Revelation 9 - Lake Erie Bible Church

Chapter 9
THE REVELATION TO JOHN
A. First, Paul makes the observation that an idol is nothing; it has no life in and of
itself. 1Cor.8:4
B. Second, when people offer sacrifices to these inanimate representations they are
offering them to demons, not to God. 1Cor.10:20
C. Therefore, while the stone, wood, and other representations are powerless, there
is the very real power of demons that is operative behind the scenes.
29. The term transliterated “idols/e i ; d w l o n – eidolon” strictly means a form, copy or
figure as an object that resembles a person, animal, or spirit that is worshiped as God.
30. The Greek conjunction k a i. – kai normally translated “and”, should be understood
epexegetically that makes the demons and the idols synonymous (one explains the
other).
31. This is certainly one of mankind’s oldest vices and serves to indicate that human
nature has an inherently religious bent. Gen.31:19; Jos.24:2
32. Those that engage in this type of activity are in direct violation of the WOG that
forbids making or worshipping any image. Exo.20:4-5; Lev.19:4; 26:1; Deu.4:15-19;
27:15
33. The images in view are composed of various materials, beginning with the most
valuable and moving to the least valuable.
34. Each of the materials presented in this idol worship symbolically has a counterpart
found in the teaching of true Christianity; gold (Deity), silver (redemption),
brass/bronze (judgment), stone (the Law, LXX Exo.24:12) and wood (humanity).
35. This looks to the counterfeit found in religiosity of man inventing their own god to
secure their salvation based on their own inventions of prescribed judgments and law
to facilitate mankind’s relative righteousness as the standard for their religion.
36. Whereas true Christianity teaches that only in the Person of Christ can these true
attributes be found, pagan idolatry (religiosity) believes man can manufacture these
things on their own merit and works. Cp.2Cor.11:14
37. The depreciated value presented in the listing implies that while mans religious
approach to God may seem to have inherent value as perceived by the physical world,
its spiritual value ultimately depreciates into nothing more than material noted as fuel
for burning. Rev.19:20; 21:8
38. That religion is the product of man’s works further implies man’s efforts to
manufacture the POG in reaching out to God compared to God reaching out to men as
the Divine designer of His plan.
39. Since the Western Hemisphere is no longer a factor in this, John must be focusing
primarily on those that still survive in Europe eastward toward Asia.
40. The fact that the eastern religions are heavily involved in both idol and demon
worship is likely not news to any of us.
41. The Hindu religion has over 330 million gods, and they fully believe that idol
worship is a natural, healthy method to approach religion and make no apologies for
it believing it demonstrates their humility to bow before the idol.
http://www.hinduwebsite.com/idols.htm
42. Shinto belief worships the kami that include native deities (including emperors and
heroes), spirits of nature, and mythical objects.
Lake Erie Bible Church
P-T Ken Reed
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