God's Judgment of Spiritual Woe & The Only Protection

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

This book of Revelation first mystery was given with tat great vision of the Risen Ascended and Ruling Jesus, but most particularly as He holds the seven stars, and walks among the seven lampstands. Christ’s presence with partners in witness and partners in tribulation. But the action unfolds in this book - when the Lion who is the Lamb, from heaven opens the scroll - containing the wondrous history of God working in this world and in each one of our lives. Scroll that unleashes two great actions of God in this world - judgments and deliverance! And we’ve seen with the seals - point is great comfort for God’s people - we see these judgments on the whole of society -4 horsemen, but then a fifth vision its of God’s peoples prayers , and the sixth of warning of ultimate judgment, but it doesn’t come - and do you remember why - the sealing of God’s people - ultimate protection. The 7 seals are revealed for the comfort of God’s people - deliverance in the midst of judgment in this world, the wrath of God ...

Then the 7th seal is opened, and final judgment doesn’t come, but it opens into a cycle of 7 more judgments told from a slightly different perspective. And remember before they begin, John is given that picture again of the prayers of all God's people mixed with smoke from altar of incense - and the angel throws the answer to those prayers down - and the action begins again - but this time not about the comfort f God’s people. The theme of these seven trumpet judgments is warning to the unbelieving unrepentant, rejecters of Christ in this world! Last week in the first 4 trumpet judgments we saw - instead of 1/4 of the earth being affected, now increasing to 1/3rd - and the creation itself - sea - earth, water supply, and gloomy darkness - creation in bondage to decay - not just man destroying his environment, but curse of God - allowing evil to take its course - wake up call, like 4 riders of the horses of the apocalypse -

But now just like with the 7 seals being opened, you get 4 the number of the whole earth, and then the 5th taken up to see from heaven - but this time instead of the smoke of incense in prayer - see stench and gloom of a spiritual dense smoke from this supernatural pit and what do we see? Not an army of physical locusts, nor of human nations, but an army of fallen angels, of demons, And who are they under the command of the Destroyer. And what is there objective - not like the first plagues judgments upon the physical creation designed to call this earth back to God and His ways. But this terrible WOE, the first of three are specifically targeted to those without God’s seal. To unbelievers. And the plague these spiritual beings inflict is not death or any other physical attack. But a demonic, spiritual psychological torment. Now regardless of when you might believe this happens - Just like God is calling you to have your biggest Revelation not of the end times millennial reign ,tribulation, but of Jesus so too here, you are now to have a Revelation an aha moment - who Satan is and what He is doing in this world especially with those who don’t believe. So far only mention of his throne in city of Pergamum and the synagogue of Satan in false religion of Judaizers in Philadelphia. But 9 chapters and no description of the prime enemy his activities, and plans. But now in central part of the book - with last three woes, into 7 thunders, and 7 bowls of wrath - before the final judgments - we will see the conflict between Satan and Christ and His church in this world, and this passage - reveals a mystery of how Satan is at work and even more how God deals with evil and unbelief.

Key Truth: Those deceived to live life in bondage to demonic power without God, will end up tormented by those powers, but Christ can free them!

A. There’s a Door to Heaven and a Door from the Abyss

This is the overpoweringly great news and overpowering vision of the book: Rev 4:1

Revelation 4:1 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Live in a supernatural world - where God abode in the fullness of glory - not cut off from us - where He sent His Son into our world, His Son works salvation, where He ascends back into heaven to reign heaven and earth. Just saw sends an angel ascends from the rising sun - seals God’s people. All great realities we have experienced, and when we worship even like foretaste John received come up here. But as John introduces the struggle and conflict that this world is locked in, that believer’s in the 7 churches, and believers in this whole church age are living - make sense of God’s judgment in the world, of the evil suffering, tribulation, and now here particularly the spiritual judgment that God releases on unbelievers. There is great mystery here that believers must get if they are to do their big part that the book of revelation is describing which is real prayer and real witness!

