13 And 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 which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
The main point I brought up when starting these postings on Revelation was that most of the death and destruction appears to be from God's judgments. These verses seem to pretty clearly indicate that these creatures themselves kill 1/3 of mankind; and the 4 angels under the Euphrates who were in charge of these 200,000,000 creatures on what appeared to be horses do this destruction which comes from their mouths. We should note that it is not literately horses but horselike creatures that inflict the damage rather than those riding them. It appears these come also from the underworld; whether the same bottomless pit or another infernal region for nonhuman subjects. It would appear these creatures are able to survive in hell literally if they can spew fire onto people so it is possible there are creatures created to be adapted to that environment whether originally that way or having adapted to it.
And now we get to that great first woe. Let us examine the verses one at a time. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. ( Rev. 9:1)
There has been some contention as to the identity of this angel being Satan himself; because this would give him authority over the bottomless pit even AFTER these five months and it would render Revelation 20:3 illogical which states
"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
This would seem to identify this angel as the same who seals Satan himself in later. Ultimately; Jesus Himself has the keys of death and hell (actually Hades) as stated in Revelation 1:18.
It is easy to glibly identify these creatures as demonic hordes. They certainly appear to be different than the mutated genetic offspring of men and angels mentioned in Genesis 6. Nonetheless they are confined in the underworld where other demons will also be imprisoned in due season; which would appear to be the same time Satan is under the earth. ( Isaiah 24:21).
Apollyon is known as the destroyer who is king over these creatures and gives "marching orders". They are NOT allowed to kill however and perhaps there is some sort of immortality in suffering during the prescribed 5 month period.
Revelation 9:4 states And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
This passage indicates the "sealing" of the 144,000 and the fact that they are still on the earth at that time. This will be the ultimate protection and obvious to the rest of the world who suffers the punishment of these tormentors. It is no wonder that they are ready for the Mark after
"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." ( Revelation 8:7).
This and the next 3 trumpets seems to be what the 144,000 were sealed to protect them against. Revelation 7:3 says: Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Trumpets 2 and 3 discuss the destruction of 1/3 of the sea in regard to life and commerce; as well as a third of the waters of the earth made bitter. The fourth trumpet gets into one third of the day AND night having no light. This certainly will trump any so called eclipse sign of God as it will be truly frightening. Clearly something will be blocking light from above the earth's atmosphere maybe related to what crashes into the sea in the earlier trumpet.
The 1/3 mentioned here and later on in the sixth trumpet judgment is almost certainly related to the judgment to come on the 1/3 of the angels that fell with Lucifer that are to be cast down on the earth. Isaiah 24:21 says And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
In the fifth trumpet; we see the first judgment of demons that are directly affecting mankind. In this case torment only was allowed; and death withheld somehow. Immediately following this we have the event of the two prophets being killed; put on display and resurrected as proven by this verse: One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. ( Revelation 9:12). I STRONGLY suspect that these individuals will be convinced once the Antichrist beast is "resurrected" that he both causes their suffering to cease and also that their inability to die will be proof that they are IMMORTAL because of the power OVER Apollyon ( Rev. 9:11) WITH THE MARK.
Look at earlier postings about ideas related to genetic DNA manipulation to render someone not human and therefore unredeemable. This would explain the wholesale destruction of all men except for Noah and his immediate family who was said to be "perfect" in his generations. ( Gen. 6:9). This would almost certainly have a primary reference to his genetic line not being contaminated with the sons of the giants or "men of renown" mentioned in Genesis 6:4. Christ came to redeem men not hybrid creatures and naturally angels that fell would also be unredeemable. Whether this business would be sold as an "evolutionary leap" or promise immortality or both is uncertain; but the "strong delusion" ultimately is sent by God; therefore men will worship the Beast and of course Satan who empowers him. The idea of rebellion comes to mind with what Cain did; and the original concept of the tower of Babel will come to its fruition "bringing the whole world together" in unity; so to speak.
The Tribulation likely begins with one man controlling all of the earth's wealth. That is seen in prophecies in Daniel 11:38 and prophecies such as him "dividing the land for gain" ( Daniel 11:39). See also Habukkuk 2:9 and the whole chapter there to see the consolidation of wealth. Despite his control of the 10 nation beast empire; we see in Revelation that the nations from the east and north amass to go after him. (sixth trumpet starting Revelation 9:13.) Therefore, he may have control over everyone economically but nations will still fight him. By Armageddon in Meddigo at least it appears all are damned after they are enticed to gather by the 3 demons from the frog like spirits coming from the "unholy" trinity. After fighting each other they turn and fight Christ which of course is futile. THose in the Ezekiel 38 campaign however have one sixth remain; I am guessing some don't have the mark and make it into the Millennium. I may discuss that later.
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. ( John 8:35).
When we consider the state of the human soul as well as the angelic realm we realize that access to the heavenly abode is only for those who kept their first estate; as opposed to those mentioned in Jude 6 who fell away after Lucifer's deception. Such is the case as well for men; unregenerate men are truly slaves to sin ( Romans 6:20). We find that our freedom indeed puts us into bondage while being a servant of Christ brings victory.
