The Locusts from the Bottomless Pit - 25

Will this passages like were looking at tonight that I think has intimidated the many many Christians and cause them to shy away from the book of Revelation with the thought while you you must need a code book or something to decipher this act. I can't make any sense what it was like work reading science fiction and I Ike I can understand that. I've had that sense in my earlier days as I've read the various portions of the book and read it as part of my reading through the Scriptures, but I trust tonight that our approach will demystify that and set your mind at ease and maybe instill some confidence in you that this book is not for some super professor with a code book to help you understand that I think you'll see what that makes sense.

That's not as mysterious as it first appears were in the middle of looking at the trumpet judgments that are recorded here in chapters 8, nine, and onward and chapter 8 verses seven through 13 gave a rendering of the first four trumpet judgment. So in a matter of 123-4567 verses we covered for trumpet judgments.

Now John is slowing down and were going to look at the fifth trumpet judgment and he gives a lot of attention to that verses one through 12 covered just the fifth trumpet judgment. Let me remind you that John is recording visions that he is privilege to have received and is recording those the part of sacred text. It's inspired text, but John gives the the vision describes it for us, and most more often than not, without commentary. He doesn't say will this I saw this and it means this swords that so were left to try and discern into rely upon other Scripture for accurate interpretation when we came to the end of our study. The last time.

Verse 13 was a bit of a an additional thought that prepared us for the fifth sixth and seventh trumpet judgments and we find in verse 13. These words and I looked and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice whoa whoa whoa to the inhabitants of the earth because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound, and then alerts us to the fact that there is, whoa associated with these last three trumpet judgment. There is an intensification of God's judgment that's coming upon the earth. In chapter 5 conference contains one of the woes are coming. The fifth trumpet contains one of the woes, the six trumpet. The second will and then the third woe is covered in the seventh trumpet.

We see that an elephant heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice whoa whoa it's it's to arrest our attention. It's too bring the seriousness to our thinking this is sober. This is arresting so tonight is were going to look at this fifth trumpet. I want to draw your attention to the locus of the bottomless pit.

That's the heading of in my Bible. The fifth trumpet. The locus from the bottomless pit.

We will look at three points tonight. The description of the Locust.

The identity of the locus in the activity of the locus was three points but let's begin. It says then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth, and under no. If your mind works like mine. But when I'm reading and I see star I begin to think of heavenly luminary stars in the sky. But if you start there. You're going to get confused very very quickly because that's not what this is about. This is not about the stars in the heavens and were alerted very quickly that we need to be thinking in a different direction is and I saw a star falling from heaven to the earth. To him the star is associated with a masculine pronoun to him was given the key to the bottomless pit.

John sees a star and notice it says I saw star fallen from heaven at the signing of this fifth trumpet. He sees a star fallen from heaven, not falling from heaven as in conjunction with the trumpet blast it's falling notes something that's happened it's past tense. I saw star fallen from heaven, he mentions a place where it has fallen from her. He mentions a place where it had fallen, namely the earth, a saw star fallen from heaven to the earth one time.

This star had occupied a place in heaven but is now on the earth. This star receives a key notice what it says. I saw star fallen from heaven to the earth.

To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. This star receives a key with which it opens the bottomless pit. The abyss, the stars given the characteristics of will and intellect and thus were bound to interpret this symbolically and not figuratively or literally no need to be careful with our hermeneutic if we have a hermeneutic that says we've got to interpret the book of the Revelation literally. What's okay to start there. But when you come to a passage of Scripture like this you very quickly when you impose a little after hermeneutic on that using a win with that that this is not working that this is not working. This has to be understood other than literally it has to be understood symbolically. Now let me remind you of a couple of verses of Scripture that will unlock and and reveal the identity of this angel for the starlets fallen. Remember what Jesus said in Luke chapter 10 in verse 18. It's there that he said I saw Satan fall like lightning heaven. I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven John the author the book the Revelation in his gospel says this in chapter 12 verse nine that Satan was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him, so who is this star with none other than Satan himself. The abyss with the bottomless pit that referred to is the abode of the evil spirits seven times in the book of the Revelation there is a reference to this abyss. This bottomless pit. It is the place where Satan and his followers remain. Let me clarify something here because your mind make may be going to win a minute I I I remember some verses that talk about spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. So you're telling me that they inhabit the bottomless pit. Well, there are two locations at the Scripture speak of demonic forces pulse talking about the armor of God, and he says in Ephesians 6. Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. So there are demonic forces in the heavenly places. They are part of what we wrestle against in the spiritual realm, but there are a host of angels that fail when Satan fell and we read in just one place here. I just turn back a couple of pages in my Bible to Jude verse six it says in the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, he that is, God has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

So there are fallen angels that God has left in their own abode. He's reserved in everlasting chains under darkness. So here are these fallen Angels in the bottomless pit in the abyss that are being referred to here Satan is been given a key to this bottomless pit to this abyss and what is a Telus verse two 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. These demons, these fallen Angels they have a king over them. Remember the end of the passage that I read verse 11 and they that is, these fallen Angels they had a king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Avedon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon on two names, one name in Hebrew. One aim in Greek. Both names mean destroyer. That's who he is.

