Podcast Episode 21 (Condensed)
Welcome back to Wytinsea Writes! We’re still studying the book of Revelation (contrary to popular belief). I pray that you were blessed by Revelation 8. Today, we’re diving into Revelation 9. Things are continuing to intensify (just as it will on earth). If you haven’t been following this series, I encourage you to click here to reread the previous blogs, starting with Revelation 1. If you didn’t read my most recent blog, click here for Revelation 8. John has been caught up in the spirit. The Lord is showing Him the good and bad that will occur on earth in the last days. You can either read along or read the chapter prior to finishing this blog. You can also find the audio podcast version of this blog. Feel free to skip this blog and listen to the Bible study by clicking here.
Let’s begin. Revelation 9:1, “Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.” Now, it is possible that the “star” is not a literal star. It could be Lucifer, perhaps. Think about Isaiah 14:12. It states, “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.”
Isaiah 14:12 refers to Satan’s fall from heaven. Lucifer is called a “star, son of the morning.” We all know that Lucifer rebelled against God. He wanted all the power, worship, and glory. He wanted dominion over the world like God. Satan even persuaded other “angels” and caused them to fall from heaven too. Some of the fallen angels that rebelled with Satan has been locked up in the abyss (bottomless pit).
The abyss is a location where legions of demons are being held. It’s a demonic realm of fallen angels and where other dark evil spirits reside. The good news is that when Jesus reigns on earth for 1,000 years, Satan will be confined to the abyss (Revelation 20:1-3). Abyss is mentioned in other parts of the bible too like Revelation 11 and Revelation 17:8.
However, Satan received the key to the abyss and released the other demons. There is a similarity with the devil’s banishment from heaven and these scriptures about the falling star. Luke 10:18 ESV says, “And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
Even though the key was given to Satan that doesn’t mean the key “belongs” to Satan. God gave Satan and his demons permission to unleash chaos and judgement. Just like God gave the devil permission to send chaos to Job’s life (Job 1:6-22).
As for this situation in Revelation, it refers to the tribulation period. There is a certain level of judgment that God permits the enemy to unleash. This is due to the sinner’s refusal to repent, their rebellion, and wicked deeds they’ve done. Sinners made terrible choices that led to the devil receiving permission to send destruction upon them.
Revelation 9:2 NLT states, “When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke.” As the scripture continues in Revelation 9:3, it states, “Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. 4 They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. 6 In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!”
Those verses seem very painful. “Sting like a scorpion” made me say ouch immediately. A locust is like an insect but what John saw was not an ordinary insect. These locusts received power like that of scorpions. The painful venom in a scorpion can be damaging to the nerves and the feeling can last for days. As stated in the scripture, the locusts were told not to harm the grass, plants, or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. This is crucial. Remember, Revelation 7:4 mentioned about the 144,000 being marked with a seal of God on them. These people being tormented by the locusts are not marked by God. The locusts couldn’t outright kill these people but were only given permission to torture them for 5 months. That is bonkers! The sad part is that these people were tortured so bad, that they wanted to die. God wouldn’t even let them die. He made them suffer through the pain and torment with no chance of escaping it.
Some may ask why? Well, it is because they were rebellious. Now, they have to face the consequences of that. Revelation 9:7-11 states, “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They had what looked like gold crowns on their heads, and their faces looked like human faces. 8 They had hair like women’s hair and teeth like the teeth of a lion. 9 They wore armor made of iron, and their wings roared like an army of chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people. 11 Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.”
High-ranking demons are called Abaddon. They are the ones that are locked away in the abyss until now (the tribulation period in this scripture). Satan and his demons are on a mission to destroy all of humanity. Thankfully, God will not allow the devil to the destroy the entire humanity. On the other hand, those that don’t repent will not be spared. They will face a gruesome judgment just like this scripture details.
Revelation 9:12 NLT states, “The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!” So, the first woe has passed but the trouble doesn’t end there. The second woe or terror is up next. Severe suffering and chaos continue for those who reject the gospel during this 7-year tribulation period. God is about to pour out His mighty wrath even more.
Revelation 9:13 NLT states, “Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice speaking from the four horns of the gold altar that stands in the presence of God.” This verse proves how God is very active and aware of what happens on earth. That doesn’t mean God causes everything to happen, but He is very aware of everything that unfolds on earth. Nothing catches Him by surprise. Everything that has been taking place under each trumpet’s judgement is because God allowed it to happen.
Revelation 9:14-16 NLT states, “And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.” 15 Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth. 16 I heard the size of their army, which was 200 million mounted troops.”
