And the fourth angel sounded... (For an interesting study, click the Bible Gateway button in our treasure chest of Bible study aids and do a word search for the word fourth and for the word third. Check out the results keeping in mind that, prophetically speaking, the Kingdom Age will be the third "day" [i.e., age--from Strong's Lexicon... figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):--age...] that Israel will be recognized by God as His representatives on the earth. [The other two "days" were the Age of Promise and the Age of the Law--the Age of Grace being known as Israel's dispersion among the Gentiles.]Also note that the Jews of the Kingdom age will be, prophetically speaking, the fourth "generation" (from Strong's Lexicon: generation: ...properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age...) --i.e., The Kingdom Age will be the fourth such "generation" of Israel's existence.

…and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened… This brings to mind young Joseph’s dream wherein the sun, the moon and eleven stars all made obeisance to him (Gen 37:9). If you’ll recall, Joseph’s father, mother, and eleven brothers were all angry with him because they perceived that the dream meant they would bow down to the youngster. As per the dream, the sun represented Jacob, the moon was Rachel, and the eleven stars represented the rest of Jacob’s sons, (Incidentally, the dream came true some years later when God raised Joseph to rule Egypt in the Pharaoh’s stead.) By borrowing the prophetic terms used in Joseph's dream, it would seem that reference is being made to end-time Israel and that emphasis is being made that 1/3 of the nation as a whole will be destroyed during the first one half of this rendering of Daniel’s 70^th Week.

Also notice that in a literal interpretation of this passage, the third part of the the sun, moon, and stars would be smitten and a third part of them would be darkened so that "...the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." (For a study of the spiritual meaning of the celestial bodies, click here.) --However, since there is no mentioning of a severe cold at this time, this would probably not be a problem with the heavenly bodies, but a blotting out of their lights due to a massive cloud of dust, etc., in the atmosphere -- perhaps the result of volcanoes, earthquakes, bombs, etc.

8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe...In Scriptural numerology, the number three stands for testing and judgment (See booklet eight, chapter thirty of THE CLOCK OF THE AGES); and the three "woes" suggests that this will be a colossal time of testing for Israel and of judgment for the unbelievers.

And the fifth angel sounded... In Biblical numerology, the word "fifth" seems to be assigned exclusively to Israel. It is the adjective form of the number five which, in the New Testament, stands for God's grace. The word "fifth" is not mentioned in the New Testament except in the Book of Revelation when Israel once again is a main player in the things of God. When used in the Old Testament in connection with God's gifts and grace, it has the added ingredient of obedience to the things of the law. (The fifth child born to Jacob by Leah [who was a type of the law] was named Issachar which means reward or recompense.)

...a star fall from heaven... Again, Lucifer, the "star" that fell from his position in heaven, is identified as a key player.

--He will be released from the bottomless pit for the "little season" and given the key to release his fellow fallen angels who will help him in his final futile efforts against Christ.

9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

bottomless pit... Hell is the bottomless pit in the center of the earth. It is bottomless in that there is no gravity there and its prisoners float around hopelessly-- never being able to "stand aright."

...and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace...?Shades of the Hebrew children and the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:1-30)? Perhaps this indicates that something will bring on tremendous volcanic activity and/ or massive earthquake(s) that will open the earth's crust.

...and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. As with the 1st 1/2 of Daniel's 70th Week, pollutants in the air will blot out the light of the heavens.

9:3 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.

locusts... Anyone who has seen a major horde of locusts is at lost for words to describe the awesome, fearful sight. There can be so many of the creatures that they blot out the light of the sun; and they can clear a path of vegetation a half mile wide--leaving nothing green in their path! But as we see in the next verse, these locusts will not be programmed to destroy nature, their blighting power will be designed for man.

--Here we see the limitations of the locusts. They will not be allowed to hurt the greenery or the trees of the earth, only the men which have not the seal of God in their forehead.

9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

And to them it was given that they should not kill them... Their purpose will not be to kill, but to torment for five months. The number 5 stands for God's grace, and because they totally rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Gift of grace, they will not only be rejected of God, but tormented as well.
...and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man... Those to whom John was writing knew full well the torment of the sting of a scorpion, for the holy land is known for its scorpions and their sting.

9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

Surely nature's scorpions must pale when compared to these that will be prepared to torment the tormentors at the end time. This will be true, not only for their sting, but for their appearance as well.

9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle... In John's day the greatest war machine available was the horse trained for battle. These scorpions are "like unto" those trained horses. Could it be that these "scorpions" will not be some monstrous creature like something out of a horror movie, but that they will be ultimate, modern weapons of war?
...and on their heads were as it were... This language might suggest that these "creatures" (or those operating them) will be operating under a pretension or under a delusion, giving the impression that they are something they are not. (The Sci-fi buff might see these creatures as part flesh and part machine.  Hey, who knows what technology might be around at the end of the Kingdom Age!)
...crowns like gold...Christ has promised those who love Him a crown of gold for what they must endure in this life for His name's sake. Could this, again, depict the work of Satan the counterfeiter. If so, then it looks like "the liar" is once more making his promises.
...and their faces were as the faces of men... I confess to enjoying a good science fiction story, so I admit that my imagination might go to the extreme. We're told here that these "locusts" are "like unto horses prepared unto war" (war machines?) with heads that can hold something like a crown, and with faces "as the faces of a man." Perhaps John was simply seeing the devils, the war machines, and the men being used by the devils to run the machines as though they were one.

9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

...as the hair of women... as = pretentious, or similar to. Here, it probably means pretentious, or perhaps perversion--i.e., men looking like women.

and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. This may be referring to effeminate men, but, even so, they will be mean and vicious.

9:9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

breastplates-- In the Bible, the believers breastplate of protection is his righteousness. In the Old Testament, this was acquired by faith in God demonstrated by obedience in the blood offerings and adherence to the law of Moses. In the New Testament, our righteousness is two-fold, having to do with both our standing and our walk. As to our standing, the believer has the righteousness of Christ put to his/her account when they first believe. As to our walk, our righteousness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit produced in the life of a yielded, obedient believer. When these are combined with our faith, the fiery darts of the devil are quenched.
And they had breastplates... The breastplates referred to here are the breastplates of the unregenerated in the world who trust in their own power and might: i.e., ...as it were breastplates of iron...the hardest, workable substance of John's day.

...and the sound of their wings... The Bible says that God shelters the believer beneath His wings, and when we dare to "fly by faith," He carries us on His wings. Through his henchmen, Satan will offer to shelter and carry those who will put their trust in the things he offers.
...was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. It appears that the wings of the locusts will be powerful, dreadful weapons of war.,

9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

And they had tails like unto scorpions... The Lord wants to make the believer to be the head and not the tail. In the spiritual realm, Lucifer is the tail. ...and there were stings in their tails... Nevertheless, he does have a sting.

...and their power was to hurt men five months. Five is normally the number of God's grace; but for these who reject His grace, Satan will reward them for their trust in him by giving them five months of "hurt."

9:11 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.

And they had a king over them...Once again, the unfaithful in Israel will go looking for an earthly king and Satan will be more than willing to oblige.
...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. The Jews will see him as one thing--the Gentiles another.

9:12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.