Thousand Year Reign With Christ Series #1 - Part 129 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

As we embark on this new series I will share with you what my forty years of researching the riddles, enigmas, esoteric imagery and metaphors of Revelation revealed.  During this lengthy research, I also found historical documentation very helpful in defining the outset of the Thousand Year Reign With Christ...and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years...Rev. 20:4.  When does this prophecy begin to be fulfilled?  This study will answer the question.

Before we delve into what the scriptures reveal about this topic, let's find out how the mainline denominations address this topic.  Those that embrace the modern version - definition - on this topic, believe that first, Jesus returns for His church and secretly swoops them away to Heaven.  This is called the Rapture.  Next, the 70th week of Daniel's vision must be fulfilled:   the reign of an Antichrist - who will sit as God in the rebuilt temple at Jerusalem and reign over the whole world.  They call this seven years of tribulation. 

This time of trouble will cause the Jews to flee to the mountains in terror for safety.  After the seven years of tribulation are over, Jesus will return again with all the saints in Heaven, and set up His kingdom on this earth for a thousand years.   The surviving flesh & blood human beings of the tribulation, will be ruled by the spirit beings that Jesus brings with Him.  They believe this is when the thousand year reign with Christ on the earth begins - millennial reign of Christ.

This modern end-time doctrine also states that Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit during this same time period...so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished...Rev. 20:3.  I was a very new Christian in the early 70's when I found holes in this modern end-time doctrine, because it created more questions for me than answers.  While I had many questions, one was especially obvious and I didn't need a theology degree, or extensive Bible knowledge to ask it.

What was the obvious question?  The Apostle Peter said that when the Lord returns - day of the Lord - the earth will burn up with all the works in it.  How does a thousand year reign of Christ on the earth equate to Peter's prophecy...the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up...II Pet. 3:10-12?  It doesn't.

While Jesus walked on the earth, He explained how His followers could be ready for His return - He wants us to understand how to enter His kingdom and how to walk in His righteousness.  If there really was a secret Rapture wouldn't He have wanted us to clearly understand, so that we would be ready? After all, He...is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance...II Pet. 3:9.

I also read in the Bible that when Jesus comes back, all believers alive on the earth will be changed in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, while the dead in Christ will rise from their graves, and together, meet Him in the air...I Cor. 15:52-56.  My next question:  if all the dead in Christ are raised up at His return, fulfilling this prophecy, what happens to those who die during the thousand year reign of Christ?  Won't they be dead in graves?  When will they be delivered from their graves?

I will share more of my questions during this series.  But I ask the reader, do you not have questions when doctrines of men seem to contradict scripture?  If we take the time to research the scriptures and historical documentation, we will find the answers clearly revealed.  The scriptures should change our thinking, not the other way around.  The Apostle Paul said...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God...Rom. 12:2.

Chapter 20 of Revelation is the only reference to...reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  As we read this chapter with new eyes, along with other scriptures, we will find that reigned with Christ a thousand years is inextricably connected to the first resurrection.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given unto them:  and I saw souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years...but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished...this is the first resurrection...Rev. 20:4-5. 

There is a lot to unpack in these two verses, which also need to be put in the proper sequence of fulfillment. Once we scripturally define the first resurrection, the proper sequence of fulfillment will unfold, providing clear understanding of this important historical event. The riddle will be solved.

In what realm - earth or spirit - does this scene take place?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Trumpet Warnings Series #18 - Part 128 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk...and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts...Rev. 9:20-21.  What does the word plagues mean in this verse and how does it describe the locust army?

Defining the esoteric imagery in these two verses will wrap up the Trumpet Warnings Series.  According to this text there will be people who do not fall victim to the plagues.  In the original Greek language the word plagues means:  to pound; strokes.  This definition certainly describes the vicious and violent assault perpetrated against human beings worldwide by the locust army, forcing their victims into their deceptive web of bondage or death.