It is tempting to include some verses from secular songs which at least admit to the dazzling display that Satan appearing as an angel of light uses to delude the masses. ( 2 Cor. 11:14). Since he can no longer magnify God's name; Satan and his minions can only appeal to the nature of man; as he did when influencing Peter to speak as he did about Christ ( Matthew 16:23). Men's thoughts are on self preservation; not sacrificial love. We want to keep close those who are closest to us; which isn't necessarily wrong in itself but is if God is subservient; thus we hate our lives and keep it ( John 12:25). Hence is the paradox of living in Christ and it will come to it's fullest realization during the fires of the Tribulation. It is hard to comprehend just how powerful the delusion will be mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:11. GOD sends the strong delusion! As stated previously; the trumpet judgments still won't deter the world of it's sins; and in Revelation 9:14-21 after the 200,000,000 demon horde kill one third of all of the earth people STILL won't stop their abominable acts. Keep in mind this is well after the sixth SEAL where people at that time are still hiding in caves and fully aware of God and Christ on their thrones beginning judgment ( Rev. 6:16-17).
This of course will lead to the delusion mentioned in Psalm 2 and Revelation 19 where men come together at Armageddon and eventually try to fight God.
Isaiah 19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brook shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
Most all of Isaiah is prophecy of the Kingdom of God.
Egypt is symbolic as is Babylon in Revelation, what they have in common is the spirit of deception, which God is going to destroy.
Put the FISHERS as a prophecy of his 12 disciples and all those that are ruled by the same Spirit IN THEM as is IN YOU.
Matthew 4:19 .... I will MAKE YOU fishers of men ....
Ezekiel 32:3 ... I WILL therefore spread out MY NET over thee, with a GREAT COMPANY of many people, and THEY shall bring thee up in MY NET.
Ezekiel 47:10 And it shall COME TO PASS, that the FISHERS shall stand upon it ... they shall be a place to spread forth nets, their fish shall be according to their kind, as the fish of a great sea (of humanity), exceeding many.
This has been happening now for 2000 years.
Most of this is done after you are harvested and have been translated into the next age, and have become a chariot of fire or a locust as described in Revelation.
Revelation 9:2 And HE (Christ has the keys to death and the grave) opened the BOTTOMLESS (a grave that can never be filled with all the dead) PIT, and there AROSE a smoke (Christ and his saints) out of the pit (grave), as the smoke of a great furnace (of fire, our God is a consuming FIRE) ...
Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the SMOKE (the saints and Christ as ONE FLESH) locust on the earth; and unto them was given POWER, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them, that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; But ONLY THOSE who HAVE NOT the seal of God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:5 And TO THEM IT WAS GIVEN that they should not kill them, but they should BE TORMENTED for five months (symbolic), and there TORMENT was as the TORMENT when a scorpion striketh a man.
Reading you comment above ref. Joel 2:31, and Rev.6:12-17, and Matt.24:29-31concerning "The sun turns dark and the moon to blood ((before)) the day of the LORD comes",
first of all I remember that "there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve Stars". Once "the sun tuns dark" the woman will be in darkness(terrible), by the way, at "midnight there was(there will be)a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Then all those virgins arose(will arise), and trimmed(and will trim) their lamps.
And the foolish said(will say) unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out"; Matt.25:6-8. The lamps is gone out at midnight? In full midnight darkness, in a so perilous hour?
In the above comparison described, I am trying to highlight the issue of the sun becoming dark as prophesied. I don't see or interpret as being a physical phenomenon.
Based in Revelation 9:1-3&10&6 & 11-12
1 I saw a STAR fall from heaven unto the earth( Isaiah 14:12-14 combined with 2 Thess.2:3-4): and to HIM was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And HE opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the SUN and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter
Revelation 16:21 And there fell upon man a great HAIL out of heaven, each stone about the weight of a talent (a talent weighs about 57 pounds): and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the HAIL; for the plague thereof was very great.
Since Revelation is symbolic, what is this a symbol of:
We have to go to the prophets:
Isaiah 28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one ....who is this MIGHTY and STRONG ONE? ..... it is JESUS, the WORD OF GOD ......which as a tempest of HAIL and a DESTROYING STORM ......the HAIL in Revelation is symbolic of the WORD OF GOD, and his words are going to DESTROY ALL DECEPTION FROM THE CARNAL MIND of his people.
Revelation 9:17 And I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat upon them, having breastplates of FIRE, and of JACINTH, and BRIMSTONE, and the heads of the horses were as heads of lions; and out of their mouths ISSUED FIRE and smoke and BRIMSTONE.
Revelation 9:18 And by these three were a THRID PART OF MAN KILLED, by the FIRE, and by the SMOKE, and by the BRIMSTONE, which issued out of their mouth.
This is symbolic, you can contain PHYSICAL fire and brimstone in ones mouth.
Isaiah 30:33 ...for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is FIRE and much wood; the BREATH OF THE LORD, like a stream of BRIMSTONE, doth kindle it.
Ezekiel 5:2 ...though shall burn a THIRD PART .....
Ezekiel 5:3 Thou shall take thereof a FEW ......
Ezekiel 5:4 .....and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire: for thereof (those destroyed in the fire) SHALL A FIRE COME FORTH ino all the house of Israel.
Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the THIRD PART through the FIRE ......
Revelation 8:7 And the third part of the trees were burnt up .....
Isaiah 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, but this (battle) shall be with BURNING and fuel of fire.
Isaiah 9:19 .... people shall be the fuel of the fire
Repent of your sins before the lord Jesus Christ and confess your sins before Jesus Christ and believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins at the cross.
how many Christians will be saved during the rapture ? Read Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
how do u turn ur life to Jesus? By acknowledging and confessing to the Lord that we are sinners in need of his salvation. Inviting him into our lives asking him to take over Nothing fancy nothing complicated
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved
BUT KNOW THIS once you make that confession of repentance there's a great celebration in heaven
Jesus said, "I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" ( Luke 15:10)
Praise the Lord I pray the Lord your strength and guidance that he bless you and bring people around you that are after his own heart. God bless
The mark of the Beast cannot come until Antichrist comes; is worshipped by all the unregenerate; a mark is given for allegiance to him; and a death penalty is worldwide for those who will not recieve it. The allegiance will be to the man who appears to have a deadly wound then is healed from it. This prophecy can be found in Zechariah 11:17 as well as in Revelation 13. This will appear to be immortality as a type of false Resurrection as it were. The son of perdition in John 17:2 as well as 2 Thessalonians are describing the fate of Judas Iscariot; and the second verse Antichrist. These two individuals are both directly controlled by Satan; although technically the possession of the Beast is due to Apollyon king of the bottomless pit the way I see it in Revelation 9:11 which means; among other things the destroyer.
