Chapter 9; Rising of the Devil
The fifth angel sounded, and there was a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. The star indicates the one like an apostate who persecutes Christianity with the earthly authority. The key of the bottomless pit given to him means he is given the devil’s authority.
It is the same authority as in Revelation 13:2, and the reason God permits the devil’s authority is to let him bring the spiritual darkness. When he opened the bottomless pit, smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. This signifies the spiritual darkness. (1~2)
The locusts came forth upon the earth out of the smoke and the power of the scorpions was given to them; it means that man who inhales the thought of the darkness will become as evil as the locusts and will receive the devil’s authority. (3)
The locusts were told to hurt only the men who do not have the seal; this is the way of God to select only those who have the seal on their foreheads. As God used Moses to bring the plagues, He will raise up the sealed servants at this time. (4)
The locusts were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; in those days, they will frantically torment men. (5)
In those days, death will flee from men but the deadly oppression of devil comes. (6)
Following is the behaviors of those who become like the locusts.
1. They are extremely violent and indignant without reason.
2. They look victorious by human method.
3. They look justified. (7)
4. They use the captivating method that lures the heart of people.
5. They have no mercy. (8)
6. They gather with unity.
7. They use the strong policy like military law. (9)
8. They form cell-like organizations to harm men with people who are like a tail. (10)
The king of the locusts at the lowest class, the angel of the bottomless pit, is the same as in Revelation 11:7 and 17:8. So the locusts are the evil mob used by the regime of the beast who is from the bottomless pit. Only the sealed servants will remain from this first woe and perform the Work as in Chapter 11. (11~12)
The sixth angel sounded, and was told to release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates; it means when they face difficult situations when peace can’t be preserved by human method, the four world powers will nullify the treaties of peace and will do freely what they want to do. (13~14)
It is the determined time of God when the woe of dreadful death will come to the earth to kill a third of mankind, but this woe does not indicate annihilation of all mankind. Men will be killed by the weapons of the armies of the horsemen. Their tails are like serpents and have heads, and the fire, the smoke and the brimstone proceed out of their mouths; it signifies the situation of an artillery war. (15~19)
This war will not bring peace, but the evil world where there is the fierce temptation of the devil. (20~21)
How God will work at this time and what fruit will be produced is in Chapters 10, 11, and 12.