Bible Commentaries

Church Victorious! Chapters 8-11 (Luk 18:7)

In this section of chapters, we again return to the First Coming of Christ. The Seals [of persecution] bring Trumpets [warning of Judgment] which bring Bowls [of judgment poured out]. Chapter 8 is God's pledge of destruction on unbelievers. It shows God's vengeance through the ages of time - by the medium of natural disasters. The first four Trumpets are sent by God as a warning! Notice that the Seals, Trumpets, Bowls of Wrath, and similar symbols, refer to Principles - of man's conduct and God's discipline - that are at work throughout history. The events symbolized by the Trumpets may be seen any day of the year in any part of the earth. Therefore, Trumpets are simultaneous with Seals.

I saw a star. The star is Satan (Luke 10:18 "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."). Which had fallen. The Devil rebelled against God, lost his holiness, his position in heaven, and his glory. Was given the key. In the vision John sees the authority to release the forces of evil given to Satan.

Opened the abyss. This is "hell" before the Judgment. After Judgment hell is the "lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14-15). Were made dark by the smoke. Satan opens the abyss and fills the world with demons and evil influence. The society of men is "darkened" by the moral and spiritual wickedness created through Satan's influence.

Locusts came down. Compare Joel 1:7-12. Locusts look like a giant grasshopper. A swarm of locusts drops down out of the sky, like smoke, darkening the sun-light, falling on the farmer's fields and quickly stripping every leaf off the growing plants. Locusts, then, symbolize destruction, grief, hopelessness, despair. Locusts are just the right symbol for John to use to describe the forces of evil which pour out from the abyss, bringing horror and destruction. This kind of locust does not harm the grass, or trees, or any plant. They can only harm those who do not have God's seal. God's people are sealed (Revelation 7:1-8), and have the promise: "he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Not allowed to kill these men. God has placed a limitation on these evil spirits who operate in the hearts and lives of evil men and women. They are destructive, horribly Revelation 9:6-10 give a symbolic picture of these "locusts from the abyss." Do not try to "pick apart" the symbol of the locusts [what is the separate meaning of the hair, teeth, breastplates, etc.], We look at these verses as a "whole" - a symbolic picture giving one central meaning. The details belong to the picture as a whole. What more frightening, horrible, and true picture could be painted, of the powers of evil at work in the world of men? Here are demons, stealing the light from those who do not know God [who do not want to know God]. They take away love and good will; joy and peace: common sense and knowledge. They cause mankind to bring terror and destruction upon each other. They bring political and social chaos [think of the Red Guards in China; the French Revolution, etc,]. Man's inhumanity to man is the source of incredible misery and suffering!

They have a king. Their king is the angel in charge of the abyss. His name is given in Hebrew and Greek - meaning "the Destroyer." This entire symbolic picture shows one central idea: terror-panic-destruction! That is Satan's work, [In view of this, think about what Paul wrote: "He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). See also Ephesians 6:12.]

The first honor is over. It is over in John's vision. See Revelation 9:20-21.

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet. As this angel blows, a voice is heard coming from the corners of the gold altar standing before God. In Revelation 8:3-4, we saw the incense and the prayers of God's people go up from the altar to the Throne of God. Here, the answer to those prayers is spoken of as coming from the "corners of the gold altar." God uses the work of the Devil to bring warning of judgment or warning judgments on wicked men.

Release the four angels. These are evil angels. Note they have been bound at the great river. [The four angels of Revelation 7:1 are good angels, who "stand at the four corners of the earth."] As these evil angels are released, the same powers of evil that do the work of destruction in the hearts and lives of men, change these wicked men into devils (so to speak). In times of war, wicked people lose the thin veneer of morality and civilization [the atrocities of any war show this]. The sixth Trumpet paints a picture of war; not one specific war, but ALL WAR - past, present, and future. The four evil angels are pleased with the idea of plunging all mankind into war. Yet they cannot act unless God permits [they were bound]! Let us keep in mind, that in allowing them to be released, God uses even war as a voice calling for the wicked to repent (compare Revelation 9:20-21). [The Trumpets of Revelation 7:2-3 note); but to the unbeliever, this pain and suffering is a Trumpet of warning!] The great river Euphrates. This symbolizes Assyria and Babylon, therefore, the entire wicked world.