However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. - 2 Kings 17:14
I hope you have been blessed by our examination of Revelation this far. This morning’s message is the 13th installment of this fascinating series. Looking ahead at my list of upcoming sermons, I suspect we are approximately ⅓ of the way through this study. That said, let’s resume our discussion of the 7 trumpet judgments by taking a close look at the 6th trumpet.
I. THE 4 ANGELS (Revelation 9:13-16)
When the 6th angel sounded his trumpet, John heard a voice coming from among the 4 horns of the golden altar which was before God’s throne. Based upon previous descriptions, this altar appears to be used for burning incense rather than for offering sacrifices. The voice instructed the angel with the trumpet to release 4 other angels who were “bound at the river Euphrates”. Most commentators agree that this was most likely God speaking.
The Euphrates River runs from modern-day Turkey southwest through Syria and Iraq eventually emptying into the Persian Gulf. It is the longest river in the Middle East at 1,740 miles long. The Euphrates River is referred to several times in the Bible and plays an important natural role in the region. The Euphrates serves as the far eastern border of the land given by God to His chosen people Israel (Genesis 15:18).
After the command was given, these 4 angels were released. Because Scripture states they had been “bound”, many believe they were fallen angels or demons. They had been prepared in advance specifically for this moment. Their purpose was to kill ⅓ of mankind, again strongly suggesting that they were evil fallen angels. This harkens back to the first 4 trumpets, each of which also involved ⅓ of something.
These 4 fallen angels were associated with a massive army of 200,000,000 horsemen. Perhaps they were commanders of the differing divisions or branches of this great army. For perspective, China currently has the largest military in the world at approximately 2.5 million soldiers. The army described in this passage is 80 times larger than that!
II. THE DEMONIC ARMY (Revelation 9:17-19)
John carefully described the horses and riders which he saw. The riders wore breastplates which were the color of fire, of hyacinth (sapphire), and of brimstone (sulphur). The horses had heads like lions and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. As instructed, they proceed to kill ⅓ of mankind. These horses also had power to do harm with their tails, which were serpent-like and had heads. Obviously, as was the case with the 5th trumpet and the aforementioned “locusts”, John was using figurative language in his description of these horses and their riders.
Earlier during the tribulation, the 4th horseman of the apocalypse (the 4th seal) was authorized to kill ¼ of mankind. Now this immense army led by these 4 fallen angels is sent out to kill ⅓ of the earth’s remaining population. Consider this example… If there were 100 people and ¼ of them died (25), only 75 would be left. Then, if ⅓ of these remaining 75 people died as well (25), only 50 would be left. Thus, the original population would be reduced by 50%. The number of people living at the beginning of the Tribulation will be cut in half by these 2 judgments alone, not to mention all of the other unquantified fatalities associated with the many other judgments. This is a staggering number of casualties.
There are many interpreters who believe this army of 200,000,000 consists of modern soldiers, equipment, and advanced mechanisms of human warfare. However, when one considers the immense size of this army in relation to the diminished population and devastated condition of the earth at the time, it would seem plausible that these horses and riders were not human at all. The description John gave of these horsemen and their horses was somewhat similar to that given about the demonic locusts earlier in the chapter. That said, perhaps this sizable force was made up by millions of destructive and murderous demons.
Let me suggest a possibility that ties the 5th and 6th trumpets together. Perhaps the same horde of demons that was released from the pit of Tartarus to torment the people of earth for 5 terrifying months following the blast of the 5th trumpet was now being permitted to kill ⅓ of the world’s population as an organized demonic army following the 6th trumpet. Or perhaps those demons were joined by others, both human and/or demonic, to make up this huge and formidable army. No one knows for certain...
III. THE UNREPENTANT RESPONSE (Revelation 9:20-21)
John saw millions being killed by this large and aggressive army. Yet, even in the face of this incredible tragedy, those who survived continued to resist God. They did not repent of their wickedness, their false worship, and/or their idolatry. Instead, they kept committing murder, practicing witchcraft, engaging in acts of sexual immorality, and perpetrating theft.
