Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. New Living Translation Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth. English Standard Version So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Berean Standard Bible So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. Berean Literal Bible And the four angels having been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released, so that they might kill a third of mankind. King James Bible 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. New King James Version So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. New American Standard Bible And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. NASB 1995 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. NASB 1977 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they might kill a third of mankind. Legacy Standard Bible And the four angels were released, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, so that they would kill a third of mankind. Amplified Bible So the four angels, who had been prepared for the [appointed] hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Berean Annotated Bible So the four angels (messengers) who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. Christian Standard Bible So the four angels who were prepared for the hour, day, month, and year were released to kill a third of the human race. Holman Christian Standard Bible So the four angels who were prepared for the hour, day, month, and year were released to kill a third of the human race. American Standard Version And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men. Contemporary English Version The four angels had been prepared for this very hour and day and month and year. Now they were set free to kill a third of all people. English Revised Version And the four angels were loosed, which had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men. GOD'S WORD® Translation The four angels who were ready for that hour, day, month, and year were released to kill one-third of humanity. Good News Translation The four angels were released; for this very hour of this very day of this very month and year they had been kept ready to kill a third of all the human race. International Standard Version So the four angels who were ready for that hour, day, month, and year were released to kill one-third of humanity. NET Bible Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour, day, month, and year were set free to kill a third of humanity. New Heart English Bible The four angels were freed who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of humanity. Webster's Bible Translation And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men. Weymouth New Testament And the four angels who had been kept in readiness for that hour, day, month, and year, were set at liberty, so that they might kill a third part of mankind. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. World English Bible The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the four messengers were loosed, who have been made ready for the hour, and day, and month, and year, that they may kill the third of mankind; Berean Literal Bible And the four angels having been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released, so that they might kill a third of mankind. Young's Literal Translation and loosed were the four messengers, who have been made ready for the hour, and day, and month, and year, that they may kill the third of men; Smith's Literal Translation And the four angels were loosed, prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, that they might kill the third of men. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year: for to kill the third part of men. Catholic Public Domain Version And the four Angels were released, who had been prepared for that hour, and day, and month, and year, in order to kill one third part of men. New American Bible So the four angels were released, who were prepared for this hour, day, month, and year to kill a third of the human race. New Revised Standard Version So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of humankind. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the four angels were loosed, those which were prepared for that hour, and for that day, and for that month, and for that year, so that they might slay the third part of men. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And those four Angels were released who were prepared for an hour and for a day and for a month and for a year, to kill a third of the children of men. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men. Godbey New Testament And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, that they should slay the third part of the men. Haweis New Testament And the four angels were loosed, who were ready at the hour, and day, and month, and year, to kill the third part of mankind. Mace New Testament and the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men. Weymouth New Testament And the four angels who had been kept in readiness for that hour, day, month, and year, were set at liberty, so that they might kill a third part of mankind. Worrell New Testament And the four angels were loosed, who had been prepared for the hour, and day, and month, and year, that they might kill the third part of men. Worsley New Testament And the four angels were let loose; who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to kill the third part of men. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Sixth Trumpet…14saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number.