But before we can understand the woe, the judgment, the warning unbelievers experience in this world, you need to get your spiritual geography straight. In the ancient world the Bible was written in there is a tripartite - a three story universe there are the heavens, the earth, the abyss. And through out the Bible there is interaction and passage between these spiritual realms. And it should be clear to us that an angel, that is what they are often called in the OT, an angel has fallen from heaven down to this realm. Never described of how a good angel descends, but always a angel following Satan in rebellion with God Isaiah 14 describes God casting down Babylon the same way he cast down Satan in the dawn of creation. He lost his place, and 1/3rd of the angels following him with them. And the Bible describes how those fallen angels - are kept until a time of punishment. Jude 13 and 2 Peter 2:17 describe this place of gloom and utter darkness where fallen angels held until the judgment. The Abyss, is neither sheol/Hades, the pace of the dead the afterlife with punishment and paradise side, nor is it the lake of fire of which we read evil and death, and evil doers, and yes Satan and the beast himself, after having been released from the Abyss for a while at the very end - hell the lake of fire is that place of ultimate and everlasting torment. But the Abyss, is where many fallen angels locked up and even Satan himself during the time of the Millennium:

Rev 20:3

Revelation 20:3 ESV

and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

But its is clear from our passage that Satan isn’t always there, nor are all his demons always there. There are times when they are permitted to greatly influence on the earth - to dwell in people or animals. And remember what they plead when Jesus casts them out: Luke 8:31

Luke 8:31 ESV

And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.

So do you get the spiritual geography, there is a place where angels fallen, become demons are restrained and kept in prison as it where called the abyss. The OT and Jewish literature describe the abyss like kiln for firing pots, roman era furnaces, charcoal in bottom chamber with tapered cylinders 6-8’ high, smoke billowing.

But what does God gives John a vision of here. The top of the shaft to the Abyss, has a door like a great hatch, a spiritual door with a key. And who has the key to not only Death and Hades, but to this Abyss, but Christ who has conquered, and And here is the hard part to understand,, God Himself gives the key to Satan. Great mystery God does not cause sin, or evil or suffering, or even death. Made a world where we would freely choose - and chosing disobedience unleashes all the death and gloom, and shame and anger and revulsion that Satan feels, wages of sin would be that. And God permits and allows Satan to be God’s tool in punishing sin and rebellion against him - with all this. You here that language don’t you - he was given, by God, and he was permitted. But just like with Job in the OT, Satan isn’t given absolute authority, and God not only spiritually protects his own with the seal, but until the last day, listen he limits the duration and the intensity of of these spiritual woes on unbelievers. Why - warning to repent. Why time for His witness? Why time for smoke of prayer of my people!

Do you see the limits, these judgments will be unleashed on unbelievers but not designed to finish them off: Rev 9:5

Revelation 9:5 ESV

They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone.

Like with Job, mystery God allows Satan to test even God’s own children in trail, but only this far and no further - and God’s children experiences trail and purify refining, and God ensures that Satan himself will not touch their soul, can’t darken their mind, can’t separate them from the love of God in Christ.

But for the unbeliever - though trials, and curse on this worked and now specific spiritual torment as a result of leaving God and His Christ out. Notice how Satan affects the unbeliver, it comes in two steps in this 5th trumpet plague.

B. Satan works on unbelievers with the Smoke of Deception

Especially from this point on, John is going to be describing God, haven, lion and Lamb, spoke of prayer and witness to truth, and then in contrast Satan, and the abyss, and Dragon & Beasts from chaos of the sea, describe smoke of deception not prayer, and a great false witness. And here is one of those first contrast pictured so graphically. In contrast to the smoke of the prayers of God’s people rising up like reverse thunder and then being answered in real answer and judgments on the earth; Satan’s smoke is pictured here like a great furnace the shaft opens - and not just the sun but the very air - the whole atmosphere is filled with half light, gloom and ash in air your breathing. Look at it Rev 9:2

Revelation 9:2 ESV

He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.

