REVELATION 9.1 The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. 9.2 He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a great burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. 9.3 Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 9.4 They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads.
9.5 They were given power not to kill
them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment
of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. 9.6 In those days people will
seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will
flee from them.
9.7 The shapes of the locusts were
like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns,
and their faces were like people’s faces. 9.8 They had hair like women’s
hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. 9.9 They had breastplates,
like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots,
or of many horses rushing to war. 9.10 They have tails like those of
scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five
months. 9.11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name
in Hebrew is “Abaddon” (or destruction), but in Greek, he has the name
“Apollyon”, which means “Destroyer”.
9.12 The first woe is past. Behold, there
are still two woes coming after this. -WEB
Bible.
In this passage, John describes something that was difficult for ancient illustrators to imagine. Even 100 years ago it would have been hard for the readers of Revelation to imagine. It wasn't until World War II that fighter planes were used extensively in warfare. (We did use primitive bi-planes in World War I, but primarily for reconnaissance.)
John seems to describe modern airplanes and air warfare in this vision. The torment caused by the locusts might be chemical warfare.
The star that falls from heaven is Lucifer, the rebellious angel (Satan) who is also depicted as the great dragon in Revelation. This event is described in a later chapter of Revelation.
The Fifth Trumpet is the first Woe predicted by the Eagle.
IMAGE CREDIT: The ancient manuscript illustration is from the Welles Apocalypse, by English artist Peter of Peckham, circa 1320 A.D. The photo beneath it shows the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron of the United States Navy, public domain image.