The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets-- The Book of Revelation, Chapter 9 The trumpet judgments in Revelation chapters 8 and 9 take place in the first half of the tribulation. The first four trumpet judgments involve catastrophes to the physical earth. Burning hail, asteroids and smoke devastate the earth in the four trumpet judgments of chapter 8. Following these physical judgments in chapter 8, spiritual judgments take place in the 5th and 6th trumpets in chapter 9. In chapter 9, under the 5th trumpet, John describes beings emerging from the “Abyss” as locusts, who torment the lost for 5 months. Following this, in the 6th trumpet, John describes the release of four bound angels at the Euphrates River, who then allow 200 million horsemen to kill 1/3 of those left alive. Regarding the king of the locusts, Abaddon/Apollyon, mentioned in Revelation 9:11, there is some debate as to his true identity. Most Christians believe that Abaddon/Apollyon is Satan (the Devil). However, a few Christians believe that this being is not Satan, but rather an angelic being. At one time, the Jehovah’s Witnesses believed Abaddon/Apollyon was Satan, but over time, their view changed and now they believe that he is in fact Jesus Christ!