… Cross References So the four angels Revelation 7:1-3 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. / And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: / “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Zechariah 6:5 And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth. who had been prepared 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day. Romans 9:22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction? for this hour and day and month and year Daniel 8:19 and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end. Daniel 11:27 And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time. Acts 17:26 From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. were released Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, John 11:44 The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them. Acts 16:26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. to kill a third of mankind. Ezekiel 5:12 A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them. Revelation 8:7-12 Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass. / Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, / a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. … Zechariah 13:8-9 And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. / This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Treasury of Scripture 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. for. Revelation 9:5,10 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… for to. Revelation 9:18 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. Revelation 8:7,9,11,12 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up… Jump to Previous Angels Four Free Freed Held Hour Kept Kill Loosed Mankind Messengers Month Part Prepared Readiness Ready Released Slay ThirdJump to Next Angels Four Free Freed Held Hour Kept Kill Loosed Mankind Messengers Month Part Prepared Readiness Ready Released Slay ThirdRevelation 9 1. At the sounding of the fifth angel, a star falls from heaven, to whom is given the key to the bottomless pit.2. He opens the pit, and there come forth locusts like scorpions. 12. The first woe past. 13. The sixth trumpet sounds. 14. Four angels who were bound are let loose. So the four angels These angels are distinct from the seven angels with trumpets and the angelic beings around God's throne. They are bound at the Euphrates, indicating a specific and significant role in God's plan. The number four often symbolizes universality or completeness in the Bible, suggesting a comprehensive impact on the earth. who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind Persons / Places / Events 1. Four AngelsThese are the four angels who had been bound at the great river Euphrates. Their release is a significant event in the unfolding of the end times as described in Revelation. 2. The Great River Euphrates This is a significant geographical location in biblical history, often associated with boundaries and significant events. In Revelation, it serves as a symbolic location for the release of the four angels. 3. The Hour, Day, Month, and Year This specific timing indicates the precision and sovereignty of God's plan. The release of the angels is not random but occurs at a divinely appointed time. 4. One-Third of Mankind This refers to the portion of humanity that is affected by the actions of the released angels, highlighting the severity of the judgment. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in JudgmentThe precise timing of the angels' release underscores God's control over history and events. Believers can trust in God's perfect timing and justice. The Reality of Divine Judgment The release of the angels and the resulting destruction serve as a sobering reminder of the reality of God's judgment. It calls believers to live with an eternal perspective and urgency in sharing the Gospel. The Call to Repentance The severity of the judgment highlights the need for repentance. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives and turn away from sin, while also urging others to do the same. The Importance of Readiness The specific timing of the events reminds believers to be spiritually prepared at all times, living in a state of readiness for Christ's return. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Revelation 9:15?2. How does Revelation 9:15 illustrate God's control over timing and events? 3. What is the significance of the "hour, day, month, and year" mentioned? 4. How can Revelation 9:15 deepen our understanding of God's judgment in Scripture? 5. How should believers prepare for God's appointed times as seen in Revelation 9:15? 6. What lessons from Revelation 9:15 can be applied to our daily spiritual vigilance? 7. What is the significance of the four angels in Revelation 9:15? 8. How does Revelation 9:15 relate to God's judgment and mercy? 9. Why are the angels bound at the Euphrates in Revelation 9:15? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 9? 11. What are the Seven Bowls of Revelation? 12. What do the Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls signify? 13. How can a star 'fallen from heaven' (Revelation 9:1) be both an astronomical event and an angelic being? 14. Who is Abaddon or Apollyon in religious texts? What Does Revelation 9:15 Mean The four angels“Four angels” ties directly to the four bound at the Euphrates in the previous verse (Revelation 9:14). These are real, personal beings, not symbols. • Angels serve at God’s command (Hebrews 1:14) and can execute judgment (Genesis 19:1, 12-13). • The number four often relates to the earth’s extent (Revelation 7:1), hinting that their mission will touch the whole globe. who had been prepared Their preparation underscores God’s sovereignty. Nothing in Revelation is random; every actor moves on His timetable (Ephesians 1:11). • The verb points to advance readiness, much like the angels who hold back winds until told (Revelation 7:2-3). • Even rebellious angels remain under God’s leash until He loosens it (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). for this hour and day and month and year The piling up of time units stresses precision. God has circled an exact moment on His calendar. • Similar language appears when Jesus arrives “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4). • Daniel’s prophecies work the same way, counting out years to Messiah and end-time events (Daniel 9:24-27). • Acts 17:26 affirms that God fixes “appointed times” for nations. were released The chains come off, not by chance, but by divine decree. Release signals a shift from restraint to unleashed judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). • Parallel: Satan himself will be “released for a short time” after the Millennium (Revelation 20:7-8), again under God’s control. • This release follows the sixth trumpet, moving the Tribulation into even darker territory (Revelation 8:13; 9:12). to kill a third of mankind The mission is staggering: one-third of earth’s population perishes. • Earlier, the fourth seal allowed death over a fourth of mankind (Revelation 6:8). Now the toll climbs, showing escalating wrath. • Jesus forewarned that the Tribulation would be unparalleled in horror (Matthew 24:21-22). • Yet even here mercy lingers: two-thirds survive, leaving room for repentance (Revelation 9:20-21; 2 Peter 3:9). summary Revelation 9:15 unfolds a deliberate, timed release of four real angels, equipped and held back until a precise moment when they will execute God’s judgment by taking a third of human life. Every phrase highlights divine sovereignty, measured timing, and escalating seriousness, reminding us that God’s plans advance exactly as written and urging us to be ready before the trumpet sounds. (15) And the four angels . . .--Better, And there were loosed the four angels who had been made ready unto (or for, i.e., ready for) the (not "an hour," but the) hour, and day, and month, and year, that they should slay the third part of mankind. The English version reads as though the hour, day, month and year were to be understood as the length of time over which this plague of war should last. This idea has been adopted by many of the historical school of interpreters, and great ingenuity has been exercised to find some period which exactly corresponds with this, and during which disastrous wars prevailed. But the expression ("made ready unto the hour," &c.) is not to be taken to imply that such was the duration of the plague; it implies that the loosing of the angels would take place at a definite period, the year, month, day and hour of which were known; the expression corresponds somewhat with our Lord's words, "Of that day and hour knoweth no man." It reminds us that there is a period--an unknown period, but nevertheless a certain period--at which the latent powers of retribution wake and begin to avenge themselves, at which the restraints which have withheld the long-deserved scourges are removed. Men and nations little think of this. Peace they cry, where there is no peace, for they have been by their sins mining the ground under their feet, or dwelling in that abode of false security which Bunyan might have called the city of Meanwell, and that abode is built on the sands; and when the angels of judgment are loosed, and the restraining influences of public opinion broken, the tempest is abroad, the frail house of formal religion falls, and the time of testing leaves its inmates unsheltered. Happy only are they who are ready for the hour of the Lord's return. The angels are made ready that they should kill the third part of mankind. The way in which this slaughter is to take place is explained in Revelation 9:17-18 : it is a wide and devastating slaughter carrying away a large portion of the human race.Verse 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. The alterations in the Revised Version make the meaning much plainer: which had been prepared for the bout, and day, and month, and year, that they should kill, etc. That is to say those "which had" in God's foreknowledge "been prepared" in order to operate at the exact period required - the exact year, month, day, and even hour. Each knew his appointed time. Four is the number used to denote universality in things of this world (see on Revelation 4:6). The number, therefore, seems to imply that the power of the angels is of universal extent. The third part are destroyed; that is, a great part, though not the larger (cf. Revelation 8:7, et seq.).Parallel Commentaries ... Greek [So]καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. four τέσσαρες (tessares) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 5064: Four. Or neuter tessara a plural number; four. angels ἄγγελοι (angeloi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor. who οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. had been prepared ἡτοιμασμένοι (hētoimasmenoi) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 2090: To make ready, prepare. From hetoimos; to prepare. for εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. [this] τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. hour ὥραν (hōran) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 5610: Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. day ἡμέραν (hēmeran) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. month μῆνα (mēna) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 3376: A (lunar) month. A primary word; a month. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. year ἐνιαυτόν (eniauton) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 1763: A year, cycle of time. Prolongation from a primary enos; a year. were released ἐλύθησαν (elythēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 3089: A primary verb; to 'loosen'. to ἵνα (hina) Conjunction Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that. kill ἀποκτείνωσιν (apokteinōsin) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 615: To put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. From apo and kteino; to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy. a τὸ (to) Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. third τρίτον (triton) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 5154: Third. Ordinal from treis; third; neuter a third part, or a third time, thirdly. of mankind. ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. Links Revelation 9:15 NIVRevelation 9:15 NLT Revelation 9:15 ESV Revelation 9:15 NASB Revelation 9:15 KJV Revelation 9:15 BibleApps.com Revelation 9:15 Biblia Paralela Revelation 9:15 Chinese Bible Revelation 9:15 French Bible Revelation 9:15 Catholic Bible NT Prophecy: Revelation 9:15 The four angels were freed who had (Rev. Re Apocalypse) |
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