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Trumpet 5 (Revelation 9:1-12)
9:3 Then out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 9:4 They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don't have God's seal on their foreheads. 9:5 They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. 9:6 In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power
Review...
You, son of man, don't be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: don't be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 2:6)
Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. (Luke 10:19)
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Continue...
torment them for five months
I really want to flush more out about this word torment. What is the nature of this torment? Is it physical, or emotional or spiritual? What is the nature of this war? That will inform us as to the direction to take in looking for answers that fit into the larger picture presented by these symbols.
Again, let us compare all the passages containing this word from throughout Scripture to discover what the real meaning of this might be for this context.
But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and the borders of it. (1 Samuel 5:6)
Other translations render this as ravaged, terrified, devastated, wasted, desolate. Clearly it goes far beyond the simplistic idea of simply annihilating as we often think of the word destroy.
Here are a couple other interesting translations of this verse.
And the hand of the Lord was heavy upon Azotus, and he brought evil upon them, and it burst out upon them into the ships, and mice sprang up in the midst of their country, and there was a great and indiscriminate mortality in the city. (1 Samuel 5:6 Brenton)
The LORD made life hard for the people of Ashdod and their neighbors. He gave them many troubles and caused them to get tumors. He also sent mice to them. The mice ran all over their ships and then onto their land. The people in the city were very afraid. (1 Samuel 5:6 ERV)
Here is another verse from the OT that also contributes to our understanding of this word. These are the only two verses I find in the OT that use this word in the Greek.
Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins. (Micah 6:13)
So also I will make you sick, striking you down, Desolating you.... (NAS95)
Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you.... (NIV)
And I tormented you for extinction on account of your sins. (ABP+)
Therefore I have also made weak in smiting thee, in making desolate because of thy sins. (JB2000)
When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him, and saying, "Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented." (Matthew 8:5-6)
fearfully tormented. (NAS95)
in terrible distress. (NRSV)
dreadfully tormented. (NKJV)
in terrible suffering. (NIV)
When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way. Behold, they cried out, saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:28-29)
Compare this with another account of the same event to see an important corollary.
Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion," for many demons had entered into him. They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss. (Luke 8:30-31)
The next verse also hints at demonic involvement through reference to the wind bringing distress and torment.
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. (Matthew 14:24)
but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. (NRSV)
And the boat was already in the midst of the sea, being tormented by the waves; for the wind was adverse. (ABP+)
His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. (Matthew 18:34)
Is this not exactly what is being described here in the 5th trumpet? It specifically spells out that these locust entities are given power/authority to torment. What can we learn from comparing these two passages about what may be going on under this trumpet? I believe this story of the debtor may have a major role in unlocking our understanding of the real meaning of what is going on and the nature of the torment described as going on for 5 months.
The last verse containing this specific word outside the book of Revelation is this one.
and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds): (2 Peter 2:7-8)
I want to include a few other passages that may well add to our perspective of this idea.
I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it. As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message." For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in. (Isaiah 28:17-20)
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. A man who disregards Moses' law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance belongs to me," says the Lord, "I will repay." Again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31)
For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;" and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling." (Hebrews 12:18-21)
For thus says Yahweh: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see whether a man does travail with child: why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:5-7)
This last verse for me seems to fit this description found in this trumpet and correlates to many of the other clues we have been checking out. If it is the people of God being tormented here, the torment could be simultaneously internal as well as coming from other people externally.
Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person
A scorpion striking a person causes excruciating pain that could be representing panic attacks caused through opening up the heart and mind to demonic access. Scorpions represent demons who specialize in fear, terror and torment. This extreme pain can involve torture of conscience, unrelenting terror, condemnation, unresolvable guilt and/or shame. Those who once knew intimacy with God but who have spurned it by returning to fear, are now only left with a keen awareness of their now hopelessly lost condition with no way of receiving rest or peace. This is the tormenting experience of living in perpetual hopeless despair.
torment them for five months
What is this five months about? The only other references I find in Scripture to this length of time relates to the flood and a story involving Zacharia's wife Elizabeth, which may find relevance here.
Five months = 5x30 or 150 days. Interestingly a plague of locusts typically lasted 5 months.
Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ship. The waters prevailed on the earth one hundred fifty days. (Genesis 7:23-24)
After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men." Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. (Luke 1:24-27)
Let's compare the context of these two stories to inform us about the possible meaning of this 5 months. At first they may seem totally unrelated, but as we look more closely it is surprising how much they dovetail to reveal key elements that we may find highly useful in unpacking the hidden meaning of what is going on here in the 5th trumpet.
