Demonic Beings Released

Transcript

GR 1531
Demonic Beings Released
Revelation 9:1-11
05-24-09
Gil Rugh

The book of Revelation chapter 9 in your Bibles. As we have seen the angels play a major role in the events that take place in the book of Revelation. It is an angel who sounds each of the trumpets that we are considering that began in chapter 8. And with each trumpet that is sounded a judgment is poured out on the earth. The angels are a group of spirit beings, they are not physical beings. They are spirit beings, but they have real existence, their presence can be manifested on occasion to be seen by human beings as occurs a number of times through the scripture. And we will see the angels when we are in heaven and our eyes are opened to see things that now we cannot see. Remember in the Old Testament the prophets asked the Lord to open the eyes of his servant who could see then around on the mountains surrounding the host of the heavenly angels ready to do the bidding of the Lord.

These angels serve as ministering spirits on our behalf. Turn back to Hebrews 1. He is showing the superiority of Christ to angels. As splendid as angels are, as powerful as they are, as great as their ministry was through Old Testament history, Jesus Christ is superior to angels. Verse 4, having become much better than the angels. For to which of the angels did He ever say, you are my Son, today I have begotten you. So showing the superiority of Christ to angels. Then in verse 14, what are the angels? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? The prime responsibility of angels is to function on our behalf as the redeemed of God, rendering service for our sake, acting on our behalf. I think as we go through our daily activity and sometimes we may be in situations where we feel alone, but we know the Lord is with us, the Spirit dwells in us and angels are present to carry out the bidding of the Lord in acting on our behalf.

Go back to Daniel just for another little window we get into the realm of angels. In Daniel several times we see the angels operating. Daniel 10. Angels often play a role in revelation. We are told even on Mt. Sinai angels were used of the Lord to mediate and bring revelation to Moses. As see in the book of Revelation, angels are also used to communicate God's truth to us. In Daniel 10 Daniel has been praying, mourning, seeking the Lord for three weeks' time. Then we come down to verse 10, behold a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said to me, oh Daniel man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you. Stand upright for I have been sent to you. When he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard and I have come in response to your word. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for 21 days. Now you see what happens. When Daniel is praying to the Lord, the Lord sent an angel with a response to Daniel's prayer. So it took him three weeks to get there because there were other angelic forces opposing the angels of God. And we'll see more of this when we get to Revelation 12. But a large number of the angels rebelled against God, following Lucifer, and as a result they lost their position in heaven. They are the fallen angels, we call them demons. That's the way the Bible would refer to them as well, they are servants of Satan now and not of the living God.

And here we read in verse 13, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for 21 days. Then behold Michael, one of the chief princes. Remember Michael the archangel came to me to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I continued on my way to give answer. Then when he leaves after giving this answer he tells Daniel, back in verse 20, then he said, do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the kingdom of Persia. So I am going forth and behold the prince of Greece is about to come. However I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth, that there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces, except Michael your prince. Michael, the chief angel of Israel. Now you see here a glimpse into the spirit world. The Bible just sort of gives us little windows into the spirit world. Here we see conflict raging and evidently the kingdoms and nations of the earth under Satan's dominion have demonic beings of great power who are ruling over them, directing in affairs of the nation. So powerful that even this angel from the presence of the Lord is not able to proceed into the realm of that demonic angel's authority until Michael, one of greater authority, comes and enables him to proceed on his mission. Then he says when he comes back there will be battle and then after Persia will come the prince of Greece. And you see the order, get a glimpse a little bit into the order even in the fallen angelic world. Talk about the world in chaos. But you understand there is an order in the spirit world and in Satan as the god of this world as he administers his kingdom, his servants, spirit beings of great power. There is conflict going on between the angels of God as they go about doing His being and the demonic followers of Satan as they attempt to hinder even the angels of God in carrying out the work of God.