Smoke to both the Hebrew and Greek reader was a portend disaster! Watch out for what God would allow Satan to do to unbelievers, you who are not sealed with the HOly Spirit of God watch out

There are only two options in Revelation and in the Bible - either child of God or you are a deceived children of darkness, owned by Satan the deceiver and in bondage. Listen to how John put in plain language to these believers before in his letter: 1 John

But how does he do it, not an army of middle eastern or Russian descent fighting against God’s people described here. Army of demons who will keep unbelievers in bondage. Not just that the prince of the dark age, spirit at work in the sons of disobedience, - works like in 2 Cor 10 arguments that set its elf up , pretension about God, but they get tricked and then stung by this army of locusts!

C. Spirit-Locusts,Plant Poison Spiritual Stings in Unbelievers!

And here we need to be clear, while the OT, Deuteronomy speaks of plague of locusts that would destroy God’s people if refused to live in His covenant ways, and while Joel 2 repeats that saying army of locust as physical army from Babylon will take out those who break God’s way and turn to idol God’s. Now the warning of disaster is not physical starvation or military conquest. What John sees in vision he clearly says its a symbol a picture. Look at all the times he uses is was like…

Rev 9:3

Revelation 9:3 ESV

Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.

But unlike literal locusts the very thing they would want to eat the grass, these spiritual locust told can’t touch , no only focus on all those in this world not sealed by the Holy Spirit.!

And here they go: they torment, but can’t kill, and for limited time, 5 months approximate length of time of growing season and life of locust in this region. Unlike a real locust, the other image that is combined here is a scorpion in this region not deadly, but a long and lingering poison t-ta makes life miserable! They’ll be so inflicted with despair spiritually, wish dead, but too afraid of death - so live in this spiritual angst.

And you may say I don’t know anyone with a spiritual stinger in them. Oh really? Wait. The Bible says, sin has its own punishment built in -like the fruit on the forbidden tree, right down to your latest pet sin - big juicy Satanic promises - did God really say - live life on your own, don’t need God, be like God - call the shots - but there is a a baited hook, drive itself into your very soul. And the punishment of sin is that God gives you over to those corrupted desires - spiritually torment.

Derek Thomas, written much on Job and on this Book of Revelation. We seriously misunderstand the nature of God’s judgment is we only think of it as physical calamities falling on the earth. God gives man over to shameful lusts. Romans 1:26 unnatural passion all out of wack, led headlong into destruction. The very expressions of ungodliness in the world are evidence of the curse. Those who deny the existence of God’s judgments in this world are experiencing it! God has abandoned them to their folly. God does not destroy man, even in hell. Hell will be a confirmation of man’s choice: to live with the consequences of his own choice. Don’t want me, well have it your way.

Listen to how Romans 1:21,28 describes God giving them over:

Romans 1:21 ESV

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:28 ESV

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Let’s see how these armies of spiritual demon locusts have worked in history and how we must be aware it is working today. And lets see how God is the one who is in control of these judgments to brings deliverance in the midst of spiritual judgment.

D. The Working-out of Spiritual Judgment & Deliverance

We begin with our gospel of Luke text. We see that not only is Satan a fallen angel. One kicked out of heaven to earth. But that he is a falling angel. When the LORD Jesus Christ gospel, of His death and resurrection - when that goes out into the world, in people’s lives, Satan’s rule is broken in their lives, their home, their little corner of the earth. The seventy just came back and Jesus says, - I saw Satan fall like lightning. Not his being cast out of heaven. But his being cast out of a believers life. Well there are period s of time when Satan influence and bondage get particularly bad, when the hatch to the shaft wide open. One such time was in 66 AD. The Roman proconsul, a man named Gessius Florus, slaughtered 3,600 innocent citizens of Jerusalem, hoping to incite the Jewish nation to rebellion, so that he could violently put it down and destroy them. He carried out his slaughter over an exact period of five months, the same period mentioned in Revelation 9, in which the locusts could harm the human spirits of the unbelievers for five months.