Was there a similarity of conditions that existed in the beginning of these two stories?
Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:11-13)
Before Christ's first advent, the sin of refusing to conform to God's law had become widespread. Apparently Satan's power was growing; his warfare against heaven was becoming more and more determined. A crisis had been reached. With an intense interest God's movements were watched by the heavenly angels. Would He come forth from His place to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity? Would He send fire or flood to destroy them? All heaven waited the bidding of their Commander to pour out the vials of wrath upon a rebellious world. One word from Him, one sign, and the world would have been destroyed. The worlds unfallen would have said, "Amen. Thou art righteous, O God, because Thou hast exterminated rebellion." {RC 58}
How did God relate to these conditions in each story?
Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great
Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. (Genesis 6:5-6)
But "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God might have sent His Son to condemn, but He sent Him to save. Christ came as a Redeemer. No words can describe the effect of this movement on the heavenly angels. With wonder and admiration they could only exclaim, "Herein is love!" {RC 58}
How were the people used by God viewed by Him?
But Noah found favor in Yahweh's eyes. This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:8-9)
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. (Luke 1:5-6)
What was God intent on establishing in each situation?
I, even I, do bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die. But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. (Genesis 6:17-18)
Yahweh said to Noah, "Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. (Genesis 7:1)
Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. (Daniel 9:24)
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:16-17)
How were the chosen participants to act upon hearing what God was thinking?
Noah went into the ship with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, because of the waters of the flood. (Genesis 7:7)
But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth." (Luke 1:13-14)
How did people respond to God's desire?
Thus Noah did. According to all that God commanded him, so he did. (Genesis 6:22)
Noah did everything that Yahweh commanded him. (Genesis 7:5)
Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time. (Luke 1:20)
How might these two depictions find a parallel?
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky's windows were opened. The rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:11-12)
After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months...
(Luke 1:24)
Notice that in both cases the five months began with something very powerful resulting in changing the course of history of this world. In the flood story Noah and his family ensconced themselves into the womb of the ark while the rain and water intensified all around them, wiping out everything living on the surface of the earth.
In the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth, they they participated by joining their bodies together in an act of love that resulted in the conception of a child who lived inside her womb filled with water, while she herself hid inside to shield herself from wondering eyes and prying questions by those who had been the cause of reproach for much of her life.
During the flood, everything on the surface of the ground experienced destruction, leaving the world a wasteland, empty and not unlike what the world looked like before the process of reformatting it in the creation story.
Similarly, John the Baptist grew up in the wilderness living sparsely and isolated as his heart was prepared for the mighty work of introducing the most important person in the history of the universe to become involved in human history and alter the course of events forever.
The waters prevailed on the earth for five months while Noah and his family hid inside the ark.
Elizabeth hid from reproach while pregnant for 5 months.
Both Noah and Elizabeth had long suffered reproach from the people surrounding them.
Both stories involve the Lord looking down on the situation on earth, as well as doing things.
Those who went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him; and Yahweh shut him in. (Genesis 7:16)
God spoke to Noah, saying, "Go out of the ship, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons' wives with you. (Genesis 8:15-16)
We are informed that a mighty angel shut the massive door of the ark and no human could remove that door until God was ready to let them out. Then that same angel removed the door at the end of the flood inviting Noah and his family to exit.
In the story of Elizabeth, after her 5 months of hiding was finished, Gabriel is seen going into action getting involved in the story directly to order to make arrangements for the Messiah to be born who would both become the door and provide the way for the salvation of all mankind.
I would like to explore a bit more the description of what was going on with the waters in the flood story. Take a look at how many ways this activity of the waters is described.
The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth. The waters prevailed, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ship floated on the surface of the waters. The waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ship. The waters prevailed on the earth one hundred fifty days. (Genesis 7:17-24)
Here is Strong's definition of the word 'prevailed'
gabar - to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently: exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be valiant
Now compare this with verses that follow immediately after.
God remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ship; and God made a wind to pass over the earth. [spirits are angels likened to winds of fire Hebrews 1:7,14) The waters subsided. The deep's fountains and the sky's windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained. The waters receded from the earth continually. After the end of one hundred fifty days the waters decreased. The ship rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat's mountains. The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. (Genesis 8:1-5)
Now the question is raised, How does all this inform us for interpreting what we find in the 5th trumpet?
