Revelation 9

Seventh Seal, Trumpet Judgements 5-6. 

This is a frightening chapter of events to come in the Tribulation. There are many variations that you can find about the interpretations of the details of this chapter, but the overall picture is one of torment, fear, and despair for those who experience its sufferings.  But there are 2 things to be comforted by:
1. God is in control.

2  God protects the believer.

In the opening verse, there is a fallen star who is given a key. Having a key = being given authority or control. Because this authority is given by God, God is ultimately controlling the parameters. There is a plague of locusts - whether literal or symbolic, this plague of locusts will bring much destruction and suffering to mankind. But God sets limits.

“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.” (v 4)

“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.” (v 5)

Notice that God exempts those who have his seal upon them. Believers are spared this wrath of God that is put upon this earth with the purpose of impacting those who refuse to turn from evil. 

The next event to follow, takes on an even grander scale of destruction upon mankind. And yet, God is still calling the shots.

“It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.”  (v‭ 14-15)

There are many who want to take comfort that this world will just continue as is, with all of its familiarity and comforts. But, just as we have experienced on a small scale with the pandemic, our worlds can suddenly turn upside down and everything we know can become strange and uncertain. The Bible is full of stories of plagues and the end times will certainly have their share. These released angels shall wipe out a third of the population with plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur.

You think that such catastrophic events would get one’s attention and make a heart changing impact. But sadly, this is not the case. God has given mankind much time and many opportunities to see the error of living in sin and corruption but there are going to be those that will not be repentant to the bitter end. 

“The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (v 20-21)

I still see the love of God even in these harsh events. God’s ultimate desire is that no man perish.  This is stated in many places in the Bible but is very heartfelt in the plea of God in Ezekiel. “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭33:11‬ ‭

We all have a choice: choose God your Creator who loves you completely or reject God and embrace the destructive forces of sin. May we think on these future events and be grateful this wrath is not for us and may we be burdened to see souls saved. May we also be comforted that when the world seems chaotic, sin abounds and there is much uncertainty....God is ultimately calling the shots and always in control of our future.