Come to Matthew. In the gospels we have a more open time of the manifestation of demonic beings. Demons carry on their activity, angels carry on their activity. But we don't behold them. There can be demonic angels, there can be unfallen angels present in this room, but in our present physical condition with our physical limitations, we do not see them. When the restraints and limitations of our present condition are removed, then we will be able to see the angels as we are not able to do now. When Christ came to earth, the Son of God present on earth, there is an open display of demonic activity and recognition of the presence of demons and their activity, which enables Christ to demonstrate His power and authority over them. In Matthew 12:22, a demon possessed man was blind and mute, unable to speak. And He healed him so that the mute man spoke and saw. And all the crowds were amazed saying, this man cannot be the Son of David, can He? The Pharisees claimed that He was casting out demons by the power of demons. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, verse 25, a kingdom that is divided against itself is laid waste. Verse 26, if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Understand within the demonic world there is order, it is not chaotic. They carry out the desires and intentions of their ruler, Satan.
Verse 28, but if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. For how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry out his property unless he first binds the strong man, then he will plunder his house. What He is doing demonstrating the superiority of His power over Satan and demonic forces, which evidence the fact that He indeed is the Messiah.

Turn over to Mark 1. Christ is preaching after John has been arrested, we're told in verses 14-15, and the message is the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel. Down in verse 21, they went into Capernaum, immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. They were amazed at His teaching, He was teaching them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Just then there was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit, a demon inhabiting him. He cried out saying, what business do we have with each other, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the holy one of God. You see here something of the situation in the spirit world. The Jews of Jesus' day would not acknowledge and recognize Him, but the demons well knew who He was. I know who you are, the holy one of God. They know His power, have you come to destroy us? The parallel reference to this in Matthew is have you come to destroy us before the time? They have some understanding in the plan and program of God what God has unfolded. Yet they continue to fight against Him with the intention, if possible, and no such thing is possible. But here they acknowledge His power, He could destroy them. So you see the recognition of the demons and the open manifestation. He rebukes them and tells them to be quiet because He did not come to receive acclaim from demons. But you see His power over them.

We get to events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ, there will be a more open display of demonic activity as well. I take it in that seven-year tribulation period there will be more open manifestation of demonic power and recognition of it as the conflict intensifies in preparation for the return of Christ for His kingdom.

Come back to Revelation 9. What we are going to see in chapter 9 is a manifestation of demonic activity as demons who are bound. Certain demons are free in going about and doing the will of Satan in the world. Certain demons are bound and confined. And we'll see that a certain number of them will be released under the sounding of the fifth trumpet. And they will bring horrible suffering to the men of the world at that time. The first four trumpets sounded down through chapter 8 and then when you come to chapter 9 you have the fifth trumpet sounded, woe was pronounced in verse 13 of chapter 8. Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels are about to sound. Their judgments will be even more severe than what has happened to this point. So a heightening of the judgments that are to take place.

The first two of these, the fifth and the sixth will unleash ferocious demonic activity, bringing great pain. Then with the next trumpet judgment massive death, one-third of the earth dying under that devastating judgment. Down in verse 18 we read with the sixth trumpet a third of mankind was killed. Down in verse 6 under the fifth trumpet men will be suffering to such an intensity, they will long to die but they won't be able to. So terrible suffering brought about by demonic activity. But ultimately even demonic activity is under the ultimate authority of God. And as they carry out their demonic desires, God is using their desires and demonic rebellion to accomplish His purposes.

Note how chapter 9 begins, then the fifth angel sounded, blew his trumpet. And this calls forth the next judgment. I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth and the key to the bottomless pit was given to him. He opened the bottomless pit and smoke went up out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth and power was given them as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months, and their torment was like the torment of the scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die and death flees from them.

A star falls from heaven to the earth. The context indicates that we're talking about a personal being here. In chapter 8 verse 10, a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, poisonous and so on. Here it seems that the star is clearly defined as an angel, a personal being, rather than just a body fallen from heaven. The activity here would indicate that, he is given a key to a pit. A key to the bottomless pit was given to him and he opened the bottomless pit. So you see it's an activity of a personal being. Two ways that this angel has been identified, more than that, but we're talking about within a literal identification. We're not going into the other allegorizing and spiritualizing suggestions that get made that lead us nowhere.