They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. (Revelation 9:10)
This five months is like bookends enclosing detailed descriptions of what these locust beings are and what they do. Significantly, this last mention refers to their tails as being the source or location of their power to harm. What is key for understanding this reference to tails? And how might this correlate to the other two stories involving 5 months? Maybe if we compare them we will find key details that may bring more light to what we are looking at here. Here are all the other references to tails in Revelation along with what I believe to be a key that best unlocks the meaning of this symbol.
For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. (Revelation 9:19)
His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (Revelation 12:4)
The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed. (Isaiah 9:15-16)
In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it.
They will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. (1 Kings 19:1-4)
Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul, Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in? For my sighing comes before I eat. My groanings are poured out like water. For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me. I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble comes. (Job 3:20-26)
Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for, even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! (Job 6:8-9)
When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint;' then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions: so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones. I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath. What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him, that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle? If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself? Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be. (Job 7:13-21)
"'Why, then, have you brought me forth out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me. I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. Aren't my days few? Cease then. Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort, before I go where I shall not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death; the land dark as midnight, of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as midnight.'" (Job 10:18-22)
Talk about tormentors, Job had three of them reinforcing the lies of the enemy incessantly, bantering him with supposedly helpful advice while in fact it only made him even more miserable than he already was. Here is a sample from the mouth of Zophar, one of Job's presumed friends.
"If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don't let unrighteousness dwell in your tents. Surely then shall you lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear: for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away. Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning. You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety. Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. Yes, many shall court your favor. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit." (Job 11:13-20)
If what we are beginning to see in this trumpet is an intense campaign of harassment of the true followers of God by demonic tormentors, then these insights from Job's experience might find great relevance in unpacking the kind of experience being described here and just who it is that is on the receiving end of all the torment. This torment will be designed to lead the followers of the Lamb into imagining that they are the ones who are deceived and who need to repent from their crazy notions that God is not like the beast power as everyone else insists He must be.
It is becoming more clear to me in my own experience that the war is over what we believe about our identity, and that what we choose to cling to relating to who defines us and what that looks like will be the point of contention most fiercely fought over in the mind and heart of every human soul daring to defy the kingdom of darkness and its deeply entrenched patterns of thinking that has manipulated and conditioned us our entire lives. Job went through the purifying experience and came out in the end as a champion for truth receiving God's affirmation. But the intensity of assaults on his reputation and integrity was excruciatingly painful for a long time due to the religious wisdom of the world used to compel him to abandon his crazy notions about a God different from what the mainstream believed.
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. He prayed to Yahweh, and said, "Please, Yahweh, wasn't this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm. Therefore now, Yahweh, take, I beg you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live." (Jonah 4:1-3)
It happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." (Jonah 4:8)
Key to interpreting this is determining who is on the receiving end of this torment. If it involves torment on the part of the followers of the Lamb, then this torment involves a massive assault by the powers of darkness to convince them that they are the ones who need to repent and return to a proper fear-based view of God just as Job experienced. This will be intense and prolonged but will actually result in purify them of all lingering notions that religion and tradition has infected them with since birth. This torment by demonic spirits of fear will be unrelenting but must be resisted with the word of God and total reliance on Him alone for the truth about our identity.
On the other hand, if this torment is happening to false-hearted Christians who have imagined they were doing the right things and hoping to be saved, then the desire to die without the ability to actually enter into it could equally involve other passages such as the following. Since this book is in written in symbols, this 'death' can be symbolic. If this torment is in those professing to be God-followers but who have failed to put to death the fleshly desires, then too late people will attempt to die to self, to repent, to encounter the Spirit of God and to recapture the lost joy, but will find it impossible because they have refused to move deeper into the reality of God's love while they had capacity and time to respond. Instead they have fallen away back into old familiar patterns of fear-based thinking. Now, desperate to be saved but still motivated by fear and selfishness, they find themselves unable to receive or give love which results in prolonged and interminable torment.
Men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily. (Isaiah 2:19)
Death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places where I have driven them, says Yahweh of Armies. (Jeremiah 8:3)
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? (Matthew 16:25-26)
For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. (Romans 6:5-6)
Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to God. (Romans 7:4)
For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. (Galatians 5:24)
Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. You also once walked in those, when you lived in them; but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. (Colossians 3:5-8)
For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears. (Hebrews 12:17)