When the difficulties and challenges of this life come, many people who believe in God’s existence become bitter and miserable. They get mired down in the pits of depression, sorrow, and anger. Many blame God for their circumstances and turn themselves away from Him. Oftentimes, their misguided and erroneous response leads them down the rocky road of rebellion and waywardness. In stubborn resistance, they refuse to repent of their sinful attitudes and actions. Instead, they become increasingly hostile toward and entrenched against the LORD. Some folks even stop believing in Him altogether (which indicates that they never truly had a saving faith).
Nonbelievers are so blinded by their sin that they are completely unable to see God’s handiwork all around them. They can not recognize God’s judgment or discipline when it comes, and are unable to perceive or understand His redemptive purposes for sending or allowing it. In accordance with their secular worldview, they don’t acknowledge the LORD’s existence at all and, therefore, regard the happenings of life as natural processes or random events. Those who share this perspective see no need for repentance.
Following the judgment of the 6th trumpet, and the great loss of life that it brings, most of the survivors will fall into one of these categories, doggedly refusing to repent. Either knowingly or unknowingly, they will persist in their sinful behaviors and ways. Like immature children (and some adults), they will continue to practice the very same things that brought judgment upon them to begin with.
CONCLUSION
Let me close with a familiar point that I’ve made many times before. Though this may disturb some of you, the fact is that God’s greatest concern for each of us is not our physical well-being, but rather our spiritual well being. While He certainly cares about our physical lives, and instructs us to protect and value them, and even pray about them, God sees things from a much higher perspective. This world is not our home. In fact, in relation to eternity our time here is a brief, passing moment. Therefore, the condition of our temporal, earthly circumstances pales in comparison to that of our eternal destiny (Romans 8:18). Knowing this, God readily allows the difficult trials and tests of this life as a means to spur us and others on toward repentance, so that we might come to know and forever enjoy the riches and blessings of the life to come. Our eternity is, quite literally, infinitely more important than this present life...
I hope you have been blessed by our examination of Revelation this far. This morning’s message is the 13th installment of this fascinating series. Looking ahead at my list of upcoming sermons, I suspect we are approximately ⅓ of the way through this study. That said, let’s resume our discussion of the 7 trumpet judgments by taking a close look at the 6th trumpet.
I. THE 4 ANGELS (Revelation 9:13-16)
When the 6th angel sounded his trumpet, John heard a voice coming from among the 4 horns of the golden altar which was before God’s throne. Based upon previous descriptions, this altar appears to be used for burning incense rather than for offering sacrifices. The voice instructed the angel with the trumpet to release 4 other angels who were “bound at the river Euphrates”. Most commentators agree that this was most likely God speaking.
The Euphrates River runs from modern-day Turkey southwest through Syria and Iraq eventually emptying into the Persian Gulf. It is the longest river in the Middle East at 1,740 miles long. The Euphrates River is referred to several times in the Bible and plays an important natural role in the region. The Euphrates serves as the far eastern border of the land given by God to His chosen people Israel (Genesis 15:18).
After the command was given, these 4 angels were released. Because Scripture states they had been “bound”, many believe they were fallen angels or demons. They had been prepared in advance specifically for this moment. Their purpose was to kill ⅓ of mankind, again strongly suggesting that they were evil fallen angels. This harkens back to the first 4 trumpets, each of which also involved ⅓ of something.
These 4 fallen angels were associated with a massive army of 200,000,000 horsemen. Perhaps they were commanders of the differing divisions or branches of this great army. For perspective, China currently has the largest military in the world at approximately 2.5 million soldiers. The army described in this passage is 80 times larger than that!
II. THE DEMONIC ARMY (Revelation 9:17-19)
John carefully described the horses and riders which he saw. The riders wore breastplates which were the color of fire, of hyacinth (sapphire), and of brimstone (sulphur). The horses had heads like lions and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. As instructed, they proceed to kill ⅓ of mankind. These horses also had power to do harm with their tails, which were serpent-like and had heads. Obviously, as was the case with the 5th trumpet and the aforementioned “locusts”, John was using figurative language in his description of these horses and their riders.
