is Apollyon. [Both of] those names [mean ‘Destroyer’]. (Abyssos )
And they had a king over them, the angel of the abyss; and his name, in Hebrew, is Abaddon; and in Greek, his name is Apollyon. (Abyssos )
12 That was the end of the first terrible event. [Be aware that] two tragic events are still to come.
One woe is past; lo, there come yet two woes after them.
13 The sixth angel blew his trumpet. Then I heard a voice from the four corners of the golden altar that is in God’s presence.
And the sixth angel sounded; and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which was before God,
14 It was saying to the sixth angel, the one who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels whom [I] have bound at the great river Euphrates!”
that said to the sixth angel having a trumpet: Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.
15 The four angels were released, those who had been {[He] released the four angels, whom [God] had} kept ready for that [exact] hour of that day, of that month, of that year. They were released {[He] released them} in order that they might enable [their soldiers to] kill a third of the [rebellious] people.
And the four angels were loosed; who are prepared, for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men.
16 The number of the soldiers riding on horses who did that was 200 million. I heard [someone say] how many there were.
And the number of the warrior horsemen was two myriads of myriads: and I heard their number.
17 In the vision I saw what the horses and the [beings] that rode them looked like. They [wore] breastplates that were [red] like fire, [dusky blue] like smoke, and [yellow] like sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions. From their mouths came fire, smoke, and [fumes of burning] sulfur.
And while I looked on the horses in the vision, and on them who sat on them I saw that the breastplates were of fire, and of jacinth, and of sulphur. And the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and from their mouths issued fire, and smoke, and sulphur.
18 Those three things—the fire, the smoke, and the [burning] sulfur from [the horses’] mouths—killed a third of the [rebellious] people.
And by these three plagues, a third part of the men were slain; namely, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the sulphur, which issued from their mouths.
19 The horses had power with their mouths and with their tails. Their tails have heads like snakes by which they harm people.
For the power of the horses was in; their mouth, and in their tails; for their tails were like serpents, having heads to strike with.
20 The rest of the [rebellious] people, those who were not killed by these plagues of [fire and smoke and burning sulfur], did not turn from their sinful behavior. [They did not stop worshipping] the idols that they had made with their own hands. They did not stop worshipping demons and idols [that were made] of gold, of silver, of bronze, of stone, and of wood, [even though they are idols] that can neither see nor hear nor walk.
And the residue of men who were not slain by these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which cannot see, nor hear.
21 They did not stop murdering people, or practicing sorcery, or acting in sexually immoral ways, or stealing [things].
And they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their whoredom, nor of their thefts.