The first identification that is often made is that this is a reference to Satan. So a star fall from heaven to the earth is a reference to Satan and his fall from heaven. Several reasons for that. Come back to Isaiah 14. Here I think you have the carrying of the identification here to Lucifer in verse 12. How you have fallen from heaven, oh star of the morning, son of the dawn. And down in verse 13, the reason you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, I will sit on the mount of the assembly in the recesses of the north, I will ascend above the heights, I will make myself like the Most High. He will nevertheless be thrust down to Sheol. Since it says in verse 12, how you have fallen from heaven, oh star of the morning, son of the dawn. That would be one reason to say this star falling from heaven is a reference to Satan. Look in Luke 10:17, the seventy who had been sent out in twos by Christ represent Him. They come back, they are excited, even the demons are subject to them. Verse 18, he said to them, I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. That reference, Christ said He saw Satan falling from heaven like lightning. It would be another reference to a star falling from heaven. Then come over to Revelation 12. We'll have to do the context of this when we get to chapter 12. Look at verse 9, and the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him.

So those references to Satan falling from heaven, being thrown down from heaven cause some to think that this reference in chapter 9, I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth, be a reference to Satan. I don't think that is the best explanation, there are some problems with that, one of which is Satan's falling from heaven doesn't fit the timing that we're talking about here in Revelation 9. We'll have more to say about that when we get to chapter 12.

A second possibility and I think the preferable one is that it's a reference to an angel of God, the first reason being the timing here does not fit the casting of Satan to the earth from heaven, either his falling from his position in heaven or his casting to earth, losing his access to heaven, which is recorded in chapter 12. Secondly, in the sixth trumpet, verse , the sixth angel sounded and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God. One saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, release the four angels who are bound at the great River Euphrates. That's obviously an angel of God there and it's one of the angels of God who releases the demonic beings bound at the Euphrates River. And here in chapter 9 verse 1 under the fifth trumpet, I take it that it will be an angel of God who releases the demons who are bound in the abyss. Not something a demon has the power or authority to do, that is something an angel of God would have to carry out. Over in chapter 20 in anticipation of the establishing of the kingdom on earth. Verse 1, then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. So here it's an angel from heaven who has a key to the abyss and he is going to bind Satan for 1000 years. Verses 2-3, throw him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him. And then after the thousand years he'll be released for a short time. So again you see it is an angel of God who has the authority here and acts on God's behalf to have the key to the abyss and open the abyss and cast Satan in there and then seal the abyss back up. So I take it back in chapter 9 verse 1 this star representing an angel from heaven who had fallen to the earth, who has the key probably would be the same angel who has the key to the abyss in chapter 20 verse 1. So it doesn't seem any reason to bring Satan into the picture here, he doesn't have that kind of authority. He is going to spend time in the abyss, but he's not the one carrying the key to the abyss. And it is an angel of God who would exercise that authority.

All right, verse 1 of chapter 9, he has the key to the bottomless pit given to him. It was given to him. You'll note the ultimate authority here in all this action is God. Behind the demonic activity will be God's activity. It starts out, it is God who determines that now these demonic beings will be released to inflict pain on mankind. The key is given to the angel. Down in verse 3, and out of the smoke came locusts on the earth and power was given them. In verse 5, they were not permitted to kill anyone. So you see a reminder of God's sovereign authority behind all the activity, even of the demons to limit them, ultimately control their awful activities for the accomplishing of His purposes.