He's the destroyer the Satan himself now is talk about the description.

The description of these locus verse three 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 four heads, 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.

The scorpions they been given power notice verse three and to them. The last part of verse three and to them was given power so a power is granted to them, but they are there under authority. Notice it says they were commanded, somebody is commanding them.

Somebody is directing them. They were commanded what 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 four heads again when you think of locus you think of the locusts plague on Egypt and Moses his time you think of Joel and the locus that came and devoured all the vegetation, but these are not insects. These locus are not insects because they don't do what locus do not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but their focus is all upon men a particular type of men. There is a distinction it's being made their given authority to given power to harm men on the earth, and only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads verse four.

That's an interesting statement. I'm not gonna make much of this only to say that there is an interpretation of the book of the Revelation that says that at this point in the book of Revelation, the church is not on the earth.

The church is been enraptured. The church is in heaven. And God is now pouring out his judgment on the earth. Void of his church.

The church is been rapture, but that verse seems to fly in the face of that argument.

It says there 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 and the seal of God.

We mentioned that over in chapter 6. We talked about that in the seal of God is God's protection.

God's ownership of those that belong to him that they are protected but they are sealed that they are protected by the armor of God by the word of God by the Spirit of God so despite the fact that there is this power with authority to bring harm it doesn't bring harm to those who are who have found refuge in God the arresting in the safety of the salvation provided in the Lord Jesus Christ notices description that begins in verse seven, the shape of the locusts was like the 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. The description of these locus they appear with human faces, which indicates that there is intelligence here involved discernment they have to discern between those who have the seal of God and those who do not have the seal of God. John writes that they have hair like the hair of a woman they have teeth like those of lions, were we to make of that. Well, Satan and his demonic forces seek to entice human beings and ultimately to destroy them. Women in their beautiful hair it's it's it's up. It's a picture of enticement they have hair like woman. They have teeth that devour so there's this enticement than this enticement in order to do harm and to destroy.

I have breastplates like the breastplates of iron, it says there verse nine what is that, well, it's for those who think that they can combat these forces your ear up against an army with a breastplates here, you're not going to win you they they have their they're not not somebody you want to take on in battle there protected for purpose. It points to their envisioned invincibility.

No one on earth can rise up against these evil attacks that are designed to inflict untold harm on the human race talks about the sound of their wings in verse nine. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron in the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running in the battle now again, you read that you think will that this evidently this this army. This is like an army of locus. It's like this is military conflict. This must be making reference to some geopolitical nation's engaged in warfare. I don't think so for a couple of reasons I mentioned that in a moment.

Again, I don't think that this is an army of men.

Let me give you two reasons why don't think so. No army has as one of their directives to distinguish between the people of God and the people who are are not the people of God were only going to attack only gonna do damage to those who are unbelievers as opposed workers were not gonna bring any harm to believe no army has that no no army. Every army any army disengaged in battle believer and unbeliever alike. The distinction is not part of military strategy.

I don't believe that that's the case, and that's not the way of God does not going to employ armies here. This is spiritual warfare. This is demonic activity.

This is in the spiritual realm.

This is going on so there's that description.

What is their identity well Artie talked about that these locus are an army of demons let loose by Satan for a certain definite purpose. They are going to bring harmony, harm and pain to unbelieving people.

Those who have rejected God and his truth. The question then is why are they are they to be let loose and when are they to be let loose to believe again that the context here is God unleashing his judgment on an unbelieving world and that manifestation of judgment will intensify and escalate as we move closer and closer to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and he at his second coming as he comes to bring consummation in the rule of righteousness on this earth, so the world is ripening for judgment. Reminds me of what God said would characterize things in the and in our day as we move closer and closer to the second coming of our Savior. Romans chapter 1, three times in this passage were told. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. Verse 26 for this reason God gave them up to vile passions.

For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Verse 28 and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting, you know, as Christians, God gives us a foretaste of what heaven is like, and it creates longing in our hearts for our heavenly abode when were free from sin.

