Title Fifth Trumpet / Revelation 9:1-21
Contents Fifth Trumpet / Revelation 9:1-21
Today's message is about the disaster that came when the angel sounded the trumpet, and it is a continuation of the previous chapter 8. After the seven seals were opened, the seven angels prepared to blow their trumpets, and the first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire, which are rocks, were poured out on the earth. And when the third trumpet was blown, great stars, burning like torches, fell from the sky, and when the fourth trumpet was blown, a third of the sun, moon, and stars were spit.
Verse 1 says, “The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that fell from heaven to the earth, and he was given the key to the abyss.”
'A star that has fallen from the sky' symbolizes a fallen angel, the devil, and also symbolizes a person who does the work of the devil.
In Luke 10:18 we read, "Jesus said to him, "I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven." Satan was originally one of the angels, but he was arrogant and disobeyed God and was cast out. Therefore, even today, the work of rebellion and disobedience in the church continues to take place because the work of Satan enters and works within the church.
In verses 1-11, the 'fallen star', that is, the fallen angel, speaks of Satan's movement to darken the light of the world. And in verses 12-21, there is the plague of the sixth trumpet, which symbolizes a great war. Even after this war, there is no peace on earth.
If we go to chapter 13, the antichrist will appear at the end. After this last antichrist has made the world most disturbing, if we go to chapter 19, it is prophesied that Christ will return at that time.
It is said that the fallen Satan who appeared when the fifth trumpet was blown received the key to the abyss.
Sometimes God uses the devil like this. Although the devil works, it only works within the limits that God allows, and cannot work outside of God's providence. And God sometimes uses it to show his glory.
If you look at the Bible, you can see that God uses evil people as well. So a man named Scott said, 'We are worthy of rejoicing in the fact that God has taken all the proud enemy the devil by his nose, and he has taken hold of him with gravel.'
Verse 2 says, “He opened the abyss, and smoke came up from the hole, like smoke from a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the hole.”
This spreads evil ideas into the world and obscures the truth, and the locust swarm symbolizes the horde of false prophets who take this evil idea and destroy the souls of all unbelievers.
Not only that, it means an untruth movement that obscures the truth of the gospel. In other words, heresy or pseudo-religion will rise sharply.
Verse 3 says, “And the locusts came out of the smoke upon the earth, and they were given authority as of scorpions on the earth.” If you look here, you will see a 'scorpion', which symbolizes evil forces. The scorpion sting does not cause swelling, but it is said to be painful for three days. This is a poisonous animal used to punish humans.
Verse 4 says, "He said to them, "Do not harm the grass of the earth, or the green, or any tree, but only those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads."
Since true believers are sealed with God's seal and receive God's sure guarantee of salvation, all things work together to benefit but never harm.
In verses 5-11, the suffering of the orphans is mentioned. Even in the torment of the scorpion, it was said that he did not give up and said five months, which means a considerable period of suffering. That's right. You can't die if you're going to die, and the pain you experience for a long time can't help but be terrifying.
It is unbearable to die after suffering for one day, but I do not know how miserable it is to live without dying for 15 days. At that time, it was said that when people ask for death, they do not die, but death escapes them.
And in verse 7 and below, locusts appear, and they look like horses prepared for war. Anyway, it's an unnatural, ugly shape. It has the same cruelty as the military, and these are the symbols of heresy.
The cruelty of the heretics is being seen in many places at home and abroad, but this is not the first time they have surprised the world with mundane suicides and dreamy things that unknowingly destroy all those who disobey the teacher's will, regardless of age or gender.
This bizarre heretical movement of untruth is ultimately aimed at destroying the human soul. But it was said that on his head he wore something similar to an annihilator like gold.
The problem is that it's always the same. So people are easily deceived. The heresy always prospers temporarily, but sooner or later it goes into decline.
The face is like that of a human, but the hair is the hair of a woman. Anyway, it's a bizarre appearance, and it means that the man left his position because he had long hair.
For Satan's messengers who betrayed God, this symbolic description is very appropriate.
And there is a 'tail', which symbolizes the false prophet.
Isaiah 9:15 says, “The head is the elders and the nobles, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.” That tail is referring to a false prophet.