The bottomless pit, it's the word abyss. The abyss literally is a pit without bottom, so it is the bottomless pit. That is what the abyss is. That word is used nine times in the New Testament, seven of them are in the book of Revelation. And it's a place where demonic beings are held, and evidently in torment because it seems to be a place of fire. And they can be bound here, they can be released here from a time, as we are seeing. Look at the use of the word here in Revelation. In chapter 9 verse 1, verse 2, down in verse 11. They have as king over them the angel of the abyss. You come over to chapter 11 verse 7, when they had finished their testimony, the beast that comes out of the abyss will make war with them. We'll talk about him when we get to chapter 11. Chapter 17 verse 8, the beast that you saw was and is not and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. Again, coming out of the abyss. Chapter 20, we just were there, verse 1, again the angel has the key to the abyss. Here it is to confine Satan, verse 3, throw him into the abyss. Those are the references in the book of Revelation.

Come back to Luke 8. And here again is a confrontation between Christ and a demonic horde. He came into the country of the Garasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When He came out onto the land, verse 27, he was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons. And he hadn't worn clothing, he didn't live in a house but among the graves, the tombs. Seeing Jesus he cried out and fell before Him and said in a loud voice, what business do we have with each other, Jesus Son of the Most High God? I beg you do not torment me. Amazing, isn't it, the recognition of the demons. They know who He is. Immediately. Here He is walking the earth in a human body, they know who He is. You are Jesus, Son of the Most High God. I beg you not to torment me. They acknowledge His power. He commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man and He was bound with chains and shackles. You see the demonic spirit has the ability to give tremendous strength, physical strength to this man. Demonic beings can have great impact and influence in the physical world. This is just one evidence.

Jesus asked him, verse 30, what is your name? And he said, Legion, for many demons had entered him. Remarkable here. How many? Legion. I mean, you have this whole host of demons dwelling in this one physical body. What condition this man must have been in.

Now note what they said, verse 31, they were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. What does this mean? They would be cast into the abyss, bound with the key locking them in. How do you lock in demons? It's not a problem for God. We can provide cages and confinement for physical beings, God has no problem providing confinement for spirit beings. That's not a problem. They recognize Christ's authority to send them to the abyss, if He should so choose. So they ask to be sent into the herd of swine. And He gave them permission. So they enter the swine, the demons stir up the herd and the herd runs down into the water and the pigs are drowned. The demon-possessed man is now free, but the people of the land don't want anything to do with Christ, they just don't want to end this. So they ask them to leave. So what you see here is again the abyss, the place of confinement.

One other use is in Romans 10:7, quoting from an Old Testament passage where Christ, referring to Christ coming up from the grave. I take it there in its Old Testament usage, because the word abyss is used in a variety of ways in the Old Testament, sometime in the sea, the grave. But in these references we've used, eight of the nine, we're talking about in the context of demons and fallen beings being confined in this place.

Come back to Revelation 9. The key to the bottomless pit was given to him, so verse 2, he opened the bottomless pit. Smoke went up out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace, the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. It was like the smoke of a great furnace. The words as and like are used more often in this chapter of the Bible than any other chapter in the Bible. And comparisons are drawn for us to relate and John to communicate to us what this is like, comparing it to the physical realm. And yet there will be differences, but yet something that we can relate to.

Smoke went up out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. This is a terrible place, it has to be a place of burning with smoke coming out. Often used in the Bible in the context of judgment, God's judgment. And here the smoke is so great that it darkens the sun. Then in verse 3, out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them as the scorpions of the earth have power. So there are locusts that come out, but they are not locusts like we think of the locusts of the earth. The description given them will be unique and their activity is unique. They are not going to hurt the vegetation where locusts focus, they are going to hurt the humans. But they come out locusts, and they have a power like scorpions. Which again, it's not what locusts have. Power was given them. Again, sovereign God's control over it. Remember in Job, the opening chapters, God progressively gives Satan more power and as He allows Satan to afflict Job, what does Satan do? He uses the wind, the storm. I mean, he can unleash forces of nature as we call it to accomplish his purposes. I mean, we, I think, would be in awe if we knew something of the majesty and power of Satan, even as a fallen being. Remember the book of Jude tells us that even Michael the archangel speaks respectfully of Lucifer and didn't bring a railing accusation against him, but says, the Lord rebuke you. Sometimes we fail to appreciate the power of the enemy.

