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"And They Did Not Repent!” • 9.13.20 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Chapter 8 closes with the sounding of the 4th Trumpet. Each of the judgments bring about an unparalleled period of ecological and environmental disaster.
- The first Trumpet scorches a third of the world's trees and grasslands. The second Trumpet turns the Mediteranean sea to blood, wiping out a third of the ships and killing a third of the creatures.
- The third angel's Trumpet targets the fresh water sources, fouling a third of the rivers and streams and the fourth Trumpet blocks out a third of the light from the sun, moon and stars.
- One could comment that these maintain a certain "natural" and "general" characteristic that has run through both the Trumpet and Seal judgments.
- At this time, God has removed all comfort from those that have sought it in government, peaceful conditions, nature and normal celestial patterns.
- Right after the fourth Trumpet, an angel announces a three fold "woe," because of what was coming soon and he wasn't underselling his message in the slightest!
- This chapter will bring us into terrors that will erase the boundaries between natural and supernatural and that will be much more personal and specific in nature!
- When men fail to submit to God, they are not just making a poor decision. They are choosing to yield themselves to Satan. In the Great Tribulation, God will give them a preview of their future!
- As we enter this chapter, I pray that you are ready for sober reflection. May none of us here see what we are about to study live and in person! Verse 1.
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• Revelation 9:1,2 : "Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit." : The fifth angel introduces us to a new kind of horror. The English language does not help us here. John is seeing a "star" that, in essence, "had already been fallen," from heaven to Earth.
- This "star" does not emanate from the atmosphere or the space around planet Earth. This "star" has a gender assignment. "To him!" This is not an inanimate object. This is an angelic being.
- We have already established that "stars" can be interpreted as being angels. Jesus specifically interprets that for us in Revelation 1:20. The seven stars are the seven angels.
- In Job 38:7, God tells Job about the "morning stars" the "sons of God" who sing and shout for joy. We'll read later that a "third of the stars" fell along with the Devil. (Revelation 12:4)
- This particular angel is sent with a key that opens the "Abyss." He is serving God's interest. God wants this Abyss open.
- Without getting into a full geographical lesson on the intricacies of hell, understand that this bottomless pit is a holding cell for incredibly dangerous beings.
- Once he opened the pit, the smoke of a great furnace escapes, blocking out the sun. Remember that at some time, the sun had already been darkened by the fourth trumpet blast.
- This place is real and it's effects are measurable! The sun is darkened by the actual smoke. This isn't a spiritual experience. This is a physical experience. Verse 3.
• Revelation 9:3,4 : "Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads." : As the smoke moves, it seems only to be smoke, until the movements become more aggressive.
- There are creatures coming from within the smoke, which John calls "locusts." This is his best metaphor, which more than likely refers to their number and their purpose.
- The lands to our east are well aware of the dangers of a locust swarm. Just last year, Kenya faced it's most dense locust swarm in 70 years!
- Locusts are called the world's "most devastating pest." They are generally harmless on their own but when they gather in large numbers, they reproduce in a massive way.
˚ "The insects are able to multiply 20-fold in three months and reach densities of 80 million per square kilometre. Each can consume 2g of vegetation every day – combined, a swarm of 80 million can consume food equivalent to that eaten by 35,000 people a day." [i] : Friends, this is what locusts represent: Utter and complete devastation! They are insatiable! Imagine demonic entities described as locusts? Not good!
- Unlike natural locusts, which generally do not directly harm men, these creatures will be endowed with a power that is a direct threat to men.
- They will have powers as the scorpion does, which refers to the inflicting of severe, mostly non-lethal pain via it's sting.
- I was listening to a commentator note that the training of Roman elite soldiers often included a surprise spear or a knife through the leg. In order to pass, the soldier could not respond to the pain.
- These same soldiers, who would not give up their positions if stabbed, were unable to resist screaming once they were bitten by a scorpion! This is the kind of power they will possess!
- Note also that unlike natural locusts, these locusts are directed by more than instinct.
- They are following orders, under the command of another! Their order is to ignore what natural locusts enjoy the most! They will have no desire for vegetation.
- They will be hunters of men and it will be open season on those without the seal of God on their foreheads! These are the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, according to Revelation 7:3!
- God is allowing those that are doing His work to continue without fear of any supernatural phenomena. That won't be the case for the "unsealed." Verse 5.
• Revelation 9:5,6 : "And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them." : The locusts are loose, but by the grace of God, they are also limited! They do not have the authority to slay the unmarked.
- It does not mean that they are unable to do so. Left to their own power and will, they would gladly destroy all men. The world of demonic power is bent upon humanity's destruction.
- There is a hatred that runs deep and if they were allowed, they would kill every man, woman and child on this planet. They won't be allowed to do so, but will torment men for five months!
- Those that do not belong to Him will experience grievous and intense physical pain!
- The sense of this passage can either mean that they will inflict pain that is sustained for five months or that their activity upon the earth will last for that period.
- Either way, men on Earth will experience the torment that is reserved for demons, administered by the demons themselves!
