It is no doubt true that in the description before us the qualities of its locusts are preternaturally magnified, but that is only what we might expect, and it is in keeping with the mode in which other figures taken from the Old Testament are treated in this book. There is a probability, too, that each trait of the description had a distinct meaning to St. John, and that it represents some particular phase of the calamities he intended to depict. But it is hardly possible now to discover such meanings; and that the Seer had in view general evil as much at least as evil in certain special _forms_ is shown by the artificiality of structure marking the passage as a whole. For the description of the locusts is divided into three parts, the first general, the second special, the third the locust-king. The special characteristics of the insects, again, are seven in number: (1) _upon their heads as it were crowns like unto gold_; (2) _and their faces were as faces of men_; (3) _and they had hair as the hair of women_; (4) _and their teeth were as the teeth of lions_; (5) _and they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron_; (6) _and the sound of their wings was as the sound of many chariots_; (7) _and they have tails like unto scorpions, and stings_. Whether the period of _five months_, during which these locusts are said to commit their ravages, is fixed on because the destruction caused by the natural insect lasts for that length of time, or for some other reason unknown to us, it is difficult to determine. There is a want of proof that a locust-plague generally continues for the number of months thus specified, and it is otherwise more in accordance with the style of the Apocalypse to regard that particular period of time as simply denoting that the judgment has definite limits. One additional particular connected with the fifth Trumpet ought to be adverted to. It will be noticed that the _well of the abyss_ whence the plague proceeds is opened by a _star fallen_ (not "falling") _out of heaven_, to which _the key of the well was given_. We have here one of those contrasts of St. John a due attention to which is of such importance to the interpreter. This "fallen star" is the contrast and counterpart of Him who is "the bright, the morning star," and who "has the keys of death and of Hades."[218] At this point the sixth angel ought to sound; but we are now in the midst of the three last woes, and each is of so terrible an import that it deserves to be specially marked. Hence the words of the next verse:-- The first Woe is past; behold, there come yet two Woes hereafter (ix. 12). This warning given, the sixth Trumpet is now blown:--