Revelation 9 in the early church

[Vulgate: Apocalypse]

24 passages quote, allude to, or echo Revelation 9, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 10 · 11 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 20

Revelation 9:2

The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:2–3Apology against Rufinus 3.31 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 401–402

Revelation 9:3

And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:3Shepherd of Hermas, Vision 4.1.6 (22.6) · Hermasecho, low confidenceca. 100–150
Rev 9:3Heads against Gaius, fragment III (on Rev 9:2-3) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceca. 200-235

Revelation 9:4

They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:4Heads against Gaius, fragment III (on Rev 9:2-3) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceca. 200-235
Rev 9:4Lines 1003–1026 · Commodianallusion, medium confidence3rd century (disputed)

Revelation 9:5

The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:5Lines 813–836 · Commodianallusion, medium confidence3rd century (disputed)
Rev 9:5Book of Rules 5 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380

Revelation 9:6

In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:6Epistle of the Apostles 44 · Anonymousecho, low confidenceca. 140-170
Rev 9:6Sibylline Oracles 8.351ff. · Anonymousallusion, high confidence2nd-3rd cent.
Rev 9:6Divine Institutes 7.16.12 · Lactantiusallusion, high confidenceca. 303–311

Revelation 9:10

They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:10Miscellanies 3.18.106 · Clement of Alexandriaallusion, low confidenceca. 198–203

Revelation 9:11

They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:11Lines 789–812 · Commodianallusion, high confidence3rd century (disputed)
Rev 9:11Eleven Tractates 1.20 · Priscillianallusion, high confidenceca. 380–385

Revelation 9:14

saying to the sixth angel with the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:14Heads against Gaius, fragment IV (on Rev 9:14-15) · Hippolytus of Romequotation, high confidenceca. 200-235
Rev 9:14Commentary on Daniel 3.9 · Hippolytus of Romequotation, high confidenceca. 202-204
Rev 9:14Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 51.34.2 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374-377
Rev 9:14Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 51.34.6 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374-377

Revelation 9:15

So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:15Heads against Gaius, fragment IV (on Rev 9:14-15) · Hippolytus of Romequotation, high confidenceca. 200-235
Rev 9:15Book of Rules 5 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380

Revelation 9:16

And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:16Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 51.34.2 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, medium confidence374-377

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:17Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 51.34.2 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, medium confidence374-377
Rev 9:17Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 51.34.8 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, high confidence374-377

Revelation 9:20

Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Rev 9:202 Clement 1.6 · Anonymousecho, low confidenceca. 100–150
Rev 9:20Lines 741–764 · Commodianallusion, medium confidence3rd century (disputed)