Understanding Revelation 9:13-21: The Sixth Trumpet and the Ottoman Empire

Revelation 9:13-21

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:13-21 describes the sounding of the sixth trumpet, a period of prophetic history marked by the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire's political supremacy Revelation 9:13-21. This prophecy is uniquely significant because it provides a specific timeframe for the fulfillment of these events, calculated to the very daySSP 176.2.

The Loosing of the Four Angels

When the sixth angel sounds, a voice from the golden altar commands the loosing of the four angels bound in the river Euphrates Revelation 9:13-14. These four angels represent the four principal nations of which the Ottoman Empire was composedAPEC 116.2. They were prepared for a specific prophetic period: an hour, a day, a month, and a year Revelation 9:15.

The Prophetic Time Calculation

Using the biblical principle that a day in symbolic prophecy represents a literal year, the period is calculated as followsEze 4:6+1:

• One prophetic hour equals 15 literal daysSSP 176.2.

• One prophetic day equals 1 literal yearSSP 176.2.

• One prophetic month equals 30 literal yearsSSP 176.2.

• One prophetic year equals 360 literal yearsSSP 176.2.

The total duration of this period is 391 years and 15 daysSSP 176.2. This timeframe began on July 27, 1449, when the foundation of the empire's supremacy was laid, and terminated precisely on August 11, 1840SSP 176.2+1.

The Fall of Ottoman Supremacy

On August 11, 1840, the Turkish Sultan voluntarily surrendered his independence into the hands of the allied Christian powers of Europe, exactly fulfilling the prediction made by Josiah Litch two years priorLELJB 266.4+1. This event marked the end of the second woe and the closing of the sixth trumpet's sounding Revelation 11:14LELJB 266.4. Because of this remarkably accurate fulfillment, many people, including over one thousand former infidels, were led to believe in the divine inspiration of the BibleBDOC 56.95+1.

The Character of the Power

The prophecy describes a massive army of horsemen with breastplates of fire, jacinth, and brimstone Revelation 9:16-17. The power is led by a king known as "the destroyer," reflecting the devastating nature of the Ottoman government throughout its historySSTR 48.3+1.

• Military Strength: The horses are described as having heads like lions, with fire, smoke, and brimstone issuing from their mouths, symbolizing the use of gunpowder and firearms in their conquests Revelation 9:17-18+1.

• Political Impact: Their mission was to "slay the third part of men," which refers to the political destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire Revelation 9:15APEC 116.2.

The Result and Final Warning

Despite these devastating plagues and the clear fulfillment of prophecy, the remaining nations did not repent of their idolatry, murders, sorceries, or thefts Revelation 9:20-21. The passing of this second woe serves as a solemn reminder that the third woe comes quickly, signaling the end of human probation and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God Revelation 11:15LELJB 266.4+1.

Revelation 9:19

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

The tails mentioned in Revelation 9:19 represent the propagation of false doctrines and the unique military standards of the Ottoman Turkish power Revelation 9:19. This symbolic description identifies both the spiritual poison of their religion and a literal historical badge of their authoritySBBS 510.1+1.

The Symbol of False Doctrine

In biblical prophecy, the tail and the sting are recognized as the seat of venom, which serves as an emblem of false religion and detestable doctrinesSBBS 510.1.

• Spiritual Poison: Just as a scorpion or serpent diffuses poison through its tail, the "diabolical false prophecy" of Mohammed was spread by the Arabian and Turkish forces wherever they established their dominionSBBS 510.1+1.

• A "Wonderful" Prodigy: The description of a "locust-scorpion" implies a power that not only depopulates countries like locusts but also leaves behind a train of foulest errors that torment the mindSBBS 510.1.

• The Seat of Hurt: The scripture specifies that their power is in their mouth and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads that do hurt Revelation 9:19. This indicates that their conquest was not merely military but involved a religious imposture that contended for the empire of the worldSBBS 510.1.

The Historical Horse-Tail Banners

The mention of tails also finds a striking literal fulfillment in the unique military and political customs of the TurksSBBS 515.3.

• The Origin of the Ensign: During an early battle, a Turkman commander lost his principal standard; in its place, he cut off a horse's tail, lifted it on a pole, and used it as a rallying ensign to win the victorySBBS 515.3.

• A Badge of Rank: Following this event, the horse's tail became a permanent and official standard among the Turks aloneSBBS 515.3. It was used to mark the dignity and power of officials, from the grand vizier to the governors of provincesSBBS 515.3+1.

