Revelation 9:3-5

^{Revelation 9:3}

Revelation 9:3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

Revelation 9::4 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.

Revelation 9: 5 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.

I.            “out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth.”

Here John seeing the vision the locusts are coming out of the smoke. Last session we studied what are the things inside the bottom less pit. Consider to that and what are the descriptions was mentioned by John in Rev. 9: 9-10 we can assume that the locusts are a symbolic representation of demons.  When the fallen angel releasing the all the demons from the bottom less pit to torment the people.

II.           “And to them was given power”

In the same way how the fallen angel receiving the the authority to open the bottom less pit, here are also the locusts are receiving power.

III.         “as the scorpions of the earth have power.”

Here john explains the nature of the power was given to the demons. The nature of the power was mentioned here was like scorpions. If scorpions bits the pain will be intolerable at the same thing nothing will happen to the life (Note: more venom toxicity (poison) scorpions also available). 

IV.                  “Rev 9: 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, “

Why they commanded not to harm the grass or green or tree ? Because we studied in the first trumpet judgment (Rev. 8:7) already these nature was affected.

V.         “but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.”

Here what we can see is God production upon His children. We already had two example when God punishing the wicked people God Product His children.

1.      Noah time flood. When the wicked are punished by flood God save the Noah’s family.

2.       Similar to Job, the Lord will have a hedge about His own, and will not allow these instruments of His judgment to harm them “Have You not made a hedge around him” Job 1:8-10

3.       Another similar event occurred in scripture when Israel was spared from some of the plagues against Egypt, “I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, i” Exodus 8:22.

VI.        Why God is doing these sign

“I will make a difference between My people and your people. Exodus 8:23”

God wants to separate His own people from the wicked people. At the same time God wants to repent the wicked once.

Ex 10:3 “ How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? ”

VII.      The character of the locusts

In Revelation 9:7-11, the Lord provides a detailed description of these creatures because they are real and not allegorical as some would argue.

• Appeared as horses ready for battle
• Wore something similar to crowns of gold on their heads
• Their faces resembled human faces
• Their hair was like women's’
• Their teeth were like lions'

 Joel 1:4 What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.

 Joel 1:5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep; And wail, all you drinkers of wine, Because of the new wine, For it has been cut off from your mouth.

Joel 1:6 For a nation has come up against My land, Strong, and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, And he has the fangs of a fierce lion.

• They had breastplates of iron
• The sound of their wings was frightening
• They had tails as scorpions
• In their tail was the power to torment for five months
• They are organized and intelligent, having a king over them
• The kings name is Abaddon in Hebrew which is equivalent to destruction and is found in the Hebrew Bible in Job 26:6, Job 28:22, Job 31:12, Psalm 88:11, and Proverbs 15:11, Proverbs 27:20, or Apollyon in Greek, which also means destruction

Revelation 9: 5 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.

The locust were further restricted in what they could and could not do. They were not given power to kill the men without the seal of God, but to torture them only for a period of five months. Those stung by these creatures will suffer a terrible pain. As a result, they will seek death will be taken away.