Revelation 9

There are yet three more angels to sound their trumpets to announce God’s judgment.  Two of them sound in this chapter.

1.     Rev. 9:1-12: The star is apparently a being (angelic?) to whom is given the key to open the bottomless pit.  He opens it and what is inside is given power like that of a scorpion.  The word power is actually the Greek term (exousia) for authority.  He who gives the key to the star gives them this authority.  It is either God or one (like Satan) who gets his authority from God.  The pit or abyss is the place where demons are reserved for judgment (Luke 8:31; 2 Pet. 2:4) and where Satan will be bound during the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-3).  Thus it seems that however you might explain these creatures (actual locusts, weapons of modern warfare) they are in fact demonic in nature.  Their authority is limited to five months, the normal lifespan of locusts.  They do not have authority to strike those who have been sealed by God, the believing Israelites of Rev. 7:1-8.  Most believing Gentiles have been martyred and are in heaven (7:9-17).  We are told at the end of the chapter that the remainder of unbelievers who are not killed by these plagues remain unrepentant.  In Rev. 12 we will also learn of a Jewish remnant that is protected by God.  Keep in mind that the first few plagues in Egypt affected God’s people as well as the Egyptians.  This is the first woe.  There are yet two more.

2.     Rev. 9:13-21: The sixth angel sounds, opening the way for a huge army (200,000,000) from the East to cross the Euphrates.  Again there are many who see weapons of modern warfare in the horses as well as the horsemen.  That may be although what is clear is that they have some ability to bring about death on a large scale.  One third of mankind is killed.  Again their power (v19) refers to their authority or freedom.  They are permitted by God to do this.  We do not hear that the 2^nd woe is past until Rev. 11:14.  There are some things to be said that relate to the time being described in Rev. 10-11.

What is amazing is the obstinance of mankind.  Even after these terrible judgments those who remain dig in their heals, refusing to give up what they know are the sins, the causes of their judgment.  What this tells us is that man is deeply affected by sin.  It also reminds us that God’s judgment is not meant to be rehabilitative.  It is according to what is often called the law of the harvest.  It is retribution, repayment, man getting what his choices have asked for.

What should bring mankind to repent is God’s love.  Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Rom. 2:4)  Do not wait for these events, thinking you will then turn to God.  As the Bible makes clear, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).

Revelation 8 (Zephaniah 1:7,14-18)

There is coming what the Bible calls the “day of the Lord.”  There were other days like this, for example the time of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the resulting captivity.  But all these times of God’s wrath were just prototypes, so to speak, of the final day of the Lord that results in the revelation of Jesus Christ.  The prophet Zephaniah spoke of it as a bitter, terrible day.  The carnage in the time of Babylon or in 70AD under the Romans were horrendous, but nothing like the coming, final day of the Lord.  

In Revelation 8 we have entered the great day of His wrath (Rev. 6:16-17), It is such a major desolation that even heaven itself stops to take a deep breath before the seven angels begin to sound the alert for the next, more grievous round of judgments.  The Lamb opens the 7^th seal of the scroll which contains all the rest of what happens in Revelation.  The days of the 7^th seal contain seven more judgments, each one announced by an angel sounding a trumpet.  In the days of the 7^th angel there will be seven more judgments (Rev. 15-16).  (A quick glance at the back of this booklet at the appropriate chart will help keep the chronological context of Revelation clear.)

In today’s passage we see the first four of these judgments.  It is not difficult to understand what the text says.  For some the problem comes in trying to figure out how it all happens.  Is it some nuclear event?  Or an asteroid?  This usually leads to unnecessary speculation.  Hear the word of the Lord!

1.     A mighty storm on the earth of a mixture of hail and fire burning a third of the vegetation.  Think about the effect of such a loss as this.

2.     A cataclysmic event in which a third of the seas are affected, resulting in the death of one-third of marine life and a third of the ships destroyed.

3.     A third of fresh water is infected killing many.  Wormwood (Grk. apsinthos) referred to a drink causing convulsions, blindness and mental deterioration. 

4.     A third of the sun, moon and stars are struck in such a way as to bring increased darkness for a third of the day and night.

There are yet three more angels to sound but their judgments are so difficult that they are each announced as a “woe” to the people of earth.

Zephaniah said the coming day was God’s response to men’s sins.  In Rev. 8 God’s wrath is His response to the prayers of the saints (v3-5).  Think about this!  God’s saints pray “how long, oh Lord; how long.”  At times God’s people would wonder if He was listening.  The answer is clear that God is listening.  The time will come when He will answer with righteous repayment (cf. 2 Thess. 1 for an amazing statement of this).  But God delays His wrath because of His patience, giving people the opportunity to repent (2 Pet. 3:7-9).  As Ezekiel said, “’As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live’” (Ezek. 33:11) 

Revelation 7

There are saints (inc. many martyrs, Rev. 6:9-11), both from Israel and from every other nation, tribe, peoples and languages, during the tribulation period.

Ø 7:1-8: The Sealed Saints of Israel.

During a time of calm 144,000 Israelites are given a seal of protection by God (Rev. 14:1-5 also refers to them).  They are firstfruits (14:4) as there are more Jews who will be saved later (Rev. 12:13-17).

Levi is included as this is not a list telling us who occupies the land (Levi did not receive an inheritance of land; he is excluded and Dan in included in the list in Ezek. 48 of tribes receiving land in the Millennium).  The reason for Dan’s exclusion here is not explained.  Some say it is because the tribe of Dan was the first to fall into idolatry; others suggest his tribe might be in cahoots with the antichrist.  Perhaps this won’t be understood until it actually happens, revealing the accuracy of God’s word.  Also note that Joseph is in place of Ephraim, something that was not uncommon in the Old Testament (e.g. Ezek. 37:16).

Many tie these protected saints to the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-6) who are also sealed by God.  Perhaps these 144,000 are witnesses throughout the world.  Jesus did indicate that during this time the gospel would go to the ends of the earth (Matt. 24:14).  How they would come to faith after the Church is removed would involve the work of God’s Spirit, as always.

Ø 7:9-17: The Multitude of Saints from the Nations.

In Rev. 6:9-11 there were souls of martyrs in heaven awaiting the arrival of even more who would give their lives for Christ.  These saints are those believers and we see them here, in heaven, clothed in white.  John is informed that they were martyred during the “great tribulation.”  How praiseworthy of God that He would draw so many to faith in Christ at a time when faith in Christ likely means martyrdom.  Yet here they are, an innumerable company, from every background you can imagine.   By faith they washed their robes … in the blood of the Lamb.  It is amazing that God brings them to Himself during a time when deception and false gospels abound (2 Thess. 2:9-12).  (The same passage tells us that those who reject Christ in this age will also reject Him in the one to come; one should not count on a second chance when it is more “convenient” to receive Christ.)  

Yet we see them rejoicing (the palm branches indicate this as the crowds used them in Christ’s triumphal entry).  These martyrs rejoice because they serve God, they are in God’s presence, they are free from earthly trials, they are shepherded by the Lamb, and God has wiped away their tears!  What wondrous joy!!

This chapter reminds us why we exist (to serve God), what is truly important (to be cleansed from sin by the atoning blood of Christ), and how to deeply love the people of this world (by insuring they have an opportunity to hear the gospel, the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection).