Revelation 9 (NIV)

Summary:

The Trumpets (Continued)
Verses 1-21

The 5th angel sounded his trumpet.  John saw a star that had fallen from the sky to earth.  The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.  When he opened it, smoke arose, like that from a gigantic furnace.  The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke.  Locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth, with power like scorpions.  They were told not to harm the grass, plants, or trees, but only those without the seal of God on their foreheads.  They were given the power to torture, but not kill, for 5 months.  The agony will be like that of a scorpion sting.  Men will seek death, but death will elude them.

These locusts are like horses prepared for battle.  They have something like crowns of gold on their heads.  Their faces are like a human's, their hair like a woman's, and their teeth like a lion's.  They have breastplates of iron.  Their wingbeats are like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.  Their tails and stingers are like those of scorpions.

The king of the locusts is the angel of the Abyss.  His Hebrew name is Abaddon; his Greek name is Apollyon.  Both names mean Destroyer. 

The first woe is past; two are to come.

The 6th angel sounded his trumpet.  John heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar before God.  It told the 6th angel to release the 4 angels bounds at the river Euphrates.  These angels are being kept ready for that very hour, day, month, and year.  They will be released and will kill 1/3 of mankind.  John heard the number of mounted troops: 200 million.

The horses and riders he saw in his vision were like this: their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow like sulfur.  Their heads were like lions.  Out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur, which are the plagues that will kill 1/3 of mankind.  Their power is in their mouths and their tails.  Their tails are like snakes, with heads that inflict injury.

The rest of mankind that were not killed still did not repent of the work of their hands.  The did not stop worshiping demons, idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood.  Their idols can't see, hear, or walk.  They did not repent of their murders, magic arts, sexual immorality, or thefts.

Lori's Thoughts:

I've heard that the star that fell from the sky to earth is Satan.  We know that stars symbolize angels, because Christ revealed that to John in the earlier chapters.  Satan was Lucifer when he was an angel of God, but he rebelled and was banished to earth.  All he wants is for us to go down with him, because he is filled with hate.  So, he is given the key to the Abyss to unleash mayhem upon mankind.

Okay, these locusts that come out of the smoke from the Abyss aren't like any locusts I've ever heard of.  The locusts on earth are like grasshoppers.  They only bother us in the short periods when they swarm and eat up crops.  The locusts of the Abyss seem huge and monster-like.  But, those of us who are sealed by God will not be harmed by them.  Remember when I was wondering whether or not we'd be in heaven before the 7th seal is opened?  Well, it seems like we may not be.  But, we will be protected, because we are sealed.  (After reviewing my notes, now I think that we may be in heaven by that point.  Either way, we do not need to worry about being affected by these woes.) 

So far, there have been 7 seals.  The 7th seal leads to the 7 trumpets, and the last 3 trumpets lead to the 3 woes.  I imagine the trumpet blasts to be more like the bass war or warning blasts, rather than the soprano blasts that they use to announce the coming of royalty.  It's a bit scary, but my God is bigger and He's got us.

So, the 6th angel is given the authority to release the 4 angels from the Euphrates.  If I understand it, they have an army of 200 million to kill 1/3 of mankind.  That is about 2.3 billion people, if it were to happen today.  That number saddens my heart.  What's worse is that it sounds like God gives the wicked another chance to repent and serve Him, but they refuse.

We cannot say that God is unmerciful or impatient or ungracious.  He wants us to get out of this alive. 

There is only freedom when we serve Him.  It may sound counterintuitive, but it's true.  Don't knock it until you try it.  You'll be free to leave if you don't like it, but I think you'll love it.  Take it from someone who has known brokenness and lacked love and support while growing up.  There is so much better with my God.  He can be yours too.  Just ask.