There will be a multitude of human beings who did not join the religious empire of the locust army, so did not become a victim of these plagues.  They also did nothing to prevent the advancement of the locust army.  What did they do?  They...did not repent of the works of their hands...of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

These people were preoccupied with the pursuit of money and materialism, careers, sports and leisure.  They pride themselves in their choice of trendy religious doctrines - new age - transcending mere earth creatures, looking to a superior race in another galaxy.  Spirit guides from the nether world seduce the self-absorbed intelligentsia into sorceries, witchcraft, sexual immorality, thievery and every sort of spiritual corruption that infiltrates the echelons of authority in secular and religious empires. They did not repent for all of these crimes against their righteous Creator.

Even though cataclysmic events will occur in every decade over the centuries of the Christian era, creating devastation, disillusionment and hopelessness, these "enlightened one's" will continue to bow down to the god of this world - refusing to repent of their wickedness.  For these idolaters - the judgment of the trumpets will not produce repentance - they will die separated from their loving Creator forever, revealed in the following scripture...

Do you not know that the unrighteousness will not inherit the kingdom of God?...do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, not thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, not revilers, nor extortionists will inherit the kingdom of God...I Cor. 6:9-10. 

The Bible is very clear regarding God's judgment on the sins of human beings for which they refuse to repent and receive His forgiveness. God gave to each one of us the choice of accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior or rejecting Him.  This is why He clearly outlines the consequences for the unrepentant.  What is God's desire toward us?  God is...longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance...II Peter 3:9.

The second woe is past.  The sound of the trumpet blasts warn what is to come to pass upon the earth during the Christian era.  There are seven trumpet warnings, but they do not insinuate that the implementation of the events are delivered in any particular sequence.  This has been a problem for modern-day scholars with the visions - they assume the events are listed sequentially in the Bible - causing much confusion.

For one hundred years, misinterpretation of prophecy of scripture has kept us in a box of false end-time doctrines, not confirmed by historical documentation...but no one dares to question the "scholars."  But we must think outside the box.  Several chapters in Revelation have duplicate subjects, yet with different details or timelines for the events.  With this in mind we must combine chapters with like information to get a clearer understanding of the events, and how to prepare for them.

Six of the trumpet blasts reveal a variety of judgments, while the 7th trumpet blast reveals an altogether different subject matter.  All 7 trumpet blasts do have one common theme - judgment.  The 7th blast does reveal persecution, torture, imprisonment and the unjust murder of God's kids, but for a different reason than the previous 6.  The 7th trumpet blast is the third woe - grief.

...but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets...Rev. 10:7.  What is the mystery of God that He declared to His prophets?  The prophets of the Old Testament declared that a Savior would be sent to reconcile mankind to His Creator - confirmed by the New Testament.  After Jesus was born, died and rose from the dead...the mystery of God would be finished.

This event is revealed within the 7th trumpet blast because the number 7 symbolizes:  perfection; completion - God's number.  So at the sounding of the 7th angel, the mystery of God was finished.  What is finished?  That which He declared to the prophets - is finished!  The last words Jesus said as He was dying on the cross - It is Finished!  John 19:30 .  Jesus paid the ransom for the sins of mankind - It is Finished! The 7th trumpet blast has been fulfilled!

What does "thousand year reign of Christ" and "Satan bound a thousand years" really mean? This is a riddle that can be unlocked when we define the esoteric imagery in Revelation chapter 20. Do you want to know what scriptures says about this subject?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Trumpet Warnings Series #17 - Part 127 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

 

For the sake of new readers of this blog, every few months I restate our mission is to accurately  define all the riddles, enigmas, metaphorical language and esoteric imagery of Revelation.  Unlike the end-time doctrine of mainstream denominations, for which I am a member, I believe this prophetic book of the Bible has been in the process of fulfillment since the visions were first given.  From the beginning of my blog in 2013 I have provided historical documentation for when each vision was fulfilled, along with dates, and who fulfilled them.

 

Some chapters of Revelation have the same subject, but their fulfilment could be in a different era.  This is true of the series we are now studying.  Chapter 9 of Revelation is dedicated to revealing that the locust army is released from Hell upon the earth, while describing in symbolism who they are.  This correlates with chapter 16 which describes who is the leadership of the locust army and when they were released from the Euphrates River to promote their false religious doctrine in every nation on the planet.