There are certainly foreshadowings today technologically speaking; and the genetic AI concept likely will also involve some sort of DNA alteration assuring eternal life for those taking it. I take chronologically most of Revelation; bolstered by "after these things" used so frequently. There will clearly be a false one world religion that will ride the beast at first; and this will be overturned at the Midpoint of the Trib. ( Rev. 17:16); as Satan only wants worship for himself. There will be a process where it appears all men will praise God after the Rapture in Revelation 5:13. I haven't heard it preached but we must remember there is the Resurrection of all the church saints; so even if the Rapture isn't seen by some the partially empty graveyards can't be denied. At any rate; men's hearts will harden to the point where they fear God and are aware of judgment coming at the sixth seal; and later on dthey will blaspheme God and attempt eventually to fight God (see also Psalm 2; Rev. 19). BTW God's people are also "sealed" ( Eph. 1:13); as well as the 144,000 ( Rev. 7:1-8) invisibly.
Hi Bruce. Your question sounds like a combination of a couple of Scriptures: Revelation 9:15,16 and Revelation 16:12. I'm unconvinced that these two scenarios are tied in together, with the Book of Revelation itself filled with various imagery & timelines making a definitive interpretation impossible.
Now that the covid-19 vaccine experiment has been exposed for causing the blood to thicken and kill people do you think Revelation 9:15 where it talks about a third of mankind being killed it could be talking about the result of this covid injection?
Especially America, NATO & Israel. The sixth trumpet was made for them.
After the US/Israel attack Iran's nuclear facility, I'm moving to S. America to escape. Revelation 9:15 gives me time, so while Russia is preparing their weapons of indignation, I'll be preparing as well. I don't mind dying, but not like that when I know the narrative and signs, Revelation 18:4 says "get out". I will enjoy watching the video analysis of the attack over and over. The merchants can morn America, but not me, I'll be satisfied. Oh I know, that's terrible of me to say, but that's literally the way it plays out. Jesus defeats the beast, and 42 months prior, the beast defeated America. I'm sure in hindsight, you'll be able to identify America as Mystery Babylon, with her European Babel partners, all desolate and smoking, blocking out the sun. You might even take credit, saying you had a hunch it was that bunch.
The Euphrates is drying up this very moment, and will be ready for the kings of the east to cross over, too invade Israel, Ezekiel 38, at the sixth trumpet, Luke 21:20-24. There are many articles, video about the Euphrates, look it up. It is not simply symbolic because it will happen on earth, and is happening right now. That alone should strengthen your faith in God. If purely symbolic, why would God have us be Watchman, observing the signs of the times, if there is nothing to see?
"Satan and the locust armies are thrust upon the scene" is at the fifth trumpet, Revelation 9:1-11. I spy the fifth trumpet allegory when America attacked itself and rushed off the kill those without the seal of God in their foreheads (Muslims). If these are indeed the end-times, then all of the signs should reveal themselves in broad daylight. Knowing the narrative inside and out is critical.
The saints are sealed before the sixth trumpet, not the fifth.
It is the man of sin, anti-christ, who places the abomination of desolation at the sixth trumpet. You said it well with your allegoric slain dragon. The sons of Joseph are going to experience 539 BC again. All of Babylon's plagues come in one day, Revelation 18:8. It is similar to one that languishes from the effects of radiation, baldness and clean teeth.
Olga , the physical drying up of the river has not to do with scripture . it's symbolic , the river Euphrates in scripture is symbolic for the divide between truth and confusion , babylon . The water separates lies and deception from the truth . when the river dries up so do all the lies and deception . nothing but truth remains and all it's biblical spiritual completion is cast upon mankind/earth . the verses you ask to be explained are of their own symbolic nature where we must be familiar with seals trumps vials and whats in them . in short , it's the brunt of the the great tribulation , when Satan and the locust armies are thrust upon the scene in an instant where a third part of man is slain by the dragons tail . the 6th vial poured out on the earth . but the tribulation had already begun back @ the woe of the 5th trump where all God's elect/grass were sealed .
I never was taught about revelation, chapter 9, 14 to verse 19. I believe that the Jehovah witnesses had a different version as they update the noble every ten years for their own benefit when it says not to add or take away any portion of the Bible. As I have not been to hoif with the noble, would someone kindly explain if this is relevant to the Euphrates river today and is this shyit has shrunk so much inlast 30 years.
Thank you in advance for helping me and may God bless you.
The woman in the allegory is giving birth to Christ, the second coming, and the serpent (satan) wants to kill her.
The woman represents the saints, who are protected for 42 months from death, and are ushering in Christ, getting past anti-christ's 42 month reign. This is what will happen in real life, anti-christ will kill saints. Can you make the real life connection from the cartoon?
These prophetic writings are allegory = a symbolic fictional narrative that conveys a meaning not explicitly set forth in the narrative. You have to know what the Bible says will happen in real life before using allegory and understand it.
