Share Christ With Others This St. Patrick’s Day!
“The Color Green: A Picture of Divine Blessings”
(St. Patrick’s Day Devotional/Lesson from Psalm 52:8-9)
“But I [am] like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done [it]: and I will wait on thy name; for [it is] good before thy saints.”
Share with others the importance of God’s hand of blessing on our lives and the way of salvation… the greatest blessing we can ever receive from Him!
Click here for immediate access to this devotional/lesson.
Revelation 9: Summary
SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER:
Beginning in chapter 8, and continuingin chapter 9, we will see the second coming of Christ and, especially, His wrath that will fall against lost mankind. These truths about the wrath of God are presented in the fashion of seven trumpets that are sounded by angels. They are divided into two types of trumpets. In chapter 8, we saw Trumpets 1-4 affect nature directly and mankind indirectly. Here in chapter, 9 we will look at Trumpets 5-6 affect lost mankind directly. Later in our study chapter 11 and 16, we will look at Trumpet 7. These three trumpets (5-7) all affect mankind directly, this is why they are given the title “the three woes”
SUMMARY OF EACH DIVISION OF CHAPTER:
- Revelation 9:1-12 – The Sounding Of Trumpet 5
In this section of Scripture, John hears the fifth trumpet sounding. He sees a star falling from heaven. This star symbolizes a person (Christ) who is given the ultimate authority over the bottomless pit. This came true in a literal fashion when Christ came to the earth at His first coming and was exalted to the right hand of the Father following Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
This star is then seen opening the pit and releasing smoke and an army of locusts, who are sent to torment lost mankind.
The smoke arising from the pit reminds us that the bottomless pit is speaking of the Lake of Fire, the place reserved for the punishment of Satan, other fallen angels and lost mankind. The army of locusts is symbolic of demonic forces that are at work during the last days. The activities of the locusts are limited by the sovereign hand of God, and are used to partially deliver God’s wrath against lost mankind.
The description of the locusts remind us of many dangerous, vicious and painful aspects of their work. They act as an army united to cause great suffering and pain upon lost men. This great suffering results in men wanting to die, but unable to kill themselves or each other by the sovereign hand of Almighty God.
These locusts are said to have a King over them, which refers back to the star that fell from heaven. Christ, as their controlling sovereignty is their Lord. Many of the titles that fit Christ’s workings during the judgment of the last day is the title of Destroyer, the translation of the Hebrew Abaddon and the Greek Apollyon.
For a much more detailed look at this section of Scripture:
- Revelation 9:13-21 – The Sounding Of Trumpet 6
As John’s vision continues, he hears Trumpet 6 sounding…
Then he hears the prayers of God’s people for justice calling for the loosing of God’s wrath upon the lost. In this trumpet the wrath of God being sent upon lost mankind is represented by four angels that are released at the appointed time from the Euphrates.
These angels help us to understand that God’s wrath is a world-wide wrath, touching the four corners of the earth. Their coming from the Euphrates at a specifc point in time shows us that God’s wrath was not a “spur of the moment thing”. It was a well-planned event that was a part of the eternal counsel of God.
Following their release, these four angels are now seen by John as an army of 200 million angelic beings. In the previous trumpet, we saw the Lord using demonic powers to bring about His will. In this trumpet we see the angelic forces of God (elect angels) being used as well to bring about the complete, total victory of Satan and His demonic forces.
Much of the description of this army points us to the justice and judging hand of God being controlled by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This battle was actually won at the cross and Christ’s resurrection that followed, however, it will be brought to completion at the second coming of Christ.
For a much more detailed look at this section of Scripture:
WHAT’S COMING NEXT IN THIS SERIES?:
In the next lesson in our series, we will be looking at Revelation 10:. This will give us a break from the trumpet judgments and will introduce us to a mighty angel with a little book in his hand. The contents of this little book will be revealed in Revelation 11 and will answer the question “Why does God’s wrath fall against lost mankind”.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
Are Our Prayers Sweet Smelling Incense To God?
Rev 9:13 KJV
(13) And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…a voice from the four horns of the golden altar …”
Rev 9:13 KJV – And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God
In John’s vision of the sixth trumpet judgment, he hears a voice coming from the golden incense altar in heaven. This voice is the united prayers of the saints of God seeking justice to be done against His enemies.
In Psalms 141:1-4, we find that King David makes several requests to the Lord concerning His prayer life. David’s requests to the Lord include 2 main themes…. The Lord’s acceptance of his prayers and the Lord’s guardianship of his life. David uses a man’s pleasure with incense to illustrate his desire for God to be pleased with his prayers…
Psa 141:1-4 KJV – “A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.”
A. THE LORD ACCEPTANCE OF HIS PRAYERS (Pictured by the acceptance of incense)
1. “I cry unto thee: make haste unto me” –
Be eager to listen to my prayers as if they were sweet smelling incense.
2. “give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee” –
Be careful when you listen as if you were noticing the precise aroma coming forth from the incense
3. “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense;” –
Be pleased when you listen much like you would receive great joy from smelling incense
4. “and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” –
Accept my acknowledgment of my great need of you as an act of worship and honor much like your receipt of incense from another is placing honor upon you.
B. THE LORD’S GUARDIANSHIP OF HIS LIFE (Pictured by the guardianship of a watchman)
1. “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth;” –
Watch over my prayers as a guard watches over his charge
2. “keep the door of my lips.” –
Keep me from making sinful requests like a guard keeps me from inviting harm into my life.
3. “Incline not my heart to any evil thing,” –
Keep my desires holy and selfless like a guard who keeps me away from dangerous places.
4. “to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity:” –
Keep my desires from causing me to have harmful associates.