But what is most interesting is how the Jewish historian, Josephus, was alive and writing at that time as an eye-witness in Jerusalem. He reports that this five months’ killing of 3,600 innocent citizens was the beginning of the end for Jerusalem and for the Jewish nation. He says that what happened in Jerusalem was like the letting loose of evil spirits from the abyss into the minds of that nation. And then he describes that there were zealots among the Christ rejecting people, like Satanic gangs they preyed on the citizens within the walls of Jerusalem more than the Romans attacking outside of the walls:

With their insatiable hunger for loot, they ransacked the houses of the wealthy, murdered men and violated women for sport. They drank their spoils with blood and for mere satiety they shamelessly gave themselves to effeminate practices, plaiting their hair and putting on women’s clothes, drenching themselves with perfumes and painting their eyelids to make themselves attractive. They copied not merely the dress, but also the passions of women, devising in their excess of licentiousness unlawful pleasures in which they wallowed as in a brothel. Thus they entirely polluted the city with their foul practices. Yet though they wore women’s faces, their hands were murderous; they would approach with mincing steps and suddenly become fighting men, and whipping out their swords from under their dyed cloaks, they would run through every passer-by. Revelation 9:3

The literature of the day, particularly Enoch - depicted demonic activity - with weird crossbreed of human and animal monster like. Of male and female all mixed up. Of hybrid of something so beautiful yet so deadly. And this is a depiction of how Satan’s lies will be beguiling, but really masking a brutal poisoning evil. But what it interesting, because of this before the Romans did come in 70 AD and decimate - all the Christians had left and scattered to Gentile areas- protected not one Christian is reported dying in that judgment of Jerusalem.

But that is just one fulfillment and there are many further and future ones to come. This is a whole army bringing God’s judgments unbelievers by spiritual darkness and torment: Rev 9:7

Revelation 9:7 ESV

In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces,

They have an appearance of intelligence, they have an appearance of this is how to rule life - but its all sham and won’t turn out that way. Only God’s people wear the victors crown. Look at the armies next description: Rev 9:8

Revelation 9:8 ESV

their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth;

There is a charm and beauty to the spiritual arguments and temptation and appeals an lifestyle, they seek to entice human beings, but don’t lose sight of the ferocity of those teeth - their goal is to destroy. And while the judgment of falling to these lies or stepping in line with a falling culture - the result though it is not physical punishment at this stage, nor death or or eternal punishment, none-the-less the result of caving in - is a life directed by this hellish mass and Satan himself. The result is bondage to the one is Rev 9:11

Revelation 9:11 ESV

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.

There may be much in our culture that remains good and we ought to be glad participants and servants in, but spiritually and morally there are points of attack - can’t hesitate to stand out to be a Daniel ain Babylon, , there are many points at which we ought not not worry about fitting in the with popular mob. And it is fighting that smoke of deceptive lies, and standing that will be our greatest protection. Did you hear what else Jesus said to his disciples when he said he saw Satan fall at the proclamation and reception of the Gospel?

Luke 10:19

Luke 10:19 ESV

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Make no mistake that Christians are subject to tribulations and the brokenness of this world as much as John and his believers back then, and ravages of war , pandemic ,sickness, and death. But spiritually these armies of Satanic lie and influence. Christ on the Cross defeated Satan’s power to deceive and keep us in bondage. And in these last days - that attack from the pit of the Abyss, at particular times in history- can only touch those who have rejected Gods’truth and refused his grace, and even then these judgment will be limited in time and scope. But know that that kind of torment we who are sealed by God, will never suffer.

Judgment as much as deliverance are strictly under God’s Sovereign control. He sends the angel that seals all God’s people with the Name of the Lamb of God on their foreheads. And God gives the key the Abyss and release swarm of his demons, to unleash initial torments.