Who would recognize an allegory from the real thing? Did you notice 9-11-01 was Revelation 9:1-11, the fifth trumpet? Verse 4: America killed those men who did not have the seal of God in their foreheads (Muslims), and were told not to harm any green tree, and nothing green grows in the desert. Verse 6: The Muslims who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison were seeking death, and couldn't find it.
In the second half of Revelation 9, a new more powerful army arrives to defeat the previous US army. Images of the beat vs Babylon should come to mind. Imagine being the king of Mystery Babylon, taking his the last call, Jeremiah 50:43.
The end-times have an order, it's not a guessing game when the prophets gave us a map to find the order.
I let the Bible define itself, simple, or risk compounding errors.
The last week (7 years) of 70 weeks is a 2,000 year old power prophesy between Christ and the man of sin (anti-christ).
Daniel 9:26-27 Jesus had the first 3.5 years of absolute power, and was cut off (crucified). At the sixth trumpet, when anti-christ strikes, he too will have 3.5 years of absolute power, between the sixth and seventh trumpets. In the "midst of the week" he will deliver the abomination of desolation to US NATO & Israel, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, falling away.
"the last half of the Tribulation lasting 1260 days is" = The GREAT tribulation, Matthew 24:15, the sixth trumpet strike on Israel (whole house).
There is no rapture, it's a lie. We are all appointed one death, Hebrews 9:27. Look what Ezekiel said about the day of the Lord deaths: Ezekiel 21:1-5. Verse 4: Both the righteous and the wicked die!!! What did Jesus say about it? Luke 17:34-37, He's asked where do the people go? He answers, 'wherever the body is, so will the vultures be'. They are part of the 2.6 billion dead, Revelation 9:18, from the GREAT tribulation. The 1st resurrection is at the seventh trumpet, NOT before.
Prophesy is unfolding rapidly, it never stopped and can be identified. Acquaint yourself with the prophets, what Jesus says in Matthew 24 and Luke 17. The prophets were shown our future, and this coming sixth trumpet, day of the Lord, scared them deeply, Ezekiel 21:7, Isaiah 13:8-9.
Christian's aren't scared because they weren't taught the proper tenants of the Bible, they think God will unconditionally protect them, no matter how badly their elected leaders behave. Will America will always sit a queen? Isaiah 47:7-11
The Bible is limited in its 1-4 trumpet descriptions. It is the last 3 end-time trumpets, 5, 6 & 7, that matter for this "last generation" (according to the signs). Half of Revelation 9 is dedicated to the fifth trumpet, the other half to the sixth trumpet. The sixth trumpet army smashes the fifth trumpet army to dust!!! Esau smashes Jacob, Obadiah 1. The king of the north smashes the king of the south, Daniel 11:40. The sixth trumpet is about one third of end-time prophesy; there's much written about it, enough for you to see prophesy unfolding in our time. Not many see what they read, let alone admit God is against backsliding America, Ezekiel 21:12.
Here's a big prophesy come to light in our time, but I don't expect it to fit in someone else's narrative:
Revelation 9:1-11 was 9-11-01, America is the fifth trumpet army, running a 20 year war on terror.
Revelation 9:4 America killed those men who did not have the seal of God in their foreheads (Muslims), and were told not to harm any green tree, and nothing green grows in the desert.
Revelation 9:6 The Muslims who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison were seeking death, and couldn't find it.
Between the fifth and sixth trumpets is tribulation. Between the sixth and seventh trumpets is the GREAT tribulation, as Jesus Christ called it himself, Mathew 24:21. We are on the heals of destruction (sixth trumpet), so that means looking back in recent history to pin point the fifth trumpet event, like 9/11/01, Revelation 9:1-11.
Do you know what occurs at the sixth trumpet, day of the Lord? The abomination of desolation, Matthew 24:15, is brought upon modern day Israel, and the world, setting forth the GREAT tribulation. The world will be a curse, Malachi 4:5-6.
We are currently in tribulation, at the tail end of the fifth trumpet, and in the midst of Revelation 17. America is pushing a $70 billion proxy war with Russia. The king of the south is facing the mighty Russian beast, whose Dec 25, 1991 deadly wound has healed into the king of the north, Daniel 11:40. It's Esau vs Jacob, leaving Jacob without root nor branch, Obadiah 1. It's also the beast and Babylon, making 3 allegories to confuse you for a lifetime if you can't make the connections.
We are literally waiting for the US/Israel to strike Iran (or the like), Revelation 6:14 sixth seal, and eventually bring about the sixth trumpet overthrow of the whole house of Israel. US NATO Israel receive their visitation.
You see, there is a big difference between tribulation and GREAT tribulation.
Yeah, that's where you lost me bro, Christ comes to establish God's Kingdom Here on Earth, no one goes anywhere, we are CHANGED when He returns.
All who are alive and remain (will) go through the tribulation, only difference is those who have the seal of God will not be touched by the Locust army,,, it is commanded by God
Who are these locusts? God's Army
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Revelation 7:2 - And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:3 - 7 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
9:4 And it was commanded them{locust army} that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; (but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.)
The 6th trump is when the antichrist comes to earth for 5 months. He will be convincing. He'll promise to wipe your debts clean. Why will I worry about earthly debts? Jesus comes on the 7th trump. The people who bow to the antichrist will sicken when they realize they've been deceived.
We sink perhaps into what is the most horrible part of the Tribulation here as the most people numerically likely die (1/3 listed in verse 18); and although there is complete destruction at Armageddon; and thereabouts with the scope of the earthquake and such along with the horror of ALL sea life dying; it will be relatively brief and Christ comes at last immediately after! It would seem that according to Revelation 11 the second woe (or sixth seal) is passed when the two Prophets are killed and then translated. This would protect them from the judgments here.
