3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth , and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power . 4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth , nor any green thing , nor any tree , but only e the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads . 5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone , but to torment for five months ; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man . 6 And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die , and death flees from them. 7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle ; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold , and their faces were like the faces of men . 8 They had hair like the hair of women , and their teeth were like the teeth of lions . 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron ; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots , of many horses rushing to battle . 10 They have tails like scorpions , and stings ; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months . 11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss ; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon , and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Revelation 9:3-11
Commentary on Revelation 9:1-12
(Read Revelation 9:1-12)
Upon sounding the fifth trumpet, a star fell from heaven to the earth. Having ceased to be a minister of Christ, he who is represented by this star becomes the minister of the devil; and lets loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ. On the opening of the bottomless pit, there arose a great smoke. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by putting out light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. Out of this smoke there came a swarm of locusts, emblems of the devil's agents, who promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty. The trees and the grass, the true believers, whether young or more advanced, should be untouched. But a secret poison and infection in the soul, should rob many others of purity, and afterwards of peace. The locusts had no power to hurt those who had the seal of God. God's all-powerful, distinguishing grace will keep his people from total and final apostacy. The power is limited to a short season; but it would be very sharp. In such events the faithful share the common calamity, but from the pestilence of error they might and would be safe. We collect from Scripture, that such errors were to try and prove the Christians, 1 Corinthians 11:19. And early writers plainly refer this to the first great host of corrupters who overspread the Christian church.