From The Abyss | Revelation 9:1-12

Scripture

• Revelation 9:1–12

About this sermon

I mentioned last week how prone we are to read about things that God did in Old and New Testament times, say we fully believe those things took place, then find ourselves doubting that very similar things WILL TAKE PLACE in the future though the Word of God says they will. We somehow believe in things in the past, that we struggle to believe will take place in the future. We saw how the first four trumpet judgments resemble the plagues that God sent upon Egypt when He set His people free. The tribulation judgments are different with respect to scope and intensity, but the nature of the judgments themselves is very much the same. Those first four trumpet judgments are severe. But what follows THOSE judgments is even worse. There are several indicators that the 5th trumpet judgment represents a significant progression in God’s judgment upon the world. First, these last three trumpets were set apart from the first four by the appearance of the eagle that announced the three woes. Second, this fifth trumpet is specifically identified as the first woe. Third, there is much more space given to the description of the fifth and sixth trumpets than the first four all put together. Fourth, the judgments in the first four trumpets affected the earth, men were affected indirectly. Here, men are DIRECTLY affected. Fifth, the first four judgments and the suffering inflicted by them were inflicted by disturbances in nature. This particular judgment represents a disturbance by demons. Our verses can divided into four parts. 1. The pit opened (vs.1-5) 2. The pursuit denied (vs.6) 3. The prisoners described (vs.7-11) 4. The proclamation of additional woes (vs.12) I. THE PIT OPENED (vs.1-5) One of the exciting things to me about the book of Revelation is that if you pay close attention to the language, you know how to interpret what John is describing. And we meet with an example of that as we open this chapter. A. THE STAR FROM HEAVEN In the first four trumpets we read about stars, and there was nothing in the text to indicate that they were not literal stars. Or to put it positively, it seems clear that literal stars are in view. But IT IS JUST AS CLEAR that THE STAR SPOKEN OF HERE has personal characteristics. (him, he, (vs.1-2)) We saw this earlier in the book of Revelation when the stars in the right hand of Christ are the messengers of the seven churches. So, this is a star only in a symbolic sense. IN FACT, WHAT JOHN SEES IN THIS VISION IS HIGHLY SYMBOLIC. IT REPRESENTS A REAL FORCE TO BE UNLEASHED ON THE WORLD OF HUMANITY, BUT HE IS SEEING THAT DEPICTED IN TERMS FAMILIAR TO HIM AND TO THE READERS. WHO IS THIS STAR? We are not told and there is a difference of opinion among interpreters. But of all the possibilities there are two that seem most likely. 1. SOME SEE IT AS A REFERENCE TO SATAN This would not be seen as a reference to his original fall but rather another kind of fall that is described in Revelation 12:7-9. We know Satan still has a certain access to God’s presence, such as his appearance before God when asking permission to test Job. But it seems that at some point during the tribulation period, that access will be taken away and his activity will be completely restricted to the earth — a time when he will know that his time is limited and his activity becomes even more fierce. John MacArthur reflects this view. “The fall of Satan described in 9:1 is not his original rebellion. Though he and the angels who fell with him (cf. 12:4) were banished from heaven, Satan retains access to God’s presence, where he constantly accuses believers (12:10; Job 1:6). But during the Tribulation he and his demon hosts will unsuccessfully battle Michael and the holy angels. As a result of their defeat, they will be permanently cast down to the earth. Revelation 12:7–9 describes that battle scene: And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Prophecy & End Times