The fifth trumpet involves an angel who some argue couldn't be Satan who fights with Michael and is cast out near this time because he couldn't be trusted with such a key. Nonetheless; there isn't any clear indication who if anyone forcefully puts these demons back in the abyss after the 5 month period given to them. Whatever the case; these clearly are demons. After 5 months of suffering; people will be well prepared to worship the Beast; especially if he claims and perhaps has authority to END this suffering; as well as apparently be resurrected from the dead.
The sixth trumpet; of course involves angels as well (v. 14-15); some would say it symbolizes something else such as modern weaponry; but since God Himself brings it to pass we should take it at face value. One THIRD of all people die; but note verse 20-21 the rest who survived STILL didn't repent of their sins. Man at this point will have gone from hiding from Christ to more and more sin; and by the vials will be fighting against Christ at His return.
In all this; God's ways are mysterious. Why does he drag this out so long; and not just destroy these rebels before this point? And why do men go on KNOWING THE END RESULT since they are ALREADY aware by the sixth seal of God and Christ at the judgment seat?
No wonder Daniel got sick for 3 weeks considering these things. LORD give us strength also.
13 And 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 which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
The main point I brought up when starting these postings on Revelation was that most of the death and destruction appears to be from God's judgments. These verses seem to pretty clearly indicate that these creatures themselves kill 1/3 of mankind; and the 4 angels under the Euphrates who were in charge of these 200,000,000 creatures on what appeared to be horses do this destruction which comes from their mouths. We should note that it is not literately horses but horselike creatures that inflict the damage rather than those riding them. It appears these come also from the underworld; whether the same bottomless pit or another infernal region for nonhuman subjects. It would appear these creatures are able to survive in hell literally if they can spew fire onto people so it is possible there are creatures created to be adapted to that environment whether originally that way or having adapted to it.
And now we get to that great first woe. Let us examine the verses one at a time. And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. ( Rev. 9:1)
There has been some contention as to the identity of this angel being Satan himself; because this would give him authority over the bottomless pit even AFTER these five months and it would render Revelation 20:3 illogical which states
"And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
This would seem to identify this angel as the same who seals Satan himself in later. Ultimately; Jesus Himself has the keys of death and hell (actually Hades) as stated in Revelation 1:18.
It is easy to glibly identify these creatures as demonic hordes. They certainly appear to be different than the mutated genetic offspring of men and angels mentioned in Genesis 6. Nonetheless they are confined in the underworld where other demons will also be imprisoned in due season; which would appear to be the same time Satan is under the earth. ( Isaiah 24:21).
Apollyon is known as the destroyer who is king over these creatures and gives "marching orders". They are NOT allowed to kill however and perhaps there is some sort of immortality in suffering during the prescribed 5 month period.
Revelation 9:4 states And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
This passage indicates the "sealing" of the 144,000 and the fact that they are still on the earth at that time. This will be the ultimate protection and obvious to the rest of the world who suffers the punishment of these tormentors. It is no wonder that they are ready for the Mark after
"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." ( Revelation 8:7).
This and the next 3 trumpets seems to be what the 144,000 were sealed to protect them against. Revelation 7:3 says: Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Trumpets 2 and 3 discuss the destruction of 1/3 of the sea in regard to life and commerce; as well as a third of the waters of the earth made bitter. The fourth trumpet gets into one third of the day AND night having no light. This certainly will trump any so called eclipse sign of God as it will be truly frightening. Clearly something will be blocking light from above the earth's atmosphere maybe related to what crashes into the sea in the earlier trumpet.
The 1/3 mentioned here and later on in the sixth trumpet judgment is almost certainly related to the judgment to come on the 1/3 of the angels that fell with Lucifer that are to be cast down on the earth. Isaiah 24:21 says And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
In the fifth trumpet; we see the first judgment of demons that are directly affecting mankind. In this case torment only was allowed; and death withheld somehow. Immediately following this we have the event of the two prophets being killed; put on display and resurrected as proven by this verse: One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. ( Revelation 9:12). I STRONGLY suspect that these individuals will be convinced once the Antichrist beast is "resurrected" that he both causes their suffering to cease and also that their inability to die will be proof that they are IMMORTAL because of the power OVER Apollyon ( Rev. 9:11) WITH THE MARK.
Look at earlier postings about ideas related to genetic DNA manipulation to render someone not human and therefore unredeemable. This would explain the wholesale destruction of all men except for Noah and his immediate family who was said to be "perfect" in his generations. ( Gen. 6:9). This would almost certainly have a primary reference to his genetic line not being contaminated with the sons of the giants or "men of renown" mentioned in Genesis 6:4. Christ came to redeem men not hybrid creatures and naturally angels that fell would also be unredeemable. Whether this business would be sold as an "evolutionary leap" or promise immortality or both is uncertain; but the "strong delusion" ultimately is sent by God; therefore men will worship the Beast and of course Satan who empowers him. The idea of rebellion comes to mind with what Cain did; and the original concept of the tower of Babel will come to its fruition "bringing the whole world together" in unity; so to speak.
The Tribulation likely begins with one man controlling all of the earth's wealth. That is seen in prophecies in Daniel 11:38 and prophecies such as him "dividing the land for gain" ( Daniel 11:39). See also Habukkuk 2:9 and the whole chapter there to see the consolidation of wealth. Despite his control of the 10 nation beast empire; we see in Revelation that the nations from the east and north amass to go after him. (sixth trumpet starting Revelation 9:13.) Therefore, he may have control over everyone economically but nations will still fight him. By Armageddon in Meddigo at least it appears all are damned after they are enticed to gather by the 3 demons from the frog like spirits coming from the "unholy" trinity. After fighting each other they turn and fight Christ which of course is futile. THose in the Ezekiel 38 campaign however have one sixth remain; I am guessing some don't have the mark and make it into the Millennium. I may discuss that later.
