Revelation 9

Last time we learned about the first four trumpet blasts. It seems God is striking all the things that those who have not put their faith in Jesus have instead trusted in — the earth, the sky, the things they believe they control but really do not. God is revealing to the lost how lost they are, to the blind how blind they are, and to the idol worshipers how impotent their idols are, bringing all things into subjection under Christ. The first four trumpets mimic things that could be explained away by modern theories. But God knows the hearts of men will refuse to attribute these to him — so these next three trumpets leave no room for common explanation.¶

And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit... Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions... they were allowed to torment them for five months... And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

Revelation 9:1-6 (ESV)¶

Seeing the unseen¶

Something supernatural is happening. John is seeing behind the spiritual curtain — things not seen with natural eyes. So are the inhabitants of the world actually seeing these creatures the way John describes, or only experiencing their effects? Consider Job, who never saw the devil, only the effects on his body; or the Exodus, where no one saw the Lord or the Destroyer, only the death. Either way, the people are truly afflicted.¶

The same language used when Satan was given permission to harm Job ("but do not kill him") is used here: they may torment for five months but not kill. This shows God is ultimately in charge — these creatures are his tools for judgment. And they cannot harm those who have the seal of God on their foreheads. Just as the plagues in Egypt only affected the Egyptians, these only affect those not sealed by God. God has made himself a remnant who will not be touched; he constantly shows his grace and mercy.¶

"They will long to die"¶

For those who have rejected his Son, this woe brings them to desire death — but death flees from them. There was an old movie, Death Becomes Her, where two women drink a potion to live forever, only to keep decaying without dying — perpetually falling apart but never dead. We have reached a point where men try to live forever through medicine and science. Death has been feared since Adam, a constant reminder of our mortality — and men hate that they are mortal, because they want to be God. So what is God showing these people when death flees from them? They are getting a small taste of the eternity set before them (Ecclesiastes 3:11). God uses this woe to force the arrogant to acknowledge that they cannot rest in lies of reincarnation or ceasing to exist — that the first death is only the beginning, leading either to eternal life for those who believed in Jesus, or the second death for those who rejected the Savior.¶

This is the first woe: spiritual, physical, and mental torment for all who are not sealed by God. Heavy stuff — but Revelation is here to be a blessing to its readers and keepers. There will be no excuse when these things take place. Thank God that by the blood of Jesus we have been spared from the second death, and can look forward to eternity with God.¶