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VISIONS, PROPHECY
Bible Teaching
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INTRODUCTION

As we go into this ninth chapter of Revelation we are going to
see the worse holocaust the world has ever seen taking place.
Millions of believers will be killed by the godless society and
government of the Antichrist.

This government under the Antichrist will insist that the
people's first loyalty belong to the state. The antichrist will
demand total allegiance. He will do what our own government has
been trying for a long time, and that is demand that people focus
on the government and recognize it is the great provider and
protector of society, that they alone can meet the needs of
people and bring utopia to them. Those who refuse to give the
government their first loyalty will be hunted down, imprisoned &
executed. This will be the beginning of the last 3 « years of the
tribulation and is also known as the "Wrath of God."




TRUMPET  #5 - The Star

This fifth angel sounds his trumpet, a star falls from heaven.
This star is a living being, probably and angelic messenger,
called a star possibly because of the reflected gory of God he
bears and because he has come to fulfill a God given mission of
judgment. He is not one of the fallen angels who followed Satan.
The word "fall" here simply means he came down from heaven in a
rapid descent.

Tim LaHaye states - He must be a good angel to whom God can
entrust such grave responsibility. His location in heaven would
further indicate that he is a good angel, for fallen angels so
not reside in heaven.


What is this bottomless pit?

Literally "the pit of the abyss" in the Greek.
This pit is the shaft leading to the place of corruption meaning
the depths of hell, the place of punishment for sinners, also
called the abyss. Th abyss was considered by the Jews to be a
great hollow place deep within the earth. It is a place where
evil spirts and demons are kept and dread to be sent until the
end of the world. It has also been suggested that it MAY be at
the bottom of the great gulf fixed in hades which separates the
place of torment and the place of comfort, described as the abode
of the dead by the Lord Jesus in Luke 16:19-31

This shaft leading to the abyss is locked on the outside, so that
whoever or whatever is inside cannot escape. When this angel
opens the bottomless pit, smoke arises out of the pit, smoke that
is just like the smoke of a great furnace. The smoke becomes so
heavy and thick the sun and the air is darkened. The Bible doesn't
say so, but this seems to indicate that there is fire in the
abyss. Jesus described it as a place of tormenting flame.
This smoke has been described also as smog,
worse than anything ever seen our lifetime. Luke 16:23-24

Christians do not like to talk about demons and evil spirits,
but they are real. There are two kinds of demons: those that are
free, living in a spiritual realm and seeking to indwell the
bodies of men, and those who are confined into chains of
darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.  2 Peter 2:4

GOD's messengers who sinned did not spare, but with chains of
thick gloom, having cast them down to Tartarus, did deliver them
to judgment, having been reserved

GOD spared not the angels who had sinned, but having cast them
down to the deepest pit of gloom has delivered them to chains of
darkness to be kept for judgment = DAR

God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,
putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment = NIV

God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them
into hell and committed them to pits of darkness,
reserved for judgment = NAS  Luke 16:23-24


NEPHILIM - Evil Spirits, Locust Demons





I want us to look at these 2 types of evil spirits as we will see
them being released as we go on in these verses.

1. Free Evil Spirit
Jesus described these free spirits in (Matthew 12:43-45). 
He indicated that some unclean spirits seek rest in human bodies.
If a man gets rid of such spirits he take extreme caution that
they do not return at a later time and bring more with him.
Evidently they travel in groups and more than one unclean spirit
can abide in a person at a time. It may be that one spirit is not
enough to dominate a persons behavior. The more there is the more
they can exercise control over this body for evil.

Where did these unclean spirits come from? 
More than likely they are the angels who fell with Satan in his
original rebellion against God. Ezekiel 23:15-19. Sometimes these
fallen angels are referred to as "disembodied spirits." Their
success or failure is dependent on the number of spirits in a 
person's body and whether that person flee's for deliverance to
Jesus Christ, the only defense against the attacks of satan.