- The demons that possessed the Gadarene demoniac sought to avoid the torment that was coming their way, when they accepted a trip into a pack of pigs! (Mark 8:29)
- You might be thinking, "Just how bad could this be?" It will be bad enough that men will seek to end their life! They will repeatedly seek after death, but they will not find a successful measure!
- They will be in such pain that they will lust after death, but death will make an escape! It won't be caught by them!
- Do you want to serve Satanic interest? You'll immediately say, "no," but that is exactly what mankind does when they refuse to submit their heart and life to Jesus Christ!
- In the Great Tribulation, these men will have, for all intents and purposes, declared a wish to be as far away from God as possible! Where can one go where that would be potentially true?
- Unregenerate men on Earth believe that Hell is the absence of God, when in reality, it is the presence of God's unending wrath poured out upon sin!
- You either receive Christ and enjoy perfect love or you will eternally regret your choice when you experience His perfect justice! On this day, men will experience a small taste of this!
- They will experience the pain of hell during their "mortal" lives and will realize, that just like in hell, they will be unable to die! Please read later today, Isaiah 66:24 and then Mark 9:42-48!
- Hell is a real place that Jesus warned men away from because of their eternal consciousness! As we come into verse 7, John gives us a look into the locusts appearance.
• Revelation 9:7-10 : "The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months." : John speaks of the "shape," or the likeness of the locusts. These locusts resemble the size of horses and they are armored in the same way.
- Additionally, they have heads that are adorned with crowns of something like gold. This expresses some kind of hierarchy. These are high ranking demons.
- Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our battles are against spiritual principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this age!
- Their faces that appear like men. There is some kind of familiar expression upon these creatures. I can't help but think about the four living creatures, who also have faces.
- Their hair is similar to women's and their mouths are full with what appears to be the teeth of lions. They are formidable, with their shielding.
- Each of these creatures is fitted with an iron breastplate, an inpenetrable defense and their sound will strike fear in the heart of any person.
- Each one's wings sound like an entire troop of chariots, replete with their horses rushing into battle! Anyone who is seeking refuge from these creatures will know they are approaching!
- These are not quiet hunters. They are bold and strong and their unafraid of giving their position away! Everywhere they go will bring terror well before they actually arrive!
- Here is where the scorpion's sting comes in, as they deliver their sting through what is similar to the tail of a scorpion.
- Any person with the misfortune of being stung will be tormented and in pain. These creatures will roam free for five months. God will not allow their terror to reign for the duration of the Tribulation.
- He will allow their use, but in His continued mercy, He will limit their time. Verse 11.
• Revelation 9:11,12 : "And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things." : This horde of creatures had a King. That's not usual among natural locusts. The Bible specifically mentions that their unity is usually without a "King" to govern them. (Proverbs 30:27)
- These have as ruler the angel of the bottomless pit whose name was known both to Israelis and Greeks. Both names refer either to "Destruction" or "Destroyer!"
- This can be none other than Satan himself! Earlier, I submitted that they had faces as the cherubim "living creatures" did. Could it be that these are the fallen angels that Satan led in rebellion?
- Jesus told His disciples that He had watched Satan fall like lightning! (Luke 10:18) Could these be fallen cherubim that fell alongside of him?
- They are now bent upon their destruction and are only a single woe! I hope that this first "woe" is enough to convince you to turn to Jesus! But alas, two more woes are coming! Verse 13.
• Revelation 9:13-16 : "Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.' So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them." :
- John is witnessing the scene from heaven, standing at the command center. A voice spoke out from the golden altar that had just received the incense and prayers of the saints.
- The Lord is directing this assault upon the planet with a view to avenging His people. The angel with the sixth trumpet sounded and triggered the release of four additional angelic beings.
- They are not a part of the "bottomless pit" angels, but have been bound, kept, the word can refer to being tied down with chains, at the Euphrates river.
- This river will be important to us later on in the book of Revelation. For now, these angels are released and are given the authority to slay a third of mankind!
- I am always reminded of the single angel that slayed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers by himself in a single night outside of Jerusalem! (II Kings 19:35) Imagine if he had three buddies with him!
- The restraint of God is on full display throughout the trumpet judgments. These deadly angels have been made ready for just this time and for just this duty.
- Notice the specificity: They have been prepared for the hour and day and month and year! This has been planned down to the very hour! How will they kill a third of mankind?
- These demons will have an army of uncountable horsemen! This is the same expression that we looked at earlier when John attempted to count angels. This is "myriads times myriads!"
- Even in our greatest wars, counting all sides, this number far exceeds any of that! Add to that, the fact that humanity's numbers are rapidly diminishing.
- Nobody is sure of who or what these beings are, but John will try to help us! Verse 17.
• Revelation 9:17-19 : "And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm." : John's vision of this moment in history includes horses ridden by men wearing a very specific set of colors: Red, blue and yellow.
- Their horses are unlike anything we know today, as they have the heads of lions and they breathe out fire, smoke and brimstone, each of which are plagues.
- This was how the 200 million were killed! Their delivery system was both in the front and the rear of their bodies, all of which to do harm to the Earth's population.
- Death, as you can see, will make a full recovery! How did the remain population respond to this latest set of horrors? Verse 20.