And so here these demonic beings are given power as the scorpions of the earth have power. I don't know much about scorpions except what I see on TV. And I understand they can bring great pain. Some of the scorpions in the world are more dangerous than others and their pain is more severe. But the pain is like that of a scorpion. Tremendous pain, not necessarily fatal but overwhelming pain. That's the point of what these creatures will do.

Verse 4, they were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree. That's what normal locusts do. They come and sweep through the land and they eat everything green, destroy the land. But these locusts are not here to hurt the land. Only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Back in chapter 7 we have the 144,000 sealed. These creatures will not hurt the 144,000. We say, how is God going to work that? No problem, the demons are restricted. Remember how God restrained Satan in dealing with Job? Certain things you can do, certain things you can't do.

Come back to Exodus 10. Locusts were often used for instruments of judgment in the Old Testament. One of the plagues on Egypt was the locusts. These activities are, if you will, a foreboding, a shadow, an anticipation of the ultimate judgment of the demonic locusts that God will afflict the world with in this coming final time of judgment on the earth. In Exodus 10 we have the plague of locusts. Moses goes to Pharaoh, Pharaoh has continued to harden his heart, resist, refuse to humble himself. And so, verse 4, if you refuse to let my people go behold tomorrow I will bring locusts into your territory. They shall cover the surface of the land so no one will be able to see the land. They will also eat the rest of what has escaped, what is left to you from the hail. They will eat every green tree which sprouts for you out of the field. Your houses will be filled, the houses of all your servants, the houses of all the Egyptians, something that neither your fathers nor grandfathers have seen from the day that they came upon the earth to this day. And he turned and went out from Pharaoh. And Pharaoh's servants say, you ought to let these Jews go. Verse 7, do you not realize Egypt is destroyed? They are beginning to get the point. God can do this.

So Pharaoh calls Moses back and says, all right, I'll make a deal. Some of you can go but some of you can't. No deals. It's everyone or nothing, Moses says. Pharaoh then is angry, drives them out and so the locusts come. Down in verse 14, the locusts came up over all the land of Egypt, settled in all the territory of Egypt. They were very numerous, there have never been so many locusts, nor would there be again. They covered the whole surface of the land, the land was darkened, they ate every plant of the land, all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Thus nothing green was left on tree or plant of the field through all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses. There is humor even in that disaster.

Then you'll have darkness in the land, we'll see that later in one of the plagues coming up in Revelation. But you'll note what happens in Exodus 10:23, all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings. God could preserve the believers, His people, the nation Israel from the disaster coming on Egypt. Everything around is being destroyed and in Goshen the Jews are being spared.

Go to Joel, because probably next to the plague in Egypt Joel's prophecy of the locusts is most well-known to us. The context in Joel, chapter 1 verse 15, alas, for the day, the day of the Lord is near. It will come as destruction from the Almighty. You come down in chapter 2, blow a trumpet in Zion, sound an alarm on My holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, sure it is near. A day of darkness and gloom, day of clouds and thick darkness, never anything like it. Verse 2, the consuming fire. Then you have the locust plague coming and you read of the devastation that comes. The clouds of locusts sweeping into the land and its destruction.

Now we come to the worst kind of locust plague, not physical locusts but demonic locusts, as you come to Revelation 9. But they will spare those who are sealed—the 144,000 in chapter 7. Now we begin to appreciate why the 144,000 had to be sealed, to preserve them from some of these coming judgments.

Verse 5, they were not permitted to kill anyone. Again you see God' sovereignty. Power was given to them as the scorpions of the earth had power, they will afflict great pain. But limited power is given to them because they are not allowed to kill anyone, nor are they allowed to hurt those who have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. Remember Job? Satan was allowed to afflict him with great pain, but he was not allowed to kill him. There you have a servant of God, but you see the power of demonic beings, fallen beings, there Lucifer. Here you have demons given the power to bring pain on men but not to kill them.