 

By defining the symbolism, the message hidden within the esoteric imagery or riddle, becomes clear, so that we can learn how to cooperate with God and what He is doing.  The Apostle Peter warned us, yet most people ignore him, when he said...no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation...for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy spirit...II Peter 1:20-21.

 

When we were last together we were defining the symbolism of Rev. 9:17...having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone...and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone...by these three was a third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.  We defined all of this verse last week except for the fire, smoke and brimstone coming out of the mouths of the locust army. 

 

The weapons of the locust army are revealed in this verse as coming out of their mouths. This imagery tells us that their weaponry will be words - death-causing words to kill their enemy.  The colors tell us what kind of words they will use - fire, smoke and brimstone.

 

Fire (jacinth) - reddish orange.  This color tells us that the locust army will burn up - consume - their victims with hate-filled, intimidating and threatening words.  They will enlist every form of media, in every country - print, airwaves, public forums - to sympathize with their cause, after they infiltrate their governments and gain influential positions, in order to propagandize their false doctrine.

 

Smoke - bluish.  The locust army came out of the smoke of the bottomless pit.  Since Satan is king of this realm, all false religious doctrines come from him, so the locust army will speak forth a false religious doctrine in all the nations of the earth, while condemning all other religions.

 

Brimstone (sulfur) - yellow.  Brimstone coming out of the mouth of the locust army symbolizes judgment - God's judgment on paganism and immorality.  In order to bring men to repentance, God is permitting the locust army to torment idolaters and cause grievous pain and death through their relentless mission.  What is their mission?  The mission of the locust army is to subdue all people of the earth, through violence, forcing them to serve their Prophet, by demanding spiritual, intellectual and physical submission to their false religious doctrine, that will be spoken day in and day out in all nations, until all submit.  Will men repent and turn to Jesus Christ for help?

 

The warriors of the locust army will move fast and furiously across the plant speaking forth their doctrine of demons, which is more offensive, will do more damage, and devour more humanity than any other false religious doctrine known to mankind!  People of the earth - beware - for we have been warned by this prophecy.

 

But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk...and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts...Rev. 9:20-21.

 

What does the word plagues mean and how does it describe the locust army?  Stay tuned...

 

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~

 

 

Trumpet Warnings Series #16 - Part 126 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

In the last blog we began to define the symbolism in the trumpet blast of the 6th angel.  The 4 angels who were abound at the great river Euphrates are now loosed.  What does this mean?  The locust army had been prevented from migrating to modern societies by God, whose angels bound them in the territory of their origin - Babylon.  But now God is permitting them to migrate all over the world to countries that have fallen away from their Creator and His righteous Son, Jesus Christ.

The number of the locust army had to develop into a large major religious empire, to guarantee their success when they invaded the apostate nations of the planet. In the late 1800's the locust army migrated and settled in America, and have advanced in power and authority over the decades, because apostate government leaders have embraced their ideology.

And the number of the army of horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand; And I heard the number of them...Rev. 9:16.  In this text, the word thousand in the original Greek language is murias meaning:  myriad; thousands upon thousands - indefinite number.  Even the translator is unsure of the true understanding of the original language. 

So not having a literal numerical calculation of this migratory marauding army of religious zealots, we understand more clearly why they are symbolized by the locust insect - an innumerable destroying force - see blog #12.  Did the 6th angel give a more detailed description of the locust army?

As John watched the 6th angel reveal his symbolism, he could see a more detailed description of the locust army than was delivered by the 5th angel.  With this intense focus on the locust army it is apparent God wants us to understand who they are, and how to be prepared for their invasion upon the planet...and thus I saw the horses in the vision and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone; and the heads of the horses were as heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone...Rev. 9:17.

The second woe reveals the character of the locust army, who were first introduced during the first woe.  The 4 angels have released them from the Euphrates River territory to invade every nation of the world to infiltrate their governments with their sinister, false religious doctrine - implemented by lies, intimidation, and force. Their power is in their mouth, and in their tails; for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt...Rev. 9:19.  What does this symbolism tell us?