5. “and let me not eat of their dainties.” –
Keep my desires from causing me to partake of sin like a guard that will keep me from actions that will bring harm upon myself.
May we all be like King David and desire the Lord to accept our prayers as if they were pleasing incense and guard over our prayer life as our Father, Guardian and Friend.
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
The Destroyer …
Rev 9:11 KJV – And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Revelation 9:13-21 “Trumpet Judgment 6”
THE TEXT:
Now, trumpet judgment 6, the second woe, is revealed…
Rev 9:13-21 KJV
(13) And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
(14) Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
(15) And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
(16) And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
(17) And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
(18) By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
(19) For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
20) And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
(21) Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
THE INTRODUCTION:
Please remember that the final judgment of God is described in many Scriptures as consisting of literal fire that falls from heaven. (2 Thess 1:7-10, 2 Peter 3:3-13, Psa 102:26, Isa 51:6, Zeph 3:8). This is what will literally take place during the final wrath of God. At Christ’s second coming, fire will precede Him punishing the lost and renovating the world for His arrival.
Keeping in mind that the final wrath of God only consists of fire falling from heaven, we can see that trumpet and the vial judgments are describing this wrath in purely symbolic terms. In other words, the events that take place in the trumpets and vials are not literal events that will take place, but are symbolic descriptions of the final wrath of God that manifests itself by fire falling from heaven.
In chapter 8 and 9, John sees the opening of seal 7, which will symbolizes the beginning of God’s wrath coming upon the fallen earth and sinful mankind. His wrath affecting the earth is emphasized in trumpets 1-4. Trumpets 5-6 (the first two woes) are judgments that directly affect lost mankind.
Trumpet 7 (the 3rd woe) is the completion of God’s wrath falling upon the earth and mankind. This last trumpet brings to completion what was begun in trumpets 1-6. Trumpet 7 is made up of the seven vials. Each vial corresponds to a specific trumpet. Each vial simply expands, intensifies and brings to completion the wrath that was begun in its corresponding trumpet.
| Trumpet | Vial | Area Of Earth Affected By Trumpets (Area of Earth Affected By Vials) | Areas Of Mankind Affected By Trumpets (Areas of Mankind Affected By Vials) |
| 1 | 1 | 1/3 Trees. Green Grass(All the Earth) | |
| 2 | 2 | 1/3 Sea(All the Sea) | |
| 3 | 3 | 1/3 Rivers, Springs(All the Rivers, Springs) | |
| 4 | 4 | 1/3 Sun, Moon, Stars(Entire Sun) | |
| 5 (Woe 1) | 5 | Men Not Sealed By God(Entire Kingdom and All Worshippers Of Beast) | |
| 6 (Woe 2) | 6 | 1/3 Mankind(Whole World) | |
| 7 (Woe 3) | 7 | God’s Wrath Intensified and Completed Against Earth and Mankind Described By The 7 Vials(The Final Destruction Of Babylon and Lost Mankind {The Battle Of Armageddon}) | |
As we continue our study all of the above will, hopefully, become more clear.
For now, let us just understand that the falling of God’s wrath during the second coming appears to be progressive; growing in intensity, severity and devastation as He descends and His presence draws nearer to the earth. This is much like the tribulation in today’s time (first six seals) that will gradually increase in intensity and frequency as His coming draws near.
As we have said seal seven is divided into seven parts, symbolized by trumpets that are blown. Here is a short outline of the upcoming lessons on seal 7 …
- Sounding Of First Four Trumpets – 8:7-8:13
- 1st Trumpet – vs 7
- Judgment – Hail, fire, blood
- Affected – Trees, grass
- 2nd Trumpet – vs 8
- Judgment – Great burning mountain, sea to blood
- Affected – Sea, sea creatures, ships
- 3rd Trumpet – vs 9-11
- Judgment – Burning Star (Wormwood)
- Affected – rivers, springs, men
- 4th Trumpet – vs 12
- Judgment – Striking
- Affected – Sun, moon, stars
- 3 Woes Announced – vs 13
- 1st Trumpet – vs 7
- Sounding Of Trumpets 4 & 5 – 9:1-21
- 5th Trumpet (1st Woe) – 9:1-12
- Falling Star given Key To Bottomless Pit
- Locusts From Pit with King Of Locusts – Abaddon, Apollyon
- 5th Trumpet (1st Woe) – 9:1-12
- One Woe Past
- 6th Trumpet (2nd Woe) – 9:13-21
- Release of The 4 Angels & 200,000,000 Army From Euphrates killing Mankind
- Mankind does not repent
- Please note 7th Trumpet will be revealed in Rev 11:15 & Rev 16: which will reveal the completion of God’s wrath aginst the earth and sinful mankind.
THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:
In this text we find trumpet 6 revealed. This is the second of three “woes” (judgments that directly fall upon mankind).
Rev 9:13-21 KJV
(13) And the sixth angel sounded,
John now hears trumpet 6 sounding. This is announcing the new symbolic description of God’s wrath that is falling against lost mankind at His second coming.
and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, (14) Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet,
John now hears voices coming from the incense altar that stands before God. Keep in mind, the incense altar represents the prayers of God’s people and arising to God as sweet smelling incense. The voices that John hears are the prayers of the saints. Remember these prayers of the saints are their requests for justice. They previously requested God to punish those who have mistreated and abused them (Rev 6:9-10; Rev 8:3-5).
Now their prayers are being answered. God is sending His wrath. God’s wrath is being shown on behalf of saints who have waited so long for divine justice. This is why the prayers of His people are said to initiate this sixth trumpet wrath.
Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. (15) And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
God’s reaction to the prayers of the saints results in angels being loosed. Keep in mind, that throughout the Bible angels are beings that deliver the message of God or do the bidding of God. This helps us to understand that the judgment of God that is falling at His second coming is His work. God is the One with the ultimate authority over the wrath that is falling. It is His work. He promised mankind He would punish wrongdoing and now He is keeping His promise.
It is interesting to note Psa 78:40-55, as the 10 plagues of Egypt are being described, we are told that these plagues came about “by sending angels of destruction among them”. In other words, angels of wrath played a role in delivering the ten plagues upon the people of Egypt. This sixth trumpet harkens back to this account of the 10 plagues.
These angels were bound in the Euphrates river. The Euphrates is associated with the beginnings for many different things… Beginning of Mankind – Gen 2:14; Beginning of Israel – Gen 15:18; Beginning of search for the Promised Land – Deut 1:7; Beginning of responsibility to keep Law – Deut 11:24; Beginning of Joshua as Leader Of Israel – Josh 1:4; Beginning of David’s conquest of nations – 2 Sam 8:3; Beginning of Judah’s downfall – 2 Kings 23:29; and the Beginning of Babylon’s Reign – 1 Chron 5:9.
Euphrates in Revelation is used as the place of preparation and beginning point for the judgment to come (Rev 16:12). This helps us to understand that God’s wrath did not take place “on the spur of the moment” without planning or expectation. Not at all. The wrath of God was a well-planned event that was a part of the eternal counsels of the Almighty. This is clearly shown by the bound angels that were placed in the Euphrates for a very specific time and mission.
There are four angels being loosed. This is a very similar symbol to the four winds that blow in Rev 7:1. In both these pictures, we see God’s wrath affecting all areas of the globe… North, South, East and West. God’s wrath in the last days is a worldwide wrath. Symbolically, there are four angels bringing about God’s wrath which will cover every point on the globe.
These angels are bound waiting to be loosed at a selected time with a selected purpose. This helps us to understand that God has selected a very specific point in time and purpose for His wrath to fall. Just as in the previous trumpet judgments, notice that only a portion of mankind will be affected. In this case, 1/3 of lost mankind will be killed.
In this section of John’s vision, we learn that the wrath of God that falls at His second coming is under His absolute control and prior planning, is world-wide in nature, and is set for an appointed time with specific results. (Eccl 13:1-8)
(16) And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
The symbolism now abruptly switches to that of an army of horsemen 200 million strong. The four angels which emphasized the wrath of God being under His work and under His perfect control, is now changed into these warring horseman, which emphasizes God being at war against the rebelliously sinful mankind. This same wrath is pictured as a war between God and the powers of darkness in Rev 19:11-19.
In Psa 68:17, where we are told “the chariots of God are 20,000 even thousands of thousands”. If by “thousands of thousands” ten thousand is meant, then we would have 200,000,000 being the total of angelic chariots being described which is the same number of horsemen in this vision. (see also 2 Kings 6:17)
Why are there 200 million horsemen? Symbolically the numbers 2 and 1000 are significant. The number two many times represents unity, for example the witnesses for Christ were sent out two by two to minister (Mark 6:7). The number 1000 is the number of fullness or totality. The Lord owns all the cattle on 1000 hills, in other words He owns all the cattle everywhere (Psalm 50:10)
This helps us to see that the wrath of God is much like the completion of a war waged by God, His elect angels, and elect men against the powers of darkness. When God’s wrath falls in the last day, it will be a harmonious, unified effort to bring a complete, total end to sin and the powers of wickedness in this world. This war has been taking place throughout the ages since the fall, but will be brought to a full completion at His second coming.
(17) And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. (18) By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
This army is now described in great detail:
- they were men riding on horses – a typical army is in view
- the riders had breastplates of fire, jacinth, and brimstone – God’s judgment against sin
- fire – judgment, purification (God’s judgment against sin and purification of sinful world
- jacinth – stone of blue, yellow, red color (colors of flame)
- brimstone – sulfur, flammable, (punishment of sin – Sodom/Gomorrah-Gen 19:24)
- the horses had lion heads – They are doing the work of the King of Kings, they are courageous, destructive, victorious
- out of the horses mouths were fire and brimstone – Instruments of God’s wrath against sin (Lake of Fire-Rev 20:10)
Again, we see limited “damage” as the result… 1/3 of the men dying as they are punished for their sins.
Here we see the symbolic description of this “army” clearly reveals that the wrath of God is the completion of a long battle between God and the powers of darkness which was won at the cross and brought to completion at His second coming. This includes God’s judgment against sin and purification of the world.
(19) For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
The description of these is horses continues with their tails in view. They had tails with serpent’s heads making them able to bite and harm men (poisonous, deadly, painful)
An interesting note about serpents. In the Bible a serpent is used to picture:
1. Satan in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:) (bringing pain and death upon mankind)
- Christ during the Jews wanderings in the wilderness (Num 21:8-9) (bringing the remedy for pain and death to man)
- Here in Revelation, the serpent heads on the horse tails pictures the final defeat of the serpent (Satan) through the work of the serpent (Christ on the cross) at the second coming.
This entire trumpet judgment symbolizes for us the war between God and Satan will come to a complete end at the second coming in response to the prayers of His people. This will take place at God’s appointed time, under God’s total control and planning. The completion of this war will be a unified effort that will bring a complete, total end to sin and the powers of wickedness in this world. The falling of the final wrath of God is the completion of a long battle between God and the powers of darkness which was won at the cross and brought to completion at His second coming as He renovates the world for a sinless eternity with Him.
