The 6th trumpet and the second woe. In this article, we will explore the meaning and significance of the 6th trumpet of revelation.
The fifth trumpet brought the first woe. Now the sixth trumpet brings the second.
Four angels are released at the great Euphrates River. An enormous army is prepared.
And then comes one of the most staggering statements in Revelation: One-third of humanity dies.
Yet the survivors still refuse to repent.
Revelation 9:13–21 doesn’t simply show us the devastating power of coming judgment. It reveals something even more disturbing:
How hardened the human heart can become when it continually rejects God.
📍Where Are We in Revelation?
Behind us:
The Abyss opens, and terrifying locust-like beings torment those who do not have God’s seal. End of the first woe.
Where we are:
The second woe begins. Four angels are released at the Euphrates. An enormous army advances, and one-third of humanity dies.
Ahead:
John enters another interlude before the seventh trumpet sounds. The horrific bowl judgments loom on the horizon.
Key thought:
The 6th trumpet of Revelation brings catastrophic judgment upon humanity—but even unimaginable suffering does not produce repentance in those who remain.
The Sixth Trumpet Begins the Second Woe (Revelation 9:13)
Bible Study Guide
(Verse 13) John records the sixth angel sounding the sixth trumpet of revelation. This trumpet unleashes the second of three woes that are woven into these last three trumpets of judgment.
“Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,” (Revelation 9:13)
Immediately, John hears a voice from the four horns of golden altar before God. The command is given.
“Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” (Revelation 9:14)
Keep in mind as we continue our journey, God’s wrath comes in two forms. What I mean by this is we can see that God intervenes in one of two ways. His judgments come by direct supernatural forces or He removes His restraining power to allow humanity and its evil to bring upon itself, its own self created wrath.
We see this most prominently in the rapture of the Church. When the restraining force of good is removed, self induced evil will rise dramatically.
Either way, God is sovereign over all judgment.
What’s the Significance of the Four Horns?
John hears a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar before God.
The imagery takes us back to the Old Testament (Exodus 27:1-2; 1 Kings 1:50-53; Amos 3:14), where the altar and its horns carried significant meaning. The horns served as a place of refuge and protection, but Scripture also connects the altar with God’s judgment.
Just as in ancient days, these horns stood for asylum and protection, but they also foretold of a time of judgment for those who turned their back on God.
Here in Revelation 9:13, the voice from the altar gives a command that sets the next judgment into motion.
The 6th trumpet of Revelation isn’t happening outside God’s authority. Heaven is directing what happens next.
Why the Euphrates River? (Revelation 9:14)
(Verse 14) John records the 6th trumpet of Revelation judgment introducing another ancient symbol of the Old Testament. This one goes back to the very beginning.
It’s the great river Euphrates. In the beginning, there was a river that flowed through the garden of Eden watering the first gardens of creation. As it flowed out of Eden, it split into four rivers. One of the four rivers is the Euphrates river.
“The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.” (Genesis 2:11-14)
Today the great Euphrates river begins in eastern Turkey and winds its way through Syria. From there it enters Iraq and empties into the Persian Gulf. It’s the longest river in the Middle East at 1,780 miles long. It flows only through Middle East countries the entire route.
It’s also mentioned more times in the Bible than any other river.
But, there’s more hidden along the banks of the Euphrates than meets the eye. The banks of the Euphrates are witness to some of early mankind’s most sinful acts. The first sin (Garden of Eden), the first murder (Cain and Abel), the first blasphemy (tower of Babel), and the first pagan king and world power to exile God’s people out of their land (King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon) were all events within proximity of the Euphrates River.
Now Revelation 9:14 places four bound angels at this river as the judgment of the 6th trumpet of Revelation unfolds.
The location connects the coming judgment to a place deeply woven into the biblical story of humanity and empire.
The Evil Secret of the Four Angels of the Great River Euphrates
John hears the four horns of the golden altar command the sixth angel with the trumpet:
“Release the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates.” (Revelation 9:14)
These four angels may have contributed to the sins people committed near the Euphrates. As we’re about to learn, they are not good angels. The Euphrates’ history may explain why God bound them.
In this passage, the golden altar’s four horns symbolize judgment, and these demonic angels are about to wreak havoc on many people.
How else can we tell they aren’t good angels? Scripture never says God punishes good angels by binding them. God may have bound these angels long ago and reserved them for this specific day and hour.
6th Trumpet of Revelation: Four Angels Kept For This Exact Moment (Revelation 9:15)
(Verse 15) While we know these angels will only be released during the seven year Tribulation period, we don’t know exactly when during the seven years. God does not always reveal to us His appointed days and times for such events. If He did, we would likely orient ourselves around these events rather than orienting ourselves around God.
He wants us focused on Him.
As the four angels who were kept bound at the Euphrates are released, John learns immediately the number of people who will meet their death as a result of these angels.
One third of humanity will perish. If we continue by today’s estimates of 8.2 billion people on the planet, 2.7 billion people will perish. 2.7 billion people who rejected God will experience the first death. This will seal their fate and guarantee their second death.
These are astronomical numbers. But it begins to make sense when we look at the army of evil spirits that these four angels will gather against mankind. By quick calculation, we can determine that twice ten thousand times ten thousand equals 200 million. This evil army will be massive.
An Army Beyond Human Imagination (Revelation 9:16-19)
(Verses 16-17) Similar to what John saw in the seal judgments and the four horsemen, he sees again under the direction of the 6th trumpet judgment. Like the rider on the red horse who symbolizes the war that’s going to take place among people. These horses are also a symbol of actual war like events that will take place at this time.