Since God is in control, at no point can evil just run rampant and do entirely what it pleases on earth. God limits and controls what Satan and his demons may be allowed to do. As I mentioned previously, God allowing just 1/3 of the earth to be tortured and destroyed is a sign of His mercy and grace. God can very easily destroy everything, but He limits his judgment and wrath to just 1/3. This day is bound to happen. This exact moment in history will occur. Daniel 12:1 is a prophetic scripture that reminds us, “Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence.”
Now, when John mentioned 200 million in verse 16, it doesn’t mean he literally saw 200 million troops. It means that He “heard the size of their army, which was 200 million mounted troops”. It is as if these 200 million troops are in an army. They are prepared for battle and ready to bring destruction.
Revelation 9:17-19 NLT states, “And in my vision, I saw the horses and the riders sitting on them. The riders wore armor that was fiery red and dark blue and yellow. The horses had heads like lions, and fire and smoke and burning sulfur billowed from their mouths. 18 One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues—by the fire and smoke and burning sulfur that came from the mouths of the horses. 19 Their power was in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.”
The previous scriptures remind me of Sodom and Gomorrah when the Lord rained down sulfur and fire (Genesis 19:24). One of the purposes of the tribulation period is to prove without a doubt that nothing can prevent the wrath of God on sin. Another purpose of the tribulation period is to prove that there are and will be people that refuse to turn away from their rebellion and accept God. Those two truths are unfortunate, but it is reality.
Only faith in Jesus Christ prevent anyone from eternal suffering in the lake of fire described in Revelation 20:11-15. The final verses are quite astonishing and sad. It states in verses 20-21, “But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
Sadly, the people that survived the violent torment and destruction still didn’t care about getting it right. What more will it take for people to turn away from their sin if the judgement of God will not change their hearts? The answer is eternity with Satan and his demons. I know that sounds harsh, but that is the truth. The people in the tribulation period worshiped idols and demons as if God hadn’t just brought destruction to their land. Humanity’s stubbornness is shown. The judgment and wrath of God unleashing in this chapter shows how God’s decision was just and well-deserved for the people it fell upon.
Instead of repenting and turning to God, they showed no remorse for their sins or wicked deeds. They continued to worship idols. Today, idols may not be the same in 2025 as they were 2000 years ago. 2000 years ago, many people worshipped statues and other ancient things. Even Daniel charged King Belshazzar of Babylon with the sin of idolatry (Daniel 5:23). God has never called us to worship lifeless objects, statues, sororities, celebrities, electronic devices or even people.
Sexual immorality and witchcraft are also prohibited. The people during the tribulation period partook in sexual sin and divination. Some people think they can dabble in witchcraft by astral projecting, doing love spells, tarot cards, psychics/mediums, crystals, word curses, and even more wicked deeds yet call themselves Christians. God is not pleased. He sees and will deal with every witch or warlock.
Revelation 21:8 mentions how people who practice divination and witchcraft will be sent to damnation. When it comes to sexual immorality, the bible tells us to flee from it (1 Corinthians 10:8). Unfortunately, the people in the tribulation period refused to turn from evilness. For that reason, God poured His wrath upon them. Revelation 9 is not one to rejoice about. It is full of sorrow and God’s judgement. The good news is that this doesn’t have to be our story. It doesn’t have to be my story or your story.
We are living in the last days and now is the time to prepare. Prepare your hearts. Prepare your lives. Prepare your soul. Only those who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved (John 3:15). Don’t prolong getting it right with God. Do it now. Acts 17:30 discusses how God used to overlook ignorance, but He no longer does that now. He calls everyone to repent now. Acts 3:19 calls us to repent and turn back to the Lord. God will blot out our sins if we repent. When just one sinner repents, the angels rejoice (Luke 15:10).
If you’re reading this blog, you have time to repent. I pray that this bible study has not enticed fear in you but opened your eyes to the wrath of God. We don’t have to be recipients of God’s wrath, if we make it right today. The sooner the better for your soul—it is at stake. Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
With that said, you have a choice to make. I have a choice to make. We have a choice to make. What will yours be? Choose God. Choose life. The choices you make today will determine where you spend eternity. Either with Jesus Christ in the new heaven and earth or with Satan and his demons in the abyss (Revelation 21). God loves you and He wants to be apart of your life. He wants a place in your heart. He wants a place in your heart. Be encouraged. Share this with someone you love. Thank you so much for reading my blog. Until next time with, Wytinsea Writes!
