Title [Rev 9:1-21] Trumpet disaster②
In this chapter, the fifth and sixth trumpet plagues are recorded. I hope that you will find comfort and emotion as I introduce you to this terrible disaster that will come to the world in the last days.
1. Disaster through a star that fell from the sky (1-11)
When the fifth angel blows his trumpet, a star that has fallen from the sky appears. When he opens the door with the key of the abyss, a locust appears with heat, and this locust harms people.
① The star that fell from the sky points to Satan. This Satan is defined as a fallen angel in Jude 1:6. Stars are often referred to as faithful servants of God (Revelation 1:20). When God's servants fall, they turn into Satan and harm the church. Jesus also rebuked Peter with the term Satan (Matthew 16:23). Anyone who has fallen can become like this. Let's become saints who never betrayed our faith and keep it to the end.
②Open the door of the abyss. The abyss is a temporary dwelling place for demons. Now that the door is opened, a massive action is taken, filling the world with misery.
③When you open the door, smoke like a large bellows smoke rises from the hole and blocks the light of the sun, making it dark. God creates light in the world, and Satan creates darkness. There is no denying that the world is already being filled.
④ A locust with great authority comes out of that hole. The locust had a horse-like body, a human face, hair like a woman's head, lion's teeth, a scorpion's tail, and wore something like a gold crown and iron breastplate. The locust causes all kinds of pain to people on the ground for five months. People said that the pain was so severe that they wanted to die, but they could not die (5-6). Because life belongs to God, it cannot be harmed arbitrarily. In any case, there will be destruction and destruction in the world due to Satan's activity.
⑤ Those who are sealed by God are protected. “Only harm those who are not sealed with God” (4). God protects his people to the end. We must realize once again how blessed we are that we have been saved through faith and have received the seal of God.
Judging the world and bringing disasters should not be a fear, but a thrill and a blessing. These things are similar to the plagues that fell on Egypt at the time of the Exodus, which did not come upon the people of Israel. Therefore, we should strive to become faithful people who believe more faithfully and do God's will.
2. Disaster through the four angels (12-21)
When the sixth angel blew his trumpet, a voice was heard from the throne of God. He told them to release the four angels who were bound by the great river Euphrates. These angels are the angels holding the earth's wind (tribulation) as in Revelation 7. They were held until the foreheads of God's servants were sealed (Rev 7:3), but now it is a command to loosen those bonds. As soon as they were released, the horsemen appeared, and their heads were lion heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur poured out of their mouths, and those who rode wore light, purple, and brimstone breastplates. A third of people are killed by fire and smoke and brimstone.
① This disaster refers to a great war. A war so great that a third of the population will die must be a catastrophe that never existed. The timing of this war is unknown, but there is no doubt that it was an extremely large war. We must always be prepared for this war. The way is to pray hard. Matthew 24:20-21 says, “Pray that your flight will not occur in winter or on the sabbath, for there will be great tribulation at that time. Prayer overcomes fear and enables us to overcome tribulation with power. May the heat of prayer to prepare for tribulation burn in us.
②Those who did not die in disaster do not repent. That is why the heart is paralyzed and hardened. The unchosen do not repent no matter how great calamity they face. Repentance is accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit, and only the elect can do it. Therefore, let us remember and give thanks that it is a great grace and blessing to realize our sins and repent with tears. The remnant, far from repenting, committed an even greater sin. bowed down to idols. In the last days, worshiping idols will be even more prosperous. They will not turn from murder, fortune-telling, fornication, and theft. It shows that these immoral and unethical things will become more prosperous in the last days. Let's not get our white clothes dirty even in this environment. Let's glorify God with a more holy life and live in hope of heaven.