• One, Two, or Three Tails: The rank of a Turkish pasha is distinctively marked by the number of horse tails—one, two, or three—borne before him as a standardSBBS 515.3.

Military Implementation

The prophecy describes the tails as having "heads" with which they do hurt Revelation 9:19.

• Use of Firearms: When horsemen engaged in action, the discharge of muskets from horseback appeared as fire and smoke issuing from the horses' mouths, while the "heads" in the tails or breech of the guns—the bullets—were the instruments that caused physical harmMWV2 122.1.

• Serpent-like Character: The tribe of Dan is also described as a serpent that "biteth the horse heels," illustrating a character that strikes the unsuspecting or innocent with a "backhanded blow" Genesis 49:17CIS 375.3. This reinforces the idea of a power that causes its victims to "fall backward" through subtle and poisonous influenceCIS 375.3+1.

Revelation 9:20-21

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 9:20-21 serves as a tragic commentary on human nature, revealing that despite witnessing overwhelming divine judgments, the majority of humanity stubbornly refused to change their ways or abandon their sinful practicesSSP 179.2+1. These verses specifically describe the spiritual and moral condition of the governments and individuals who remained after the devastating plagues of the sixth trumpet Revelation 9:20-21MWV2 123.1+1.

The Persistence of Idolatry

The "rest of the men" who survived these judgments continued to worship false deities and physical objects made by human handsSSP 179.2+1. This identifies the target of these plagues as those who participated in apostate religious systemsMWV2 123.1.

• Worship of Devils: The text declares that they continued to worship devils and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and woodGNT 72.1+1.

• Powerless Idols: These objects are described as being incapable of seeing, hearing, or walking, yet they remained the focus of devotion Revelation 9:20DAR1909 517.1+1.

• Antichristian Character: This description aligns perfectly with the characteristics of the Papal power or "the woman sitting on the scarlet-colored beast," known as Babylon the Great, which has historically led nations into spiritual fornication and idolatry Revelation 17:3-5MWV2 123.1.

A Refusal to Repent

The hallmark of this period is a profound and stubborn impenitence that remains even when the end of time draws nearSSP 179.2+1.

• Hardness of Heart: Like Pharaoh, who hardened his heart after repeated displays of God's power, these individuals became more set in their rebellion with each rejected ray of lightDA 588.1+1.

• Confirmed in Iniquity: As time progresses toward the final destruction of the earth, iniquity continues to wax greater, and men choose to continue in their theft and immorality 2 Timothy 3:13SSP 179.2.

• Specific Sins: The scripture lists four specific areas where there was a total lack of repentance Revelation 9:21DAR 487.2:

• Murders: The shedding of innocent bloodMWV2 123.1.

• Sorceries: The practice of deceptive and supernatural artsMWV2 123.1.

• Fornication: Moral and spiritual impuritySSP 179.2+1.

• Thefts: The dishonest acquisition of propertySSP 179.2+1.

The Purpose of the Judgments

These plagues were sent by God as a direct response to the character and actions of those who had rejected His law and mercyMWV2 123.1+1.

• Divine Scourge: The sixth trumpet and the second woe were judgments intended to punish the "Antichristian beast" and those who did not have the seal of God in their foreheadsMWV2 123.1+2.

• Witness of History: History records that those in the Eastern Greek Empire, who were significantly affected by the Turkish conquests, were notoriously guilty of these prevailing sins and yet did not turn away from themSLG 7.3+1.

• Exposing False Pretensions: These judgments revealed the weakness of the religious leaders of the time; for example, the Pope's inability to resist the inroads of the Turks proved his claims of being God's vicegerent were falseMWV2 123.1.

The Solemn Warning for Today

The impenitence described in these verses serves as a final warning that there are limits to God's forbearanceGCB January 1, 1900, par. 2+1.

• The Close of Probation: Satan's objective is to hold people in a state of darkness and impenitence until the mediation of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary endsGC 518.1.

• The Sealing Work: While the world continues in rebellion, there is a "little company" who by faith see Jesus and reflect His character; these faithful ones are being sealed today as we near the close of timeEze 9:4+1.

• The Coming Woe: Because the world at large refuses to repent, the second woe passes and leads quickly to the third woe, which brings the final judgment and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom Revelation 11:14-15EQ 6.5+1.

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