Greater is He (Jesus Christ, Yeshua) Who is in YOU
than he (satan, devil) who is in the world. -  1 John 4:4

Christians need not fear these unclean spirits, although they 
should be warned about them. If Jesus Christ is living within us,
we do not have to fear anything that man or satan can hurl
against us. Many Christians seem to have a phobia about demon
possession and a great fear of being controlled by evil spirits.
This should not be our main concern, for if we remain OBEDIENT,
in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, we need never fear
being indwelt or oppressed by evil spirits.  John 15:1-11

2 Thesselonians 2:9-12 tells us we can expect a great increase
in the expression of this evil spiritutal effect on the affairs
of men as we get closer to the Tribulation. As the antichrist
comes on the scene the power he will have is given him by these
free evil spirits. It is probable that some of the increasing
tendencies toward spirit phenomena these days may indicate that
we are getting closer to the end time.

2. Imprisoned Evil Spirits - Jude 6
The angels who kept not their first estate, domain,
positions of authority, but left their own habitation, home,
abandoned their proper abode, 
He has reserved in everlasting chains, bonds, under darkness
unto the judgment of the great day.

It seems from this verse that there are imprisoned angels now
kept in darkness, which could be the "Pit of the abyss," until
the day of the Lord. Where did these angels come from? It is
possible that these angels violated the laws of God when they
came in unto the daughters of men and cohabited with them,
producing a strange mixtured race that had to be destroyed by
the flood.  Genesis 6  -  2 Peter 2: 1-10

Genesis 6:4 
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and ALSO AFTERWARD
when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they
bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of
old, GIANTS.


NEPHILIM: Fallen ones. Offspring of demons and human women.

These Evil spirit angels have already shown their evil tendencies
and capabilities by almost destroying a race of men are chained 
there. They will be unleashed on the earth for a time of spirit 
persecution, the likes of which the world has never known. The
description of this event is seen in the 5th and 6th trumpet 
judgments, or as they are called, the first two woes.


Revelation 9:3 - 6 The FIRST WOE

These locusts represent an increased number of demons & demonic
activity released upon the earth toward the end of history. Out
of this abyss will come locust like demons. They will inflict
unbearable punishment on the ungodly. Why are these demons called
locusts? Because locusts are symbol of God's anger against the 
evil and the ungodly of this world. There are 5 facts about the
judgment of these locust like demons.

1. They will be given scorpion like power. The scorpion strikes
its victim with its tail, its sting is in its tail. It has a 
poisonous fluid that it injects into the wound of its victim.
The sting is not fatal, but it causes terrible suffering. 

I want to inject a thought here. The laws of nature are being so
radically affected that natural disaster after natural disaster 
will be occuring all over the world. There will be shortage of 
food, water, the basic elements of life. Animals as well as man
will be looking for food. Even the possibility of some bizarre
animal mutation resulting from all the natural changes and 
scientific experimentation in the latter days. 

This commentator made this point:
We know better than to laugh at such prospects today because of
what Science is doing with the genes and basic elements of life.
Indescribable monstrosities are very possible today. God may 
allow the evil spirits to use something man has developed. 

These locusts do not kill their victims, they only afflict 
and torment them.

2. These locust like demons will be restrained form damaging
nature. Once again this shows they are not real earthly locust,
because locust feed only on vegetation. 

3. These locust like demons are to afflict only people who
do not have the seal of God. God will seal his people during
the tribulation. How we do not know and the Bible does not say
how. There will be many believers who will die at the hands of
the antichrist, but not a single believer will be touched by 
the judgment of God.

4. These locusts will not harm vegetation, but harm men.
They will not be able to kill them but only will torment them
for 5 months. The sting of a scorpion, though seldom is fatal,
is one of the most painful stings known. The venom seems to set
the veins and nervous system on fire, and the effects last for
several days. But here the effects will last for 5 months.

5. The torment upon people will be so agonizing and the pain so
excruciating that people will beg for death. But they will not
die. They will wish to die because they are so afflicted with
torment but they cannot. They must suffer the torment of God's
judgment.

It seems that even attempts at suicide will be unsuccessful.
Remember these locusts are not to be interpreted literally, nor
symbolically, but spiritually, for they are spirit beings who are
able to effect a physical response on men. These awful creatures
that come upon the earth for the purpose of persecuting men are 
beyond our comprehension. If men could see these creatures, their
hearts would no doubt fail them for fear.

