July 24, 2022
“Revelation 9
New King James Version
Fifth Trumpet: The Locusts from the Bottomless Pit
9 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the [a]bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And [b]they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
7 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. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is [c]Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name [d]Apollyon.
12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
Sixth Trumpet: The Angels from the Euphrates
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For [e]their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
20 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. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their [f]sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Footnotes
- Revelation 9:1 Lit. shaft of the abyss
- Revelation 9:5 The locusts
- Revelation 9:11 Lit. Destruction
- Revelation 9:11 Lit. Destroyer
- Revelation 9:19 NU, M the power of the horses
- Revelation 9:21 NU, M drugs
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
“9:1-12.
The fifth trumpet – the first woe
1. The abyss opened. The seer sees ‘a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth.’ This ‘star’ is the angel custodian of the pit of the Abyss, the prison house of the demons (Lk 8:30-31). That he cannot be Satan, or even an evil angel, is shown by the fact that he is the same angelic personage who once again opens the pit of ‘the Abyss’ to bind and imprison Satan prior to the millennium (20:1-3). He is an angel fallen from heaven, not a fallen angel, the past participle ‘fallen’ describing the swiftness of the angel’s descent and the suddenness with which this first woe bursts upon wicked earth dwellers.
2-12. The loosing of myriads of demons. The symbolism, 2-11, is descriptive of the invisible spirit world in terms visible and comprehensible to men. The locusts represent demons and the way they will possess, drive and torment men in the end time. (See note on ‘Demonism,’ Mk 5:1-20.) While multitudes of demons have been free to torment the human race during previous ages (Mk 1:23-27; 5:1-17; 1 Tim 4:1-6; 1 Jn 4:1-4), many of them are so viciously depraved and harmful that God has imprisoned them in the abyss. These are the terrible demons let loose under the first woe. The name of the king of the demons is Abaddon, meaning ‘destruction,’ 11 (Job 26:6; Prov 15:11), or in Gr. Apollyon, meaning ‘destroyer’ (cf. 2 Thess 2:7-12).’ . . .” (The New Unger’s Bible Handbook—Merrill F. Unger—Revised by Gary N. Larson—MOODY PRESS—CHICAGO)
‘. . . “Demonism
Demons are evil or unclean spirits (cf. Mk 1:23 with Mk 1:32-34; Rev 16:13-16), and are fallen angels, servants of Satan (Mk 12:26-27; 25:41). There is only one devil, but myriads of demons who serve the devil and make his power practically universal. A demoniac (Mk 5:1-20) is a person whose personality has been invaded by one or more demons, who at will can speak and act through their human victim, deranging both his mind and body. A number of such victims of Satan were delivered by the Servant (see ‘Expulsion of demons’ below). The unhindered power of God working through the sinless humanity of the Servant challenged the supernatural world of evil and explains the outburst of demonism during His earthly ministry.
The reality and personality of demons are attested in all eras of history since the Fall, as in the case of Saul and the spiritistic medium of Endor (1 Sam 28:7-20), in the case of ancient idolatry of which demonism was the dynamic (Ps 106:36-37; 1 Cor 10:20), in ancient divination and magic, and in ancient necromancy and modern spiritism.
Demons can derange mind and body (Mt 12:22; 17:15-18; Lk 13:16). They know the deity and lordship of Christ in the spirit world (Mt 8:31-32; Mk 1:24; Acts 19:15; Jas 2:19), and realize their predestined fate (Mt 8:31-32; Lk 8:31). They have a conspicuous role in the government of the Satanic world system (Dan 10:13; Eph 6:12), in promoting cultism and false doctrine (1 Tim 4:1-3), and in opposing God’s program and God’s people (Eph 6:12; 1 Jn 4:1-6. Prayer is the believer’s resource against Satan and demons (Eph 6:10-20). See also comments on ‘Demonism’ in Lk 11:14-28.’
‘Expulsion of demons Specific instances
Mk 1:21-28; Lk 4:31-37. Demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum.
Mt 9:32-34. Dumb demoniac.
