Revelation 9:5 Revelation 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. This verse contains the restraint laid upon the locusts, who had permission from Christ to hurt those men which had not the seal of God in their foreheads. That they should not kill them, but torment them five Months. By killing them, we may understand destroying their natural life, persecuting and tormenting them to death. And the time of their tormenting them is also limited, five months; that is prophetical months, thirty days to a month; are one hundred and fifty prophetical days or years. The Beast had power given him by the Dragon to continue forty two months, \ which is one thousand two hundred and sixty prophetical days, each day for a year, \ so long the holy city was trodden under foot by the Gentiles; that is, the gentilizing papists. \ Now the locusts had permission to torment those men five months of the forty two months, a certain limited time, for to hurt them and torment them, but not kill them. And their torment was as the torment of a Scorpion, when he striketh a man. Whose sting being venomous, doth infect and venom the whole body with poison and pain. So do those Popish locusts torment the consciences of men and women with their damnable doctrines, poisoning their souls, filling them with troubles, and tormenting them with horror and fear of purgatory, and hell, without any ease or remedy. The damnable Doctrines of Priests and Jesuits, can sting and wound men’ s consciences, but they cannot cure and heal a wounded conscience. When the pains of hell took hold of David, he got not peace, comfort and quietness, by worshipping of images, and praying to saints deceased; but by calling upon the name of JEHOVAH. \