Presents
Pamphlet 1864 Rev. kc 26
Presents
Pamphlet 1864 Rev. kc 26
Since we can't see with flesh eyes a "soul" or "spirit" being cut in half with a "tradition of men" or blown up with a deadly "lie bomb" or slowly suffocated with "dragon gas", in the book of Revelation God has chosen to illustrate what is actually occurring by using common analogies familiar to man.
We've all seen graphic Hollywood productions both on TV
and in the movies depicting the atrocities and bloodshed
of war.
Worse yet, we've all seen, and even are seeing today, graphic media coverage of the wars of the 20th Century.
Those who die in these flesh and blood conflicts lose
their physical lives and terminate their tabernacle,
their temporary dwelling in the flesh body.
It
is called the "first death" which
happens to ALL human beings,
whether
violently or peaceably or quickly or slowly or painfully or painlessly.
For flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50).
We have been instructed in the 6th
chapter of Ephesians to put on the gospel armour
to prepare to stand in battle against
the fiery darts of the wicked one and his army.
It is spiritual warfare and it is your worst nightmare!
Ephes. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We are about to engage in the greatest "spiritual warfare", the greatest tribulation,of all of humanity, which can cause the "second death", not of the flesh, but of the very "soul".
In this 9th chapter of the Book of Revelation
we are seeing the Holy Spirit's advanced coverage of
the major battles of this end time war.
Think about how incredible that is!
In other words we are reading and seeing future news coverage of future events!
And
of course since we can't see with flesh eyes a "soul" or "spirit" being
cut in half with a "tradition of men" or blown up with a deadly "lie bomb"
or slowly suffocated with "dragon gas",
He
has chosen to illustrate what is actually occurring by using common analogies
familiar to man.
So in this 9th chapter we have been reading of Satan's
army likened to a swarm of locusts
which darken the sky and devour every living thing in
their path.
And their infliction of lies into the minds of men and
women are like the sting of a scorpion,
quick and venomous, drugging the nervous system (the
mind) of its victims.
Do you remember on Pentecost Day
in Acts chapter two when Peter stood up
and explained what the Galileans
were speaking of in the tongue, meaning language,
that was understood by every dialect
of every nationality present?
He quoted from the Book of Joel concerning the last days,
these days and those just ahead,
when God would pour out His spirit on His sons and daughters
and they would prophesy, meaning
teach from the prophets, like Joel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, etc.
Well, the Book of Joel gives even
greater detail about this locust army
and we learn there that though
it is Satan and his troops who come against us,
God Himself is in complete control
of this army and allows it,
uses it, as a means of chastisement,
of correction,
whereby many of His children can
be brought to salvation.
You must understand the Book of Joel to understand the locust army.
Read it today!
Let's pick it up with verse 5 in chapter 9 of Revelation concerning the locusts:
Rev. 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
They do not have "first death" rights to kill flesh.
Again, this is spiritual warfare and swarming locusts are not going to eat people.
Now LOOK!
Did you notice there is something in tomorrow's newsreel that is very revealing (what a great title for this book)?
Did you notice how long the locust army has to do its thing?
Five Months!
Remember in Mark 13:20 and Matthew 24:22 concerning this
tribulation period that Jesus said
He was going to shortened the length of time, otherwise
no flesh would be saved?
Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Five months!
Even more remarkable is that the season of actual locusts is always from May to September.
Five months!
Let's see, that would be from Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles.
Hmmmm!
Did you know that Jesus Christ was
born on the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles?
(If not, read appendix 179 in the Companion Bible if
you are blessed to have one.)
Do you think His second advent
will be in like manner?
Verse 6:
Rev. 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
Rev. 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
And they believed him!
Boom!
Rev. 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
Another of the characteristics of the locusts is that they are powerful, like horses prepared unto battle.
We learned in the first four seals (chapter 6) when we discussed the Four Horses that "horses" are symbolic of power.
These locusts are powerful men who appear as royalty, Christ's own ministers.
And they wear crowns LIKE gold, i.e. they are imitators.
Let's call it "fool's gold" for only fools will believe it's real gold, because fools don't care to read the Word of God.
[8] And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
She looks lovely and oh so gentle and sweet.
But when you go to kiss her she opens her mouth and shows a set of chompers that would scare Dracula himself!
And when she takes those lion's
teeth and bites your face,
she'll rip and tear and shred
you to pieces like lions do to their prey.
Get the PICTURE of what's happening to the "inner man"?
Nice folk, these gentle looking liars of Satan's own, wouldn't you say?
This description tends to make the expression "A wolf in sheep's clothing" seem like a desirable alternative.
[9] And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
Well, as we've discussed many times before,
if you've read the rest of the books of the Bible before
you get to Revelation then this verse is easy.
Go back and read Exodus 28 and the description of the breastplates that were worn by the PRIESTS.
These
dudes of the locust army will appear as Priests of God,
i.e. royalty as we learned in the prior verse.
Want documentation that Satan's ministers will appear disguised as Christ's ministers?
Paul, tell 'em!
2 Cor. 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
And by the way, the breastplates
that the Levitical Priests wore were made of precious materials
with gold rings and chains
and inlaid with the 12 precious gems of the 12 Tribes of Israel.
The breastplates worn by Satan's priests are made of iron, figuratively of course.
You get the contrasting Pictures?
One more thing in Rev. 9:9.
If
you are familiar with the Book of Ezekiel, especially chapters 1, 9 &
10,
you'll
will know that these "locusts" also have very high-tech transportation.
The "world" calls them UFO's because they haven't studied God's Word to learn their identity.
Those who have studied Ezekiel call them IFO's, Identified Flying Objects.
Rev. 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
They can sting for five months
the minds of those who have not the seal of God in their foreheads
and inject into their victims
their deadly poisonous venom.
[11] And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
It is even written in the Proverbs:
Proverbs 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
They are men and they have the
fallen angel as their king,
the one who has fallen even
to where the bottomless pit ends, at eternal death.
And they march to the command of their king, the rider of the first white horse, who leads the assault on our peoples.
Let's next look up in Strong's Concordance the names Satan is given here.
Abaddon, Greek #3; of Hebrew origin [#11 abaddown]; a destroying angel - Abaddon.Apollyon, Greek #623; active participle of Greek #622 (appolumi); a destroyer (i.e. Satan) - Appollyon.
Here's another interesting fact for those who really want to study in depth.
There is an advantage in understanding scripture if you are familiar with the original languages, Hebrew, Greek and Chaldean.
That doesn't mean that you need to speak them, but to
become
familiar with them
and how to "break back" the English with a Strong's Concordance.
Here's an example why as we look at two more words from two of the most commonly quoted verses in scripture:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2 Thes. 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Don't ever let someone tell you the son of perdition is Judas or anyone else other than Satan himself!
Satan is the son who will perish!
It is his name!
[12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
If you have not the seal of God in your forehead it's your worst nightmare!
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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