Who Are The Four Angels Bound In The Euphrates River?

Name: Susette Patton
Question: Didn’t God put four bad angels buried in the Euphrates River in chains for a time?

Answer: Thank you for the question Susette.

In Revelation 9:14-15, we’re told about four angels who are bound in the river Euphrates. These verses tell us a few things. There’s a geographical location involved, and these four angels are evil, as they are bound, which means they’re being held against their will.

We should not confuse these four angels with the four Angels of Revelation 7, as they’re “standing on the four corners of the earth.” Therefore, they’re not bound, and they’re linked to the righteous Sealing of God’s Saints that transpires before the Tribulation begins.

So on one hand, you have the four angels in the Euphrates who are bound, and not released until the Sixth Trumpet sounds. On the other, you have the four Angels of Revelation 7 that unleash the Four Winds, which initiates the Seven Trumpets, and later, the Tribulation.

Let’s see what else we can learn about this prophetic event.

Four Bound Angels

We’re not given many details concerning these four wicked angels, but this is what we do know.

They’re bound until the Sixth Trumpet begins to sound.

Revelation 9:13
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

The Sixth Trumpet is a critically important event.

It signifies the beginning of the Tribulation, with Satan and his angels being cast from Heaven to earth, (Revelation 12:9). This is also the moment in time when the four angels are loosened from the Euphrates River.

Revelation 9:14
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

There we have it.

Once the Sixth Trumpet sounds, the four angels in the Euphrates River are loosened from their chains.

In fact, this event coincides with the Sixth Vial, which is poured “upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared,” (Revelation 16:12).

For details please read, Why Does The Euphrates River Dry Up In Revelation?

I want to be clear, these four angels are not Fallen Angels.

The Fallen Angels roamed the earth during the days of Noah. Those were the angels who “left their own habitation” of Heaven. They rebelled against God, left Heaven, came to earth, and then mingled with women, producing children who were Giants.

For this grave double sin, the Fallen Angels are bound “in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day,” (Jude 1:6). This tells us, they are not getting out of their prison, and they are already condemned to death.

That’s a completely different scenario than the four angels in the Euphrates River. While they’re bound, they’ll be loosened to wreak havoc on the earth.

The Four Angels Are Loosened

Revelation 9:15
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

This verse tells us a few different things.

• The four angels are loosened.
• The four angels are prepared for a specific point in time.
• The four angels spiritually destroy a third of mankind.

Now, there’s much symbology in this verse.

One thing is certain, these angels are not literally bound in the Euphrates River. Rather, these details tell us, a major cataclysmic event will occur in the general region of this river. An event that will occur at a very specific point in world history.

So what’s the purpose of these angels?

To spiritually destroy a third of mankind.

This verse also tells us, these four angels are a part of the Locust Army. That’s the wicked angelic army of Satan which numbers at 200 million. These are the angels that are cast from Heaven to earth, a moment that marks the beginning of the dreadful Tribulation.

Let’s make that connection…

The Three Plagues

Revelation 9:16
And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

In the very next verse, we’re told about this wicked angelic army of Satan. An army that numbers 200 million, an army that will perform dastardly acts of spiritual destruction.

Look what we’re told just a few verses later,

Revelation 9:18
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

By these three plagues:

1. Fire
2. Smoke
3. Brimstone…

…men are spiritually destroyed, and notice, a “third part of men” are killed by these three plagues.

Did you catch that?

A third.

Just like we read concerning the four angels bound in the Euphrates River. Therefore, these four angels are a part of Satan’s army as well, but they fulfill a very specific and wicked task that initiates the Tribulation.

By the way, we know the last verse speaks of spiritual destruction, rather than literal destruction for the following reason…

Revelation 9:19
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

What comes out of the mouth?

“An unruly evil, full of deadly poison,” (James 3:8).

Vile poison comes from the mouth. We’re talking about lies and deceit, and that’s the wrath all the wicked angels of Satan bring with them. “Their power,” their lies, and deceit will proclaim, they are the angels of God, and that Satan, is God Himself.

These intriguing details are clearly confirmed in 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13, and more.

There’s one more detail we cannot overlook…

The four angels bound in the Euphrates River, along with the 200 million wicked angels cannot harm those with the Seal of God. Being, the Saints who are Sealed against the fire, smoke, and brimstone of the enemy, (Revelation 7:3, 9:4).

They are Sealed against the lies and deception that will spew from their lips.