(20) And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: (21) Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
During the beginning stages of God’s wrath there will be many men who will not die. Yet, because of the blindness of their eyes and the hardness of their heart, they will refuse to submit to the Lord in repentance and belief. NO ONE will be saved during this time of great wrath and punishment from God. This helps us to see the great need to be witnesses to the lost NOW while there is yet time. Clearly, when God returns to take His people to be with Him and His wrath begins to fall on lost mankind there will no longer be an opportunity for salvation.
Joh 4:34-36 KJV – “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.”
The five basic sins of mankind are listed:
- idolatry – false worship (worship of idols, false religions, false prophets, mysticism, works salvation etc)
- murders – taking of life (anger, hatred, violence, abortions etc)
- sorceries – occult related drug and potion use (drug and alcohol abuse, astrology, prognostication etc)
- fornication – sexual immorality (adultery, homosexuality, beastiality, premarital sex, lying etc)
- theft – taking from others (covetousness, stealing possessions, stealing reputation, stealing promotions, lying, deception etc)
In a very general and broad sense these five sins (and sins related to them) cover all the sins that are committed against God and man. It is these very sins of which men refuse to repent, even in the midst of divine punishment. How true it is that mankind apart from the intervening grace of God will not come to Christ for salvation!
CHRIST REVEALED:
In this trumpet judgment, we see Christ as the Commander-In-Chief leading His army to certain victory while perfectly controlling all the events that take place during this battle. This very same time period is symbolized in Rev 19:11-21…
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”
What a wonderful Lord we serve. He is our Leader and our Commander… leading us to certain victory at His second coming! In this one event we can see Him as Holy Lord and Victorious Warrior for Perfect Justice.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)
Folks, as we face many struggles in our lives and it seems as if Satan is winning, just keep in mind… Satan is already defeated. Christ’s work on the cross has won the victory over Satan, the powers of darkness, sin and death. It is only a matter of time before His victory will be publically declared and manifest at His second coming.
Col 2:13-15 KJV – “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. “
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog: http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog: http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email Contact: settledinheaven@gmail.com
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon…”
Rev 9:11 KJV
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
John’s vision reveals the angel of the bottomless pit as “Abaddon” or “Apollyon”. These titles share the same basic meaning … “Destroyer”.
There are many who believe this symbolic angel is speaking of Satan. Certainly, if this is the case, the title “Destroyer” fits him to a tee. After all, we are told that Satan is like a “a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Pe 5:8 KJV) and Christ Himself described Satan as a “murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). Certainly Satan is a great destroyer.
However, there is another One that could easily retain these titles. Believe it or not, there are several places in the Bible where our Lord and His work are described using these same Hebrew and Greek words for “Destroyer” (Pro 15:11, Jere 10:10-11, Dan 7:9-11, Matt 10:28, 22:7, Luke 17:27-29, 1 Cor 10:10, James 4:12, Jude 5). Please note that: In every one of these texts, the wrath of God against sin and sinful beings is being described.
Based upon the context of Rev 9:11 (God’s wrath being poured out during His second coming), I believe it is very possible that the titles “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” are, in actuality, referring to our Lord. Certainly our Lord will destroy the powers and effects of darkness of this world. Included in this would be Satan, other fallen angels (aka demons), rebellious lost mankind, and the results of sin (death, pain, sorrow, sicknesses etc). All of these will be done away by the Destroyer… our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is so easy to think of our Lord as a kind, loving, merciful Lord who would never consider harming or punishing anyone. After all He truly is the epitome of love… “God is love”. But it is also important for us to always remember that Christ is a holy and just God (Acts 3:14) who cannot allow sin to go unpunished, nor will He allow sin to stand in His presence throughout eternity (Matt 7:21-27).
For sin to be dealt with properly, and for justice to be done, He must be a Destroyer who will bring eternal punishment upon those who have rebelled against Him…
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” (2 Thess 1:7-10)
May we give praise to our Lord for being a holy and just God who will rid this world of sin, justly punish those who oppose Him and create for us a perfectly holy eternity with Him on the New Heavens and New Earth!
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
Our Lord is The Lord Over Life and Death!
Rev 9:6 KJV – And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it …”
Rev 9:6 KJV
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
During the wrath that will fall during Christ’s second coming, we see that lost mankind will desire to die. Why is this? It is because they will be feeling the wrath of God upon them and will be thinking that death would be far easier to bear than to continue to face God’s great wrath.
Sad to say, they are wrong. When they die physically, they will be facing God’s wrath in the Lake of Fire, the worse possible wrath that can be received (Mark 9:43-44). So in a sense, God’s intervention in their lives, stopping them from dying is an act of grace and mercy in and of itself (Matthew 5:45).
For those who have never entered into a personal relationship with Him, what a blessing it is to know that He is a kind, loving, merciful God. He is the One that is mercifully withholding hell from the lost who are currently living upon this earth. He is the One that will enter into a relationship with anyone who will turn from their sins and trust in Him as Lord and Savior.
However, there is also another point that we should draw our attention to in this text. God, and God alone, is the One that controls life and death. He is the One that “holds the keys of (control over) hell and of death” (Rev 1:18). King David proclaimed the same truth about our Lord when he said….
Psa 68:20 KJV – “He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.” (see also 1 Sam 2:6)
Our Lord’s control over the issues of death is one of the many characteristics that set Him apart from all the other false gods of this world…
Deu 32:39 KJV – “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”
Folks, let us praise and honor our great Lord for being the Lord over life and death. For God’s people…
He is the One that blesses us with every breath we take.
He is the One that watches our every step and keeps us safe.
He is the One that knows what our future holds and prepares us, now, for what is to come.
He is the One that will grant us continued life until His purpose for us has been completed, and then He will escort us home to be with Him.
What a wonderful blessing to know that our life is in His hands!
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
Are We Watching For His Coming? Many Did Not Watch In Noah’s Day, Nor Are They Watching Now!