This world and its brokenness. I think what's being described here is God is giving unbelievers a taste of what hell will be like, you know the description here that will be harmed will be harmed. The want to die, but they cannot. In those days men will seek death and will not find it, they will desire to die, and death will six. This is the judgment of God unleashed and it's the devil and his demons that are being used of God in this judgment you notice with me how clearly that's given that where we are being reminded of a sovereign God whose ruling in the heavens above and on the earth beneath verse one says I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given to him was given. He didn't have the key to unleash the demons out of the bottomless pit.

He was given a key will, who gave him the key got all mighty gave him the key. It's time for judgment.

Time for an acceleration of judgment so he's given a key and with that key. He opens the bottomless pit verse two verse three out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth into them. What was given power, who gave them power. They were given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

They were commanded, whose commanding these demons. I'm sure that the the devil himself was given instructions but I believe God himself is the one who is commanding and given instructions and set limits there 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. God's restraining this evil.

They were not given authority.

Verse five to kill them, but to torment them for five months.

I don't think would make much of that reference twice in this passage the five months outside the fact that God who is restraining God is setting the limits on their authority on their power on the duration of their activity for five months because unless those days be shortened.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 24.

Even the elect would fall away.

These days are going to be shortened. Of time that they will be allowed to wreak their havoc. So God gives men over there like horses prepared for battle locus. They wear crowns as of old, they have teeth as the teeth of lions.

They wear breastplates of iron, they have faces is the faces of men. They have hair like the hair of women. One commentator says this in a word, the spirits represent all that attracts the wicked world all that which the world of sin considers the source of bliss and salvation. They are the spirits who play on the passions of men. That's if God is saying I'm removing the restraint I'm allowing Satan to have an increased amount of activity in men you pursue your passions with unrestrained and see where it leads you will it lead you to happiness and fulfillment and contentment. No, it'll bring misery and heartache in it, to a degree that you have no idea. You will you will come to the place you want to die is what hell will be like unrelenting torment that never ends.

So there's this appeal that is made to the hearts of sinful men, but for those nets not as though the appeals of do not have any effect on those who are believers, but were protected were sealed with got the armor of God, God is going to preserve us. That's the good news there safety inside of Christ. There is hell outside of Christ, torment and pain and misery torments of hell the power verse 10 there power was to hurt men again five months and they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abby Don, both in Greek, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon on and then John concludes this vision with these words.

One woe is past.

Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. You see the kindness and goodness and mercy of God, of what life is like in the pursuit of sin with no restraint. The devil is a liar he's a deceiver.

He says straw fall restraint define God's authority and Wally saying that his whole intent is to enslave you to be your master. And what is that Lee people who have believed the lie if I could only get out from under the restraint of parents and authority and do what I want to do, then I'll be free. Then I'll be happy then I'll know contentment. Then no, here's a passage that is telling us where that where that leads. It's misery.

It's heartache. It's mental anguish and agony in rather than joy and satisfaction and happiness. You come to the place where life has no meaning you'd rather die than live. The devil is killing people all around us, but in that day that yet future as we move closer and closer to the second coming of Christ. It will be an increase measure. I've been struck in this these messages at how many times consideration in the book of Revelation has mirrored what we've heard on Sunday morning and Thessalonian.

We heard this morning the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all power signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteousness, and with all unrighteousness. Deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This notion that him and to live my life the way I want and at a convenient time in my choosing.

I will decide for Jesus. I put live in for myself.

I put live in for the world out off the I'll I'll I'll do the right thing. That is such a lie is if you had the power to save yourself no call upon the Lord while he is near today's the day of salvation.

And if God and his word is arrested, your attention and helped you to see the deceitfulness of the evil one in his intent to ruin your life. Why pursuit. Why persist in disobedience.

Why persist in our path that leads to destruction is having too much fun right right word is that finally due wares. I find that a lead you. It is a dead and road, the Broadway leads to destruction. There is a passage for warning. Here's a passage for serious consideration and may God in his spirit. Use it to encourage us as Christians.

I I I've echoed the words of others of you who have said you're concerned, not so much for yourself but for your children and your grandchildren.

Here's a passage that tells us that despite a day.

Even when God pulls back his restraining influence and allows the devil and his demons to wreak havoc in this world. Those who are in Christ who are sealed by the spirit of God will be protected. Our children will be protected, our grandchildren will be protected. You will be protected, but the only place a protection is in Christ, outside nothing but hellish fear and torment so that encouragement force, but there's also a very strong warning here for any who are outside of Christ spell and pray father, thank you for your word. Thank you for the admonitions for the warnings thank you for the encouragements because you were to bear fruit in our lives for the good of our souls and for the honor and glory of Christ in his name we pray. Amen