Just as God protected the children of Israel during the plagues
in Egypt, He will protect His children during the tribulation 
period.


ASIDE

GOD is NOT 'sadistic' as some say, due to the torments. 
It is GOD's wish that they turn to HIM and be SAVED!
Not that they suffer!

GOD had Moses create a snake on a pole, when the children of
ISRAEL were plagued by poisonous snakes.  If they would LOOK UP
to the one on the pole (look to JESUS) they'd be saved.

If you claim to be saved, but choose to SIN, GOD will 
not protect you - you INVITE evil spirits in thru rebellion.)

1 Samuel 15:23 
Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, divination
and insubordination, arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you rejected the word of the LORD, 
He has also rejected you




Locust demons

He that shall endure to the end shall be saved.  Matthew 24:13

So far the only means by which Christians will die is martyrdom.
The fact that these awful spirit beings have power to hurt 
"only those which not the seal of God in their foreheads may be a
clue to God's purpose for the fifth trumpet. It may be a help to
some who are uncommitted during the tribulation Period realize
the power of God and turn in faith to receive the Messiah.

Verses  7 - 10
Describing the locusts after the evil spirit beings entered into them.

They are like horses prepared for battle. Posed & ready to attack.
This could mean that they are MUCH larger than the average locust.
(Joel 2:4). Their heads look like they are crowned with gold, 
symbolizing that they will have authority to afflict men.
They will be conquerors & be successful in their attacks.
They appear to have faces of men, symbolizing intelligence and
the determination of men.  Their intelligence must be evil and
demonic. They have the intelligence to attack and inflict damage
with their scorpion-like poison.

They have hair like the hair of women, beauty to seduce and
ensnare, to help them seem innocent and harmless at first.
It is believed that their antennae are long like a womans hair.
They have teeth as a lion, ferocious, fierce, devouring, and
cruel. This speaks of destruction. Even though they may be
capable of destroying like a lion, they are not allowed to
do so.  Joel 1:6

They will have breastplates as of Iron, indestructible, protected
& defended. In other words if they have any vulnerable places
they will be covered with these breastplates of iron. People will
be helpless in killing them. So no ordinary weapon, available to
mankind, can harm them. The beating of the wings of these demon
locusts makes such a great whirring noise that John can only
describe it as the sound of a horse and chariot army thundering
into battle. - Joel 2:4-5

Once again John mentions that the tails of these demonic locusts
have stings and the tails are able to inflict the poison in the 
same manner as real scorpions. The poison will hurt, injure, 
torture, and damage but will not kill.

When they are done, they undoubtedly will be sent back to the
abyss where they came from. Since these demons came from the
abyss it is believed that God gave them this strange appearance
especially for this occasion of judgment.

God loves us and wants us to escape the devil & his demonic
hordes. That is why he warns us about what is coming. We must
escape these coming judgments.

God has made a way for us to escape, by receiving Jesus Christ to
be our Lord and Savior and casting ourselves totally on Him,
before the awful day of judgment comes upon the earth.

Our struggle is not against flesh & blood, but against the
rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this
darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
heavenly places.  Ephessians 6:12

Preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and
bring to light the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God
who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might
now be made known through the church to the rulers and the
authorities in the heavenly places. - Ephessians 3:8-10

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public
display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Colossians 2:15

There will be a king over these demonic locusts. It seems likely
that this king over these demon spirits is one of the hierarchy
of principalities & powers that are under satan. He is the angel
of the bottomless pit. He was once an angel of heaven, a servant
of God, but now he is an angel of the underworld of sin and evil.
He rules over the powers of darkness. His name in the Hebrew is
Abaddon, meaning destruction, In the Greek it is Apollyon
meaning destroyer.

More woe's lie ahead. There is to be catastrophic destruction and
devastation in the great tribulation that is coming upon the
earth. It will be such a terrible time that it can only be
described as a period of woe, extreme grief, distress, suffering,
affliction, and calamity. The woe judgments of god are the trumpet
judgments that zero in on afflicting the bodies of the ungodly.

One woe is past, the demonic locusts. Two more woe judgments
are yet to fall upon the evil people of the world.