Revelation 9:17
Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this: The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur.
Now the horses and riders in my vision looked like this:
This phrase introduces a vivid and symbolic vision, typical of apocalyptic literature. The imagery is not meant to be taken literally but to convey deeper spiritual truths. The vision is part of the series of judgments unleashed by the sounding of the sixth trumpet, emphasizing the severity and divine origin of these events.

The riders had breastplates the colors of fire, sapphire, and sulfur:
The breastplates symbolize protection and readiness for battle. The colors—fire, sapphire, and sulfur—are significant. Fire often represents judgment and purification in Scripture (e.g., Malachi 3:2-3). Sapphire, a blue stone, can symbolize heaven or divine revelation (Exodus 24:10). Sulfur, or brimstone, is associated with divine wrath and destruction (Genesis 19:24). Together, these colors suggest a divine and fearsome force executing judgment.

The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions:
Lions are symbols of strength, power, and ferocity (Proverbs 30:30). The lion-like heads of the horses indicate the terrifying and unstoppable nature of this judgment. This imagery may also connect to the lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), suggesting that the judgment is under Christ's authority.

and out of their mouths proceeded fire, smoke, and sulfur:
The elements of fire, smoke, and sulfur are reminiscent of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-28), symbolizing complete and utter devastation. This triad of destructive forces indicates the comprehensive nature of the judgment. Fire purifies and consumes, smoke obscures and suffocates, and sulfur is a symbol of divine wrath. This imagery underscores the seriousness of the consequences for those who oppose God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Apostle
The author of the Book of Revelation, who receives and records the vision.

2. The Vision
A prophetic revelation given to John, depicting symbolic imagery of future events.

3. The Riders
Symbolic figures in the vision, representing agents of judgment.

4. The Horses
Symbolic creatures with lion-like heads, representing destructive forces.

5. Fire, Smoke, and Sulfur
Elements proceeding from the horses' mouths, symbolizing judgment and destruction.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Judgment
The vivid imagery in Revelation 9:17 serves as a powerful reminder of God's righteous judgment. Believers are called to live in a way that honors God, knowing that His justice will ultimately prevail.

Spiritual Warfare
The description of the riders and horses highlights the reality of spiritual warfare. Christians are encouraged to put on the full armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6, to stand firm against spiritual forces of evil.

Urgency of Repentance
The destructive elements of fire, smoke, and sulfur underscore the urgency for repentance. This passage calls believers to examine their lives and turn away from sin, seeking God's forgiveness and grace.

Hope in Christ's Victory
While the imagery is daunting, it ultimately points to the victory of Christ over evil. Believers can find hope and assurance in the promise of Christ's return and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of fire, smoke, and sulfur in Revelation 9:17 relate to other biblical descriptions of God's judgment?

2. In what ways can the symbolism of the riders and horses in this passage inform our understanding of spiritual warfare today?

3. How does the urgency of the judgment depicted in Revelation 9:17 challenge us to live out our faith in practical ways?

4. What connections can you draw between the vision in Revelation 9:17 and the plagues described in the Book of Exodus?

5. How can the hope of Christ's ultimate victory over evil, as depicted in Revelation, encourage us in our daily walk with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 9:24
The plagues of Egypt, particularly the plague of hail mixed with fire, can be seen as a precursor to the judgments described in Revelation.

Joel 2:4-5
The imagery of horses and fire in Joel's prophecy parallels the vision in Revelation, emphasizing divine judgment.

Isaiah 30:27-30
Describes the Lord's anger with imagery of fire and smoke, similar to the elements in Revelation 9:17.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8
Speaks of the Lord Jesus being revealed from heaven in blazing fire, bringing judgment on those who do not know God.
The Inefficiency of Judgments to Lead All to RepentanceR. Green Revelation 9:12-21
ImpenitenceF. D. Maurice, M. A.Revelation 9:13-21
Man's Stubborn WillS. Conway, B. A.Revelation 9:13-21
The Sixth TrumpetJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Revelation 9:13-21
People
Abaddon, Apollyon, John
Places
Euphrates River, Patmos
Topics
Appearance, Blue, Body-armour, Breastplates, Breast-plates, Brimstone, Burning, Color, Dark, Fiery, Fire, Glass, Goes, Heads, Horses, Hyacinth, Issued, Jacinth, Lions, Mouths, Proceed, Proceedeth, Red, Resembled, Riders, Sapphire, Sat, Seated, Shaped, Sitting, Smell, Smoke, Stone, Sulfur, Sulphur, Thus, Vision, Wore, Yellow
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 9:17

     1469   visions
     4657   horse
     4807   colours
     5127   back
     5140   breasts

Revelation 9:13-19

     4369   sulphur

Revelation 9:17-18

     4848   smoke

Library
Another Part of My Smoke' which You Frequently Laugh at is My Pretence
31. Another part of my smoke' which you frequently laugh at is my pretence, as you say, to know what I do not know, and the parade I make of great teachers to deceive the common and ignorant people. You, of course, are a man not of smoke but of flame, or rather of lightning; you fulminate when you speak; you cannot contain the flames which have been conceived within your mouth, and like Barchochebas, the leader of the revolt of the Jews, who used to hold in his mouth a lighted straw and blow it out
Various—Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
Having already presented to your view the dark side of the text, I shall now show you the light side, They shall be comforted'. Where observe: 1 Mourning goes before comfort as the lancing of a wound precedes the cure. The Antinomian talks of comfort, but cries down mourning for sin. He is like a foolish patient who, having a pill prescribed him, licks the sugar but throws away the pill. The libertine is all for joy and comfort. He licks the sugar but throws away the bitter pill of repentance. If
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus Heals Two Gergesene Demoniacs.
(Gergesa, Now Called Khersa.) ^A Matt. VIII. 28-34; IX. 1; ^B Mark V. 1-21; ^C Luke VIII. 26-40. ^b 1 And they came to the other side of the sea [They left in the "even," an elastic expression. If they left in the middle of the afternoon and were driven forward by the storm, they would have reached the far shore several hours before dark], ^c 26 And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over against Galilee. ^a 28 And when he was come into the country of the Gadarenes. ^c 27 And
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Thyatira
In the Epistle to Thyatira we have the reference to another and more intensified form of idolatry as developed and established in the days of Ahab, king of Israel; another who, like Balaam, "made Israel to sin" (1 Kings xvi. 30). Ahab was the first king who officially introduced and organised he most abominable form of heathen idolatry that the human mind ever conceived (1 Kings xvi. 33). See Revised Version, where the special significance of this abomination is conveyed and contained in the word
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

Triumph Over Death and the Grave
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. T he Christian soldier may with the greatest propriety, be said to war a good warfare (I Timothy 1:18) . He is engaged in a good cause. He fights under the eye of the Captain of his salvation. Though he be weak in himself, and though his enemies are many and mighty, he may do that which in other soldiers
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Eternity of God
The next attribute is, God is eternal.' Psa 90:0. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.' The schoolmen distinguish between aevun et aeternum, to explain the notion of eternity. There is a threefold being. I. Such as had a beginning; and shall have an end; as all sensitive creatures, the beasts, fowls, fishes, which at death are destroyed and return to dust; their being ends with their life. 2. Such as had a beginning, but shall have no end, as angels and the souls of men, which are eternal
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

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