“In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails” (Revelation 9:7-10 ESV).
Revelation 9:7-10 offers a physical description of the locust creatures that emerge from the bottomless pit described earlier in this chapter. Some associate these physical characteristics with the advent of modern day weaponry. For example, these “crowns of gold” may refer to a type of helmet. If face shields were deployed with such helmets, a first century observer (like the author of Revelation) might note a resemblance to “human faces.”
This reference to “…breastplates of iron” might refer to some type of body armor. The audible comparison to a sound “…like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle” may represent a primitive reference to a helicopter gunship or other form of mobile weaponry. But whatever these descriptions pertain to, one thing is clear: these creatures are targeting those who have rejected God. In fact, these attacks will be so horrific that people “…shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them” (Revelation 9:6 KLV).
This portion of Scripture thus illustrates what can occur when God removes the restraints He places upon the members of the demonic realm. It also reminds us that demonic beings do not resemble the cartoonish pranksters some portray them to be. Instead, Revelation chapter nine offers a realistic portrait of these dangerous entities in their natural predatory state.
With these things in mind, we would do well to refrain from any form of involvement with occultism, or contact with the spirit world. For instance, recall Jesus’ cautionary message from John 8:44: “…[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” In addition, the Biblical book of 1 Peter tells us, “…Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV).
Taken together with our text from Revelation chapter nine, these passages illustrate the violent, aggressive nature of these dangerous spiritual entities. So while the book of Revelation speaks largely of the future, this passage offers a valuable and relevant lesson for today as well.