Who are the locusts in Revelation 9?

Question

"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.

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon." - Revelation 9:3,11 KJV.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%209;&version=9;

Answer 1

First off the words Abaddon and Apollyon are greek and hebrew words, and they both mean "destroyer" which is one of satan's many names used in the bible. And in revelation the word "sea" means a very vast number of people as in humanity / armies/ etc, etc. These locusts are the armies that satan gathers up from every kindred tongue and nation and wars against Isreal. God allows this to happen only so that He , the God of Abraham can crush Satan's armies. And in that way all will come to know that there is a God , and that it is He.

Answer 2

Gods Army as spoken in Joel.
2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

God allows this for correction of his sons...the king of them is Satan..but God allows it.

Answer 3

These “locusts” are the kings, presidents, popes, priests, general authorities, worldly leaders, and any other humans who control the actions of their followers and subjects, either by teaching or by command.

They are “given power” by those who follow (“tail”) them whether by devotion or decree. A tail always follows the commands of the creature, and in the case of “scorpions,” it has a devastating sting. With the power given them, and their proficiency in manipulating those who follow or who are otherwise compelled to execute their commands, these leaders have caused incredible sorrows and torments upon the earth by using their “tails” to hurt and torment others.
Past prophets used the same symbolisms:

And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. (Isaiah 7:4)

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are a rebellious house, yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. (Ezekiel 2:5–7)


The “locusts” use their power (“wings”) and ironclad imposition of will to bring the people into wars and uprisings (“the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle”), further causing the “torment” and “hurt” that John again describes in verse 10.

He again reiterates that the cause of humanity’s problems come from compliant people (“tails”) following their leaders and doing their bidding, hurting and bringing pain one upon another. Though few in number, the leaders of the earth would have no power or means to hurt others, if it were not for the power given them by their followers (“in their tails”). Giving this power to their leaders, the people have brought the torment they feel upon themselves—which is as “the sting of a scorpion.” And this torment will last as long as mortals continue the process of learning from their experience and mistakes (the cleansing through the “five months” as explained in verse 5 above.)


These quotes come from a book I read that explains not only this, but ALL of Revelation in plainness. It is free at the site below:

Answer 4

Long answer, I know, but the anwser is truthful and from God's own Word.

God's people preaching.

The locust army spoken of in chapter 9 of Revelation is the same army spoken of in Joel chapters 1 and 2.

At Penecost 33 C.E., the Christian congregation received holy spirit and they began speaking in the various languages of the people attending the festival. Peter, speaking with holy spirit, explained that Joel's prophecy (which included the locust plague) was undergoing fulfillment. (see Acts 2:1-21)

At that time, the Christian congregation began the work of preaching that Jesus had told them to do. (Matthew 28:19, 20; see Acts 1:8) Men, woman, children all began preaching about Jesus Christ and God's Kingdom. (Joel 2:28, 29) From that time period all the way to our day, true Christians preach every day in public places and "from house to house". (Acts 5:42)

Only a few Christian religions today speak from house to house. However, there is only one religion that teaches about Jesus Christ and God's Kingdom all over the world, in every country on earth, coming to peoples homes to offer the hope "of something better". (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:13-15)

What religion is best known for preaching from house to house? What religion is known for using the Bible to teach persons how to live in harmony with God's moral standards? What religion has done what Psalm 83:18 says will be done:

"That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth"

Only Jehovah's Witnesses. The locust plague of Revelation and Joel are God's faithful witnesses who bring stinging messages to those who do not want to live by God's standards, but who bring good news to those who are looking for truth. With well over 6,000,000 active, preaching adherents, Jehovah's Witnesses are certainly like a locust plague to those who do not want to hear the good news of God's Kingdom and what it wall accomplish for mankind.

Psalm 37:9-11; 46:9; 72:7, 8, 12-14
Proverbs 2:21, 22
Acts 3:21 compare to Revelation 21:5
2 Peter 3:13; Isaiah 65:17

So who is Abaddon/Apollyon, who is spoken of as the king of the locusts?

At Revelation 20:1-3 the angel having “the key of the abyss” is shown to be God’s representative from heaven, and rather than being “satanic,” he binds and hurls Satan into the abyss. Commenting on Revelation 9:11, The Interpreter’s Bible says: “Abaddon, however, is an angel not of Satan but of God, performing his work of destruction at God’s bidding.”

In the Hebrew scriptures just considered, it is evident that ’avad·dohn′ is paralleled with Sheol and death. At Revelation 1:18 we find Christ Jesus stating: “I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” His power with regard to the abyss is shown at Luke 8:31. That he has destroying power, including the power of destruction over Satan, is evident from Hebrews 2:14, which says that Jesus partook of blood and flesh in order that “through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil.” At Revelation 19:11-16 he is clearly represented as God’s appointed Destroyer or Executioner.

Answer 5

how would you in the first century describe, the amazing things that are in our world to day?
this is what John was faced with, and of you look at his description, and compare it to what is in our world today, they most resemble the Helicopters that are very common it war time.

Answer 6

Sometimes a locust is just a locust.

Answer 7

part of satan's army, coming from the pits of hell.

Answer 8

I have no idea