• Revelation 9:20,21 : "But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts." : Verse 20 again gives us a report on the spiritual condition of mankind during this season of the Great Tribulation.
- Keep in mind that there are 144,000 evangelists roaming the planet that have been sealed by God and have been living and working for Him unabated.
- There is an untold multitude of men and women who have turned their lives over to Jesus and have been martyred for their faith. This leaves the rest of mankind.
- Somehow, there will be those who will have survived the plagues inflicted by these "locusts" and "horses." Perhaps they suffered and then recovered, but they are alive.
- That fact hasn't helped them at all. In fact, their survival has only served to harden their hearts against God to an even greater extent! "And they did not repent."
- Compare this against Revelation 6:16, 11:8-13, and 19:19. There is a consistent theme!
- Notice the specifics of that statement. It's not that they "COULD" not repent! That's important.
- To not be able to repent puts the onus on God! God would be unjust in acting against them. But that is not the phrase. They DID not repent!
- They didn't think differently of the "works of their hands," their wicked actions, consistent with their worship of demons and their own idols, which could offer them nothing!
- Their false idols cannot see. It has no wisdom or knowledge to offer and even if did, it has no ability to communicate or offer counsel or walk alongside of them!
- Yet, these idols are loved for the same reason they have always been loved: They represent what men want to love, which is ultimately themselves!
- They want to be told that their desires are right. They want to be given the permission to act according to their flesh. Their gods are made up from their own self image!
- Even after all that has been revealed to them about the true impotence of their own gods against the very present omnipotence of the REAL God, they refused to change their minds.
- If you think this is some strange kind of future apostasy, understand that this is happening right now under your nose!
- According to a recent survey, a large number of people who call themselves Christians, have revealed that they don't believe half of what makes a Christian a Christian!
- This is why there will be many who stand before the Lord on judgment day, who will claim works and actions, but will be told to depart, because the Lord NEVER KNEW THEM! (Matthew 7:23)
- When you put your faith in a false God, even a "god" bearing the Name of the True God, you have violated the Lord's commandments!
- If your "god" affirms every behavior, contradicts His own scripture and never charges any one with sin, your "god" is a false god! Do you think that matters in life?
- When a person rejects God, they will probably not even know that until they stand before the Lord, but those around them will have a very strong suspicion.
- If what we worship is false, then our characters will never conform to that which is true!
- Since they refused to change their minds, they certainly weren't going to change their actions! They will have broken the first set of commandments. Why not break the second set!
- These continued to murder. The Great Tribulation will be a time of unprecedented killing and love of violence. Every thought and intent of men will be free from God's restraint.
- They will see the devastation of murder, but will refuse to repent. The same attitude will govern their "sorceries." The word has less to do with "sorcery" and more to do with drug abuse.
- John uses the word "pharmakeia" which of course, gives us our word "pharmacy." The Greeks used this word to describe how one tapped into the world of the occult.
- Psychtropic drugs are a gateway into demonic oppression and possession!
- Certainly, for those who have had substance abuse issues, it is no surprise to hear of a connection between the two. Men in the time of the Great Tribulation will escape into excess.
- Their addictions won't be limited to substances. They will exhaust themselves in pornography. Without safeguards, men's fantasy lives will stretch past old boundaries.
- Just a few days ago, laws were passed that eased the labeling of pedophiles. Sexual exploitation of the young has become a popular viewing destination on several streaming services.
- Men won't think twice about age or any other formerly taboo subject. What they won't be able to obtain legally, they will take as thieves! They must figure themselves cursed and will act like it!
- In the end, they will have spoiled their final chance to escape the hell that awaits those that love such behavior!
Conclusion
- Recently, it's become en vogue to renounce both your faith and the
actions that faith demands. I've heard several abandon previously held
positions in the face of growing opposition.
- They feel that they must now apologize for previously sharing truths that may have hurt or marginalized individuals, noting their supposed "loveless" positions.
- If I were them, I would never speak another word publically. Who knows if their new confidence will hold up against another swing in public opinion!
- In the past 10 years, I've read this Bible, cover to cover, over a dozen times. What I was once "convinced of" as a Youth, I am thoroughly "confident in" today, to the point of near certainty!
- While I may have blundered in "HOW" I have shared, I will never apologize for "WHAT" I have shared! If there was something false about Christianity, I would already be gone to it!
- I say all that to say this: Sin is real. God's judgment upon sin is fierce and those that reject Christ do so at the expense of their souls!
- In love, I'd say to you, that there is coming a time when the TRUE GOD will call you to account for yourself against what is PLAINLY UNDERSTOOD to be His Will, through His Word!
- Don't believe the hype: You cannot have your cake and eat it too! Christianity demands no less than a break with your previous patterns of sin!
- I tell you now as I have been telling you since the beginning of this church and indeed the beginning of my time in ministry: REPENT from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ before it is too late!
- There is no forbidden desire, pleasure or sin that is worth losing your soul over! God's love is so much more satisfying than any notion that you would have to forsake!
- You will thank me for loving you BY TELLING YOU THE TRUTH on the day when you and I are watching this chapter unfold from the safety of heaven's Throne room!
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