There was a serpent in the Garden of Eden who tempted Eve to sin against God.  How did he accomplish this?  The serpent spoke to Eve with seductive equivocal words, causing her to doubt the warnings of her Creator.  She was so enchanted by the logical dialogue out of his mouth, she believed his poisonous words - lies.  She drank his poison and died - spiritually - just like God said she would. 

Satan was the liar-in-chief living inside of the serpent, who succeeded in tempting Eve to sin against her Creator. By the 21st century, masses of humans beings, worldwide, have rejected God and His Son Jesus Christ, leaving them gullible to the seductive equivocal words of the locust army - blinded by intellectual logic - who are ruled by Satan.  

...and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions... Rev. 9:17.  The heads of the horses of this marauding army look like lions heads.  This symbolism reveals how the riders of the horses are ferocious and unrelenting in their determination to prove to the whole world that they are King of the Religious Jungle - just as in the natural world a lion is hailed king of the jungle.

...having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone...and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone...by these three was a third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths...verse 17. The colors of the breastplate symbolize the weapons the riders - locust army - will use to kill a third part of men. 

What does "a third" symbolize? A third, or the #3 symbolizes Divine Judgment - not a numerical calculation. God is using the locust army as judgment upon His apostate church - worldwide. 

The weapons to kill human beings who come into contact with the locust army are flowing out of the riders mouths, because they are words - symbolized by fire (jacinth), smoke and brimstone.  What death-causing words do these colors symbolize? Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Trumpet Warnings Series #15 - Part 125 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

We began this Trumpet Warnings Series when Jesus opened the 7th seal revealing 7 angels with trumpets.  When the 5th angel appeared he warned...woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three remaining angels who are about to sound...Rev. 8:13. We just finished studying the first woe which described the locust army that came upon the earth many centuries ago, advancing in size, power and influence in multiple nations by 2016...Rev. 9:1-12.

The first woe is past. What does the blast of the 6th angel reveal, as the next woe - grief - is experienced by the inhabitants of the earth?  Then the sixth angel sounded:  And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God...saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, "Loose the four angels which are bound in the great Euphrates"...and the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men...Rev. 9:13-15.

As the 21st century unfolded, the progress of the violent and destructive locust army is evident across the planet with the cities of multiple nations demolished and burned to the ground, millions fleeing for their lives.  Their main target is the Christians and the Jews.  Have they been successful in killing off these targets? 

After Jesus was resurrected from the dead,  He sent His apostles and disciples to the utter parts of the earth as witnesses of His salvation.  Eventually, the majority population of Egypt was Christian, holding that statistic for a thousand years. 

With the gradual rise of the violent and destructive locust army over the centuries, murdering the Christian and Jewish populations, Egypt only claims to be 10-12% Christian by 2016 - continuing to diminish.  In 2016 alone, the locust army has murdered over 100,000 Christians in the middle east.  Christians are now the most persecuted religious group on planet earth, even in developed countries, where the locust army has infiltrated the governments influencing laws against them.

Does the message - woe - of the 6th angel also reveal crimes of the locust army?

Our study text in verse 13-14 reveals a voice, from the 4 horns of the golden altar, commanding the four angels, who were bound at the great river Euphrates, to be loosed.  What does this symbolism reveal to us. Once we define the symbolism we will understand the message within it.

Horns symbolize:  seat of power - authority.  Multiple horns symbolize how greater power and authority will be released during the 6th trumpet blast - woe. The voice coming from the horns - authority - of the golden altar of God in Heaven, reveals to us that what is coming upon the inhabitants of the earth is approved and permitted by God - Jesus Christ. It is His judgment on the paganism (idolatry) and immorality of the inhabitants of the earth - symbolized by...released to kill a third of mankind.  The #3 symbolizes:  divine judgment   

The number four symbolizes there will be a change in the heavens and/or earth.  The locust army will accomplish wicked and irreversible changes, as greater power and authority is given to Satan from the golden altar of God. This is Divine judgment on the sins of the inhabitants of the earth - because they bow to "other gods."