Rev 9:5 KJV – 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.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…they should be tormented five months …”
Rev 9:5 KJV – 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.
In John’s vision, he saw that God placed a symbolic five month limit upon the torments of the locust hoard. What is the significance of this symbolic five month period of time? To answer this question we need to remember that the worldwide flood of Noah’s day lasted exactly a literal five month period…
The flood began in “the second month, the seventeenth day of the month” (Gen 7:11)
The flood ended in “the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month” (Gen 8:4)
Folks, this is a very important point for us to remember. Through the usage of the symbolic five months, the wrath that is to fall at Christ’s second coming is linked to the wrath that fell in Noah’s day.
There are two other scriptures link these two events together. They teach us five basic principles concerning the Lord’s final Day of Wrath…
- Both Noah’s flood and the final Day of Wrath was, and will be, preceded by scoffers
- Both Noah’s flood and the final Day of Wrath involves destruction of the entire world.
- The world was destroyed in Noah’s day by water, the final Day of Wrath it will be by fire.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2Pe 3:3-7 KJV)
- Both Noah’s flood and the final Day of Wrath was and will come unexpectedly
- In both Noah’s flood and the final Day of Wrath God’s people will be protected, the lost will face His wrath.
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” (Mat 24:36-41 KJV)
Folks, let us not be like lost mankind that ignores, and even mocks, the second coming of Christ and its accompanying wrath. May we all be vigilant and ready when our Lord returns. How do we do this? By trusting in Him as our Savior and Lord, and then, as Christians, being active in His service, taking advantage of the opportunities to minister that He opens to us!
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mar 13:32-37 KJV)
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
Demonic Activity In The Lives Of Men Causes God’s Wrath To Fall Upon Lost Mankind …
Rev 9:3 KJV – 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.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth …”
Rev 9:3 KJV – 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.
As trumpet judgment 5 progresses, John sees locusts coming out of the smoke that is arising from the opened bottomless pit. These locusts are symbolic representations of demonic activity as a part of the wrath of God falling upon lost mankind at His second coming.
Another interesting passage about locusts is found in Psalm 109:23. In this Psalm, David is praying to the Lord concerning those who are abusing him and betraying him. He describes his miserable condition as “I am tossed up and down like the locust”. This was David’s way of describing the feeling that his life was spinning out of control with no remedy in sight. He felt as if he was entirely at the mercy of others who could do to him as they please.
This is much like the locusts who were at the complete mercy of the wind that would blow them back and forth….
Exo 10:13 KJV – “… the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.”
Exo 10:19 KJV – “And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. “
Folks, do you ever feel like David? Do you ever feel like your life is a roller coaster and you are simply “along for the ride”? Sad to say, the Bible reminds us that we are not in control of our own lives. The life events that the future holds are entirely out of our control…
Jas 4:13-14 KJV – “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
But in the midst of the seeming chaos of our lives, we have a firm foundation that we can rely upon. It is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He is the One that knows, and controls, what our future holds …
Isa 46:9-10 KJV – “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
And He is the One that will safely guide us through all of life’s uncertainties…
Psa 32:5-8 KJV – “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. “
How can we enjoy this close relationship with the Lord, being able to trust Him with every life event that is about to come to pass? This text explains this for us.
By turning from our sins, bringing them to Christ and trusting in Him as our Savior and Lord, we can enjoy His forgiveness, daily presence and peace in the midst of our life’s uncertainties.
May we all look to Him and rest upon Him as we face all of life’s events that will surprise, sadden and threaten us.
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
Our Lord Jesus Christ Holds The Key To Escape From Eternal Punishment!
Rev 9:1 KJV – And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…to him was given the key of the bottomless pit …”
Rev 9:1 KJV
(1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
As the fifth trumpet sounded, John saw a star falling from heaven. This star’s descent from heaven is a symbolic representation of the Lord Jesus Christ’s first descent to the earth (Joihn 3:13, John 6:32-39 etc).
John then sees Christ being handed the key (authority over) the bottomless pit. It was following Christ’s first coming that He was exalted to the right hand of His Father and received authority over all things (Acts 2:32-36, 5:30-31, Phil 2:5-11, 2 Peter 1:17). A part of this exaltation included control over the in habitants of the Lake of Fire (Demons – Lk 8:26-34, Colossians 2:15, James 2:19; Satan – Job 1:, 2:, 1 John 4:4, Rev 20:1-2; Lost Mankind – Matt 25:41, Romans 14:11-12, Revelation 20:15).
The Book of Revelation clearly reveals to us that Christ holds authority over life and death, Satan, the Lake of Fire, and all of His creation …
Rev 1:18 KJV – I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Rev 20:1-2 KJV – And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 19:11-16 KJV – And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war… And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
What a wonderful Lord we serve!
May we all follow the example of the twenty four elders who recognized His great authority, WILLINGLY submitting to it, and used it as a basis for personal worship and praise…
Rev 11:15-18 KJV – And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
Can We Recognize The Polluted Gospel Message?
Rev 8:11 KJV
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Revelation 8:13-9:12 “Trumpet Judgment 5”
THE TEXT:
Now, trumpet judgment 5, the first woe, is revealed…
Rev 8:13-9:12 KJV
(13) And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
(1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
(2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
(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.
(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.
(6) And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
(7) And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
(8) And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
(9) And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
(10) And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
(11) And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
(12) One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
THE INTRODUCTION:
Please remember that the final judgment of God is described in many Scriptures as consisting of literal fire that falls from heaven. (2 Thess 1:7-10, 2 Peter 3:3-13, Psa 102:26, Isa 51:6, Zeph 3:8). This is what will literally take place during the final wrath of God. At Christ’s second coming, fire will precede Him punishing the lost and renovating the world for His arrival.
