What I Noticed Today (Revelation 9-11)
Revelation 9
Fifth Trumpet.
In verses 1-12, the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and a star fell from heaven to earth. The key to the abyss was given to him. He opened the abyss, and smoke came up, so the air and sun were darkened by it.
Note: The star that fell from heaven earth is referred to as a “he,” and it is Satan. The abyss is the home of the demons.
Locusts came out of the smoke with power like scorpions. They were told not to harm anything except those who did not have God’s seal on their foreheads. They were not permitted to kill them, only torment them for five months. People will seek death, they will long to die, but death will flee from them.
The locusts looked like horses equipped for battle. They had something like gold crowns on their heads, faces like men, hair like women, teeth like lions, chests like iron breastplates, and their wings sounded like the sound of chariots rushing into battle. They had tails like scorpions that could harm people for five months.
Their king is the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek, Apollyon.
Note: The names Abaddon and Apollyon both mean “destroyer.”
The first woe is passed; two more woes will come.
Sixth Trumpet.
In verses 13-21, the sixth angel blew his trumpet. From the horns of the altar, a voice told the sixth angel to release the four angels bound at the Euphrates river.
Note: The four angels that were bound are demons because angels are not bound.
So, the four angels were released and killed a third of the human race. The number of mounted troops was 200 million. The horsemen had breastplates that were fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The heads of the horses were like lion’s heads, and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur. A third of the human race was killed by them. They had a tail, resembling snakes with heads, and they inflict injury with them.
Note: A fourth of the earth’s population was killed in the fourth seal, and now a third of those who remain are killed, so to this point, half of the earth’s population has been killed.
The rest of the people who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of their works and stop worshipping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. They did not repent of their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, or their thefts.
Note: While the sixth trumpet may have produced fear, it did not result in repentance!
Revelation 10
Note: Revelation 10:1-11:14 is the second interlude that falls between the sixth and seventh trumpets. The first interlude was Revelation 7:1-17 between the sixth and seventh seals.
In verses 1-11, John describes the mighty angel and the small scroll.
A mighty angel came down from heaven in a cloud with a rainbow. His face was like the sun and his legs like fiery pillars. He had a small scroll open in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea and his left hand on the land and cried out with a voice like a roaring lion. Seven thunders spoke, and I (John) was about to write it down when a voice from heaven said to seal up what the seven thunders said and not write it down.
The angel raised his right hand and swore an oath that there would be no interval of time. The seventh angel will blow his trumpet, and then God’s hidden plan will be revealed.
The voice I (John) heard before told me to get the scroll from the angel and eat it. It will be bitter in the stomach but taste sweet as honey in your mouth.
And I (John) was told you must prophesy again to many peoples, nations, kings, and languages.
Revelation 11
In verses 1-14, John describes two witnesses who were martyred and then resurrected.
I was given a measuring rod with the words, go and measure God’s sanctuary, and the altar, and count the people who worship there. But exclude the outer sanctuary because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
Note: This means to measure the area of the Holy of Holies but not the outer courtyard. The outer courtyard would be under the control of the Gentiles, who will trample the holy city for 42 months (3-1/2 years).
I will empower my two witnesses for 1,260 days dressed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and lampstands that stand before the Lord. If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. These men have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the days of their prophecy. They also have power over the waters to turn them to blood and to strike the earth with any kind of plague they want.
When they finish their testimony, the beast will come up out of the abyss, make war with them, conquer them, and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city (prophetically called Sodom and Egypt), where the Lord was crucified.
Note: The beast that comes out of the abyss is the Antichrist. The great city referred to in verse 8 is Jerusalem.
People will view their bodies for 3-1/2 days and not be permitted to be buried in a tomb. People will gloat over them and celebrate with gifts because these two prophets brought judgment on those who live on the earth.
After 3-1/2 days, the breath of God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. A loud voice commanded them to come into heaven. They went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched.
A violent earthquake shook the city, and 7,000 people were killed. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to God in heaven!
The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming.
Seventh Trumpet.
In verses 15-19, the seventh angel blew his trumpet. Loud voices proclaimed the coming of the coming of the kingdom of the Lord, who will reign forever and ever.
The 24 elders seated before God fell down and worshiped God, thanking God for who He is, for His great power, and for beginning to reign. The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give rewards to Your servants the prophets because the time has come to destroy the earth.
God’s sanctuary in heaven opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.
Note: The events of the seventh trumpet will be concluded in Revelation 16.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- We do not know who the two witnesses are that prophecy for 1,260 days. They are killed by the Antichrist, but resurrected and brought to heaven by God. Satan seems to win a battle, but in the end, the Lord is victorious!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