To torment for five months, verse 5, and there you see the pattern of a scorpion. The scorpion's cycle in the land was five months—May, June, July, August, September. This also gives us a little insight. You know these judgments, the seals rolls one after another, the trumpets roll one after another, the bowls will run one after another as they are recorded. We understand they have to cover the seven-year span, what is He going to do for the rest of the time? These judgments seem to come one right after the other. But here we're told this one lasts five months. So even though the record of these and the unfolding, we're not given five months of detail of what is going on on the earth. We get summary briefly here of what will take place. But this judgment is five months in duration, the fifth trumpet. So you can see these will spread out over the seven-year period. During this five months they are stinging men, bringing this painful suffering to men. And there is no relief, there is no antidote. People will be in such pain, they will be screaming to die but they can't die. They are just in an awful condition.

In those days men will seek death and will not find it, they will long to die and death flees from them. During that five-month period is what we're talking about, in those days, during that five-month period, under this judgment. What it is going to be like, such affliction.

What you have now in verses 7-10 is a description of these locusts, these demonic beings. And he keeps using the comparison as and alike in this. The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their foreheads appeared to be crowns like gold. Their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like the hair of women. Their teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots and many horses. They have tails like scorpions and stings. In their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. So you have this description, a frightening picture, almost like out of the medieval pictures of demonic beings. They were drawn like part animal, part man. And they are fierce beings.

They are like horses prepared for battle and on their heads they have crowns like gold. The description doesn't say they are crowned with crowns of gold, but it looks like it on their heads. How would you describe it? It looked like a crown of gold on their heads. May depict something, this crown, of the victory they have over men during this time, some suggest. Their faces are like the faces of men so they are not just like animals. They have intelligence and this characteristic. Breastplates like iron, evidently indicating the inability to destroy them, get rid of them, their power. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots of many horses rushing to battle. And they do have tails and it's their tails that sting and had the power to hurt men for five months. So they are animal like creatures but they are a mixture of animal and human in description and ability.

Some have taken descriptions like this and said, helicopters. Verse 9, the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots. Well you get the helicopter's whirring, but the description doesn't quite fit. I don't think we're talking about helicopters coming out of the bottomless pit here necessarily. They seem to be beings, these are spirit beings. They have the form of locusts. And some have said, how would John describe a helicopter? It's a good point, you would have to compare it like something. But again these are stinging men and bringing pain, it seems to me he's talking about demonic beings unleashed here in animal/human form to bring about this kind of suffering. Their power is to hurt men for five months, over this five-month period.

One other thing about them, they have as king over them the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in the Greek his name is Apollyn. Same name given in the Hebrew language and in the Greek language. Why both? Perhaps to indicate that he can afflict unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Gentiles alike. Perhaps as the scripture often does, it give the interpretation so there is no misunderstanding. He is the destroyer. So you'll note there is order over these. They have a king over them, the angel of the abyss. Even these demonic beings who have been in the abyss, there is an order and as they come out they are under the authority of their king, their ruler who directs their activity. So this is orchestrated to accomplish the intention of these demonic beings and the king who is over them who, I take it, served under the authority of the devil. I don't think that Apollyn here is the devil himself because he is not limited to the abyss. He has overall rule. These angels that came out of the abyss are ruled over by an angel. Just like the prince of Persia in Daniel 10 who withstood the angel of God. And then the prince of Greece is coming. There is order and a hierarchy established over which Satan rules his realm, which he would like to establish as the kingdom over all creation in opposition to God. But of course will not happen.

The name, though, tells what they do. His name is destruction. Now normal locusts don't have a king. Proverbs 30:27 tells us that the locusts have no king but they function. Here are these locusts or locust-like beings, creatures, that have a king over them, showing that this is orchestrated in carrying out a plan in bringing pain and suffering. Interesting, can't hurt those who have God's seal on them but Satan is delighted to bring pain and suffering to people. Some think, I serve the devil. There is no love relationship with the devil. His purposes and plan are always cruel and destructive.

