When we were last together I hinted at the identity of the Locust that were spewed upon the earth from the bottomless pit after the 5th angel sounded his trumpet in Revelation chapter 9. Remember, once we define the symbolism, the message within it is revealed. Once the message is understood, we can find where this prophecy has already been fulfilled, or is in the process.
And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of Heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound...Rev. 8:13. The word woe is an exclamation of grief. Since it is expressed loudly three times, we must pay close attention to the symbolism in the next trumpet warnings. because they define the Locust and their purpose on the earth.
Within the sound of the 5th & 6th trumpet warnings, there is a sure and menacing darkness about to cover the whole world, bringing frightful doom and gloom to all the inhabitants of the earth. The subject of these ominous warnings - Locust - begins to manifest in the midst of the rule of the Holy Roman Empire, but is contained at the point of origin for centuries - the Euphrates River.
Then the fifth angel sounded: and I saw a star fallen from Heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit...and he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit...Rev. 9:1-2.
The star in this text symbolizes Satan. Jesus said, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven...Luke 10:18. By this statement Jesus revealed that the power of death that Satan held over God's people, would be broken when He arose from the dead. The fifth angel reveals Satan losing his power, but it also says he was given the key to the bottomless pit - otherwise known as Hell. Since Satan didn't need a key to his home in the past, the key must have symbolic meaning.
The key symbolizes a specific evil that has been contained in the bottomless pit until after Jesus rose from the dead. Satan's revenge against God will be exercised against God's kids when he releases from the bottomless pit, nefarious and vile religious doctrines - abominable and wicked - twisting and perverting the gospel of Jesus Christ The 5th angels warning is an imminent and portentous pronouncement.
When Satan opened the bottomless pit, a hot suffocating smoke burst out, quickly permeating the atmosphere. Smoke symbolizes lies, heresies, evil inclinations, doctrines of demons - Satan's machinations against mankind.
The sun and air were darkened by the smoke that arose from the great furnace of fire from the bottomless pit. Sun symbolizes government power and authority, such as kings, queens, presidents, prime ministers - rulers over people. Air symbolizes religious power and authority, such as, priests, pastors, and bishops, all those who claim spiritual authority over people. The sun and air will be insidiously infiltrated and influenced by the smoke released by Satan.
The secular government and religious authorities will have their hearts and minds darkened, by the false religious doctrines of the ominous and malevolent demons released by Satan upon the earth. We have already studied the 1000-year reign of false religious doctrines under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire - but - there's more...much more.
Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power...Rev. 9:3. Before we can define the metaphorical locusts, we must define the literal insect to see if there are parallel characteristics.
The locust insects are known to congregate in hordes, too many to count. They are migratory and travel in large swarms, subduing vegetation with a vengeance. Since they leave a trail of death and devastation when they swarm an area, little vegetation survives.
As you read further in Revelation chapter 9 you will find that the locusts symbolize men on horses for battle - an army. Have you figured out yet who the locust symbolize? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question...
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