'14 REV 9:1-12 THE FIFTH TRUMPET 7/2/14 1

Transcription

1 1 I) V1-12 INTRO: Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth a) We are examining the Trumpet Judgments that began with the opening of the 7th seal 1) ACTUALLY: There are three sets of judgments, each set gaining in intensity 2) Seal, Trumpets, and then the very greatest, the Bowl judgments II) CH 8: Revealed the sounding of four of the Trumpets (This is also the Judgment of thirds) a) These trumpets were sounded by angels standing before God and signaled ecological disaster lll) THE BIBLE REVEALS: How the universe has been designed to bring glory to God a) It is actually part of how the Lord, through general revelation, draws the attention of man 1) Ps 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 2) Ro 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse IV) IT IS INTERESTING: That what is intended to reveal glory can also reveal His wrath a) V7 One third of the trees and vegetation are destroyed by hail and fire b) V8-9 A great mountain (asteroid?) is thrown into the sea 1) 1/3 of the sea turns into blood, 1/3 of living creatures die c) V10-11 A star (meteorite?) falls to the earth 1) 1/3 of the springs of water become poisonous, many die V) V12-13 One third of the sun, moon and stars are struck, and darkness now closes in a) This is a temporary and partial blocking of the sun that later is removed (16:8-9) 1) Lu 21:25-26 There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Vl) NOTICE: These judgments are ecological: Man is impacted, but the judgments have been on nature a) Ch 9 records two judgments on man himself Vll) CH 8:13 WHEN WE LAST WERE TOGETHER: We noted how the angel had cried "Woe, woe, woe" a) An angel (TBN?) warns of upcoming calamity, but man still refuses to repent 1) Pr 29:1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Vlll) THE THREE WOES: That the angel cries out are actually the last three Trumpet judgments a) Ch 9:1-12 Is the Fifth Trumpet judgment, or the first woe b) V13-21 Is the Sixth Trumpet judgment, or the second woe c) After a parenthesis from ch 10:1 to ch 11:14, the Seventh Trumpet, or third woe sounds lx) V1-2 THEN: The fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth

2 2 a) THE SEAL AND TRUMPET JUDGMENTS: Have taken us deeply into the Tribulation period 1) We now see the sounding of the Fifth Trumpet X) V1 I SAW A STAR: Fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit a) We have already seen unusual occurrences in the starry heavens (Rev. 6:13, 8:10, 12) 1) THESE PASSAGES: All referred to material stars l) V1 NOTICE: In this passage, it is obvious that John is not writing of an actual star, but a person a) This is a fallen star, with great authority (Angels can be referred to as stars) 1) Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? ll) IN SCRIPTURE: There is one who fits this description: Satan, a fallen angel a) Lu 10:17-20 The seventy returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Ill) LATER IN REVELATION: Satan is revealed as the leader of rebellion against God (12:3-4) a) IN THIS CHAPTER: He is referred to as Abaddon (Destruction) and Apollyon (Destroyer) 1) This king over the demons who have an outward appearance of locusts is Satan lv) SCRIPTURE RECORDS: That there are various names of this arch enemy of God a) Satan (adversary), the devil (slanderer) Lucifer, the accuser of the brethren, Beelzebub, the Prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the god of this age, the adversary, the dragon, the serpent, the deceiver, an angel of light, the prince of demons, the wicked one V) WHO IS SATAN: Scripture teaches that Satan originally was a high-ranking angel a) HE WAS: The mightiest angel, the covering cherub, designated to be close to the glory of God 1) It is believed he was originally the heavenly choir director, directing worship and praise to God: VI) LET'S TURN TO EZEKIEL 28:12-17 a) NOTICE: You were in Eden the garden of God (The literal King of Tyre could not have been there) VII) V12 NOTICE: You were the seal, or model of perfection, wise and beautiful a) 2 Co 11:14-15 Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. VIII) V13 HE WAS COVERED WITH PRECIOUS STONES: Like the high priest and the New Jerusalem