And that leaves us with the question how do I respond to this revelation of the mystery of evil and its punishment already built in and beginning on those who reject the Christ and refuse their God!

SO understand those under Judgments & Make Sure of Your Seal

What take always should you go home with as we get close to finishing the 2nd of three cycles of 7 judgments of God in this world. First of all do you understand God’s judgment and curse on sin in this world. Some are physical and in creation in general - they affect believers and unbelievers alike - for the believers its a purify and refining because their security isn’t in this world, their treasure and idol God isn’t a part of creation, but is the living God who -is saying in these judgments its not the creation I’m going to destroy - its the destroyers of the earth. Rev I am going to save purify recreate the de-creation, and I am using my people in their pray ad witness to the gospel to to do that. But understand that doesn’t mean - that John who’s transported in spiritual vision is described - but not physically - he is on Patmos will return to Asia Minor - real tribulation there. The rest of the book he describes for God’s people on earth - always until then church militant going through suffering under the Cross - and will be attacked:

Rev 13:7, 17:6

Revelation 13:7 ESV

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,

Revelation 17:6 ESV

And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

But understand this, though not protected from all forms of affliction since faithful suffer at hands of evil powers, still if you are sealed with the Spirit of Christ - his character and name as it were engraved on your being - you can know that this spiritual torment can never ever touch you. Who knows what economic collapse what terrorism, what biological, who know what storms may come. But the storms far from destroying everything will only destroy what God feel needs to be brought down, and as God’s signed and sealed people are protected through it, on the other side of every storm, the people of God always emerge - God has made room by their prayers and by their witness, room for the spread of the truth of the grace gospel to grow and prevail.

In the same way that no man could bust open the book the scroll of destiny and break the seals only always wise, holy, loving Christ, so too no matter how terrible the havoc, confusion worked upon the earth, no man can really any harm to His people, no matter what the ravage or the persecution. Make sure you are sealed with the name of God, no just baptized with water, not just outward y a member of Christ church, but seal and sign of inner reality of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, , Come what may, no one can snatch out of God’s hand. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. A culture and a people who give into lust, greed and evil will fall, and torment will be builtin to those sins. May be a slow process,that suddenly comes to ahead. But we have that refuge and from it in this world - knowing those in that spiritual torment of just naively living for the pleasures that will destroy them - that is the place Revelation says that we serve - in prayer and witness - and pray to see great turning and salvation.

So church of Jesus Christ, do a bit of Spiritual Geography this week - is it the smoke of the pit to the abyss you are sensing around you. People feel that torment that fear of death yet that wishing life and sin were over… do sense the presence of the Destroyer behind it all? There are times when you can almost see the very pit of the abyss opening in our culture and our lives. But do a bit more spiritually geography - by faith do you see that door to heaven, do you smell the smoke of altar of incense with your prayers combined with Christ’s purifying sacrifice joining with his perfect intercessions, do you see not only the Destroyer at Work but look this angel who seals believers around you, And don’t you sense it - not torment and destruction and bondage and emptiness - but that gospel witness to The Giver of Life and Redeemer of Fullness of Life. Do you hear not only the metallic gross march of Satan’s army around you, but listen carefully it is coming steadier louder. God is looking for a great turning - and all these judgments and all the prayers of God’s people haven’t brought it about. So what is God going to do with those protected and spiritually intact through this time. Look: Rev 10:1-3a

Revelation 10:1–3a ESV

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.

And He says, John now you and your fellow witnesses - go and foretell my grace to many people, nations, language and kings - 4 titles whole earth - And then interlude before 7th Trumpet - My two Witnesses - in court of the nations - they got to witness! Do you get the bigger message, hard times coming, but the spiritual torment you will be saved through, protected, so that you with your prayers and with witness of grace free from all the smoke of Satan’s lies - bring to those perishing and in bondage to the Destroyer!