The Seven Trumpets
Parts 7-9
(The Fifth Trumpet)

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John saw this course of events and later on, an angel spoke to him about it:

 

Revelation 17:8   The beast [the dragon], which you saw, once was [visible], now is not [visible], and will come out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have notbeen written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast[the dragon], because he was [visible], now is not [visible], and yet will come [up out of the Abyss and be visible].

 

So, what does the Bible teach?

 

              1              2                   3                        4

----------x-----------x--------------x------1,260-----x------------

           4BC         AD30           538                    1798

                              x--------out of sight-------------------------x

                  Cast into Earth                                          At fifth trumpet

                                                                                    comes up out of Earth

 

Now that you have some background information, let’s read Revelation 9:1-11:

 

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.

 

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   And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earthand were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.

 

Revelation 9:4   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. [actually, those in opposition to the claims of the devil will be tormented, the non-religious wicked, the devil cannot touch those having been sealed, nor will he harm his followers]

 

Revelation 9:5   They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture themfor five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of a sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man.

 

Revelation 9:6   During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

Revelation 9:7   The locusts looked like horses prepared to do battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.

 

Revelation 9:8   Their hair was like woman’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.

 

Revelation 9:9   They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings were like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

 

Revelation 9:10   They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.

 

Revelation 9:11   They had a king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.” 

 

The words, Abaddon and Apollyon mean the same thing, “destroyer.” God wants Jew and Gentile alike (this is why there the Hebrew and Greek language is used) to identify this enemy.

 

Looking at God’s use of Destroyer

Let’s start with Revelation 9:11 since you already understand the full cup principle. The full cup principle is this: When a nation or group of people reach a point where extended mercy does not produce a redeeming effect, God sends a destroyer. The destroyer may be called to impose redemptive judgments or totally destructive judgments. Here’s an example of the full cup principle:

 

God told Jeremiah:

 

Jeremiah 4:5   “Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say: ‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’ Cry aloud and say: ‘Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities!’ 

 

Jeremiah 4:6   Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bring disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.”

 

Jeremiah 4:7   A lion has come out of his lair; a destroyerof nations has set out. He has left his place to lay waste your land. Your towns will lie in ruins without inhabitant…

 

Jeremiah 4:16   “Tell this to the nations, proclaim it to Jerusalem: ‘A besieging armyis coming from a distant land, raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.

 

Jeremiah 4:18   “Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!”

 

Jeremiah 4:22   “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know now how to do good.”

Jeremiah 5:15   O house of Israel,” declares the Lord, “I am bringing a distant nation against you – an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand.

 

Jeremiah 5:16   Their quivers are like an open grave, all of them are mighty warriors.

 

Jeremiah 5:17   They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters, they will devour your flocks and herds; devour your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.

 

Jeremiah 25:8   Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words,

 

Jeremiah 25:9   I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroythem and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin.”

 

Nebuchadnezzar, king of ancient Babylon, was empowered by God to be the destroyer of Israel. In a parallel way, Lucifer, king of modern Babylon, will be released upon the whole world to destroy Earth.

 

There is significance in the Hebrew and Greek names: Apollyon and Abaddon.  This name represents a curse for Jew and gentile alike. The devil will be physically released from the Abyss [spirit realm] to bring the drama of sin to a close. The Antichrist and his angels will be on Earth 445 days.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3   Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day [the Second Coming]will not come until the rebellion occurs [a world-wide rebellion against the everlasting gospel will bring the gospel of Jesus to a stand still]and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:4   He will oppose and will exult himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple [receiving the worship reserved for God], proclaiming himself to be God.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:5   Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?

 

2 Thessalonians 2:6   And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:7   For the secret power of lawlessness [rebellion] is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. [After corporate intercession has ended]

 

2 Thessalonians 2:8   And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:9   The coming of the lawless one will [appear to be divine and glorious, but it will] be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.   

 

2 Thessalonians 2:10   and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because [they heard and] they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:11   For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie

 

2 Thessalonians 2:12   and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but delighted in wickedness.”

 

End Text:

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