Revelation 9:1-12

The Bottomless Pit

Introduction:

            Still not looking at a particularly pleasant passage of Scripture

            Some have called this passage the Second Passover

            Last time we looked at the beginning of the Trumpet Judgments

                        -Earth was assaulted:  Hail, fire mingled with blood

                        -Salt water:  1/3 turned to blood, creatures died, ships destroyed

                        -Fresh water became bitter

                        -Heavenly bodies affected:  1/3 of sun smitten, moon and stars

Saw the cry of 8:13

            -Now see a picture of “hell on earth”

            -almost like turning every prisoner loose w/o restraint

            -only magnified by many fold

I believe that during this time God’s witnesses are still preaching salvation

            2 Peter 3:9 “God is not willing that any should perish….”

I.                   The Un-named personality v. 1

1.      A star which had fallen out of heaven v. 1

*Is more than a force, referred to as a person

*v. 1 him and v. 2 he

2.  Who might this be?   Satan himself

                  Isaiah 14:12 refers to Lucifer as fallen from heaven

                  Luke 10:18 Jesus referred to seeing Satan fall as lightning from

Heaven

Rev. 12:7-9 could be looking at this same event

II.                 The Unlocked Pit v. 2

1.      The bottomless pit = the abyss

2.      Those who are there:

Luke 8:26-31  Jude 6

3.      Keys given to Satan to open the pit

*Note again that Satan’s power is very limited

*Almost as if God is saying to the world, “OK, if you don’t want me here is a taste of what is to come.”

*At the same time God’s witnesses are saying, “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, come to Him and live.”

III.              The Unleashed power of the pit

1.      Power unleashed vv. 2-3

Came forth with power over the earth:  given by God Himself

2.      Who are these locusts?

Not real locusts:

            *don’t eat vegetation

            *v. 11 they have a king over them

            *Ex. 10:14 God promised not to judge like that again

These locusts represent Satan’s demons being set free

3.      A description of these demons:

Taken from Dr. David Jeremiah:

1)      Mighty creatures:  Like horses prepared for battle: strength/power

2)      Invulnerable: v. 7  Going forth to win the battle

3)      Intelligent: faces of men

4)      Intriguing: v. 8a

“The locust’s hair is said to be like women’s hair, which speaks of their seductiveness.  Women’s hair is the ancient world was a tool of seduction, and, just as women employed their beauty to get what they wanted, so the locusts will have seductive skills in accomplishing their goals.”

5)      Inhuman creatures:  v. 8 lion-like teeth speaks of their power and ability to rip and destroy their prey

6)      Indestructible creatures v. 9

Vulnerable only to the name and power of Jesus Christ

7)      Impressive creatures:  v. 9 See in sound with which they come forth

IV.              The Damage of the Creatures v. 10

1.      Great Pain:  Sting of scorpion sets nerve center on fire, victim wants to die

2.      Suffering is prolonged:  Doesn’t sting and leave but goes on for 5 months

Locusts life span is May – Sept.

3.      Suffering is personal or selective:  Only those who don’t belong to God

What must go through the minds of non-believers when they are in horrible pain and suffering and believers are not?

Especially when they share the availability of the gospel?

I think that their hearts will be hardened.  That is what happened to Pharaoh in Egypt

4.      Suffering is Perpetual v. 6  Sounds like hell itself

“Where worm dies not and fire is not quenched”

v. 12 ends with a warning:  “there is more to come!”

Ezekiel 33:11

Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’