The Largest Army Ever Assembled - Revelation 9:12-21

"The sixth trumpet releases another four angels tasked with killing a third of the remaining population. They bring an army of 200 million demons to assist in the slaughter."[1] 

 “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”” (Revelation 9:13–14, NIV)  

"At their greatest extent (Josh. 1:4; 2 Sam. 8:3), Israel’s borders had reached the northeastern edge of the Euphrates River. It was still the remote edge of the Roman Empire when John wrote. For both the Israelites of the Old Testament and the Romans of the New Testament, hostile eastern armies were usually stopped by the Euphrates. When the Euphrates was breached, the military threat was perilous." [2] 

Verse 16 in the Greek New Testament reads: καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν στρατευμάτων τοῦ ἱππικοῦ δισμυριάδες μυριάδων· ἤκουσα τὸν ἀριθμὸν αὐτῶν.[3] That phrase (δισμυριάδες μυριάδων) two myriads myriads is intended to show the greatest possible number of soldiers. "No human army of such a size had ever appeared before. This is the largest precise number in the New Testament . . .." [4]

After 1/3 of all mankind is destroyed we read this: “The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelation 9:20–21, NIV).

"The persecuting world becomes the impenitent world. It is impenitence that brings about not only the outpouring of the bowls of final wrath (chapters 15, 16) but also the culmination of this wrath in the final judgment." [5]

The Book of Revelation is written to encourage and strengthen believers.  How does this do that?  "The pastoral purpose is to remind readers that antagonism to their faithful witness will continue to the end of history and that they should not be disheartened since it is part of God’s plan, in which they can trust." [6]

There is another side to this also.  Many times we hope that tragedy or some major event will shock our unrepentant loved ones and bring them to the Gospel.  This is shown over and over again not to be true.  Certainly there are cases of people who come to Christ in the midst of sad circumstances.  But this is not always the case.   

Father you know exactly how and when to draw unbelievers to Yourself.  Some come through horrible circumstances, some come through Your still small voice.  This we are certain, Jesus has said, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37, NIV).  Lord awaken the lost and bring them to Yourself, we pray.  How sad it is to see that even up to the end, people will still hate You and despise Your Church.  Strengthen Your people in all nations with the grace only You can give.

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1.  Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 9:13–21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

2.  Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (159–160). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

3. Holmes, M. W. (2010). The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (Re 9:16). Lexham Press.

4. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (160). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
5. Hendriksen, William (1998-06-01). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 123). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

6. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: A commentary on the Greek text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (518). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.