The Book of Revelation, the final chapter of the New Testament, is a captivating text filled with apocalyptic visions and rich symbolism.
Among its many symbols, the locusts, though not the ordinary insects we encounter in life, carry deep symbolic meanings that resonate throughout the text. What is the significance to us today?
Biblical Context of Revelation
Before delving into the symbolism of locusts and exploring the theological context in which they appear, it is vital to understand the broader context of this apocalyptic text. The term “apocalypse” in Greek denotes the unveiling, uncovering, and revealing of something previously unknown.
Revelation was written by aged Evangelist John, who was exiled to the Isle of Patmos by the Roman government for preaching the gospel.
He received messages from Jesus directed to the seven churches, along with visions of the end times. “The revelation from Jesus Christ…the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:1, 2).
Roman persecution was an abiding facet of the seven Asia Minor churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
As both pastor and overseer of these churches, John uniquely articulated a letter urging those persecuted churches, “written in the Book of Life,” to remain faithful in persecution, confident of eternal victory.
Through his prophetic vision of future events, he disclosed God’s ultimate triumph over evil.
From chapters six to nineteen, Revelation details the impending seven-year tribulation period, a manifestation of God's judgment on wickedness.
The church, removed through the rapture after Chapter Three, now dwells with the Lord in heaven. On earth, divine wrath is unleashed alongside the proclamation of “the gospel…to every nation, tribe, language, and people” (Revelation 14:6).
An angel flying urging all nations to “Fear God, give Him glory, and worship Him as the hour of His judgment arrives” (14:7). Those who reject the call will face the consequences of doom and eternal separation from a loving God.
Symbolism in Ancient Culture
Prior to the final call, Revelation 9 portrays the appearance of locusts woven into the events of the fifth and sixth trumpets, designated as “woes” upon the world. In the biblical era, locusts were often seen as harbingers of God’s destruction and divine punishment.
They could devastate entire crops and lead to famine and suffering. In Exodus 10:4-6, when Pharaoh refused to permit the Hebrews to leave Egypt’s slavery, locusts became the instrument of the eighth plague upon Egypt.
Moses said, “If you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country. And they shall cover the face of the land so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field."
God’s judgment and destruction with locusts in Joel’s prophecy against Judah says, "What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten” (Joel 1:2-4).
Locusts, though not literal as they refrain from eating grass or vegetation, figuratively emerge in Revelation 9:1-12 as tormentors of nonbelievers. Verses 7-10 describe the locusts as otherworldly.
Interpretations of the Locusts
The Church's rapture in Revelation initiates God’s wrath being poured upon the world as His ultimate effort to guide Israel and the nations toward repentance.
Locusts, one of several apocalyptic and symbolic themes woven throughout Revelation, are God’s wrath unbridled against evil. In the final three and a half years of the Tribulation, the entire world will bear the weight of many woes and afflictions prior to Christ’s Second Coming.
Revelation 9:20-21 reveals the persistent lack of repentance despite locusts, woes, and plagues.
“The rest of mankind...did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood — idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.”
Theological and Contemporary Relevance
The locust symbolism in Revelation compels readers to contemplate God's divine judgment with a contemporary relevance.
The anticipation of the Rapture adds an imminent dimension, and the subsequent Tribulation period is seen as a herald for God's Kingdom in a New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21- 22).
God’s purpose for redeeming Israel and the lost will find fulfillment as they respond with repentance of those who come out of the great tribulation: “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).
Revelation 18 prophesies the eternal doom of Babylon the Great, symbolic of all evil world systems and powers, rulers, and the Antichrist.
Rebellion against God's authority and salvation will be eternally condemned. "If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).
God promised David a perpetual line on the throne: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).
This prophecy is fulfilled through Jesus: “Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne…forever” (Isaiah 9:7).
What Does the Significance of Locusts Mean for Us Today?
The significance of locusts in Revelation is deeply rooted in the historical, cultural, and theological context of the text.
Their appearance is a stark reminder of God's justice coming upon the world, revealing the time of His wrath on wickedness. It also calls us to examine our hearts and see if we are ready for His return.
Revelation offers not just a vision of God’s punishment for sin and evil but also a message of hope, redemption, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
In Luke 18:8, Jesus asked, “When I come, will I find faith?” Amid the many demands on our time, what takes priority in guiding us toward eternity?
Jude urges us to "contend for the faith" (v. 3), emphasizing the ongoing spiritual battle that demands our constant devotion and persevering commitment to an authentic relationship with God.
Jesus said the one who “has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me” (John 14:21). Without daily dressing in the spiritual battle armor of God’s Word, we become comfortably deceived by the culture and susceptible to worldly influences.
God’s Word will keep us from sin and guard against such enticements. Exploring the locusts in Revelation invites us to engage this powerful biblical narrative and analyze our priorities for eternal life. Are we ready for His coming? 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 reminds us,
“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.”
For further reading:
What Is the Significance of the Plague of Locusts?
What Were the 10 Plagues that God Inflicted on Egypt and Is COVID-19 Similar?
What Is the Timeline of Revelation?
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