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. ( John 8:35).
When we consider the state of the human soul as well as the angelic realm we realize that access to the heavenly abode is only for those who kept their first estate; as opposed to those mentioned in Jude 6 who fell away after Lucifer's deception. Such is the case as well for men; unregenerate men are truly slaves to sin ( Romans 6:20). We find that our freedom indeed puts us into bondage while being a servant of Christ brings victory.
It is tempting to include some verses from secular songs which at least admit to the dazzling display that Satan appearing as an angel of light uses to delude the masses. ( 2 Cor. 11:14). Since he can no longer magnify God's name; Satan and his minions can only appeal to the nature of man; as he did when influencing Peter to speak as he did about Christ ( Matthew 16:23). Men's thoughts are on self preservation; not sacrificial love. We want to keep close those who are closest to us; which isn't necessarily wrong in itself but is if God is subservient; thus we hate our lives and keep it ( John 12:25). Hence is the paradox of living in Christ and it will come to it's fullest realization during the fires of the Tribulation. It is hard to comprehend just how powerful the delusion will be mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:11. GOD sends the strong delusion! As stated previously; the trumpet judgments still won't deter the world of it's sins; and in Revelation 9:14-21 after the 200,000,000 demon horde kill one third of all of the earth people STILL won't stop their abominable acts. Keep in mind this is well after the sixth SEAL where people at that time are still hiding in caves and fully aware of God and Christ on their thrones beginning judgment ( Rev. 6:16-17).
This of course will lead to the delusion mentioned in Psalm 2 and Revelation 19 where men come together at Armageddon and eventually try to fight God.
Isaiah 19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brook shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
Most all of Isaiah is prophecy of the Kingdom of God.
Egypt is symbolic as is Babylon in Revelation, what they have in common is the spirit of deception, which God is going to destroy.
Put the FISHERS as a prophecy of his 12 disciples and all those that are ruled by the same Spirit IN THEM as is IN YOU.
Matthew 4:19 .... I will MAKE YOU fishers of men ....
Ezekiel 32:3 ... I WILL therefore spread out MY NET over thee, with a GREAT COMPANY of many people, and THEY shall bring thee up in MY NET.
Ezekiel 47:10 And it shall COME TO PASS, that the FISHERS shall stand upon it ... they shall be a place to spread forth nets, their fish shall be according to their kind, as the fish of a great sea (of humanity), exceeding many.
This has been happening now for 2000 years.
Most of this is done after you are harvested and have been translated into the next age, and have become a chariot of fire or a locust as described in Revelation.
Revelation 9:2 And HE (Christ has the keys to death and the grave) opened the BOTTOMLESS (a grave that can never be filled with all the dead) PIT, and there AROSE a smoke (Christ and his saints) out of the pit (grave), as the smoke of a great furnace (of fire, our God is a consuming FIRE) ...
Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the SMOKE (the saints and Christ as ONE FLESH) locust on the earth; and unto them was given POWER, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Revelation 9:4 And it was commanded them, that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; But ONLY THOSE who HAVE NOT the seal of God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:5 And TO THEM IT WAS GIVEN that they should not kill them, but they should BE TORMENTED for five months (symbolic), and there TORMENT was as the TORMENT when a scorpion striketh a man.
Greetings in Christ JESUS
Reading you comment above ref. Joel 2:31, and Rev.6:12-17, and Matt.24:29-31concerning "The sun turns dark and the moon to blood ((before)) the day of the LORD comes",
first of all I remember that "there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve Stars". Once "the sun tuns dark" the woman will be in darkness(terrible), by the way, at "midnight there was(there will be)a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Then all those virgins arose(will arise), and trimmed(and will trim) their lamps.
And the foolish said(will say) unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out"; Matt.25:6-8. The lamps is gone out at midnight? In full midnight darkness, in a so perilous hour?
In the above comparison described, I am trying to highlight the issue of the sun becoming dark as prophesied. I don't see or interpret as being a physical phenomenon.
Based in Revelation 9:1-3&10&6 & 11-12
1 I saw a STAR fall from heaven unto the earth( Isaiah 14:12-14 combined with 2 Thess.2:3-4): and to HIM was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And HE opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the SUN and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter
GOD BLESS
Revelation 16:21 And there fell upon man a great HAIL out of heaven, each stone about the weight of a talent (a talent weighs about 57 pounds): and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the HAIL; for the plague thereof was very great.
Since Revelation is symbolic, what is this a symbol of:
We have to go to the prophets:
Isaiah 28:2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one ....who is this MIGHTY and STRONG ONE? ..... it is JESUS, the WORD OF GOD ......which as a tempest of HAIL and a DESTROYING STORM ......the HAIL in Revelation is symbolic of the WORD OF GOD, and his words are going to DESTROY ALL DECEPTION FROM THE CARNAL MIND of his people.
Revelation 9:17 And I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat upon them, having breastplates of FIRE, and of JACINTH, and BRIMSTONE, and the heads of the horses were as heads of lions; and out of their mouths ISSUED FIRE and smoke and BRIMSTONE.
Revelation 9:18 And by these three were a THRID PART OF MAN KILLED, by the FIRE, and by the SMOKE, and by the BRIMSTONE, which issued out of their mouth.
This is symbolic, you can contain PHYSICAL fire and brimstone in ones mouth.
Isaiah 30:33 ...for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is FIRE and much wood; the BREATH OF THE LORD, like a stream of BRIMSTONE, doth kindle it.