Keeping in mind that the final wrath of God consists of fire falling from heaven, we can see that trumpet and the vial judgments are describing this wrath in purely symbolic terms. In other words, the events that take place in the trumpets and vials are not literal events that will take place, but are symbolic descriptions of the final wrath of God that manifests itself by fire falling from heaven.
In chapter 8 and 9, John sees the opening of seal 7, which will symbolizes the beginning of God’s wrath coming upon the fallen earth and sinful mankind. His wrath affecting the earth is emphasized in trumpets 1-4. Trumpets 5-6 (the first two woes) are judgments that directly affect lost mankind.
Trumpet 7 (the 3rd woe) is the completion of God’s wrath falling upon the earth and mankind. This last trumpet brings to completion what was begun in trumpets 1-6. Trumpet 7 is made up of the seven vials. Each vial corresponds to a specific trumpet. Each vial simply expands, intensifies and brings to completion the wrath that was begun in its corresponding trumpet.
| Trumpet | Vial | Area Of Earth Affected By Trumpets (Area of Earth Affected By Vials) | Areas Of Mankind Affected By Trumpets (Areas of Mankind Affected By Vials) |
| 1 | 1 | 1/3 Trees. Green Grass(All the Earth) | |
| 2 | 2 | 1/3 Sea(All the Sea) | |
| 3 | 3 | 1/3 Rivers, Springs(All the Rivers, Springs) | |
| 4 | 4 | 1/3 Sun, Moon, Stars(Entire Sun) | |
| 5 (Woe 1) | 5 | Men Not Sealed By God(Entire Kingdom and All Worshippers Of Beast) | |
| 6 (Woe 2) | 6 | 1/3 Mankind(Whole World) | |
| 7 (Woe 3) | 7 | God’s Wrath Intensified and Completed Against Earth and Mankind Described By The 7 Vials(The Final Destruction Of Babylon and Lost Mankind {The Battle Of Armageddon}) | |
As we continue our study all of the above will, hopefully, become more clear.
For now, let us just understand that the falling of God’s wrath during the second coming appears to be progressive; growing in intensity, severity and devastation as He descends and His presence draws nearer to the earth. This is much like the tribulation in today’s time (first six seals) that will gradually increase in intensity and frequency as His coming draws near.
As we have said seal seven is divided into seven parts, symbolized by trumpets that are blown. Here is a short outline of the upcoming lessons on seal 7 …
- Sounding Of First Four Trumpets – 8:7-8:13
- 1st Trumpet – vs 7
- Judgment – Hail, fire, blood
- Affected – Trees, grass
- 2nd Trumpet – vs 8
- Judgment – Great burning mountain, sea to blood
- Affected – Sea, sea creatures, ships
- 3rd Trumpet – vs 9-11
- Judgment – Burning Star (Wormwood)
- Affected – rivers, springs, men
- 4th Trumpet – vs 12
- Judgment – Striking
- Affected – Sun, moon, stars
- 3 Woes Announced – vs 13
- 1st Trumpet – vs 7
- Sounding Of Trumpets 4 & 5 – 9:1-21
- 5th Trumpet (1st Woe) – 9:1-12
- Falling Star given Key To Bottomless Pit
- Locusts From Pit with King Of Locusts – Abaddon, Apollyon
- 5th Trumpet (1st Woe) – 9:1-12
- One Woe Past
- 6th Trumpet (2nd Woe) – 9:13-21
- Release of The 4 Angels & 200,000,000 Army From Euphrates killing Mankind
- Mankind does not repent
- Please note 7th Trumpet will be revealed in Rev 11:15 & Rev 16: which will reveal the completion of God’s wrath aginst the earth and sinful mankind.
THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:
In this text we find trumpet 5 revealed. This is the first of three “woes” (judgments that directly fall upon mankind).
Also please note: Many, if not all, of these trumpet judgments are variations of the plagues of God sent against Egypt (during the enslavement of the Jews) and the unbelieving Jews (during the wilderness wanderings). This helps us to understand that all of these trumpet judgments are being sent against the willfully rebellious who have abused God’s people.
Rev 8:13-9:12 KJV
(13) And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice,
John now sees an angel, announcing the coming trumpet judgments.
Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
The angels message holds a triple warning of coming judgment upon men (woe, woe, woe). The angel is warning the lost men dwelling upon the earth that 3 more trumpet judgments are yet to fall. This time the judgments will now be falling directly upon mankind (the prior four trumpet judgments had fallen directly upon different parts of nature, and affected mankind in an indirect way.
The first woe (trumpet 5) now takes place….
(1) And the fifth angel sounded,
The fifth trumpet sounds announcing the beginning of the next judgment…
and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
John now sees a star fall from heaven and land upon earth, possessing authority to open and secure the bottomless pit.
Although many say that this star symbolizes Satan, it is more likely a symbolic representation of Christ Himself (or an elect angel commissioned by Christ to bring about this plague).
