Revelation 9:13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

The sixth trumpet sounds

The sixth angel sounds the sixth trumpet from the altar. The altar is associated with the prayers of the saints, so this is God’s judgement against sin and the killing of the saints. As the trumpet sounds, we notice four angels released from being bound. Most of the demonic angels are free, Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

These angels are bound because of their great wickedness before the flood of Noah. Gen 6:4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. These were demonic angels intent on destroying the bloodline of Jesus, so God bound them and caused a great flood to destroy the giants and other unholy creatures.

What happens when these angels are unleashed?

Revelation 9:15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The last trumpet judgement allowed great suffering, this trumpet judgement allows great death. They are going to kill one-third of the population that is left. Revelation 9:15 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.

This apocalyptic imagery is difficult to understand. But imagine John witnessing this 2000 years ago. How would he describe tanks, helicopters and all the other modern-day weapons? Now this could be literal beasts but more likely it is modern weaponry with painted images on the hull of the machine. But the four angels lead these armies to kill, not conquer, but inflict death on mankind.

Why?

Revelation 9:20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. Sinful, hard necked people will not repent. They simply want to be their own gods. Pride will not allow them to repent. God is holy and cannot tolerate sin. So, the answer is they choose to suffer through the judgements.

Sad because God has provided a way to escape the coming judgement. Jesus wept in the garden of Gethsemane because of the suffering He was about to endure. But he went to the cross and suffered the sins of mankind. He took the punishment of the very ones who will not confess Him as Lord. We are loved with a love that we cannot even imagine. Will you come to Him today? Will you confess your sin to Him?