Throughout the Bible we can see God generously providing for His kids, loving them with His kindness.  But all too often, His kindness is not appreciated, because they are enticed by the excitement and pleasures of sin, which lures them into the pagan world, where they bow to idols of fame and fortune.  When God's kindness doesn't prompt allegiance to Him, God will permit Satan and his demons, to pummel men until they repent of their sins, and cry out for His deliverance.

So it is God's mercy bestowed upon the inhabitants of the earth, when He permits the locust army - a ferocious formidable foe - to be unleashed upon the inhabitants of the earth. Surely their wicked and vicious violence perpetrated upon mankind, will send its victims running to Jesus Christ for deliverance and protection!

The Euphrates River is 1,780 miles long connecting many of the mid-eastern countries.  We know that the Euphrates River flowed through the ancient city of Babylon - idolatry center of the world.  The origin of the false religious doctrine of the licentious locust army has its roots planted deeply in this occult region of the world, where the Babylonians worshiped false gods - rejecting the One true God - I AM.  

Once the locust army was great enough in numbers to overtake other nations of the world, the 4 angels released them from the region where God had bound this false religious empire for centuries - Euphrates River - to go forth and conquer those who have not the Seal of God on their foreheads. God appointed a specific hour, day, month and year for the locust army to be unbound to execute His judgment on idolatry and immorality - creating chaos and anarchy upon the earth - with impunity.

What was the appointed time for the locust army to plant its roots in America? Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Trumpet Warnings Series #14 - Part 124 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

When we were last together I asked, "Who is the king of the locust army?  Revelation 9:11 declares...they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.  He is more widely known as Satan.

When Satan released the locust out of the bottomless pit onto the earth, the locusts were commanded...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...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...and in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them...Rev. 9:4-6.

The trumpet warnings of the 5th angel are rife with esoteric imagery. Once defined they will reveal the message, so we can understand and be prepared.  What does grass symbolize?  Grass symbolizes fertility or prosperity; frailty of the flesh.  The symbolism...any green thing...within the trumpet warnings describes prosperity or progress of mankind on the earth:  advancement of intellectual knowledge, growth of finances, material possessions or properties, or medical breakthroughs, etc., all of which are of the flesh - not spiritual prosperity.

What does tree symbolize?  Often in scripture, especially prophecy, trees symbolize men, especially leadership.

The word hurt - should not hurt - in the original Greek language is adieko meaning:  to be unjust.  This particular designation in this text seems to zero in on countries where the locust army is not ruling.  Why do I draw this conclusion?

I make this assessment because the locust army cannot "be unjust" to the prosperity of people with the seal of God on their foreheads. Yet, we all know they have nearly wiped out the ancient Christian communities in the territories of the Euphrates River, where they rule. So what is the message of this symbolism - what does it reveal to us?

We can surmise from this prophecy that in countries where Christianity is dominant, where it influences the secular governments, the locust army is prevented from establishing their superiority.  In Christian or Jewish dominant countries across the planet, the locust army is not allowed to hurt - be unjust - to anyone with the seal of God on their foreheads - because this symbolizes their allegiance to God (Jesus Christ).

While the locust army wants to destroy the Christians and the Jews wherever they find them, they must do so secretly in these countries - by clandestine infiltration of their poisonous false religious doctrine into governments and schools - sting of the scorpion.  Apparently people, especially world leaders and their prosperity, without the seal of God, will fall victim to the deceptive lies and injustice of the locust army.  These leaders will promote the advancement of this false religious empire into Christian and Jewish countries, seeking the demise of these free nations.

What does the seal of God on their foreheads symbolize?

The seal of God on their foreheads symbolizes allegiance to Jesus Christ (God) - those with the mark of God. These true-hearts will never surrender their allegiance to this false religious empire, even if they suffer in the flesh, no matter what devastation befalls them.  This text is reminiscent of the devastating experiences of Job.  God told Satan regarding Job...all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person...Job 1:12. Person describes the real life of Job - his spirit. Satan is  not granted power over his spirit.

