SCORPIONS H6137. 'aqrab, ak-rawb'; of uncert. der.; a scorpion; fig. a scourge or knotted whip:--scorpion.

Holman's Bible Dictionary:

SCORPION (skawr' pi ahn) Small invertebrate animal (buthus) known for the venom and sting in its narrow segmented tail. In the wilderness God protected Israel from scorpions (Deut. 8:15) and could protect His prophet from them (Ezek. 2:6). SCORPIONS GAVE THEIR NAMES TO AN INSIDIOUS INSTRUMENT OF PUNISHMENT WITH LASHES AND SPIKES. REHOBOAM CHOSE TO USE THESE TO ENFORCE HIS HARSH POLICIES (1 Kings 12:11,14; CAPS mine).

1 Kings 12:11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with SCORPIONS. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Ezekiel 2:6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among SCORPIONS: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. 7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

SCORPION G4651. skorpios, skor-pee'-os; prob. from an obsol. skerpo (perh. strengthened from the base of G4649 and mean. to pierce); a "scorpion" (from its sting):--scorpion.

In this verse from Revelation, if the locusts coming from the smoke are demons, the the definition from Holman's would make some sense as the reign of antichrist and the oppression of the Jews and Christians: SCORPIONS GAVE THEIR NAMES TO AN INSIDIOUS INSTRUMENT OF PUNISHMENT WITH LASHES AND SPIKES. REHOBOAM CHOSE TO USE THESE TO ENFORCE HIS HARSH POLICIES (1 Kings 12:11,14; CAPS mine).

Israel will make a covenant with death for protection, but the Lord will nullify it by sending the locust plague who have the sting of a scorpion:

Isaiah 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing SCOURGE shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing SCOURGE shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. 19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. 20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. 21 For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. 22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, EVEN DETERMINED UPON THE WHOLE EARTH.

SCOURGE H7752. showt, shote; from H7751; a lash (lit. or fig.):--scourge, whip.

7751. shuwt, shoot; a prim. root; prop. to push forth; (but used only fig.) to lash, i.e. (the sea with oars) to row; by impl. to travel:--go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro.

LOCUST. The name locust is popularly given to two different kinds of insects--the short-horned grasshopper and the cicada. Both kinds do great damage to trees and crops when they swarm in huge numbers. The locusts mentioned in the Bible are short-horned grasshoppers. They belong to the family Acrididae. The antennae are short and thick; their strong and long hind legs are used for jumping; and their hearing organs are located on each side of the first abdominal segment. There is at least one species of these insects on each of the major continents of the Earth. Vast numbers of them, flying in swarms, appear periodically in countries in the Far East and in the western United States. A COLUMN OF FLYING LOCUSTS SEEN OVER THE RED SEA WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 2,000 MILES (3,200 KILOMETERS) LONG. Because they feed on stored reserves in their fatty tissues, the migrating swarms are not driven by hunger. However, when they reach their destination, they feed ravenously. The locusts of the Acrididae family are also famous for their song, which they produce by rubbing their hind legs and wings together (emphasis mine).

From these definitions, the sense I get from this is an infestation of demons released in the last days who through men bring the Jews and Christians under circumstances of oppression.

Ed