<p>9:3 <em>And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power</em>- The locusts of the fifth trumpet act in a very un-locust-like way. Unlike real locusts, they have a king. And, astonishing to relate, they are forbidden to touch grass or any vegetation Once again the instruction seems to be: &quot;Hurt not the earth, nor the trees&quot;- only on this occasion it is given to locusts. <em>Akrab</em> being the Hebrew for scorpion, we may be justified in seeing here an allusion to the word 'Arab', the likely ethnicity of many of the boots on the ground of the last days. :3 The connection between these specific locusts and their place of origin is in line with how the Bible uses plant and animal imagery. &quot;The prophets, when they used symbolical language to denote any events, commonly, at least, employed those which had a local or geographical reference; thus, in the symbols derived from the vegetable kingdom, when Judah is to be symbolized, the olive, the vine, and the fig-tree are selected; when Egypt is referred to, the reed is chosen; when Babylon, the willow. And so, in the animal kingdom, the lion is the symbol of Judah; the wild ass, of the Arabs; the crocodile, of Egypt, etc.&quot; (Elliott, <em>Horae Apoc</em>. i. 394-406).&nbsp; Being consumed by locusts was one of the punishments upon Israel for their disobedience (Dt. 28:38,42; Ps. 78:46; Joel 1:2). Again, we are to understand this language as specifically applying to Israel.</p><p>The parallels between Joel and Revelation 8 and 9 are certainly impressive.</p><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0>    <tbody>        <tr>            <td valign=top>            <p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p><em>&nbsp;</em></p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p><em>Joel</em></p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p><em>Revelation</em></p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Locusts.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1: 4</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:3.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Symbolic of a   nation.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1:6.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9: 4, 7.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>3</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Teeth like   lions.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1:6.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:8.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>4</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Trees and   pasture withered and burnt up.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1: 12, 18-20.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>8:7.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>5</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Destruction   from the Almighty.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1: 15.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9: 11.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>6</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Fire.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1: 19; 2:3, 5.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>8:7; 9:17.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>7</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Rivers of   waters dried up.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>1:20.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>8: 10; 9:14</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>8</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Blowing of   trumpets.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:1, 11, 15.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>8:6.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Darkness.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:2.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:2.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>10.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Horses.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:4.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:7, 9.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>11.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Chariots.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:5.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:9.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>12.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Torment.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:6.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:6.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>13.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Earthquake.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:10.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>8: 5.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>14.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Sun, moon, and   stars darkened.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:10, 31; 3:15.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>8:12, 9:2.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>15.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>&ldquo;Turn ye to me   ... &ldquo;</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:12.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:20, 21.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>16.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>The locust army   goes back into the abyss.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:20.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:1.</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td valign=top>                        </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>17.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>Deliverance for   the faithful remnant.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>2:32.</p>            </td>            <td valign=top>            <p>9:4.</p>            </td>        </tr>    </tbody></table><p><strong>Locusts in Joel</strong><br />Joel's prophecy is full of reference to the army of locust-horses which invade Israel in conjunction with the Palestinians (Joel 3:4), resulting in the repentance of a remnant who stand on Mount Zion (Joel 2:32), the destruction of the northern invader another term for the locust army after their holy war jihad, Joel 3:9, and then the final establishment of God's Kingdom on earth. He describes the invading army in Joel 2 in terms of a locust swarm, and they come to their end as locust swarms often do in Israel- in the Dead Sea and Mediterranean. In more detail, Joel 3:2,12 speaks of a final conflict in the valley of Jehoshaphat, when the Gentiles &quot;round about&quot; Israel are gathered together and judged- spoken of in Revelation 16 as the battle of Armageddon (which likewise is primarily concerning the peoples &quot;round about&quot; Israel rather than the whole planet). The degree of damage done to the land and people of Israel was limitable- if Judah repented. Hence the frequent appeals for repentance. This prophecy could have had potential fulfilment in the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions of Judah; but the prophecy is alluded to in Revelation and in other latter day prophecies, as if it has specific and complete fulfilment in the last days. The overall context is exactly as presented in Revelation- the seal judgments appeal for Israel's repentance, the minority who respond are the symbolic 144,000 who stand on mount Zion; and then there are the trumpet and vial judgments, which are full of allusion back to Joel. The frequent appeals for repentance mention the possibility that the program of judgment and desolation can be limited- if Judah repent. And finally, Joel speaks of the establishment of God's Kingdom and physical restoration of the decimated land, into the wonder of God's Kingdom on earth at Christ's return. Joel opens by saying that the destruction of the land he was burdened to portray had no parallel in the past, and the Jews would tell their children of it and the account of it would be passed down throughout future history (Joel 1:2,3). This is another way of saying that this prophecy is about a time of trouble for Israel such as never was, and never will be in the future. And that is precisely the language of the Lord Jesus, Jeremiah and Daniel about the latter day tribulation of Israel. <br />&nbsp;<br />The Arabs and Muhammed have a unique connection to the locust: &ldquo;In the Bedoween romance Antar, the locust is introduced as the national emblem of the Ishmaelites. And it is a remarkable coincidence that Muslim tradition speaks of locusts having dropped into the hands of Muhammed, bearing on their wings this inscription &ndash; &lsquo;We are the army of the Great God.&rsquo;&rdquo; (Albert Barnes, <em>Barnes&rsquo; Notes on the Bible</em>, Vol. 18).</p>