To understand Christ as the the identity of this star, we need to see the contextual description of this star:
- vs 1 – A star is the foundational symbol for this being… Christ is described as a Bright and Morning Star (2 Pet 1:19, Rev 2:28, 22:16)
- vs 1 – It is said to “fall” (to descend from higher to lower place; related to Grk word for “flying”) from heaven to earth… This pictures Christ’s FIRST coming to the earth. It was at the successful completion of His work at the first coming that Christ was exalted and received authority over all things (Phils 2:5-11; 1 Cor 15:21-28)
- vs 1 – It is said to possess the key of the bottomless pit (authority over the entrance and exit of the pit)… Christ is the One that is given the authority over the Lake of Fire (2 Ptr 2:4, Jude 1:6, Rev 20:1)
- vs 2 – It is said to open the bottomless pit releasing its demons (initiate this judgment of God upon the lost mankind).. Christ is the One that possesses the ultimate authority over demons, releasing and imprisoning them (Matt 8:28-34, Matt 25:41, Rev 20:1-3)
If verse 11 is speaking of this star…
- vs 11 – It is King over the demons (possessing authority, control over them)… Christ possesses authority over demons (see 4 above)
- vs 11 – Described as angel of the bottomless pit (owning, controlling the bottomless pit)… Christ possesses authority over the Lake of Fire (see 3 above)
- vs 11 – Its name is “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” (destroyer).. no where in the Bible is Satan given the these titles. Not one time. However these Greek and Hebrew words are used many times of God, in the person of Christ, describing and picturing Him as the ultimate Destroyer and Victor over the powers of darkness and the rebellious lost. For more information see verse 11.
The Lord is so great, He even uses the work of Satan and demons as a basis of punishment upon the lost world.
(please note: why does this falling star represent Christ whereas in trumpet judgment 3 another falling star represented Satan? Context is the “great identifier” for both. In trumpet three, the descriptions of the star led us to understand that Satan was in view. The title “Wormwood” along with the the working of perverting and poisoning the gospel message causing great death is the work of Satan based upon many other passages in the Bible.
In trumpet 5 the titles for Christ “star”, “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” are reserved for Christ alone in the Bible, along with the great authority granted to Christ as King of Kings, including authority over the bottomless pit. Helps us to understand this is probably speaking of Christ or one commissioned by Him.
Even if we would believe that Satan is pictured by this falling star, we have to see that Satan is only working under the allowance of God, who had given Satan the temporary authority to open the bottomless pit. Also, we can clearly see in this text the clear limits to Satan and the demons work, again proving the Lord is the One in control of the forces of evil, its appearance at His second coming and its affliction upon lost mankind.)
A part of the judgment that Christ will bring to the earth during His second coming is the result of the work of demons in the lives of the lost who live upon the earth. This will result in increased suffering of mankind on the earth. If Satan and the demons had not blinded the eyes of the lost and opposed the work of Christ, these judgments from God would be unnecessary. If Satan had not been present in the Garden of Eden, there would be no fall and no sin in the world, and therefore, no wrath of God falling upon sinful mankind.
(2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Here, we see Christ opening up the bottomless pit (aka Lake of Fire, place of eternal torment) to allow demonic departure from it. The smoke that arises and covers the earth is symbolic of the vast area that their work among men would affect. This event would affect all remaining mankind, regardless of their physical location on and under the earth and the seas. Because all mankind fell, all lost mankind must face the wrath of God
(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.
Here, we can see the demonic powers exiting the Lake of Fire and coming upon the earth. They are allowed by God to do certain things and restrained form doing others. Remember Christ is the One with the authority (keys) and is their King. They can only do what He allows and they CANNOT cross the limits He has set for their activity. We can see this clearly as the Lord interacts with Satan concerning the affliction of Job (Job 1:12 & 2:6).
Locusts were very commonly linked to divine judgment against those who are rebellious (Deut 28:38-42, I King 8:37, Psa 78:46, 2 Chron 6:28, 7:13, Psa 105:34, Isa 33:4). Just as in the other trumpet judgments, locusts were a part of the judgment faced by the Egyptians during the enslavement of the Israelites (Exodus 10:4-19). Again, we can see many many reminders of God’s judgment falling against those who rebel against God and oppose and mistreat His people under the leadership of Satan and demons.
Scorpions are linked to the fall of Satan in Luke 10:17-19. It is brought out that the Lord had authority over the fall of Satan and his work following his fall. This is illustrated by the apostle’s authority given to them over scorpions and serpents. In this context, the demonic plagues are likened to scorpion stings helping us to understand they are working under the confines of the Lord’s authority and purposes.
(Please note: A vicious, literal, locust invasion during the days of Joel (Joel 2:1-11) is used to picture the great wrath of God that will fall during His second coming. This fits perfectly with this trumpet judgment. The following description of these demonic forces seem to be very similar to Joel 1: & 2:. )
(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. (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.
The limits placed upon these demons was in three parts:
- They were allowed to harm unsealed, lost men (those not taken by Christ at His appearance) but no other part of creation.
- They were allowed to torment (pain, torture) the lost but not to kill them.
- They are allowed to torment them for five months, the usual length of time for locust activity in the fields. Why five months? This is not speaking of a literal five months. Five months (150 days) is the period of time that God allowed the water to continue on the world during the flood of Noah’s day (Gen 7:24). Symbolically these locusts and their work of misleading mankind results in 5 months of worldwide destruction of a wicked world due to sin, the flood (2 Peter 3:1-7).
The attacks of the demons are described as being like a scorpions sting, in other words, God’s wrath, the result of the workings of these Satanic creatures causes great pain and suffering resulting in great fear (2 Chron 10:11, Deut 8:15, Ezek 2:6, Luke 10:19, 11:12) In that sense, the powers of darkness are more responsible for the falling of God’s wrath than the Lord Himself. Without their workings on the earth, there would be no wrath of Go falling among men.
(6) And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
God’s sovereign rule will not allow men to commit suicide, nor kill one another. They will be facing all of these torments and not be given relief from them. Note here they totally lack understanding of the eternal doom they are facing if they physically die. Although God’s wrath is a horrible affliction, it is nothing compared to an eternity in the Lake of Fire. Due to their continuing blindness, they cannot begin to comprehend what awaits them following their death. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
(7) And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. (8) And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. (9) And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. (10) And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails:
These demonic beings are symbolically described as:
- like unto horses prepared unto battle; – they do the bidding of another, they are swift, strong, used to fight battles
- and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, – they hold delegated authority, they do the bidding of their King
- and their faces were as the faces of men. – Like men these demons (fallen angels) are created to glorify God but chose to rebel. This links them with mankind, reminding us that the judgment they bring upon man is deserved by man for their rebellion.