Ezekiel 5:2 ...though shall burn a THIRD PART .....
Ezekiel 5:3 Thou shall take thereof a FEW ......
Ezekiel 5:4 .....and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire: for thereof (those destroyed in the fire) SHALL A FIRE COME FORTH ino all the house of Israel.
Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the THIRD PART through the FIRE ......
Revelation 8:7 And the third part of the trees were burnt up .....
Isaiah 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, but this (battle) shall be with BURNING and fuel of fire.
Isaiah 9:19 .... people shall be the fuel of the fire
how many Christians will be saved during the rapture ? Read Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
how do u turn ur life to Jesus? By acknowledging and confessing to the Lord that we are sinners in need of his salvation. Inviting him into our lives asking him to take over Nothing fancy nothing complicated
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved
BUT KNOW THIS once you make that confession of repentance there's a great celebration in heaven
Jesus said, "I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" ( Luke 15:10)
Praise the Lord I pray the Lord your strength and guidance that he bless you and bring people around you that are after his own heart. God bless
There are certainly foreshadowings today technologically speaking; and the genetic AI concept likely will also involve some sort of DNA alteration assuring eternal life for those taking it. I take chronologically most of Revelation; bolstered by "after these things" used so frequently. There will clearly be a false one world religion that will ride the beast at first; and this will be overturned at the Midpoint of the Trib. ( Rev. 17:16); as Satan only wants worship for himself. There will be a process where it appears all men will praise God after the Rapture in Revelation 5:13. I haven't heard it preached but we must remember there is the Resurrection of all the church saints; so even if the Rapture isn't seen by some the partially empty graveyards can't be denied. At any rate; men's hearts will harden to the point where they fear God and are aware of judgment coming at the sixth seal; and later on dthey will blaspheme God and attempt eventually to fight God (see also Psalm 2; Rev. 19). BTW God's people are also "sealed" ( Eph. 1:13); as well as the 144,000 ( Rev. 7:1-8) invisibly.
Especially America, NATO & Israel. The sixth trumpet was made for them.
After the US/Israel attack Iran's nuclear facility, I'm moving to S. America to escape. Revelation 9:15 gives me time, so while Russia is preparing their weapons of indignation, I'll be preparing as well. I don't mind dying, but not like that when I know the narrative and signs, Revelation 18:4 says "get out". I will enjoy watching the video analysis of the attack over and over. The merchants can morn America, but not me, I'll be satisfied. Oh I know, that's terrible of me to say, but that's literally the way it plays out. Jesus defeats the beast, and 42 months prior, the beast defeated America. I'm sure in hindsight, you'll be able to identify America as Mystery Babylon, with her European Babel partners, all desolate and smoking, blocking out the sun. You might even take credit, saying you had a hunch it was that bunch.
The Euphrates is drying up this very moment, and will be ready for the kings of the east to cross over, too invade Israel, Ezekiel 38, at the sixth trumpet, Luke 21:20-24. There are many articles, video about the Euphrates, look it up. It is not simply symbolic because it will happen on earth, and is happening right now. That alone should strengthen your faith in God. If purely symbolic, why would God have us be Watchman, observing the signs of the times, if there is nothing to see?
"Satan and the locust armies are thrust upon the scene" is at the fifth trumpet, Revelation 9:1-11. I spy the fifth trumpet allegory when America attacked itself and rushed off the kill those without the seal of God in their foreheads (Muslims). If these are indeed the end-times, then all of the signs should reveal themselves in broad daylight. Knowing the narrative inside and out is critical.
The saints are sealed before the sixth trumpet, not the fifth.
It is the man of sin, anti-christ, who places the abomination of desolation at the sixth trumpet. You said it well with your allegoric slain dragon. The sons of Joseph are going to experience 539 BC again. All of Babylon's plagues come in one day, Revelation 18:8. It is similar to one that languishes from the effects of radiation, baldness and clean teeth.
Thank you in advance for helping me and may God bless you.
The woman represents the saints, who are protected for 42 months from death, and are ushering in Christ, getting past anti-christ's 42 month reign. This is what will happen in real life, anti-christ will kill saints. Can you make the real life connection from the cartoon?
These prophetic writings are allegory = a symbolic fictional narrative that conveys a meaning not explicitly set forth in the narrative. You have to know what the Bible says will happen in real life before using allegory and understand it.
Who would recognize an allegory from the real thing? Did you notice 9-11-01 was Revelation 9:1-11, the fifth trumpet? Verse 4: America killed those men who did not have the seal of God in their foreheads (Muslims), and were told not to harm any green tree, and nothing green grows in the desert. Verse 6: The Muslims who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison were seeking death, and couldn't find it.
In the second half of Revelation 9, a new more powerful army arrives to defeat the previous US army. Images of the beat vs Babylon should come to mind. Imagine being the king of Mystery Babylon, taking his the last call, Jeremiah 50:43.
The end-times have an order, it's not a guessing game when the prophets gave us a map to find the order.
I let the Bible define itself, simple, or risk compounding errors.
The last week (7 years) of 70 weeks is a 2,000 year old power prophesy between Christ and the man of sin (anti-christ).
Daniel 9:26-27 Jesus had the first 3.5 years of absolute power, and was cut off (crucified). At the sixth trumpet, when anti-christ strikes, he too will have 3.5 years of absolute power, between the sixth and seventh trumpets. In the "midst of the week" he will deliver the abomination of desolation to US NATO & Israel, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, falling away.
"the last half of the Tribulation lasting 1260 days is" = The GREAT tribulation, Matthew 24:15, the sixth trumpet strike on Israel (whole house).
