1. Revelation 9:9 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the significance of the noise these locusts make?

Revelation 9:9 (ESV)

9 they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle.

Locusts use their legs to get airborne and then their wings to remain airborne and to travel. The movement of their wings creates noise. Clouds of locusts make considerably more noise than a handful of locusts. This multitude of demonic locusts produces noise comparable to “the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle.” That sound serves to augment the terror you already feel from simply seeing this horde, let alone this horde approaching. This terror is part of the torment these scorpion‑like locusts are empowered to afflict. Whereas scorpions cannot fly, these locust‑like scorpions can—and that makes them even more frightful.