Uncovering the Truth Behind Apostle John's Vision of the 200 Million Army

Revelation 9:16-18 says, the army had 200 million soldiers on horses. I heard them say how many there were. I saw, as God wanted to show me, the horses, and the men on them.
The men had pieces of iron over their chests. These were red like fire and blue like the sky and yellow like sulphur.
The heads of the horses looked like the heads of lions. Fire and smoke and sulphur came out of their mouths.
One-third part of all men was killed by the fire and smoke and sulphur that came out of their mouths.
In this chapter, the apostle John talks about a vision he had in which 200 million men on horses made up a huge army.
Revelation's vision represents a strong and destructive force that has been let loose on the earth.
The massive number of warriors represented by the army of 200 million troops on horseback is indicative of an overpowering and unconquerable force.
The description of individuals wearing iron plates over their chests implies that they are armed. The iron represents their invulnerability, stressing their combat preparedness.
Intensity, fierceness, and supernatural components are all associated with the colours red, blue, and yellow.
The colour red depicts the ferocity of their assault, the colour blue their celestial origin or divine strength, and the colour yellow their sulfuric destructiveness.
The horses' lion-like heads provide a visual cue that they are dangerous predators. The lion is a symbol of power and strength because of these qualities.
This furthers the concept of an army that inspires terror in its foes.
The devastating force and judgement of this army are symbolised by fire, smoke, and sulphur spewing from the mouths of the horses.
The idea is that even their very breath or words unleash divine retribution onto the world.
Fire, smoke, and sulphur caused the deaths of one-third of the population, indicating enormous devastation and loss of life.
The use of fire, smoke, and sulphur evokes similar imagery from the Old Testament, such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24)
the plagues described in the book of Exodus (Exodus 9:23-24), and serves to emphasise the force of the army and the severity of the judgement being depicted.
The overall theme of this Revelation text is one of heavenly judgement and the retribution that follows human disobedience.
It's a stark warning to anyone who would reject God's rule and choose evil over good.
The army, in all its devastating might, is a metaphor for the last judgement and retribution that await the sinful in Revelation.