This is the twenty-fourth in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of Revelation. This message was delivered at Hilcrest Baptist Church on the morning of August 9, 2015. This message will look at the fifth trumpet, as demons are released on the earth. This post contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes. Please note that the sermon notes are not necessarily a full transcript.
SERMON AUDIO:
SERMON NOTES:
v.1:
Unlike the other stars, this one is an angelic being (v.2). Probably Satan himself.
Currently, satan is not confined to hell. He even has access to heaven.
- Job 2:1
This trumpet is likely when satan is finally kicked out of heaven.
- Isaiah 14:12-14
- Luke 10:18
We will see more details on this in Revelation chapter 12.
- Revelation 12:7-10
The bottomless pit suggests that these are the demons who were imprisoned just prior to the flood.
- 2 Peter 2:4
- Jude 1:6
- 1 Peter 3:18-20
Mentioned seven times in Revelation, it always refers to the prison where demons are incarcerated.
v.2:
As satan opens the pit, and the demons are released, a smoke brings darkness. Unbridled evil has been loosed from its cage, which throws the world into darkness. Sin is always characterized by darkness.
v.3:
It is not uncommon for God to use locusts for judgment.
- Exodus 10:4
- Exodus 10:15
In the 1950s a locust swarm devoured every growing thing for several hundred thousand square miles in the Middle East. These are not normal locusts, however, but specially prepared ones.
These locusts are demons, whose destructive powers are likened to that of a swarm of locusts, only worse. Their power is also likened to a scorpion, whose venomous sting causes intense pain. They will be able to inflict scorpion like pain on their victims.
v.4:
Earthly locusts would naturally go for the vegetation, but these beings are commanded not to harm the vegetation. They have come solely for mankind.
Another argument in favor of demons, is that they have apparent intelligence. They have to be able to discern who does and does not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Normal locusts would be incapable of such a feat.
v.5:
Some have hypothesized that these locusts are really modern military helicopters. That makes no sense, since those types of weapons cause mass destruction and death. Many people would die, and there would be no way to spare the surrounding vegetation. These locusts cannot be modern weapons of war because they won’t kill anyone, and they are able to spare the vegetation.
They have no authority to kill, only to torment, and this torment will last for five months. A locust just happens to have a lifespan of 5 months.
Again, their ability to torment is likened to a scorpion. These definitely are not your typical locusts. There should be no doubt that these are demons at work.
v.6:
This tells us much about the severity of the torment. People will seek death, but they will not find it. Its just as well, because death would only lead to worse torment in hell. Death is no escape for the unsaved.
His judgment will fall on all who refuse to repent. All who have rejected Christ. For those who reject the Son, their end is already certain.
- John 3:18
v.7:
John does not say that the locusts had crowns of gold on their heads but that they wore “something like gold“.
Human faces, suggests something unnatural, hence demonic.
These demons come ready for battle, in perfect formation. Joel describes this quite vividly.
- Joel 2:1-3
In the preceding verses, Joel had not yet described this army of destruction, but notice that a fire devours before them. The first four trumpets showed us great ecological devastation, three of which included elements of fire.
- Joel 2:4-11
Joel 2:6 describes people in a state of great fear and pain, but nowhere in Joel’s description is there any mention of death.
vv.8-9:
Here we see more descriptors of the bizarre and terrifying appearance of these creatures.
- Hair like women’s hair, probably referring to the length.
- Teeth like a lion
- breastplates of iron
Obviously these demons were prepared for war, and would be a very unnatural and terrifying sight to behold. Even the intense sound they make would invoke fear.
v.10:
Their scorpion-like tails would inflict great pain, but not death. This torment of all who do not bear the seal of God will last for five months. Five long, grueling and miserable months.
v.11:
Real, earthly locusts have no king.
- Proverbs 30:27
However, these locusts do have a king, and his name means destroyer. There is certainly a hierarchy among demons, just as the holy angels. This angel of the bottomless pit is probably satan, due to the use of the word king.
v.12:
Once again, there is a very sober warning. Though one woe may be past, two are still remaining. This underscores the importance of our relationship to Christ.
It’s common for people today to choose death, its evident by the number of unbelievers in the world. Death is not an escape from God’s wrath. They will still face judgment.
- Hebrews 9:27
- Revelation 20:11-15
Rejection of Jesus Christ is nothing less than choosing death. Why would you do that when you can freely choose life?
- John 5:40
- John 14:6
Everyone has a king, and in this life, we get to choose our king. The demons have a king, and it is satan. He is sldo the king of all who do not choose Christ.
- John 8:44
But you can choose Christ as your King, and never have to be subject to satan. For Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
- Revelation 19:16
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on August 9, 2015
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