Revelation 9 - Lake Erie Bible Church

Chapter 9
THE REVELATION TO JOHN
73. The fear, fatigue, and despair that mankind will experience under this period of
torture is described by their response in vs.6, “And in those days men will seek
death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees from them”.
74. The first phrase in those days must be limited in this context to the five months that
the demons are allowed to terrorize mankind.
75. Further, though this phrase is not technical, it is used to denote a time period
revolving around the destruction of B P in Jer.50:4.
76. Again, another reference to time is provided as a clue to our chronology.
77. The excruciating physical pain, coupled with the psychological trauma, will cause
mankind to literally lust after the prospect of physical death.
78. Remember that this all occurs in correlation with the nuking of the U.S. and the world
is now suffering under the first four judgments of chapter 8 and the physical and
psychological impact of the shortened day/night cycle.
79. The two phrases that they will seek death and they will long to die indicate that
those under this plague will become suicidal.
80. Various cultures throughout history have had differing ideas about suicide and the
propriety of such an action.
81. The Stoics viewed suicide as not just honorable but exemplary since by it the
individual was taking control over the fates.
82. While suicide was not universally accepted or endorsed by Roman society, it was
accepted under certain conditions, using certain methods, and committed with certain
motives; it was viewed as superior to political disgrace for instance.
83. The Old and New Testaments contain the accounts of 6 suicides, which Job himself
contemplated when he was under his tremendous testing. Job 7:15
A. Abimelech. Jud.9:54
B. Saul. 1Sam.31:4
C. His armor bearer. 1Sam.31:5
D. Ahithophel. 2Sam.17:23
E. Zimri. 1Kgs.16:18
F. Judas. Mat.27:3-10
84. The biblical position on suicide is that God alone is the author of life and God alone
has the authority and right to end a life, which effectively forms the basis for laws
against murder or suicide. 1Tim.1:9-10
85. However, suicide is like any other sin that God can and will forgive and not, as
Catholic leaders have proclaimed, a mortal sin that sends the victim straight to Hell.
"The souls of those who die in mortal sin or with original sin only, however,
immediately descend to hell, yet to be punished with different punishments."
(Denzinger, Sources of Catholic Dogma, 30th Edition, # 464, p. 184)
86. Suicide is an unnatural (normal humans seek to extend life and fear death), selfish
act, possibly the most selfish act one can commit and is a sin against God, a crime
against humanity, and the coward’s final cowardly act.
87. These men will not be successful in any attempt to end their suffering that is so severe
that they despair of life.
88. This continues the theme of lex talionis (the law of equal and direct retribution), as
God repays those that have committed crimes against Him and His people with what
they have coming. Rev.6:10; 16:5-7; 19:2
Lake Erie Bible Church
P-T Ken Reed
11