Scripture Text: Revelation 9:1-21
[1] And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.
[11] They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
Revelation 9:1&11 (ESV)
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils,” C. S. Lewis wrote. “One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
The judgments of the fifth trumpet confirm the existence of fallen angels. An angel figuratively described as a star falls to earth and releases a demonic host from the Abyss. Who gave him the key? Since the Abyss seems to be a prison, we can assume that his authority to release them comes from God. When Jesus cast the demon out of the man who lived among the tombs, they begged Him not to send them into the Abyss.
The power of satanic forces is on display. Unlike ordinary locusts that feed on crops, these creatures will attack humans and torment them for five months. They are directed by Abaddon or Apollyon, whose name means “Destroyer.” In the Old Testament, Abaddon was the place of the dead. The devil uses the fear of death to enslave us, but Jesus has broken this power by His own death.
At the sixth trumpet, a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar calls for the release of “the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates” (v. 14). The fact that they are “bound” suggests that they are fallen angels who bring with them a mounted army whose purpose is to kill a third of mankind (v. 18). Surprisingly those who survive are not fazed by any of this. They refuse to repent from their sin.
Reflect
1. How assured am I of my faith in Jesus Christ?
2. What steps do I need to make to strengthen my faith in Him?
3. How serious do I consider the Great Tribulation? Or is it just trivial to me?
Remember
During the Great Tribulation, when Satanic powers are unleashed, conditions will be so frightening that people will desire death and attempt suicide. However, they won't have the ability to end their own lives. Those who escape these hardships through genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be blessed.
Read
Deuteronomy32:17–27; Luke 8:31; John 10:10; Hebrews 2:14
Pray
Heavenly Father, as I reflect on the challenging times described in the Great Tribulation, I am reminded of the fearsome conditions and the despair that may lead people to desire death. In the face of such darkness, I am grateful for the assurance that those who have genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will find refuge and blessings.
Lord, in the midst of trials, help me to cultivate a faith that is unwavering and genuine. Grant me the strength to trust in Your sovereignty and redemptive plan. May my heart be anchored in the hope that only comes through a sincere relationship with Jesus Christ. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
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