Revelation 9:5-12 - The first woe is past

9:5,6

The locusts were allowed to torment them for five months. The lifespan of a locust is approximately 3-5 months. They were also allowed to torment them but not kill them. Contrary to the way things are often portrayed in films, the sting of most scorpions is very painful, but not fatal. This torment would be very severe, for people would seek death. They would see death as a  way out of the torment, but they would be unable to find it.

9:7-12

The description of the locusts is somewhat akin to that found in Joel 2:4. We should not get too involved in the details of description of the locust, but instead get the general picture. This is a fearsome army. Moreover, it is not a leaderless army, there is a king over them. The “angel of the Abyss” (NIV) or “the angel of the bottomless pit” (ESV). NIV is probably slightly better here. He is given both a Hebrew name (meaning “destruction”) and a Greek name (meaning “destroyer”). The army is led by a demonic leader, but the woe was unleashed by God.

So the first woe was passed, but there were still two more to come.