The old fallen star we read about here is the devil, Isaiah spoke of his fall from heaven. We know that now in the tribulation he has been confined only to earth. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time. Currently Satan has some sort of unique access to the Father. But later, during the tribulation, we find that He will be permanently removed from the heavens and will dwell on earth, At which time he will be exceedingly angry. And we find that while on earth, there is authority that is given to him.
Who gave him that key? Well, who currently has it? Let me explain it a little. Hades is not hell. It is horrible, but it is not yet hell. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus? That man died without Christ and was placed in Hades As a place of horrific punishment and torment. But it is not just unredeemed humanity that is in the pit.
The fact that it is horrific also to angels is seen in the begging and pleading of demons with Jesus that He not send them there. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. So what we have here is a prison. An awful place of torment feared by men and demons alike.
It is an awful place where the most vile demons and sinners Are currently kept awaiting final judgment. Now, if you will remember, when Jesus died, He entered that place and proclaimed Himself king. Jesus dropped into this place and declared Himself king. Thanks to Revelation 1 we know He also took the keys and busted out. Jesus has the authority over this awful place of torment.
He sends people there, and only He can deliver from that place. But on this day, at the blasting of the 5th trumpet Jesus gives the keys to this horrific spiritual prison to the devil Who has been thrown to the earth. Jesus just gave authority of the worst prison ever created to the devil in his fury. In this pit are the imprisoned demons. The worst of the demonic army. If you are asking me, that is some kind of big fire. I want you to follow along with me as I read these eleven verses.
Do you see how similar that is to the passage we are reading in Revelation? That army was a locust invasion. Joel used its imagery to explain what the Babylonian army would do to Judah. A locust invasion was just about the worst thing the people could envision. John is using the same imagery here. He describes this devastation in the worst way he knows how. Before them was life, and peace, after them was utter destruction.
He is talking about demons that are unleashing torment on people, With affliction similar to that of a scorpion sting. God does agree to allow Satan to release his army, But as they are released, God sets some parameters.
You cannot afflict creation and you cannot afflict believers. We know this would have most certainly been the , who were sealed, But I think it would also include those who have believed as a result of their message.
Now this is very interesting to me. What is left to attack? When John said repent he was talking about changing your way of thinking because the Kingdom of God is here, Repentance involves a change in attitude about God and sin.
Today the people of God need to change their way of thinking about what church is all about. John recorded that there is only one requirement a person must meet in order to see or enter into the Kingdom of God. According to John , that person must be born again. So today, the Lord is saying, the church leaders of our day, have shut up the kingdom to and to those believers who are close to finding and entering into the Kingdom, or should I say, those believers who are close to understanding that their church is not a reflection of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus said in Matthew , that the 1 priority of every believer is to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness. And as a result all that you will ever need will simply be added or given to you.
I am a living witness that this is true! The church should be that place where we can seek and find the Kingdom of God. When was the last time you heard a sermon or attended a revival about the Kingdom of God.
John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of God is at hand. But Jesus specifically said in Matthew that the Kingdom of God is come unto you. Notice that when Jesus spoke, He did not use the term, Kingdom of heaven. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Many church members are being worn out by church and they will find rest if they come to the Kingdom of God. The yoke Jesus is referring to is the Kingdom of God which is easy and the burden of it is light. Jesus said in John that He has come to give us life and life more abundantly.
Later on in that same area of passage, Jesus said there is only one shepherd and one sheepfold. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
New American Standard Bible The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things. NASB The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
Amplified Bible The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things. Christian Standard Bible The first woe has passed. There are still two more woes to come after this. Holman Christian Standard Bible The first woe has passed. Aramaic Bible in Plain English One woe is gone; behold, again two woes are coming.
Contemporary English Version The first horrible thing has now happened! But wait. Two more horrible things will happen soon. Douay-Rheims Bible One woe is past, and behold there come yet two woes more hereafter. Good News Translation The first horror is over; after this there are still two more horrors to come. After these things there are two more catastrophes yet to come. International Standard Version The first catastrophe is over.
After these things, there are still two more catastrophes to come.
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