REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 9.4

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Nine

Judgment Resumed:

The Seven Trumpets

Trumpet Number 5: Woe Number 1

 

 

Continuing…

(Verse 4)

And it was commanded them (locusts) that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

(Verse 5)

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

 

And it was commanded them

The fact that these creatures are given specific instructions implies they have a degree of intelligence to comply with authoritative orders.

 

Demons from Hell

Dissimilar to the previous judgments, upon the fifth trumpet blast, the supernatural realm is applied by the manifestation of a demonic invasion of hybrid locust-scorpion-like creatures. Specific directives and restrictions are given by the Lord to the demoniac forces that emerge from the Bottomless Pit:

1. Do not hurt the grass of the earth

2. Do not hurt any green plant

3. Do not hurt any tree

4. Do not hurt those who have God's seal on their foreheads

5. Do not kill them

6. Do torture them

7. Do this for only five months

 

Yet, limitations are placed upon them:

1. What they can strike

2. Who they can torment

3. How long they can torment

 

[Do] not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree

Earthly swarms of locusts cause immense damage to the green vegetation of the earth, especially crops. Some time has passed since the first trumpet judgment of Revelation 8:7 when only one-third of the trees and the green grass were burned. God will likely allow men sustenance to survive the tremendous torment to which they are subjugated.

 

But (hurt, harm, injure) only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads

Throughout this plague, only those who have the seal of God on their foreheads are safeguarded.

Recall, at this point:

1. The saints are in Heaven --- they were translated during the Rapture (cf. Revelation 4:1)

 

2. The 144,000 children of Israel are sealed (cf. Revelation 7:4)

 

 

3. The martyred souls of white-robed saints are under the altar (cf. Revelation 6:11; 7:14b)

 

This horrendous judgment is only applicable to those who have taken the mark of the beast (cf. Revelation 13:16, 18b) and to those who are unrepentant.

 

[Do not harm those who bear] The seal of God in their foreheads

God's seal is discussed in some detail in the study of Revelation 7:2. No particular seal or mark here is specified, but Sphragizō is the Greek word employed which means a stamp, signet, or signature, that in general, is symbolically used for protection.

 

Trumpet Five's apocalyptic woe is reminiscent of Egypt's tenth plague. In this instance, the blood served as a visible seal so as when the destroying angel of death saw the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites' houses, he would pass over them:

Exodus 12:22-23 - For the LORD (Jehovah) will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel (upper door post), and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer (cause, let, allow, permit) the destroyer (the death angel) to come in unto your houses to smite you.

In Egypt, families were preserved, but in our text, individuals are preserved. Hence, the seal is to protect them from this supernatural mental and physical torment.

 

 

(Verse 5)

 

And to them (the demonic creatures) it was given that they should not kill them (men on earth), but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man.

 

The mandate of demonic locusts from Hell is to afflict, torment, and torture but not to kill, suggesting these demons have the power to kill but are constrained to do so. A five-month limitation is placed upon this wrath. Symbolically, in the Bible, the number five is representative of God's grace and also of completeness. Interestingly, this five-month time frame is analogous to the life cycle of the earth's locusts from the larvae stage to death (May through September). Another similar concurrence is that five months (150 days) is the length of Noah's flood (destruction).

Genesis 7:24 - And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.

 

And, God's justice is being served concurrently to this end. However, a five-month period affords man another opportunity for him to seek repentance and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus, God continues to extend His grace.

 

And their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man

Something very strange is happening in this phrase. There seems to be some discrepancy as to what these demonic creatures are capable of doing. Some claim, since they are spiritual beings, they can only inflict spiritual torture and mental anguish, while others say if demonic spirits are manifested they can possess a hybrid insect, therefore physical pain is caused as a result of their sting. In both ways, the Lord is in control and judgment is a literal one. The rendering of verse 10 highly suggests there is physical pain involved as well.

Revelation 9:10 - They had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

 

As an added emphasis, an interesting comment appears in 1 Kings that speaks of this type of cruelty on a human level:

1 Kings 12:11 - And now whereas my father did lade (burden) you with a heavy yoke (bars of wood placed on oxen for heavy work), I (Rehoboam) will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

 

Rehoboam, a bad king of Judah, instead of using a whip (a lash attached to a handle, an instrument for enticement to work or punishment), threatened to employ scorpions as torture to increase their pain.

 

 

(Verse 6)

 

And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

 

The effect of this punishment is found here. Men will try to commit suicide but their attempts will be unsuccessful. All man’s devices will be useless and in vain. Listed are but a few:

1. They will shoot themselves

2. They will poison themselves

3. They will hang themselves

4. They will starve themselves

5. They will slice their wrists

6. They will try to drown

7. They will leap from tall buildings

 

All attempts will be frustrated by God.

1. They will swell

2. They will scream

3. They will beg to die

 

Woe Number One shall be unprecedented. Demonic torture will be severe. Men are bitten and stung by locusts for five months with no relief in sight, not to mention the relentless atrocious spiritual torment. Men will be living in a world where one's only hope is to cry out to God for forgiveness.

The Gospel cites an example of the demonic maniac for thought and consideration:

Mark 5:2-5 - And when He (Jesus) was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit (demon-possessed), Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters (shackles for the feet) and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Please read the man's fate in Mark 5:6-20.

 

Commentary

There have been multiple attempts to say these and the forthcoming verses are fiction, fantasy, allegorical, or mythological and not based on past historical examples. However, this is apocalyptic literature, presenting an account of future realities. John has no difficulty in describing or employing the language used, which suggests the grammatical sense is plain and obvious.

Mark 10:27 - For with God all things are possible.

 

The Bible is its validation of the truth. It is the Word of God, inspired, illuminated, and God-breathed. Therefore, one simply must ascertain the facts. God has rightly named the book of Revelation the Apocalypse - The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The height and fullness of the Great Day of Judgment are at hand and now are realized in its horrifying awesome details. There is a real Abyss. Heaven is above and Hell is below. The judgment of God is coming. The biblical record is evident. It has been predicted:

Amos 5:18 – Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

 

Revelation is simply a warning. Only Jesus Christ can save us from the future evils and destruction that lie await.

 

Frightening descriptions of judgment creatures are observed in the next study.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   Why is this judgment different than prior ones?

2.   What comes out of the Bottomless Pit?

3.   What were some of their instructions?

4.   Who is unaffected by this judgment?

5.   What is the fate of the unrepentant man?

6.   How does God's grace abound during this woe?

7.   Why is this woe a reality?

 

 

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