LEARNING DAILY

 

Revelation 8:12-13, Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened.  A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.  And I looked, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

 

Revelation 9:1, 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.

 

The fourth angel’s trumpet causes one-third of the earth’s light sources to be darkened.  It does not say a third of the sun, moon, and stars are destroyed.  Imagine what drastic changes will take place due to this in our atmosphere!  Think of the darkness that will be caused by this trumpet. 

 

The first four trumpets have sounded and verse thirteen introduces the final three trumpets.  The angel’s three woes are a warning to mankind because the next three trumpets are much more severe and devastating than the seals and the previous trumpets.  They have been given the name Woe Judgments; the first two Woe Judgments involve demonic activity and the third contains the Bowl Judgments.

 

I know that the horror movies of today contain demon activity and many people enjoy watching them.  I cannot watch them.  Other movies present witches, warlocks, and demon activity as cute and fun.  This activity is not!  You need to take the time to read Revelation 9:1-12; this is what John saw regarding the fifth trumpet.  Remember that a fallen star is a symbolic of a fallen angel.  The abyss is the place of imprisonment for demons or fallen angels.  It is also the place where Satan will be imprisoned for a thousand years.  It is the place that demons were afraid to be sent when the Lord Jesus cast them out of demoniac in Luke 8.  Those in the abyss have been kept there for this specific judgment on mankind.

 

In this trumpet judgment, the demons are released (called locusts) causing the sun and the air to be darkened.  They have the power of scorpions to cause pain and misery upon the earth for five months; they are not allowed to kill men.  They are not able to destroy vegetation and are not permitted to touch anyone with God’s mark on their forehead.  Torment – not kill!  John saw those being tormented “seeking death and not finding it”.  Those affected could not even end their own life.  Those 144,000 witnesses and believers will not be touched by the demonic activity. Evil and those who oppose God and His truth will become the target of the demonic activity.  Satan does not care about those who choose to follow him. 

 

The fallen angel’s identity is given at the end of this trumpet’s description.  The one who opened the abyss is called Abaddon in the Hebrew or Apollyon in the Greek; both mean “destroyer or destruction”.  This trumpet lasts for five months, 150 days, but the relief does not last long.  The sixth trumpet answers the prayers of the tribulation martyrs from the fifth seal.

This is pretty frightening stuff, isn’t it?!  For the child of God is should be motivation to live their life on the narrow way that leads to heaven and eternal life.  Christians do sin.  But the promise of 1 John 1:9 is forgiveness that comes when we confess our sins to Him who died for every sin we have and will commit.  This is not a license to do or say whatever we want.  It is a promise that He is faithful in what He did at the cross for us when we mess up.  Do not let your sin go unconfessed!  The promise of eternal life is enough to motivate us to live our life for Him.  Knowing that we will be with the Lord in heaven when all this tribulation activity occurs is only added motivation for me to live the best I can for Him. 

 

What about you?

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