Times Up

Wk 12 “The 7^th Seal” Pt.2

Revelation 9

Darin Elquist

8-27-23

Message Notes

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 8:13As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

Revelation 9:1
The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.

The Star-

Most scholars and theologians believe this, “star” to be Satan. (Luke 10:18)

Shaft of the Abyss-

A bottomless pit.

Abussos- Greek used 9 times in the New Testament. It refers to a place of imprisonment for supernatural beings as well as a place of torment and torture. (Matthew 8:29)

Revelation 9:2
When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.

Revelation 9:3-4
And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

This is the first woe of Rev 8:13

Revelation 9:5-6
They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

“people will seek death but will not find it”

Up to this point these locusts are the worst judgement mankind has yet to see. Many of the other judgments can be explained away, bad weather, cosmic events, and things like that. But when you see a locust with a stinger come out of a massive cloud of smoke that has created darkness, confusion and fear. Try explaining that away without admitting to the supernatural power behind it.

Revelation 9:7-11
The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.
They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

It’s here that John describes the locusts in greater detail. A few things to notice,

Like horses prepared for battle

Crowns like gold on their heads

Human-like faces

Hair like woman

Teeth like a lion

Breastplates like iron

Sound of wings like horses and chariots

Tails like scorpions

Revelation 9:11

They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

These demonic locust-esc creatures have a leader, or king.

Locust King/Leader-

Hebrew- Abaddon

Greek- Apollyon

Both have the same definition, The Destroyer

Revelation 9:12
The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.

Application-

     1. Remember that just because we can’t see them, that doesn’t mean that demons are not real and aggressive.

2. We are also reminded that demon’s main goal is to destroy us. (1 Peter 5:8)
3. Even though these demons are powerful, they do have limitations
4. Jesus is more powerful, more clever, and in the end, He wins!

1. Without using your notes can you recap the events so far in the book of Revelation?   What chapters cover the tribulation period?  What are the 3 sets of judgments called in the book?
2. Considering the first 8+ chapters we’ve covered so far, is there anything you think would be considered too difficult to understand? If so, which part(s) have you had difficulty with?
3. Read Revelation 9:1-6, what do you think “the star that had fallen” represents in verse 1? When you have a difference of opinion with someone about a scripture, what is the best way to approach that difference?
4. Why do you think the scorpions “were not allow to kill them but only to torture them” in verse 5?
5. Read Revelation 9:7-12, what is the significance of the word “like” in these verses?
6. What are demons? How are they portrayed in scripture?  Read 1 Peter 5:8, people may say that they are not affected by evil spirits/spiritual warfare.   Is there any support for that position in scripture?
7. What are some of the ways we get attacked spiritually?
8. What are some of the ways we can prepare for spiritual attacks?
9. Read 1 Peter 1:13-16, what does it mean to be holy? How can we be holy?
10. Please continue to keep the church and its leadership in your prayers. If you are experiencing a spiritual attack of some sort, would you consider reaching out to someone in the church to pray for you?