The Last Days Series #10 – Revelation 9: 1-5, “Are You Prepared for the Enemy’s Assault”

The Book of Revelation, also known simply as Revelation or the Apocalypse, is the final book of the New Testament in the Bible. It is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle. 

In the Book of Revelation, John writes about a series of visions and symbolic imagery that he experienced. These visions are often interpreted as a depiction of the end times, including the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the final judgment, and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.

The book is highly symbolic and contains complex imagery, with themes of victory, judgment, and salvation. It also addresses the persecution faced by early Christians and offers them hope and encouragement in the face of adversity. 

The Book of Revelation is considered a work of prophecy, and its interpretations vary widely among different religious traditions and scholars. Some view it as a literal description of future events, while others interpret it symbolically, seeing its message as applicable to different historical and spiritual contexts.

Let’s look specifically into Revelation 9: 1-5 to discover a very frightening event that John has written about, and see if we can understand it more in depth.

1 “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.”

2 “And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.”

3 “And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”

In these verses, the fifth angel blows his trumpet, signaling the beginning of the fifth trumpet judgment. John describes a vision where he sees a fallen star from heaven. This star (angel) is given the key to the bottomless pit and will open it.

This represents a significant event in the apocalyptic narrative of the book. The fallen star will give Satan access to the bottomless pit which symbolizes authority and control over dark and destructive forces.

Satan has always been on the earth tempting us, but this is very different. By opening this “bottomless pit” he will be given enhanced evil forces at a level that this world has not seen yet. We must realize that Satan and his team will be given unprecedented access and abilities to combat righteousness upon the earth.
This new evil arsenal when released is described as smoke that darkens the sun and the air. Out of this smoke emerge “locusts” (Satan’s followers), which are given power to torment people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads, (Christians). 

4 “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”

These creatures are given power, but they are specifically instructed not to harm the grass, greenery, or trees. Instead, their harm is directed towards people who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads (Christians). It is symbolic to those people who are followers of God, they are the target of this aggression. 

Don’t get this mark confused with the ”Mark of the Beast”. The mark of the beast is the mark that identifies those who have chosen to follow Satan.

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.”

In this passage, the creatures are given the power to torment people for a specific period, which is described as five months. The torment is excruciating, likened to the pain caused by a scorpion’s sting.

This set of scripture might be difficult for Christians to read. It is important for us however to recognize the enemy’s plan of attack so that we can counter that attack with our own plan…better yet…by a plan that God has already set in place for those people on His team.

Spiritual protection should be our first priority, which starts by teaming up with God. Do not wait for these events to unfold before starting your relationship with God. You must develop a relationship with Him to a point where trusting Him is second nature for you. 

You must come to know Him through prayer, study, and listening to His “whispers”. For it is after you have reached this bond with Him that you can call upon Him to guide you and protect you during this time.

Consider this similar event. Noah had spent years building an ark as directed to him by God. People in that day mocked Noah for doing such a “foolish” thing. He cried out to the people that they should get right with God and believe in Him. Those pleas were unsuccessful because the people had hardened their hearts against God. They didn’t listen to Noah’s prophetic directions.

When it began to rain, and the ark was loaded and sealed, those same people had a change of heart due to their sudden fear. They called to Noah, and perhaps even some of them tried to call out to God for rescue, but it was far too late. Those cries went unanswered, even from a loving Father in Heaven, as they had all been given many chances to be on that ark prior to the flood actually happening.

So, knowing now what Satan’s plan is for us in this battle, what is God’s plan for his children?

I have previously written several of God’s rescue plans in the previous posts in this series. But let me once again share them with you.

Like the followers of Moses as they fled from the destructive evil soldiers, God parted the Red Sea, allowing them to escape their captures. It was a miracle, just like the miracle that He has planned for those close to Him when we are targeted for persecution. No matter which of these other events might happen to you, you can always know through your faith, God will protect you and clear a way for you to be rescued. This plan in itself is tremendously comforting for me.

