THE TRUMPETS OF GOD
REV. 9
Lesson 12
Intro: As we work our way through the Revelation of Jesus Christ it is becoming quit apparent that the level of judgments have intensified. If there is one thing our politically correct society would like to do, it is to ignore the judgments of God. Honest Bible study requires that we look at both God’s love and His punishment or judgments. To teach the whole counsel of God requires balance in teaching. There are some vindictive types of personalities who over work judgments almost to their delight. Others are prone to represent a God of love with no accountability.
I. The fifth angel sounds. (Vs. 1-12)
A. The keys of the bottomless pit.(Vs 12)
1. The star “had fallen” rather than “fall” is a more accurate translation.
a. This star or person is Satan whose fall is recorded in
Isa. 14: 12-17.
b. Jesus while on earth refers to Satan’s fall. Luke 10:18
2. This fallen one is presented with the keys to the bottomless pit.
a. In Rev. 1:18 you remember Christ in His position as judge
of the earth has the keys, “pit of the abyss.”
b. Found 9 times in the New Testament
c. A place to hold or restrain certain beings who have
come under the judgment of God as in Luke 8:31
d. The demons would rather go into pigs than
into the deep or abyss.
3. I think these are fallen or perverted angels of Jude 6.
a. The angels from Gen 6:4 who had children with the
daughters of men. Giants on the earth.
B. The smoke seems to indicate the corruption which will be the result of this
event.
1. Locked up for over 5,000 years
2. Will unloose upon this world of mankind one awful period of time.
C. The nature and intent of the demons released (Vs 3-10)
1. As the demons entered the swine in Luke 8:31, so the grasshoppers with
scorpions power will be driven by demon power.
a. We have here a visual representation of the hordes of demons.
b. Remember in scripture God has often used plagues of locust
to bring judgment. (Ex. 10:12-120 also Joel 1:4-7)
2. They are fearsome creatures. (Vs 7-10)
a. They appeared arrayed for battle.
b. Faces like men
c. Hair like women
d. Teeth like a lion
e. Breastplates of iron speak of durability.
f. Wings roar like army of chariots rushing into battle.
g. They were given power to hurt men for 5 months.
(Probably a literal time)
3. Forbidden to hurt the earth or those sealed servants of God (Vs. 4-5)
a. Green things of earth, which is the natural food, were forbidden.
b. They could not hurt the 144,000 who had been sealed to
proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. (Vs 4)
4. Permitted to hurt but not to kill those who had no seal (Vs 5-6)
a. Tormented men until they would rather die than live
b. Horrible picture of domination by demons to such an extent
that men lose free choice
c. Nothing in history like this has even happened is our answer
to those who think the pages of Revelation have already taken
place.
D. The leader – Satan (Vs. 11, 12)
1. The Hebrew Abaddon and Greek Apollyon both mean destroyer.
2. Satan appears to be an angel of light in our modern world.
3. The mask is ripped off, and evil is seen in its true character.
4. When divine restraint is removed, the sinfulness of sin is
revealed.
II The sixth trumpet and second woe (Vs 13-21)
A. In chapter 8:3 the alter refers to a scene in which the prayers of the saints are
in view.
1. Here in the last mention of the alter in the Book of Revelation,
judgment so severe that 1/3 of all men die is predicted.
2. We could draw from this that this judgment is in answer to the prayers
of the saints.
3. The horns of the alter refer to the sovereignty and judicial government
of God.
B. The four angels (Vs 14,15)
1. Not holy angels since they are bound
a. They are prepared for a given hour.
b. The article appears only before the word hour.
c. God in scripture prepares many things for a given time -
like the fish in Jonah.
2. The Euphrates River holds a prominent role in Biblical geography.
a. David’s and Solomon’s kingdom reached all the way to the
Euphrates.
b. More is said of the land of Iraq than any other land.
(Read E-mail on Iraq showing importance – outside of Israel.)
3. The intent of the four bound angels is the destruction of 1/3 of mankind.
a. The rise of China or other eastern nations is on the rise.
b. China by herself can raise a 200 million man army.
c. When John wrote this, that would have included all the people
of the then known world
C. Ready for battle (Vs 16-19)
1. Death and destruction is the sole purpose of this 200 million man force.
2. In this judgment and seal judgment, one half of the worlds population
will die.
3. Many feel modern warfare is predicted in these verses from the
stock piles in the military arsenals of the world.
4. As we view this, no doubt is left that power and
destructive capabilities will rule the day.
D. The tragedy of the human heart (Vs. 20, 21)
1. This is an astounding picture of human depravity as man will not repent
despite what has taken place.
2. Man will follow their own godless religion
3. Murders –human life means little.
4.. Sorceries – Greek word “pharmakais”
a. Drugs - in 1935 William Newell wrote on this, “I fully believe
that the last days will prove the most drugged age the world
has ever seen.”
5. Fornication – Sexual sin of those unmarried,
6. Drugs, fornication and stealing
a. Stop and think
b. None who practice these life styles will be in heaven.
c. Don’t be like Jezebel (Rev. 2:20, 21)