This text also states...they should be tormented five months...verse 5.  #5 in prophecy symbolizes incomplete.  The locust army arrived about 612 A.D.  When it first appeared in its most violent form it did not complete its mission. But over the centuries it gradually wiped out other religions, taking over those countries, attempting to finish their goal.

Once their vicious torments, death and destruction ramps up to a frenzied peak, many who served the locust army will seek to die, but death shall flee from them...verse 6.  They, especially women, will continually be forced to obediently serve this repressive and oppressive religious empire - and the godless men who rule over them.

The first woe is past! When does the next woe begin?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~



Trumpet Warnings Series #13 - Part 123 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation

Then the fifth angel sounded...the shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle...on their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men...Rev. 9:7.  In the last blog we defined all of this symbolism except their faces were like the faces of men. Who does this esoteric imagery describe?

The locust army are zealous religious warriors who have faces like men symbolizing that they are a sovereign people, who rules over a kingdom or empire. Chapter 9:8 further describes the locust warriors...they had hair like a women's hair, and their teeth were like lions teeth.  What could this esoteric imagery mean?  It could be mystifying if we didn't have historical documentation to help us understand its meaning.

In uncivilized cultures of past centuries, brutal and barbaric warrior men proudly wore long hair, like women, as a mark of their fierce savagery, who allowed no hindrance to fulfilling their natural human appetites - unchecked lustful passions.  Many warriors even wore skirts or tunics.  No one dared to challenge their authority, but rather cringed in fear in deference to their power.  These ruthless warriors - with hair like women's - subdue and rule over the masses, by fear of the onerous consequences.

The metaphorical language - their teeth were like lions teeth - personifies the ferocity of the locust army - ripping apart their victims with sharp piercing weapons, symbolized by devouring teeth.  As a lion - king of the jungle - is to its prey, the locust army are relentless until all people, everywhere, submit to the King of the Religious Jungle - or are beheaded.

And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron...Rev. 9:9.  Describing the locust army wearing iron breastplates, symbolizes presumed invincibility - readiness for battle - revealing their arrogance in purpose.  What is their purpose?  

And the sound of their wings like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle...Rev. 9:9.  This metaphorical language symbolizes their unshakable proclamation that they are far above - wings - all other religions on the earth.  Their purpose is to rule and reign over every nation - all people - on the planet.  Their intensity to win the war against the people of the planet is symbolized by the sound of chariots with many horses into battle.  By shear numbers the locust army will overwhelm and subdue all people into submission.  Even the name of their religion means:  submission!

If what we have just read is not enough detailed description of the locusts who are released out of the bottomless pit, there is more. Do you think our Lord desired for us to clearly understand who is this wicked enemy? They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails...their power was to hurt men five months...Rev. 9:10.

We already know that the sting of a scorpion symbolizes poison - a wicked false religious doctrine that will infiltrate the minds and hearts of government leaders, as well as religious leaders.  These doctrines of demons will pierce the very soul of their victims, making them captive to a harsh god - taskmaster.  Let's look at the Old Testament for a bit more clarity on...they had tails like scorpions.

The ancient and the honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that lies, he is the tail...Isaiah 9:15.  In this text, the prophet explains that a prophet of honor is the head - but - a prophet who lies is the tail.  The leader of the locust army is called a false prophet...Rev. 16:12-14.  We know that the locust army symbolizes a nefarious and wicked false religious empire - empowered by Satan - the father of lies.  The leader of the locust army is not honorable - he is the prophet of lies - the tail of the scorpion, spewing his poison in every territory he overtakes by force.

Their power was to hurt men five months.  What does this symbolize?  The use of numbers in prophecy usually are symbolic, rather than defining a specific period of time. The number five symbolizes incomplete. So what is incomplete? 

Revelation chapter 9 introduces the presence of the locust army upon the earth for the first time.  Their sinister wicked plans are not realized at this time - their work is incomplete. But from the outset the locust army - false religious empire - maimed, killed and destroyed everyone and everything that did not submit to their wicked doctrine of demons. Centuries later their purpose will be fully realized when they become rulers over many nations - but - not all.  This is clearly delineated in Revelation chapter 16 - Bowl Judgments. 

Who is the king of the locust army?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~