Month: August 2015

They had as their king the angel of the abyss, his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. Revelation 9:11 HCSB

The Hebrew word translated as Abaddon means “destroyer” or “destruction”. This word occurs six times in the Old Testament and is linked with Sheol, the place of the dead. The Hebrew word comes from the root word that means “perish”. It takes on the meaning of destruction, especially as related to death. In some cases the word has been translated to the Devil. This Hebrew word only appears in the New Testament in this verse in Revelation.

The Greek form of the word translated Apollyon comes from the root word “apoleia” which appears in the New Testament 20 times and has the same meaning of “destruction” or “ruin”. The word Apollyon only occurs in this verse in Revelation.

The angel of the abyss is most likely the Devil. He is the fallen angel or the fallen star from heaven that is mentioned in Revelation 9:1. The Scriptures tell us that Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven. Matthew 25:41 reminds us that at judgment those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior will be cast into the place of torment that has been prepared for Satan and his angels. Judgment is coming for those who oppose God.

Challenge: Which side are you on? The Devil’s side or God’s side? The Devil will only destroy and bring ruin into your life, both now and in the future. God on the other hand brings abundant life. Praise God for the abundant life you have through Jesus Christ, His Son.

The appearance of the locusts was like horses equipped for battle. Something like gold crowns was on their heads; their faces were like men’s faces; they had hair like women’s hair; their teeth were like lions’ teeth; they had chests like iron breastplates; the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses rushing into battle; and they had tails with stingers like scorpions, so that with their tails they had the power to harm people for five months. Revelation 9:7-10 HCSB

One of my favorite movies is “Back to the Future” starring Michael J. Fox. It is a story about a young man who is transported back in time. He finds himself in the 1950’s when his parents were teenagers and dating. One of the struggles he has is in explaining what the future looks like to those in the 1950’s. At a drug store he asks for a diet Pepsi but diet Pepsi has not even been invented yet. It is hard to explain to people something they have never seen or experienced.

Some have suggested that in these verses John is describing a helicopter. He was using a scorpion as his point of reference because that is something the people to whom he was writing would understand. Imagine trying to explain what a helicopter looks like to someone who has never seen a helicopter. Just like a helicopter, John says the locusts were equipped for battle. The gold crowns could be the large blades. The faces could be the faces of the pilots. The hair and teeth could be some type of decoration or country symbols. The chests would appear to be like iron. The sound of the blades could sound like chariots. The tail of a helicopter could look like a scorpion’s tail rising up into the air. These verses could be describing the final battle of Armageddon with many helicopters. No one is sure, but we know that these evil machines or locusts were designed to bring torment to the people of the world.

Challenge: Someday the end of time is coming and there will be great evil and torment. Are you prepared for those days? Through faith in Jesus Christ you can be assured that you will escape the torment of the end times. Thank God for His loving mercy and patience.

In those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them. Revelation 9:6 HCSB

Wikipedia reports that Jack Kevorkian was best known for publicly championing a terminal patient’s right to die via physician-assisted suicide; he claimed to have assisted at least 130 patients to that end. He is often portrayed in the media as “Dr. Death”. In 1999, Kevorkian was arrested and tried for his direct role in a case of voluntary euthanasia. He was convicted of second-degree murder and served eight years of a 10-25 year prison sentence. He was released on parole in 2007 and died in 2011.

There are people who have terminal illnesses or who are in so much pain that they wish they could die. Some have sought people like Jack Kevorkian to assist them in dying. This verse in Revelation tells us that many people will seek to die because of the torment they will suffer. The end of this world will not be a pleasant experience for those who are still living. They will want to die, but death will flee from them.

Challenge: Pray for those who are experiencing life circumstances that cause them to want to die. Thank God for the life He has given you and pray that He will help you to use your life to be a blessing to others.

Then locusts came out of the smoke on to the earth, and power was given to them like the power that scorpions have on the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green plant, or any tree, but only people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill them but were to torment them for five months; their torment is like the torment caused by a scorpion when it strikes a man. Revelation 9:3-4 HCSB

The first time I can remember seeing a locust was as a boy in Amarillo, Texas. A locust is a small insect with wings and a hard shell that is seasonally shed. At times just the shell of a locust can be found still on the tree. The reason I remember my first encounter with locusts is that there seemed to be hundreds of them. They were all over the trees causing destruction because they ate the vegetation of the trees. At night the loud noises the locusts made with their wings could be heard like an a capella choir.

John was trying to describe what he saw by using human terms that would easily be understood. The locusts most likely represented the evil spirits of this world. These demons went throughout the earth tempting people to sin. They were not created by Satan, but rather by God. Demons are fallen angels who have joined Satan’s evil army to tempt and destroy people. They cannot do anything without God’s permission. Demons try to pervert, distort, and destroy a person’s relationship with the living God. They are corrupt and deceptive and seek to bring destruction to all who believe in God and Jesus Christ.

Challenge: Even though John was describing the end of time, there are evil spirits in the world today seeking to destroy you. Pray for strength to stand strong against the evil forces all around you and pray for God’s deliverance during times of temptation.

The fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth. The key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him. Revelation 9:1 HCSB

The Life Application Bible says it is uncertain if the “star” represents Satan, a fallen angel, Christ, or a good angel. Most likely it is a good angel, because the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit is normally held by Christ, and it was temporarily given to another being from heaven. This heavenly being is still under the control of Christ and His authority.

The fifth angel and trumpet represent the fifth judgment of God on those who refuse to believe in Jesus. The judgments started as each of the seven seals of the scroll were broken. (see Revelation 8:7-11:19) With each seal that is broken the judgments became progressively harsh.

The abyss was a bottomless pit. It is the realm of the dead (Romans 10:7); it is where the beast abides (Revelation 11:7); it is the place of demons (Luke 8:31); and in this passage it is the home for the demon locusts.

Challenge: God is a God of love and mercy but He is also the God of justice and judgment. You have the opportunity to accept Christ and receive God’s love and mercy or you can choose to reject Jesus as Lord and suffer God’s judgment. Thank God for His great love and mercy.

They said with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! Revelation 5:12-13 HCSB

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:10, “so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord. That includes the worst of sinners and the best of believers. This verse confirms what John is telling us in Revelation. Not only will every person proclaim Jesus as Lord, but every creature and everything God created will praise Jesus and pronounce that He is worthy. Even Satan will bow and proclaim Jesus as Lord.

Note what He is worthy of: power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. He will have dominion over everything forever and ever! What is inspiring is that as believers, Jesus will share with us everything He has. Because we are His children and He loves us, we will receive all of the riches and glory of heaven. It is hard to imagine what a wonderful day that will be.

Challenge: Jesus is worthy of our praise and honor today and forever. Spend some time in prayer praising Jesus for who He is, for what He has done for you, and for what He will someday do for you in heaven.

And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:9 HCSB

I can remember the racial tensions in the United States back in the 1960’s. As unimaginable as it seems today, African Americans were not allowed to drink out of certain water fountains and some restaurants refused to serve them. Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of a bus, thereby beginning a change in our nation where everyone regardless of skin color was considered equal.

This verse tells us that there will be people from every tribe and nation in heaven. There is no prejudice in heaven; everyone is welcome. Jesus loves everyone regardless of his or her skin color, social position, political party, or even his or her intelligence.

Challenge: Love everyone as Jesus loves them. Open your arms and accept those who are not like you. Praise God that He has accepted you into His kingdom.

Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. Revelation 5:6 HCSB

Jesus lived a perfect life without sin and is worthy to be the perfect lamb of God (see John 1:29) that paid the penalty for the sins of the world. The lamb symbolized the submission to God’s will. In verse 5 Jesus is referred to as the Lion from the tribe of Judah. The lion symbolized the authority and power of Jesus. When John looked at the lion he saw only a slaughtered lamb.

In Old Testament times the priests slaughtered a lamb on the altar as an atonement for the sins of the people. The lamb was to be perfect without any blemishes. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the perfect lamb of God. He was perfect and was without any sin in order to become the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Christ, the lamb, willingly gave His life on the cross so we could be forgiven. Christ, the lion, will lead the battle against all evil and defeat Satan. Christ, the lion, will be victorious because of what Christ, the lamb, has already done on the cross.

Challenge: Praise God for providing the perfect sacrifice for your sins so you can be forgiven and receive eternal life. Read Hebrews 10:1-18.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals. Revelation 5:5 HCSB

The “Lion from the tribe of Judah” and the “Root of David” was an indication of Jesus’ lineage from the tribe of David. The promised Messiah would come from the house of David. John then describes Jesus as being the One who has been victorious. He has defeated sin and the penalty of sin so that everyone can experience forgiveness and gain eternal life with God in heaven.

Jesus proved Himself worthy to break the seals on the scroll and pronounce judgment on the world by living a perfect life of obedience to God without ever sinning, by dying on the cross for the sins of the world, and by rising from the dead to prove His power and authority over death. He has conquered sin, the evil of our world, death, hell, and Satan. Only He is worthy and qualified to open the scroll and its seven seals.

Challenge: Praise God that you have won victory over sin through Jesus Christ. As a believer you now have victory over death and will have eternal life in heaven. Praise God!!!

Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and the back, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to the open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. Revelation 5:1-3 HCSB

In today’s computer-driven world I am constantly asked to provide a password to get into the website or account information. A password is required to access my computer, my phone, my bank accounts, and my retirement fund account. I keep a list of the various passwords that I might need because I cannot remember all of them. A password is important because it keeps people from acquiring information that is private and not intended for their use.

The scroll was sealed and no one had access to its information. Just as I am the only person who knows the passwords to my account information, there is only one person who is able to access the information contained in the scrolls. Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world by His death on the cross. He is the only One who is qualified to open the scrolls and gain access to its information. The scrolls contained God’s plan for the future and the judgment of those who do not accept Jesus as Lord.

Challenge: Through Jesus you have access to the kingdom of God and all of its riches and glory. The one and only access code for heaven is: J-E-S-U-S. Jesus is the only way to forgiveness of sins and eternal life (see John 14:6). Thank God for providing a way for you to have access to heaven.