- And they had hair as the hair of women, – They act in submission to Satan, under the allowance of God. They do not act on their own.
- and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. – They are vicious, ferocious, and killers (much like Satan – 1 Ptr 5:8).
- And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; – They are strong, unstoppable, men cannot withstand them.
- and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. – great in number, power and influence upon the earth. Work together like army in battle
- And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: – they bring great pain and harm to mankind.
Compare this description to Joel…
Joe 1:1-7 KJV
The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Joe 2:1-11 KJV
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
and their power was to hurt men five months.
They were given the authority to harm mankind in the same time period as the flood waters continued on the earth during Noah’s flood (Gen 7:24). Again, reminding us that they are causing this judgment against rebellious, lost mankind and an action that will be used to renovate the fallen earth preparing it for eternity.
(11) And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
This is referring to the same angel that possessed the keys to the bottomless pit, these titles must apply to Christ, and they do.
These Greek and Hebrew words are used of Christ, as God, describing and picturing Him as the ultimate Destroyer and Victor over the powers of darkness and the rebellious lost. [Prov 15:11 (“destruction”); Jere 10:10-11 (“perish”); Daniel 7:9-11 (“destroyed”); Matt 10:28 (“destroy”); 22:7 (“destroyed”); Luke 17:27-29 (“destroyed”); 1 Cor 10:10 (“destroyed”); James 4:12 (“destroy”); Jude 5 (“destroyed”)
(12) One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
This concludes trumpet 5, which is the first of the trumpets that are pictured as directly falling upon mankind (trumpets 5,6, and 7).
CHRIST REVEALED:
In this text, we can see Jesus Christ revealed as the Holy Lord who, through His will of allowance controls the demonic forces of the world for His purposes. Although the demons follow their own sinful desires and Satanic influence, the results of their actions result in God’s judgment falling upon lost mankind and His ultimate will being done.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)
In spite of all the wickedness that we see taking place in the world today, we need to always remember that our Lord is in control and His will is still being performed on the earth. Normally, in the case of His people and His elect angels, His will is being accomplished through their willful submission to His will and ways. However, in the case of the rebellious lost and dark forces of this world, although they do not willfully submit to His authority, He still sovereignly, turns their rebellious acts into acts that ultimately fulfill His will on the earth.
May we always be thankful for His perfect control over all and His promise that all things will work together for His glory and our good.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
Text Blog: http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
Video Blog: http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven
Email Contact: settledinheaven@gmail.com
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter …”
Rev 8:11 KJV – And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
The bitter waters of Satan. The corruption of the true Gospel message of Christ is a fundamental aspect of Satan’s war against Christ. The life-giving waters of the gospel message become polluted making them spiritually poisonous.
So what is the genuine gospel message? Paul clearly declares the gospel in 1 Cor 15:1-8…
1Co 15:1-8 KJV
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
How does Satan pollute the gospel message? There are three very basic ways that he attempts to pervert the gospel….
- He perverts the PERSON of the gospel by removing Christ and replacing Him with other “saviours” and “gods”. (Acts 4:12)
- He perverts the WORK of the gospel by taking our eyes off the completed work of Christ. He does this by replacing, or adding to it our good works or the good works of other “saviors”. (Titus 3:5)
- He perverts the MESSENGERS of the gospel by using Satanic ministers that appear to be Godly. (2 Cor 11:13-15)
May the Lord grace us with discernment allowing us to recognize and reject the many versions of the perverted gospel of Satan; and recognize, receive, and declare the genuine gospel that can save men’s souls!
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
Wormwood, the destroyer of men…
Rev 8:11 KJV
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “…the name of the star is called Wormwood: …”
Rev 8:11 KJV
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
This star (representative of Satan) is given the name of Wormwood. There has been quite a bit of speculation and controversy concerning this title. To help us come to a clearer understanding of the meaning of this title we need to see how it is used in the Bible…
It’s OT usage:
“Wormwood” in the OT is translated from the Hebrew word “la’ anah” and carries with it the definition of bitter and poisonous. This same word is translated “hemlock” in Amos 6:12.
It is used in the OT seven times, and in all seven it describes a bitter and harmful substance. In many of these texts, it is used to describe God’s judgment falling against those who have turned away from Him.
It’s NT usage:
“Wormwood” in the NT is translated from the Greek word “apsinthos” and carries with it the definition of “bitterness, fouling”.
It is only used once in the NT (our text for today). In context we can see it is a fouling of the fresh water sources that result the death of many people. This is a symbolic representation of the polluting of God’s Word resulting in the spiritual death of those who partake of these false teachings.
From this word study, we can see that Wormwood is used Biblically to represent a bitter, poisonous substance that wreaks death and havoc among mankind. Symbolically, in Revelation, it is a symbol of the perversion of God’s Word by Satan which results in misleading many men to their spiritual death.
Folks, when we think of Satan, we need to remind ourselves of this title given to him. He is the one that is bitter and fouling, whose work results in the spiritual death of many. He is Wormwood, the lethal fouling spirit that opposes our Lord and His Word seeking to destroy mankind…
May we all refuse to partake of this foul bitterness that can destroy men’s souls…
Deu 29:18-20 KJV
“Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.”
May we all think on these things today and find encouragement and comfort for our hearts!
For an in depth look at these sections of the Revelation
Settled In Heaven Blog 