Earlier during the tribulation, the 4th horseman of the apocalypse (the 4th seal) was authorized to kill ¼ of mankind. Now this immense army led by these 4 fallen angels is sent out to kill ⅓ of the earth’s remaining population. Consider this example… If there were 100 people and ¼ of them died (25), only 75 would be left. Then, if ⅓ of these remaining 75 people died as well (25), only 50 would be left. Thus, the original population would be reduced by 50%. The number of people living at the beginning of the Tribulation will be cut in half by these 2 judgments alone, not to mention all of the other unquantified fatalities associated with the many other judgments. This is a staggering number of casualties.
There are many interpreters who believe this army of 200,000,000 consists of modern soldiers, equipment, and advanced mechanisms of human warfare. However, when one considers the immense size of this army in relation to the diminished population and devastated condition of the earth at the time, it would seem plausible that these horses and riders were not human at all. The description John gave of these horsemen and their horses was somewhat similar to that given about the demonic locusts earlier in the chapter. That said, perhaps this sizable force was made up by millions of destructive and murderous demons.
Let me suggest a possibility that ties the 5th and 6th trumpets together. Perhaps the same horde of demons that was released from the pit of Tartarus to torment the people of earth for 5 terrifying months following the blast of the 5th trumpet was now being permitted to kill ⅓ of the world’s population as an organized demonic army following the 6th trumpet. Or perhaps those demons were joined by others, both human and/or demonic, to make up this huge and formidable army. No one knows for certain...
III. THE UNREPENTANT RESPONSE (Revelation 9:20-21)
John saw millions being killed by this large and aggressive army. Yet, even in the face of this incredible tragedy, those who survived continued to resist God. They did not repent of their wickedness, their false worship, and/or their idolatry. Instead, they kept committing murder, practicing witchcraft, engaging in acts of sexual immorality, and perpetrating theft.
When the difficulties and challenges of this life come, many people who believe in God’s existence become bitter and miserable. They get mired down in the pits of depression, sorrow, and anger. Many blame God for their circumstances and turn themselves away from Him. Oftentimes, their misguided and erroneous response leads them down the rocky road of rebellion and waywardness. In stubborn resistance, they refuse to repent of their sinful attitudes and actions. Instead, they become increasingly hostile toward and entrenched against the LORD. Some folks even stop believing in Him altogether (which indicates that they never truly had a saving faith).
Nonbelievers are so blinded by their sin that they are completely unable to see God’s handiwork all around them. They can not recognize God’s judgment or discipline when it comes, and are unable to perceive or understand His redemptive purposes for sending or allowing it. In accordance with their secular worldview, they don’t acknowledge the LORD’s existence at all and, therefore, regard the happenings of life as natural processes or random events. Those who share this perspective see no need for repentance.
Following the judgment of the 6th trumpet, and the great loss of life that it brings, most of the survivors will fall into one of these categories, doggedly refusing to repent. Either knowingly or unknowingly, they will persist in their sinful behaviors and ways. Like immature children (and some adults), they will continue to practice the very same things that brought judgment upon them to begin with.
CONCLUSION
Let me close with a familiar point that I’ve made many times before. Though this may disturb some of you, the fact is that God’s greatest concern for each of us is not our physical well-being, but rather our spiritual well being. While He certainly cares about our physical lives, and instructs us to protect and value them, and even pray about them, God sees things from a much higher perspective. This world is not our home. In fact, in relation to eternity our time here is a brief, passing moment. Therefore, the condition of our temporal, earthly circumstances pales in comparison to that of our eternal destiny (Romans 8:18). Knowing this, God readily allows the difficult trials and tests of this life as a means to spur us and others on toward repentance, so that we might come to know and forever enjoy the riches and blessings of the life to come. Our eternity is, quite literally, infinitely more important than this present life...