In Ephesians 6:16, the devil's words are expressed as the arrows of the evil one, and it symbolizes that if you are stung by them, you will receive spiritual harm.
Therefore, once you are stung by a heretic, in other words, once you are caught by a heresy, it is difficult to get out of there.
But among the angels of the abyss, there was a king, who was called 'Abadon' in Hebrew and 'Apollyon' in Greek. Both of these names mean 'destroyer'. After all, Satan's work is aimed at destroying people in some way. Therefore, we must resist Satan's temptation and win.
In verse 12, it says that the first woe has passed, but two will come. This refers to one of the three remaining woes mentioned in 8:13.
This prophecy of the coming woes is to make people repent.
Verse 13 says, “The sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God.” This is the answer to the prayers offered by the saints.
God has promised to hear and answer the prayers of the saints. It means that God has a deep interest in the saints who pray like this.
In other words, He loves and has mercy on the praying saints, satisfies their desires, and leads them to the blessed path with good deeds. In fact, prayer is a sign of faith that we completely trust and depend on God and trust God for everything.
In verses 14-15, it is said, 'Release the four angels who are bound by the great river Euphrates.' That angel was given authority to kill a third of mankind by using the nations of that region, but until the appointed time of God came. that it doesn't work.
Since God's work is planned in detail in this way, believers should first entrust everything to God and not worry, and secondly, be sober and diligent and not lose opportunities.
In verses 16-19, it tells us that there will be a war in which many soldiers are mobilized, and the number is 'twenty thousand thousand'. Speaking of 20,000, it would be a war fought by tens of millions of soldiers, close to 100 million, and this would mean a world war. Seeing that there has not been a war in which 20,000 soldiers were mobilized so far, we can see that this prophecy is for the future.
And the shape of the weapons is shown symbolically, which is said to be fire and mauve and brimstone and breastplate. The purple light symbolizes judgment, but the slaughter symbolizes slaughter, and the sulfur symbolizes fire.
It was said that a third of people would be killed by bombardment, bombardment, torpedo bombardment, and shooting.
In verses 20-21, we read, “Those who remained who were not killed by this plague did not repent of the work their hands were doing, but instead bowed down to many demons and to idols of gold, silver, bronze, and wood and stone that were unable to see, hear, or walk. He did not repent of murder, sorcery, fornication, and theft.”
The offenses listed here are violations of the Ten Commandments of Moses. It can be broadly divided into two. One is idolatry. This is a sin against God.
And the other is fortune-telling, fornication, and theft, which are sins against men. False evidence is included in fortune-telling, and covetousness is included in theft.
What we need to be extremely wary of is those who commit the same sin even after seeing that the punishment has fallen for a certain sin.
In Proverbs 29:1 it says, “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed and will not escape.” Those who do not repent in this way will suffer certain calamities and be punished, but they will not turn back and will be punished in hell forever.
Therefore, you should know how wise and blessed it is to realize your sins and repent. Even among children, there are children who disobey their parents and run away from their parents, instead of admitting them and punishing them when they have done something wrong, rather than closing them and repenting. In Korean, they are children who run away from home. In the end, I know that there is no need to say anything. However, there are many good children who are sweetly accepted by their parents when they discipline, rebuke, and punish, realize their mistakes, repent and try to correct them. These children will be blessed wherever they go.
We can often see these things happening often in the church as well. It is truly unfortunate for them. The Bible prophesies that in the last days there will be many people who, when they are rebuked or disciplined, will not repent humbly, but arrogantly leave the church, saying, 'Is this the only church in the world?'
Guys, what is idolatry? An idol is to love and depend on a person or anything in the world more than God. In addition, we must not forget that all actions that do not obey God's Word are idolatry.
Did you say more in 1 Samuel 15:23? It says, "Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is the sin of worshiping idols that have been bought. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, the LORD also rejected you from being king."
We must not forget that disobedience is such a terrible sin. So God said that obedience is better than sacrifice, and that God is more pleased with those who repent and come out with a broken spirit than sacrifice.
Dear saints, In this generation that is moving towards the last days, I pray in the name of the Lord that we will be fully armed with the Word of God and prayer, and become God's people who are victorious today and tomorrow.