Mt 15:21-28; Mk 7:24-30. Daughter of the Syrophoenician woman.
Mt 8:28-34; Mk 5:1-20; Lk 8:26-39. Gadarene demoniacs.
Mt 12:22; Lk 11:14. Blind and mute demoniac.
Mt 17:14-21; Mk 9:14-29; Lk 9:37-43. Epileptic child. . .” (The New Unger’s Bible Handbook—Merrill F. Unger—Revised by Gary N. Larson—MOODY PRESS—CHICAGO)
Luke 11:14-54
‘. . . “11:14-54.
Demon expulsion and warnings
14-28. Jesus instructs in demonism. His expulsion of a demon, 14, brings the blasphemous accusation that ‘by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons,’ 15. Beelzebub is another name of Satan. See note on ‘Demonism’ in Mk 5:1-20, ‘Miracles’ in Mk 5:21-43, ‘Satan’ in Lk 4:1-13. Satan is a king, 17-18, ruling over a kingdom of evil fallen spirits, 17-19. The kingdom of God, i.e., the rule of God upon mankind, comes upon a person when Satan and demons are cast out by the stronger than he (Jesus the Christ), 20. This is in response to believing prayer, 11:1-13. The illustration of the demoniac, 24-26, is applied to the nation Israel by Matthew (see comments on Mt 12:43-45). Luke, however, applied the teaching to humanity in general, demonstrating the uselessness of self-reformation to save. External cleaning up without true regeneration invites Satan to return with seven viler spirits.’ . . .” (The New Unger’s Bible Handbook—Merrill F. Unger—Revised by Gary N. Larson—MOODY PRESS—CHICAGO)
‘. . . “Satan
Zech 3:1-9
He opposes unbelieving Israel prefigured by Joshua the priest
Mt 4:3
He is the tempter
Mt 12:24; Acts 10:38
He is the prince of the demons
1 Tim 4:1-6
He instigates false doctrine
Mt 4:4; Lk 4:10-11
He perverts the Word of God
Mt 12:22-29
He works in demon possession
Zech 3:1
He is Satan, the adversary’ . . .” (The New Unger’s Bible Handbook—Merrill F. Unger—Revised by Gary N. Larson—MOODY PRESS—CHICAGO)
‘. . . “Zech 3:1-9
He opposes unbelieving Israel prefigured by Joshua the priest’
“Zechariah 3:1-9
New King James Version
Vision of the High Priest
3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan[a] standing at his right hand to oppose him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”
So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
The Coming Branch
6 Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts:
‘If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will keep My command,
Then you shall also judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts;
I will give you places to walk
Among these who stand here.
8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,
You and your companions who sit before you,
For they are a[b] wondrous sign;
For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.
9 For behold, the stone
That I have laid before Joshua:
Upon the stone are seven eyes.
Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 3:1 Lit. the Adversary
- Zechariah 3:8 Lit. men of a sign or wonder
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
Good morning beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS; our LORD’S Holy Spirit blessed us with these Scriptures in His most Holy Word, that we know of Whom He speaks in verse 8;
“For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.”
“Isaiah 11:1-5
New King James Version
The Reign of Jesse’s Offspring
11 There shall come forth a [a]Rod from the [b]stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall [c]grow out of his roots.
2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 11:1 Shoot
- Isaiah 11:1 stock or trunk
- Isaiah 11:1 be fruitful”
“Jeremiah 23:1-8
New King James Version
The Branch of Righteousness
23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord. 3 “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord.
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,
“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and [a]prosper,
And execute [b]judgment and righteousness in the [c]earth.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely;
Now this is His name by which He will be called:
[d]THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 23:5 act wisely
- Jeremiah 23:5 justice
- Jeremiah 23:5 land
- Jeremiah 23:6 Heb. YHWH Tsidkenu
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” (BibleGateway.com)
Have a blessed Sunday beloved of YESHUA CHRIST JESUS. Amen. Sincerely: Mr. and Mrs. Timothy M. and Linda Shephard. Amen.