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13 The Sixth Trumpet: the Second Woe.[a] Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice[b] emanating from the horns of the gold altar that stood in the presence of God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who was holding the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

15 And so the four angels, who had been held in readiness for this very hour, day, month, and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 9:13 These ancient monsters seem to have had an appointment to meet on the banks of the Euphrates, to be then unleashed as a savage horde on the people. The visionary is undoubtedly thinking of the four corps of the military that invaded Judea from Syria for the second phase of the Jewish War in an expedition that was particularly destructive and murderous. The event was always supposed to be a sign that jump-started consciences. Alas, it merely leads to bewilderment and decomposition!
  2. Revelation 9:13 I heard a voice: to show that the punishment inflicted on the pagans was the result of the prayer of the martyrs, described in Rev 6:9-10.
  3. Revelation 9:15 For the day of the divine wrath, see Rev 6:17.