The Apocalypse – Chapter 9 – Part 1
Yesterday we ended Chapter 8 of the book of Revelation (or Apocalypse), today we commence with Chapter 9 – The Bottomless Pit
Unqualified forgiveness is ours
What the Lord has done
Is wholly to forgive our every sin
And totally to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness
So that in Him we can begin again.
When scripture says ‘all’ there is
no doubt
That God means All.
let us not dilute His Word and remember
That to God no sin is too large or small.
He forgives all our sins not
only of the past
But right up to the date.
Oh how He cares!
Those sins that we are conscious of
As well as those of which we
are unawares.
Faced with His great forgiveness
There is no battle we cannot win
Our gratitude then, far from
making us careless
Will surely constrain us not to sin.
But if a believer should sin
Of one thing he is aware
he has an Advocate in heaven,
Jesus Christ
It is now a family affair.
Whether we have been a believer
many years
or maybe just a few hours
The Father-child relationship
with God is for us
Unqualified forgiveness is ours.
By the late Andrew Feakin
[passed away 16th March 2019]
Keys – The Bottomless Pit
- Solely by the just permission of God the enemy has power to hurt those who did not have the mark of God in their foreheads.
- But they had no power to hurt those who had the seal of God in their foreheads.
- God’s electing, effectual, distinguishing grace will preserve His people from total and final apostasy.
- The purpose of torment is not to destroy but to lead to repentance.
The Bottomless Pit
Yesterday we ended Chapter 8 of the book of Revelation (or Apocalypse), today we commence with Chapter 9 – The Bottomless Pit
Fifth Trumpet: The Locusts from the Bottomless Pit
Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
He has the name Apollyon
The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails.
Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
There arose a great smoke
Henry says – In this account we have the sounding of the fifth trumpet, how it appeared and the event that followed (Rev. 9:1-12).
Upon the sounding of this trumpet a star was seen falling from heaven to the earth. This star refers to an unidentified demonic being, possibly satan himself, a fallen angel. To this fallen star was given the key of the bottomless pit. Having now ceased to be a minister of Christ, he becomes the antichrist. By the permission of Christ, who had taken from him the keys of the church, he becomes the devil’s turnkey. He lets loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ.
Upon the opening of the bottomless pit there arose a great smoke, which darkened the sun and the air. Smoke is a symbol of deception. The devils are the powers of darkness and hell is the place of darkness. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by extinguishing light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. He first deceives men, and then destroys them. Wretched souls follow him in the dark.
By the just permission of God
Out of this dark smoke there came a swarm of locusts, one of the plagues of Egypt, the devil’s emissaries headed by the antichrist. They symbolise demonic beings. All the rabble of antichristian orders, to promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty. By the just permission of God they had power to hurt those who had not the mark of God in their foreheads.
The hurt they were to do them was not a bodily, but a spiritual hurt. However they were not to destroy all by fire and sword. The trees and the grass should be untouched, and those they hurt should not be slain. It should not be a persecution, but a secret infection in their souls, which should rob them of their purity, and afterwards of their peace.
God will preserve His people
Heresy is a poison in the soul, working slowly and secretly, but will be bitterness in the end. They had no power to even hurt those who had the seal of God in their foreheads. God’s electing, effectual, distinguishing grace will preserve His people from total and final apostasy. Demons cannot harm those who are sealed by God.
The power given to these is for a limited point of time: five months, a certain season, and but a short season. Gospel-seasons have their limits, and times of seduction are limited too. Five months represent the life-cycle of a locust. Though it would be short, it would be very sharp, insomuch that those who were made to feel the malignity of this poison in their consciences would be weary of their lives, Rev. 9:6. A wounded spirit who can bear? The purpose of torment is not to destroy but to lead to repentence.
They were cruel creatures
These locusts were of a monstrous size and shape, Rev. 9:7, 8 They were equipped for their work like horses prepared to battle. They assumed great authority, and seemed to be assured of victory: They had crowns like gold on their heads; it was not a true, but a counterfeit authority.
They had the show of wisdom and sagacity, the faces of men, though the spirit of devils. They had all the allurements of seeming beauty, to ensnare and defile the minds of men—hair like women. Their way of worship was very gaudy and ornamental. Though they appeared with the tenderness of women, they had the teeth of lions, were really cruel creatures.
They had the defence and protection of earthly powers—breastplates of iron. They made a mighty noise in the world flying from one country to another. The noise of their motion was like that of an army with chariots and horses. Though at first they soothed and flattered men with a fair appearance, there was a sting in their tails.
An angel still but fallen
The cup of their abominations contained that which, though luscious at first, would at length bite like a serpent and sting like an adder. The king and commander of this hellish squadron is here described as an angel. He was by nature, an angel, once one of the angels of heaven. The angel of the bottomless pit; an angel still, but a fallen angel. Fallen into the bottomless pit, vastly large, and out of which there is no recovery.
In these infernal regions he is a sort of prince and governor, and has the powers of darkness under his rule and command. His true name is Abaddon, Apollyon—a destroyer, for that is his business, his design, and employment. It is a business to which he diligently attends and in which he is very successful. He takes a horrid hellish pleasure from it. It is about this destroying work that he sends out his emissaries and armies to destroy the souls of men. And now here we have the end of one woe; and where one ends another begins.
Adapted from the Matthew Henry Commentary
Prayer for the Day
Prayer: Father, I come to You. Thank You that evil has been set its limits. Only by Your just permission will it have power to hurt those who do not have the mark of God in their foreheads. They have no power to hurt those who have the seal of God in their foreheads. Thank You that Your electing, effectual, distinguishing grace will preserve Your people from total and final apostasy. Demons cannot harm those who are sealed by God. Help me understand that trials and judgments are to lead to repentance. May my heart be forever walking in union with You and may I keep short accounts. Conform me to the pattern of Your will. In Jesus name. Amen.