There is no rapture, it's a lie. We are all appointed one death, Hebrews 9:27. Look what Ezekiel said about the day of the Lord deaths: Ezekiel 21:1-5. Verse 4: Both the righteous and the wicked die!!! What did Jesus say about it? Luke 17:34-37, He's asked where do the people go? He answers, 'wherever the body is, so will the vultures be'. They are part of the 2.6 billion dead, Revelation 9:18, from the GREAT tribulation. The 1st resurrection is at the seventh trumpet, NOT before.
Revelation 13. Who are the two beasts?
Prophesy is unfolding rapidly, it never stopped and can be identified. Acquaint yourself with the prophets, what Jesus says in Matthew 24 and Luke 17. The prophets were shown our future, and this coming sixth trumpet, day of the Lord, scared them deeply, Ezekiel 21:7, Isaiah 13:8-9.
Christian's aren't scared because they weren't taught the proper tenants of the Bible, they think God will unconditionally protect them, no matter how badly their elected leaders behave. Will America will always sit a queen? Isaiah 47:7-11
The Bible is limited in its 1-4 trumpet descriptions. It is the last 3 end-time trumpets, 5, 6 & 7, that matter for this "last generation" (according to the signs). Half of Revelation 9 is dedicated to the fifth trumpet, the other half to the sixth trumpet. The sixth trumpet army smashes the fifth trumpet army to dust!!! Esau smashes Jacob, Obadiah 1. The king of the north smashes the king of the south, Daniel 11:40. The sixth trumpet is about one third of end-time prophesy; there's much written about it, enough for you to see prophesy unfolding in our time. Not many see what they read, let alone admit God is against backsliding America, Ezekiel 21:12.
Here's a big prophesy come to light in our time, but I don't expect it to fit in someone else's narrative:
Revelation 9:1-11 was 9-11-01, America is the fifth trumpet army, running a 20 year war on terror.
Revelation 9:4 America killed those men who did not have the seal of God in their foreheads (Muslims), and were told not to harm any green tree, and nothing green grows in the desert.
Revelation 9:6 The Muslims who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison were seeking death, and couldn't find it.
Between the fifth and sixth trumpets is tribulation. Between the sixth and seventh trumpets is the GREAT tribulation, as Jesus Christ called it himself, Mathew 24:21. We are on the heals of destruction (sixth trumpet), so that means looking back in recent history to pin point the fifth trumpet event, like 9/11/01, Revelation 9:1-11.
Do you know what occurs at the sixth trumpet, day of the Lord? The abomination of desolation, Matthew 24:15, is brought upon modern day Israel, and the world, setting forth the GREAT tribulation. The world will be a curse, Malachi 4:5-6.
We are currently in tribulation, at the tail end of the fifth trumpet, and in the midst of Revelation 17. America is pushing a $70 billion proxy war with Russia. The king of the south is facing the mighty Russian beast, whose Dec 25, 1991 deadly wound has healed into the king of the north, Daniel 11:40. It's Esau vs Jacob, leaving Jacob without root nor branch, Obadiah 1. It's also the beast and Babylon, making 3 allegories to confuse you for a lifetime if you can't make the connections.
We are literally waiting for the US/Israel to strike Iran (or the like), Revelation 6:14 sixth seal, and eventually bring about the sixth trumpet overthrow of the whole house of Israel. US NATO Israel receive their visitation.
You see, there is a big difference between tribulation and GREAT tribulation.
All who are alive and remain (will) go through the tribulation, only difference is those who have the seal of God will not be touched by the Locust army,,, it is commanded by God
Who are these locusts? God's Army
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Revelation 7:2 - And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:3 - 7 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
9:4 And it was commanded them{locust army} that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; (but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.)
I guess it can be described as simple opposition to GOD, "rebellion is as witchcraft " leading into much worse.
Hopefully these are helpful
Isaiah 47:9-15, Malachi 3:5, Acts 8:9-24, Revelation 9:20,21, in context Revelation 9:15-21, Revelation 18:23, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 22:15, in Context Revelation 22,
James 1:5,
Hopefully these help
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain upon his hand
We sink perhaps into what is the most horrible part of the Tribulation here as the most people numerically likely die (1/3 listed in verse 18); and although there is complete destruction at Armageddon; and thereabouts with the scope of the earthquake and such along with the horror of ALL sea life dying; it will be relatively brief and Christ comes at last immediately after! It would seem that according to Revelation 11 the second woe (or sixth seal) is passed when the two Prophets are killed and then translated. This would protect them from the judgments here.
The fifth trumpet involves an angel who some argue couldn't be Satan who fights with Michael and is cast out near this time because he couldn't be trusted with such a key. Nonetheless; there isn't any clear indication who if anyone forcefully puts these demons back in the abyss after the 5 month period given to them. Whatever the case; these clearly are demons. After 5 months of suffering; people will be well prepared to worship the Beast; especially if he claims and perhaps has authority to END this suffering; as well as apparently be resurrected from the dead.
The sixth trumpet; of course involves angels as well (v. 14-15); some would say it symbolizes something else such as modern weaponry; but since God Himself brings it to pass we should take it at face value. One THIRD of all people die; but note verse 20-21 the rest who survived STILL didn't repent of their sins. Man at this point will have gone from hiding from Christ to more and more sin; and by the vials will be fighting against Christ at His return.
In all this; God's ways are mysterious. Why does he drag this out so long; and not just destroy these rebels before this point? And why do men go on KNOWING THE END RESULT since they are ALREADY aware by the sixth seal of God and Christ at the judgment seat?
No wonder Daniel got sick for 3 weeks considering these things. LORD give us strength also.