Nonetheless, it's not a point of great importance for us in our attempt to understand the Book of Revelation as we will see in our study through this book. By the way, much is said throughout the book of Revelation in our study through it.
For starters, it's a real place on the earth. It's sometimes referred to as the shaft. A shaft doing down into the earth.
The BP as I'll call it here, is locked up until this point in the future of man's history. This angelic being, be he a holy angel, or an evil and wicked one, we can't say for sure, but what we do see, is that when he opens the BP up, and troubling, tribulation type events take place on the earth,
John likens what come out, to the smoke of a great furnace, This smoke is so thick, that it causes those on the earth to not see the or breath the air as they had been.
Then, out of the smoke, as it's teeming out of the pit, come these locusts, to whom is given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Along with this power, they were restricted as to their destructive activities.
1. They were given this power.
2. They were also commanded as to the extent of their destructive activities.
3. They were to harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
4. They could harm them, but not kill them. They were to torment them for 5 months.
5. Their torment is likened unto the torment of when a scorpion stings or strikes a man.
6. During this time, men will seek death, over the torment caused by these locusts.
7. Death will not be found by those seeking it.
A few closing thoughts about this section, and then we can resume looking at the rest of the chapter tomorrow.
It's clear that the Lord is in charge of everything from start to finish.
God has this pit, and what comes out of it under His control.
He is using it to do with it as He pleases.
Satan who tricks man, will now be hurting the men whom he has tricked and deceived
Christians will be preserved through this 5 month period.
These Christians will not be harmed in any way by these locust beings.
God will be both bringing judgement on the earth, controlling demons and their activities, restricting them as to what they can do. God will be preserving, and protecting His own people from these locusts. God is at the same time saving people who come to faith. Right now, God is saving people generally speaking, but during the tribulation, He will be carrying out dual roles, Savior and Judge.
These things are truly coming. And, right now, you and I know people who may very well go through these events, unless they get saved now, and are taken by Christ at the rapture of the church.
Our motivation for service, and evangelism, is indeed the love of God. Let's pray for God's love to so grip our hearts, that we are actively involved in, praying for, and doing something to see people come to faith. Judgment is coming on the earth, and the people you know that are not yet believers can become so, by coming to Jesus now, and escape what is coming down the road. Perhaps that which is coming is much, much closer then we can even imagine.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
