Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 9:6

"And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death fleeth from them." — Revelation 9:6 (ASV)

And in those days . . .—Translate, And in those days men shall seek death, and shall not find it; and they shall yearn to die, and death flees from them. The change of tense from the future (“shall seek—shall yearn”) to the present (“death flees”) gives graphic force to the description.

Men will seek death in vain; they will long to die, and look! death is seen fleeing from them. We can see an age in which death will be regarded as a sweet respite from the tormenting trials of life: men will stretch out their hands to death as a welcome deliverer; but behold! death is seen fleeing from them.

The word translated “desire” in our English version is a strong word; it has been rendered vehemently desire: it is a passionate longing, like the yearning of the soul for one we love. There have been ages in which men have thus pined for death, in which light and life seem but mockeries to the miserable, and men long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures (Job 3:20–21). Such times are those which have been well called reigns of terror.