(Verse 18-19) The description in this verse aligns with the continuation of the idea that John is witnessing an elevation of mankind’s war with the use of nuclear weaponry. Some Bible scholars believe that the trumpet judgments will usher in the use of nuclear bombs. This is a dreadful thought, but something we can see we’re getting closer to today.
It’s especially pertinent when you examine verse 18.
“A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.” (Revelation 9:18)
This symbolic description could most certainly point to the use of atomic weapons.
Again, I’m reminded of a quote by a pastor from long ago who stated, “If I can’t convince you to follow Christ, then maybe I can scare you.”
This was a direct reference to all that we see being revealed to John by Christ. What if we all understood this enough to share with others the urgency behind choosing Christ. Perhaps, more people would follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior more quickly. Perhaps!
What can be more shocking than these events unleashed by this angel under the command of the 6th trumpet of Revelation? The answer to this question lies in the last few verses of this passage.
They Still Refuse To Repent (Revelation 9:20-21)
(Verses 20-21) If we can’t convince everyone to follow Christ, than can we scare everyone to follow Christ? Sadly, the answer will be no.
After the earth experiences the loss of another 2.7 billion people from incomprehensible suffering and destruction, the remaining will refuse to repent of their sins and rejection of God.
This helps us to understand why God’s wrath doesn’t stop here. Two thirds of the earths 8.2 billion people have been killed. You’ll be able to smell the stench of death everywhere you go. Yet, the remaining will not turn to God.
They will not repent of their murders, magic arts, sexual immorality and thefts.
Paul warned the followers in Thessalonica of this very thing.
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Jeremiah also reminded us of the deceitfulness of the heart.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
Reflect & Apply: What Would It Take to Make You Repent?
Revelation 9 confronts us with an uncomfortable question:
What would it take to turn your heart completely toward God?
The people described here experience unimaginable judgment—and still refuse to repent.
That should make us examine our own hearts.
- Are there areas where we continually resist God?
- Are we holding onto sin while claiming to follow Christ?
- Are we assuming we will have more time?
Don’t wait for judgment to force you to take God seriously.
Respond to Him today.
What the 6th Trumpet of Revelation Reveals About “Magic Arts”
Notice that magic arts is one of the four sins mankind will refuse to repent of. Where does this come from?
Magic arts is the translation of the Greek word pharmakon. This is where we get the English word pharmacy. Ancient occults such as astrology, witchcraft, and divination were a gateway into demonic worship and possession.
The use of mind altering substances with the obvious approval of governments will likely be associated with the creation of a world religion in these end times. We already see the approval of drug use. The new age movement is bringing people subtly into the occult. The Catholic Church is bringing every religion together in an ecumenical movement that falsely claims we all worship the same God.
This is evidence of the closeness of the end of this age and the approach of the Tribulation.
John probably needs of a break from all this calamity. For a moment, Jesus will refocus his attention on the second of three interludes of Revelation.
Continue studying the book that offers blessings: Book of Revelation Chapters 1–11 Study Guides
One-Third of Humanity Has Fallen. Now God Speaks Again.
The sixth trumpet has unleashed the second woe. But Revelation pauses once again.
John is about to see a mighty angel descend from heaven—and hear something so mysterious that he is commanded not to write it down.
Closing Reflection: Judgment Has a Purpose, and Mercy Has a Limit
The contrast between the first woe and the second woe is sobering.
Under the first woe, the locust-like beings torment humanity for five months. The suffering becomes so severe that people long for death—but death does not come. God places a limit on the judgment.
Then the second woe arrives, and the judgment changes dramatically. Death comes swiftly to one-third of humanity.
The difference should cause us to stop and recognize something important:
God is sovereign over every moment of judgment.
The five months are not random. The timing is not accidental. The suffering has a boundary established by God. Even in judgment, God remains in control.
And perhaps there is something else we should recognize.
Five months of suffering still means five months of life to repent and believe.
For the unbeliever living through the Tribulation, every additional day God permits is another day in which that person remains alive and has an opportunity to turn to Him. Judgment is falling, but God’s mercy has not disappeared.
The second woe reminds us that this opportunity will not last forever.
When death comes, the opportunity to respond to Christ in this life is gone. That makes every moment God gives incredibly significant.
Revelation therefore reveals something easy to miss beneath the terror of these judgments:
God is in control—and God is merciful.
He does not judge randomly. He establishes boundaries, appoints times, and continues to give humanity opportunity to respond even while His judgment unfolds. The warning for us today is equally clear:
Never mistake God’s patience for God’s absence.
Every day He gives us is an expression of His mercy. And while there is still breath, there is still opportunity to turn to Jesus Christ.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding us that even in the midst of judgment, You remain sovereign. Nothing happens outside Your knowledge, Your authority, or Your appointed time.
Help us recognize Your mercy in every moment You give us. Never let us mistake Your patience for permission to delay turning to You.
Give us hearts that are tender toward You and burdened for those who do not yet know Jesus. Give us courage to share the truth while there is still time, compassion to warn without condemnation, and boldness to point others toward Christ.
Lord, keep us watchful and ready. Help us understand that every breath is a gift of Your mercy and every moment is an opportunity to draw closer to You and lead someone else to Your Son.
May we never take Your mercy for granted. May we never waste the time You have given us. And may our lives continually point others to Jesus Christ, the only true hope in the midst of coming judgment.
In the powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.