That's what is going on during this five-month period. Terrible, terrible suffering. We say, would God do this, bring such overwhelming pain to people that they would rather be dead. You understand these are people that continue their fight against God, their opposition to God. The call to repent, believe, be spared the wrath to come. But no. Well then you come under the judgment and that is what they are experiencing. But note they don't die. Will some in this terrible pain come to realize that this has to be the hand of God? I don't know. How much of the world will be afflicted by this kind of suffering and pain? I mean, how soon would our healthcare system be overwhelmed? What do you do? And we don't have any antidote for this. This is something we haven't experienced before. You understand this is the kind of suffering and pain that is brought about now by these creatures who have been just released from the abyss. This is a new kind of pain and suffering, we don't have anything to deal with it. And you realize this is going on in the context now of everything else that has been happening. We have had the seal judgments and four trumpet judgments up to this. I mean, with a third of the earth being burned up and water turning to blood. I mean, what a place. We talk about hell on earth. This period of time will be as close as you get and it's nothing like hell, but as far as unlivable and wretched and horrible. And yet when we get further on in we'll find out people are still cursing God and refusing to repent.

I just want to remind you. We talk about these spirit beings. Certain spirit beings are confined, we'll see them in the next trumpet and talk more about that. But you understand demonic beings are active in our day. Turn back to Ephesians 6. We can't get lax. Ephesians 6 reminds us, verse 10, be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies. Therefore take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all to stand firm. We sometimes get lax and careless and understand we are in a battle against spirit beings of tremendous power. And God has made provision for us but we cannot become careless.

One other passage. I Peter 5, and there are others but we don't have time for those tonight. Verse 8, be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. Here we see the effect, the devil going around and their suffering is understandable in the battle and conflict with the devil. Just like the physical suffering even of Job. Where did they come from? The hand of the devil, the battle there. But the warning is be careful, be on your alert. The devil is looking for careless, even believers. One of the ways we allow the devil and the demons to have opportunity is when we open the way to sin. We think we can dabble in sin, but when you dabble in sin you've opened the door of opportunity to the devil and the demonic world. I can't say, I'll only open it a little for a little pleasure for my sin. But you open the door now that you may find hard to push closed. Now I open my life to the influence and impact of demons. I'm not saying demons can indwell a believer, but we provide them opportunity to bring affliction to our lives.

So we look at what's going to go on in the future as demons are given great power and freedom in dealing with the people of this world. We understand we're in a battle with demonic beings now. Am I afraid? No. Why? Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world, we're told in I John. But that doesn't mean I can walk around careless because the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He's ready to pounce. So we sometimes don't put things together and think, sin looks appealing, looks ............ You want to open the door to allow demonic beings to have opportunity? Doesn't mean you won't have battles and conflicts. Paul had his and it was a messenger of Satan to buffet him, he said in II Corinthians. Part of God's plan to allow Satan to do that to him as he allowed Satan to afflict Job. He may allow Satan to do that to us by demonic beings. But again my confidence is the Lord has it all in control and as I take the full armor of God, as I walk in obedience to His Word I'm on the alert and I don't give the devil an opportunity by opening myself up to sin for sinful activity. When I walk faithfully before the Lord then I am confident and secure.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your truth and thank you for your Word. Lord, we look at something of what you have revealed about coming events, the terrible time that will afflict this world, and we realize the awfulness of sin and the misery that sin brings as men and women continue in their rebellion against you. It will be an awesome time as the forces of demonic beings are let loose on this world in greater ways than ever before. Lord, we thank you again for the greatness of our salvation. And we would not be careless in our day. We know the enemy of our souls is active and he is vehemently against you and he is the enemy of your people. And he would love to bring misery and destruction. Lord, we are safe, you have provided your armor for us, you have provided your Spirit to be our strength. Lord, may we not become careless or easily, we think, we can open the door to sin, we can indulge a little bit and be unscathed. But the devil is ready to pounce. We contemplate the future and be reminded of the importance of a present walk with you. Bless us in our service to you in the days of this week. May we carry the message of the good news to those who are lost and on their way to judgment. We pray in Christ's name, amen.