The identity of the 5th angel mentioned in the Bible has been a source of much debate and speculation throughout history. The 5th angel appears in the book of Revelation, which describes a series of apocalyptic visions seen by the Apostle John. In Revelation 9, John witnesses the sounding of seven trumpets, each signaling an impending judgment from God. When the fifth angel sounds his trumpet, a number of catastrophic events ensue. The exact identity and nature of this angel has long intrigued biblical scholars and theologians.
Background on the Seven Trumpets
To understand the significance of the fifth angel, it is important to examine the context of the seven trumpets described in Revelation. According to Revelation 8-9, seven angels are given seven trumpets, which they sound in succession. Each trumpet blast ushers in a new judgment or apocalyptic event. The seven trumpets essentially serve to signal the unfolding of God’s wrath and judgment in preparation for the final battle between good and evil.
Here is a quick overview of the seven trumpets:
| Trumpet | Judgment |
|---|---|
| First | Hail, fire, and blood are thrown to the earth |
| Second | Something like a great mountain burning with fire is thrown into the sea |
| Third | A great star called Wormwood falls and poisons the waters |
| Fourth | The sun, moon, and stars are darkened |
| Fifth | The bottomless pit is opened and locusts are released |
| Sixth | Four angels bound at the Euphrates are released to kill one third of mankind |
| Seventh | The kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of God |
As this overview shows, each trumpet unleashes catastrophic, supernatural disasters upon the earth. The fifth trumpet is particularly noteworthy for releasing demonic locusts from the bottomless pit to torment mankind.
The Identity of the Fifth Angel
So who exactly is this fifth angel? Let’s examine some key details about this entity from Revelation 9:
The Fifth Angel is Given the Key to the Bottomless Pit
Revelation 9:1 states “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.”
This verse indicates the fifth angel is given a key to unlock the bottomless pit, also called the Abyss. The Abyss is a Hebrew and Greek term used to describe the underworld or realm of the dead. It is a deep, bottomless pit portrayed as a place of imprisonment for demonic powers and entities. The fact that the fifth angel carries the key to release its contents identifies him as a figure of significant power and authority.
The Fifth Angel Unleashes Demonic Locusts
Revelation 9:3 continues: “And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.”
When the fifth angel opens the Abyss, he unleashes a horde of terrifying locust-like creatures that torture people with scorpion-like tails. These locusts are described as having human faces, women’s hair, lions’ teeth, and wings that sound like thundering chariots and horses charging into battle (Revelation 9:7-10). Their appearance is clearly demonic and meant to evoke fear. As a figure able to summon and command these demonic forces, the fifth angel wields tremendous occult power and influence.
The Fifth Angel’s Locusts Torment People Without God’s Seal
Revelation 9:4 notes that the locusts “were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.”
Significantly, the passage states that the locusts were instructed only to attack those people who did not have God’s seal on their foreheads. This indicates that the fifth angel and his minions have limitations – they cannot defy God’s ultimate sovereignty. Still, the fifth angel has enough power to unleash pain and suffering upon much of humanity.
The Fifth Angel’s Identity is Associated with Destruction
The symbolic name given to the fifth angel also provides a clue about his destructive identity. Revelation 9:11 states, “They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).”
Both Abaddon and Apollyon translate to mean “Destroyer.” Therefore, the fifth angel is directly associated with destruction, ruin, and judgment. He unleashes demonic powers that afflict and torment those who have turned away from God.
Possible Identities of the Fifth Angel
So who might this fearsome “Destroyer” angel be? Here are some of the leading theories about the figure represented by the fifth angel:
1. The Angel of Death
Some equate the fifth angel with the Angel of Death, a figure known as Azrael in Hebrew. The Angel of Death is an entity separate from Satan who serves as a medium between God and mankind. Stories depict the Angel of Death working in concert with God, selectively destroying wicked individuals or large groups in biblical accounts. His actions as the fifth angel align with this role.
2. Abaddon/Apollyon as a Fallen Angel
Others interpret the names Abaddon and Apollyon to represent a specific fallen angel or demon. In this perspective, the fifth angel is a singular wicked entity who has been imprisoned in the Abyss. His release from the Abyss coincides with the intensification of evil on earth during the end times.
3. The Antichrist or Beast from the Sea
Some equate the fifth angel with the Antichrist figure described in Revelation 13. The Antichrist is a ruler associated with Satan who will create chaos and destruction during the end times. He is also sometimes identified as the Beast from the Sea. As an agent of the devil, the Antichrist could potentially carry out the disturbing actions of the locusts from the Abyss.
4. The Angel in Charge of the Abyss
A simpler interpretation is that the fifth angel is the angel placed in command of the Abyss. The Abyss appears to be a prison for evil spirits that are released at appointed times according to God’s will. As the angel granted authority over the Abyss, the fifth angel has control over its inhabitants and contents.
5. A Symbolic Representation of Judgment
The fifth angel may also represent a more collective, symbolic figure. The trumpet judgments as a whole reflect God’s wrath being poured out on the wicked. In this perspective, the fifth angel embodies the unstoppable judgment soon to be meted out upon unrepentant sinners and a world that has rejected God. The locusts represent the external consequences of humanity’s fallen state.
Conclusion
In summary, the fifth angel in Revelation is a mysterious, cryptic figure associated with destruction and judgment. He unleashes demonic hordes from the Abyss to torment the unrepentant during the end times. Potential identities for the fifth angel include the Angel of Death, a fallen angel such as Abaddon/Apollyon, the Antichrist, the angel in charge of the Abyss, or a personification of coming judgment. While the fifth angel’s exact identity remains debated, all interpretations agree that he is a formidable, sinister entity who facilitates great suffering. His appearance marks a key turning point as the world moves toward the final, cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil. The reluctant me mate of his purge of all of unembrace between what is latently signal and what is high peaked meaning inchoate in a world of otherwise sufficient unibuilt truth of authentic provenance and stable signalling becomes manifest merely in his permit of access, one might say, to the deeper semantics lurking there already in waiting, for purpose unbeknownst to most yet intuitively grokked by all.