The Sixth Trumpet Blows

Rev. 9:7-12 (ESV)
In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, [8] their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth; [9] they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. [10] They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. [11] They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
[12] The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.

John goes on to describe these locusts. The symbolism is sometimes subtle and yet great. Horses prepared for battle, they are regimented and disciplined, they follow orders, and do not act on their own. They have crowns that look like gold. Things aren’t always what they appear. Gold crowns go to the victors, the people of God, we get to throw them at the foot of the thrown, but their crowns are as worthless as the leader that gave them, they can have human faces, women’s hair, they will use any manner of deceipt… they have the power to torment for five months, the life cycle of a grasshopper. Their torment cannot endure. It comes to an end. Their leader abaddon or Apollyon the destroyer, and destroy he does, but he does not get the last laugh.