As this star ( angel ) opens the bottomless pit, smoke arose out of it, just like the smoke one would see from a big furnace. The smoke caused the sun and the air to be darkened.
Out of this smoke were locusts that came upon the earth. And, to each of them ( the number of them is not given us ) was given power, like scorpions of the earth to have power.
Restriction was placed upon them, not to hurt the grass of the earth ( which had already been burned up ) or any other green thing, or any tree ( of which 1/3 have already been wiped out ) but only those men who do not have the seal of God ( the sealing of the Holy Spirit or Christian s) on their foreheads. So, in this case, they were allowed to torment non christians.
The authority they have was not to kill, but to torment for a period of 5 months. And, John describes their torment as the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
During this period of the tribulation, men will seek for death, but not find a way, they will want to die, but, death will evade them. ( it's going to be so bad, that men would rather die then live, and are seeking to die, but are not able to do it )
These locusts were shaped like a horse when it was ready for battle. They had crowns on their heads, made of something like gold, and the faces were like the faces of men. Their hair was like a woman's hair, teeth like that of a lion. Breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings, was like the sound of many chariots, with horses, running into battle.
Their tails were like scorpions, and their sting was in their tails. Again, they were to hurt men for a five month period.
Their king, was the angel of the bottomless pit, whose Hebrew name is Abaddon, and in Greek, he has the name Apollyon.
One of the tree woes issued by the angel ( see Rev 8:13 ) Two more of the woes were yet to be accomplished.
Now, the 6th angel sounds. And, John hears a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying, to the 6th angel, "Release the four angels who are bound at the river Euphrates" So, these four angels ( who had been prepared for this very hour, day and month and year ) were released to kill 1/3 of mankind. Note: 25% of earth's population have already been killed, now a third of the remaining population are killed.
From 9:16-21, we are told of a 200 million man army on horses. John was told that this was the number. 200 Million. John also saw horses in this vision. Their riders are described. And, by 3 plagues, 1/3 of mankind was killed, that is by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came out of their mouths. The power they have is in their mouths, and in their tails, which are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do harm.
The rest of earth's population were not killed by these plaques, would not repent of the work of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and Idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. ( Materialism ? )
Additionally, they did not at this time repent of their murders, their sorceries, and their sexual immorality, or their thefts.
Thoughts for reflection, explanation, and application.
1. There is a bottomless pit. And, a certain un-named angel has the key to this pit.
2. We will hear more of this pit as we move through Revelation.
3. Hurtful things begin to come out of this pit, hurting the earth, and men on the earth.
4. At this point, God's people, ( who have His seal ) are preserved from this evil hurt.
5. The horror of this time will be so bad, that men will want death, seek death, but death will elude or evade them.
6. All of this horror is coming to the earth.
7. Right now, we are living in a very grace filled day as it were.
8. We also are living in a time when we can shine the light of God's truth into the darkness of this world.
9. If God has saved you, then God also has a plan to use your life, and the gifts He has given you, to accomplish His will.
10. Living for God, is the Biblical norm for God's people. It's at least the norm that God calls us to.
11. It's good to take stock of where we are at, and see how our lives are, in light of what God says in His Word.
May God bless you this week. Looking forward to digging in a little bit deeper in chapter nine and ten.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
