Revelation 9

February 26, 2023

Trumpets of Torture and Death #

Revelation 8:13, 9:1-12

Introduction

A reminder of where we are in the Book of Revelation. The first three chapters contain messages to the churches. Some have laid out time periods that these fit into. They also are relevant messages and perhaps even stages that any church can find itself in.

Revelation 4 – We believe the rapture takes place, we do not see any mention of the church hereafter. The scene is described as being in heaven, it is a marvelous scene of worshipping the LORD Jesus Christ.

Revelation 5 again, we have a scene in heaven, that is once again describing a great time of worship. Jesus Christ the Lamb, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is found worthy to open the book.

Revelation 6 describes for us 6 of the seals being opened with great destruction taking place on earth. I believe this is the start of the tribulation period.

Revelation 7 is a parenthetical statement that describes a scene on earth, in which the 144k are described, and a second group is described for us.

Revelation 8, the last seal, holds 7 trumpets, which we are looking at now! 4 of them are covered in chapter 8.

I. Woe – Sounding Trumpet 5th - (Rev 9:1-12) #

A. Loosed (1-2) #

1. Control - #

  • Hell didn’t break loose, it never will. God is in control.

Rev. 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

  • Locked, as a prison, with limited entry, exit

2. Bottomless pit #

  • In reference to Lucifer in Isaiah 14…

Is. 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

  • Bottomless – nothing firm, not ground, feeling of free falling.
  • Darkness of hell – smoke = heat, smoke = dark, smoke = choking

Rev. 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Rev. 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

B. Limitations (4-5, 6) #

1. Green (4) - Given the destruction that has already happened, greenery probably in short supply #

2. God’s Servants (4) – not to be touched (Revelation 7:3) #

  • These are the 144k, Jewish Servants of God

3. Grief (no death) (5) #

  • They are to torture, but NOT KILL
  • Desire to die, but CANNOT!

4. Time – 5 months #

C. Locust (3, 7-10) #

1. Like & as – notice all the descriptions use the words, like and as, they are comparative words. #

    • These are the descriptions he put on them

2. Description #

  • I’m not sure what these are, they apparently exist in hell, and therefore do not apparently appear to be on earth at this time.

    • Bodies like horses. (7)
    • Heads with the appearance of a gold crown (7)
    • faces of men, perhaps bearded, hairy
    • heads of hair like women (long hair)

1Cor. 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

    • Teeth like lions.

3. Stinging tails (10) - #

D. Leader (11) #

1. Languages – Hebrew – Abaddon, Greek – Apollyon #

  • Means – destroyer – likely this is the devil himself!

Rev. 9:12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

II. Woe - 6th Trumpet (Rev 9:13-21) #

  • The 5th trumpet was an army of locust released from hell, that tortured men, but didn’t kill them.

A. Angels of destruction (14) #

1. Control - #

  • It is constantly revisited, that God is in control!
  • It is not utter chaos, taking place, but systematic, controlled judgement and actions that are allowed by God.

2. Bound – These angels are bound in the Euphrates river! #

  • God is very destructive forces bound, held, and limited… however, he does let it loose!

B. Agenda (15) #

1. Notice, God has a timeline! - God is a God of order! #

2. Count 200Million! & Rider! (16) #

C. Army (17-19) #

1. Killing people with fire, smoke, and brimstone #

Gen. 19:24 ¶ Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

2. These are devilish creatures that assemble #

3. Third of earth killed 33%+ #

  • WWII was the deadliest military conflict in which roughly 70-85 million died, or 3% of the population

D. Aftermath – not repentance! (20-21) #

  • Some advocate the church will go through the tribulation… where are they located??? Not the sealed, not the unrepentant…
Tags: Preaching Outlines Revelation Woes Trumpets Tribulation