The Trumpets - Part 3 Series

April 27, 2024

Before the 5thAngel sounded his Trumpet, John hears a vulture (eagle) announcing a Triple Woe “to the inhabitants of earth.”

In Deuteronomy 28:47-49, Moses used the imagery of an eagle to indicate the swiftness by which the “nation” would destroy Israel should they choose to ignore the judgments of God and persist in open rebellion.

It also brings to mind the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:28: “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”

Worse judgments are coming for those who prefer darkness.

The description of the 5th and 6th Trumpets are more detailed and frightening.

• The 5th Trumpet - 1st woe (9:1-12)

John sees the same “Star” that had fallen to earth in the 3rd Trumpet. We already know this is Satan. Because people had chosen to reject the purity of the Gospel in favor of man-made traditions, Satan had successfully polluted the truth. Up until now, however, he has had limited freedom. As God withdraws, giving those in rebellion against Him what they want, His restraining hand is removed, giving Satan and His minions more freedom.

God has promised that all those who choose Him are protected from Satan’s deceptions. All those who have rejected God and have chosen to live outside that protection are fully exposed to what Satan will bring next.

Think the Flood. A way of escape was provided for anyone who wanted it. They were told about what was coming for a really long time. Get on the boat = you are safe. Remain outside the boat = you are dead. Only 8 people chose to get on the boat.

Satan is given a key to open the abyss. A great cloud of Locusts, resembling smoke from a furnace, explodes from the abyss.

In the Old Testament, Locusts are a symbol of overwhelming judgment:

o Exodus 10:13-15 - So Moses stretched out his staff over Egypt, and the LORD made an east wind blow across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again. They covered all the ground until it was black. They devoured all that was left after the hail -- everything growing in the fields and the fruit on the trees. Nothing green remained on tree or plant in all the land of Egypt.

o Jeremiah 51:14 - The LORD Almighty has sworn by himself: I will surely fill you with men, as with a swarm of locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you.

John uses eight symbols to describe this demonic swarm:

o Revelation 9:7-11 - The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon – which means “Destroyer.”

This description echoes the prophecy of a locust plague in Joel 2:2-11.

These Demonic Locusts resemble a fast-moving powerful army.

They are not a real army, however, but a spiritual army.

Their weapons are scorpion-like tails, which they use to torment people.

In Isaiah 9:13-16, the prophets who teach lies are called “the tail”.

John is using the imagery of Scorpion-like Locust to describe the demonic forces that will operate to overwhelm the world with the deceptions of their king – Satan the destroyer.

Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, encouraged the believers to put on the full armor of God because the battle the Christian wages is not against a physical enemy, but a spiritual one.

Those who prefer to wear their own flimsy armor are no match for Satan.

This gigantic demonic swarm creates thick darkness, reminding us again of the prophecy in Joel 2, in which the locust plague caused a darkening of the sun, moon and stars.

The 5th Trumpet increases the intensity of the darkness of the 4th Trumpet. Just like those outside the ark were overwhelmed by the rising waters, so those, who prefer darkness to the light of the Gospel, will be overwhelmed by the terror and anguish of soul brought on by Satan’s deceptions.

There are 2 things the demonic locust are not allowed to do:

o They are not allowed to harm the grass, plants and trees - symbols God’s people - who are protected by His seal.