3 3 light IX) will a) They reflect the light of perfection: They do not radiate their own light, but reflect God's V15 IMPORTANT: Ezekiel makes it clear: Satan is a created being, not a self-existing being a) He was not created as Satan, but became the opposer when he rebelled against God's X) INIQUITY WAS FOUND (DETECTED) IN SATAN: He desired what belonged to God (Ezek 28:15) a) V17 Makes it clear what happened: Through pride he left his position voluntarily 1) 1 Ti 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil XI) SCRIPTURE REVEALS: Satan has a will that he voluntarily used to turn away from God a) Isaiah records his five I wills: 1) Is 14:12-15 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. l) I WILL: Ascend into heaven: The sin of self seeking, self promotion a) Angels do not have the highest heaven as their lawful place of residence: This is God's domain 1) Eph. 1:20-21 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come I WILL: Raise my throne above the stars of God a) He desired to possess a throne of his own, and to rule above the other angels I WILL: Sit enthroned on the mount of assembly on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain a) I will rule the earth, and over Israel I WILL: Ascend above the tops of the clouds a) Of approximately 150 references to clouds, over 100 refer to the divine presence and glory 1) THOUGHT: I will take the glory that belongs only to God I WILL: Make myself like the most High a) I will be like God, a possessor of authority and lord over heaven and earth 1) I will take what belongs to God almighty, alone II) AT THIS PRESENT TIME: He still has access to heaven (Job 1 and 2-- he is still able to approach God) a) Job 1:6 The angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came with them lli) ULTIMATELY: Satan will be restricted from heaven a) As part of the Tribulation period, he will be cast down to the earth (Rev 12:9-10)

4 4 IV) THE BIBLE REVEALS: That Satan possesses limited, but great power and influence on the earth a) He bestows Kingdoms: Lu 4:6 I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. b) Inflicts illness: Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. c) Buffets believers: Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. d) Keeps people in fear of death: Heb 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death -- that is, the devil e) Can control the weather: Job 1:18-19 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" f) FINALLY: Keeps people in spiritual blindness, encouraging the rejection of Jesus the Messiah 1) 2 Co 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. V) ONE THING THE GIVES US HOPE: He is limited by God a) God protects those who belong to Him 1) 1 Jn 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 2) 1 Jn 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. Vl) HE IS AIDED BY DEMONS: Those who have fallen a) BECAUSE: Satan is a created being, he is limited: He is not omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent 1) He has legions of devils who fell, who aid him in his rebellion l) AND TO HIM WAS GIVEN THE KEY: To the bottomless pit a) KEY: Since the keeper of the keys has the power to open and to shut 1) In the NT, a key is used to denote power and authority of various kinds b) Bottomless pit: Abussos: 1) This word is used 7 times in Revelation and speaks of the prison holding some demons 2) THE ABYSS: Is a temporary detention center until the Lake of Fire which is the final judgment li) V2 WITH THE SOUNDING OF THE FIFTH TRUMPET: Satan is allowed to open the Abussos a) Hordes of ferocious demons are allowed to escape: They have been bound since the days of Noah 1) Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 2) 2 Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5 5 3) Lu 8:30-31 Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. lli) V3-6 THEN: Out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power a) Locusts: More than likely they are demonically energized locusts: Could simply be demons (V11) 1) A cloud, like smoke covering the sun 2) In the 1870's, there was a locust cloud over Nebraska 300 miles long, 100 miles wide IV) THESE LOCUSTS: Have a scorpion sting, and they harm those who reject Jesus a) They have no authority to kill: Yet they inflict incredible pain on men 1) The 144,000 evangelists are protected, as well as the other saved (2 Ti 2:19) 2) NOTICE: The pain is suffered for 5 months 3) A scorpion sting can produce pain for several days, and even kill children V) V7-10 AND: The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle a) Notice in this description: John keeps using the word like 1) This may indicate that something other than a literal interpretation is intended 2) They are portrayed as fierce, evil and powerful: Women's hair and lion's teeth VI) VII) THIS HAS: Led some to speculate this be a first century description of Cobra helicopters a) Is it possible that Cobra helicopters may be spewing nerve gas? 1) They are portrayed as being immune from destruction because they have armor V11 AND: They had a king over them the angel of the bottomless pit a) This enables us to know they are not literally locusts 1) Pr 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks VIII) SATAN'S CHARACTER IS REVEALED: He is destruction and destroyer a) He is the king over the demons, which speaks of his authority