Locusts in OT and NT.. strange..

Locusts in OT and NT.. strange..

Exodus 10:14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them.

Revelation 9
3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.


sounds like the Revelation ones are mightier than the Exodus ones :p
but contradiction ??
or different type?

it says in OT "previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. "
yet in revelation there they appear even stronger (perhaps?) ?
 
The ones in Revelations deffinitely sound badder

Kistemaker on this:

"John presents a vivid description of the locusts that must be understood in its entirety. He makes it clear that the word 'locusts' shoud not be taken literally but symbolically, for these creatures

* have power and grace of horses
* appear with the intelligence of human faces
* show charm with feminine hair but ferocity with lion's teeth
* come armored protection ready for battle
* sting with the tail of scorpions

In the words of an Arabian proverb: "Locusts have the thigh of a camel, legs of an ostrich, wings of an eagle, breast of a lion, and a tail like vipers." Here is a multifaceted symbol depicting demonic creatures seeking to wage war and overpower anyone and anything in their way.

......vs 11: They had a king over them, the angel of the Abyss; his name in Hebrew was Abaddon, and in Greek Apollyon.

The meaning of the text is clear, for locust have no king, as the writer of Proverbs 30:27 notes. But demons pay their allegiance to Satan, whom Jesus calls "prince of this world" and whom Paul identifies as "ruler of the kingdom of the air." Here the angel is either Satan or a demonic figure who represents the devil. He is called "the destroyer" in both Hebrew and Greek.

New Testament Commentary (Hendriksen & Kistemaker) by Simon J. Kistemaker
Revelations 9:7,11
 
I've always understood Revelation to be written in apocalyptic literature. Therefore it's not necessarily to be taken literal.
 
Locusts can be seen as a destructive force that wipe out everything in their path. Huge swarming numbers, devouring all that they can get. Leaving huge devestation behind them.
 
So Mike there is no contradiction between old and new testaments right?

because in the old it says there won't be as such after them (meaning as severe)
but it would make sense in the new that they were symbolical. hmm
 
There are many paralells beween te judgement of Eygypt (which represents the world and it's system in the Old Testament) and the judgements of Revelations.
 
Ramsey, i believe that there isn't any contradiction, because of the detail describtion between the locust in OT and the NT. Sopme believers have suggested that the details of the locust presented in the NT resembles those of helicopter, other believe like "Least of the Kingdom" said a well-armed legion..
 
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