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Revelation 9:15

in Revelation 9

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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.

KJV

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.

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This verse in Revelation 9

Commentary

13 notes on this verse
And the four angels were loosed - Who had this mighty host under restraint. The loosening of the angels was, in fact, also a letting loose of all these hosts, that they might accomplish the work which they were commissioned to do. Which were prepared - See Rev 9:7. The word used here properly refers to what is made ready, suited up, arranged for anything: as persons prepared for a journey, horses for battle, a road for travelers, food for the hungry, a house to live in, etc. See Robinson’s Lexicon, sub. voce Ἑτοιμάζω Hetoimazō.

This site's exposition

prepared for this hour and day

on Revelation 9:15-16

The four angels had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year, a time fixed, to kill a third of mankind. John says of the army of two hundred million, I heard their number, and no army of the ancient world came near it.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 550.

proposed

When this happened, they went out with an innumerable "cavalry" force. And he says this is the invincible power of the divine angels, accompanied by the greatest cavalry; and he says he saw those sitting on the "horses" wearing fiery, "hyacinth", and divine "breastplates".

A commentator

Primasius of Hadrumetum

COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:15 · Written before 560.

proposed

"The four angels were released" indicates the beginning of the persecution.… He indicates by an apt expression the four times during which the persecution will be continuing, that is, [he indicates] three years and six months. He said "for the hour, the day, the month, …

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Alcuin of York

COMMENTARY ON REVELATION · Written before 804.

proposed

And 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. The loosing of these angels represents the beginning of the last persecution. He says prepared, because …

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

And the four angels were released. In the manner of prophecy, which designates to us things to come, he himself sees the events in the spirit. He called them four angels because that persecution will rage in the four parts of the world. These are …

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Revelation · Written before 735.

proposed

Who were prepared for the hour, and day, and month, etc. Malignant spirits, who at every moment of hours and times hunger for human death, will then be allowed to rage more freely to opportunely destroy the Church. What do you think they will do …
6 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Jacob Bar-Salibi

Quotes on Revelation recorded by Dionysius Syrus · Written before 1171.

proposed

'On this Caius says : It is not written that angels are to make war, nor that a third part of men is to perish; but that nation shall rise against nation [St. Matth. xxiv. 7]. Hippolytus in reply to him: It is not of …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The time of their military operations and executions is limited to an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year. Prophetic characters of time are hardly to be understood by us; but in general the time is fixed to an hour, when it shall begin and when it shall end; and how far the execution shall prevail, even to a third part of the inhabitants of the earth.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

Mahomet named Ali, his cousin and son-in-law, for his successor; but he was soon worked out by the rest, till they severally died, and so made room for him. They succeeded each other, and each destroyed innumerable multitudes of men. There are in a prophetic Com.
And the four angels were loosed,.... The time being come, fixed by the decrees of God, making use of the Turks for the destruction of the eastern empire, the restraints of divine Providence were taken off from them, and they were suffered to pass the river Euphrates; they were let loose like so many furies, and in a little time overran and destroyed the whole empire, and settled their own, now called the Turkish or Ottoman empire; and which was done about the year 13

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

were--"which had been prepared" [TREGELLES rightly]. for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year--rather as Greek, "for (that is, against) THE hour, and day, and month, and year," namely, appointed by God.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

For an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year - We have in this place a year resolved into its component parts. Twenty-four hours constitute a day, seven days make a week, four weeks make a month, and twelve months make a year. Probably no more is meant than that these four angels were at all times prepared and permitted to inflict evil on the people against whom they had received their commission. There are some who understand these divisions of time as prophetical periods, and to these I must refer, not professing to discuss such uncertainties.

The words behind it

22 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

12 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Revelation 9:18A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.10 worksRevelation 9:14saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”9 worksRevelation 8:7Then 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.6 worksRevelation 8:12Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.5 worksRevelation 8:9a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.3 worksRevelation 6:8Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.3 works
The other 6 cross-references, with their words ▾
Revelation 8:11–12The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters.2 worksRevelation 9:10They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.2 worksEzekiel 4:6When you have completed these days, lie down again, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah. I have assigned to you 40 days, a day for each year.2 worksHosea 6:5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.2 worksGenesis 41:32Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.2 worksRevelation 9:5The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.0 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Revelation 8:7

    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…

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 38:22

      I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.

    • Revelation 9:4

      They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

    • Revelation 9:18

      A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.

    • Isaiah 28:2

      Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

    • Exodus 9:23–25

      So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt.

  • Through

    Revelation 9:10

    They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 9:5

      The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.

    • Revelation 9:3

      And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.

  • Through

    Revelation 9:18

    A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that proceeded from their mouths.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 9:17

      Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and…

Where this verse is studied

About Revelation

The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, Jan and Hubert van Eyck, about 1430 to 1432. Public domain.
Revelation: the study guide →Read Revelation 9 →
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alcuin of York, COMMENTARY ON REVELATION; Bede, Commentary on Revelation; Jacob Bar-Salibi, Quotes on Revelation recorded by Dionysius Syrus; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Revelation and Primasius of Hadrumetum, COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:15.

Read on in Revelation 9 →