Another of God’s plans for us in this battle is the “Rapture of the Church.” This glorious rescue is also miraculous, as God will actually lift you off of this earth away from danger, and will then keep you with Jesus Christ… in His loving arms…until the battle is over, and Satan has been defeated.

The third plan that God has for us is one that I have experienced my entire life: personal guidance. I have had many experiences in my life where God has answered my prayers of asking for His protection. Me, being lost in the Uinta mountains, destined to die on the mountain, and then being rescued by simply trusting Him and walking the path that He provided for me back to safety.

I have personally witnessed other miracles in my lifetime as a result from trusting God and asking for His help during frightful emergencies. I’ll share one more.

My wife and I were responsible for a youth group attending a summer adventure camp for several days. This camp was primitive, and high up in the mountains of northern Utah.

During an activity, one of the girls stopped breathing, her lips were turning blue and a grayish tone covered her face and neck. She was not choking, as the other girls around her stated that she just collapsed. What was happening to her?

We gave her a blessing and began performing CPR. The group began to pray and ask God for His help in saving this 17-year-old woman’s life.

We made a decision to place her in the back of a pick up and drive her out of the area that we were in into a parking area where we could call for life-flight to come and take here to a trauma center.

During our decent, an unknown man to us, who was with another group, ran down the mountain and just hopped into the back of the truck. He was a nurse anesthetist by profession, and just happened to be back at his camp getting something and was prompted to come and help. It was because of him and his professional skills that he was able to get her breathing on her own again. He saved her life.

In talking to him afterwards, their group was not scheduled to be there during that week that we were there. Another group had recently canceled, and they were offered that spot. Coincidence? Not for those of us who know our Father in Heaven. He answered our plea for help, and had full knowledge that this event was going to take place. He provided a way for this man to be there at that criticle moment.  He also created the need for him to return to camp, as well as the prompting for him to come and assist her.

God had orchestrated a plan far in advance, to successfully deal with the trauma that was happening to our friend.

I hold this experience as something very spiritual to me. It is another example of the power that God has and His willingness to watch over His children. At that moment, I felt that all of us were witnessing a miracle by exercising our faith and believing that God would help us.

This experience was also very spiritual for the entire youth group. Do we all wish that it never would have happened due to the alarming fright that it gave to us? NO! It was God teaching all that were there the process of tapping into His power, and to experience a miracle, just like other miracles that have happened upon the earth in the past as well as those miracles that will come in our future.

I would like to identify one last thing that I would like you to participate in.

As you read the threats listed in Revelation above, towards God’s children specifically, what were your emotions. Were you afraid? Were you even confused, or thought twice about being on God’s team as to avoid such a threat? Did you feel gloom?

Then, as you read about God’s plan for us, and the miracles that He has planned for you and me, what were your emotions then? Did you feel a warm comforting feeling? Did you feel peace? Did you feel connected to our Father? Did this emotion seem to diminish the emotion of fear that you had?

This experience that you just had with your emotions is the foundation of proceeding through these last days. Whenever life gets scarry, and you feel like you did when reading about Christians being Satan’s target, that feeling can quickly be replaced with the calm, peaceful feeling deep inside as you realize that God is watching over you. “There is Peace in God!” There is Peace in Christ!” Our Commander’s in Chief have a battle plan for us! They can foresee what will be the threats to you in the future, and have already figured out a rescue plan.

You can overcome this fear even greater by strengthening your relationship with them. You will progress from just “hoping” that this is true, to actually “KNOWING” that God will protect you and guide you. Perhaps many of you reading this post will understand what I just said.

So, in addition to your “bug-out” bag, food storage, and ways to defend your family, please spend some time each day towards developing a bond with the greatest asset that you will have in these last days… Your relationship with your loving, protective Father and His son Jesus Christ. They will do far more than you could ever imagine in keeping you hidden from the enemy.

Amen? … AMEN!!

River Wilde