Revelation 9:13-17 meaning

Revelation 9:13-17 reveals what happens when the sixth trumpet is blown. Seven angels have lined up with their trumpets. Each time one of the angels sounds their horn, destruction occurs on Earth. The first four trumpets saw destruction on earth, but the last three trumpets will result in destruction on people. At the sound of the fifth trumpet, locusts that “hurt men for five months” appeared and started the destruction against humanity (Revelation 9:10).

Now we are on to the sixth trumpet.

Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates” (vs. 13-14).

The word translated here as release could also be read as “untie” or “unbind,” meaning that these angels that are being released are currently restrained and bound, awaiting their time.

We also see here that it’s the voice from the four horns of the golden altar who is giving the sixth angel these instructions. So even the furniture in the throne room appears to have power and a voice. It is inferred the instruction comes from God, working through various heavenly instruments,

And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. (vs. 15-16).

With the first four trumpets, the third of many things were killed: a third of the earth, the trees, the sea, the sea creatures, of the ships, and of the sun, moon, and stars. But here we see that the four angels have been authorized to kill a third of mankind.

We see throughout all of the seven trumpets that God is in control, and He is the one on the throne. We are reminded that God is in control here as it is the altar which is before God who gives the sixth angel the order to release the bound angels. God has given authority for all of this judgment to take place.

God has patiently endured wickedness, not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). But now the time has come. These four angels are those who have been prepared for the hour and day and month and year of this judgment. This means that God always knew the time, down to the very hour.

The disciples asked Jesus when the time of restoration would be, but Jesus answered, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). God has fixed the time, and now the time has come for wickedness upon the earth to be judged, and for a new heaven and earth to be installed.

For believers still upon the earth at this point, it will likely be painful. However, all believers at all times have the assurance that God is in control even amidst chaos, evil, and destruction.

Along with the four angels who had been bound at the great river Euphrates is the armies of the horsemen. This may refer to armies connected to the four horsemen introduced in Chapter 6. These were also given the authority to bring destruction to the earth and its people.

This translation says that the number of the armies of them was two hundred million. But a more literal translation would be “two myriads of myriads.” If a myriad is considered as ten thousand then this could be two hundred million (2 x 10,000 x 10,000). Whatever the actual number, the clear intent is to express that this is a large number.

When John says he heard the number of them, the number is vast. The four angels being unloosed together with the armies of the horsemen are all connected with the Euphrates River.

The great river Euphrates is found throughout the Bible. It is first mentioned as a locator for Eden in Genesis 2:14. It is mentioned in Exodus 23:3, Deuteronomy 11:24, and Joshua 1:4 as a boundary for the land God would grant to Israel. We will see it in Revelation 16:12 as being dried up to pave the way for the kings of the east to descend upon the land of Israel. The Euphrates became a central feature in the great empires of the ancient world. It seems to be connected with kingdoms and empires. Now God will bring judgement upon the earth and establish His kingdom upon the earth.

These armies associated with the four angels could be spiritual entities, similar to the angels. They might go along with the four horsemen that were released upon the earth at the opening of the first four seals (Revelation 6:1-8). They could also represent physical armies, or perhaps both. The result of their release is that they will kill a third of mankind.