Revelation 9 - Lake Erie Bible Church

Chapter 9
THE REVELATION TO JOHN
ANALYSIS VERSES 3 – 6:
1. The event of the 5 th trumpet is a fulfillment of Joe.2:1-11 that includes dual
fulfillments both near with respect to a literal invasion by the Assyrians, and far as it
pertains to the last days.
2. In its far fulfillments, it includes prophecy centering on the destruction of the U.S.
(Joe.2:3b,c) as well as characteristics ascribed to the demons of our verses
(Joe.2:4,5a,6 cp. Rev.9:6,7,9b).
3. The Joel passage is summarized for us in the 6 th seal (Rev.6:12-13) and further ties
these two events together as occurring simultaneously or at least in very close
proximity.
4. And as Joe.2:1 makes clear, the events precede the Day of the Lord with the
completed invasion as the mark of the Day of the Lord as then having arrived.
Joe.2:11b
5. It further demonstrates the intervention of God’s overruling will as the predecessor
for introducing the Day of the Lord. Joe.2:11a
6. While the inhabitants of our world are trying to cope with all of the natural
catastrophes, radiation fallout, ensuing darkness and air pollution, God’s wrath has
just begun.
7. There is no contextual indication as to whether humans see what John now sees in
vs.9:3a, “And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth”.
8. Essentially divided on the issue, some interpreters say these demons are invisible and
others that the invasion if visible as well as painful.
9. The locusts in view are certainly not of the animal kingdom that are a part of a large
group of insects commonly called grasshoppers that have larger hind legs for jumping
and can fly.
10. As noted, these creatures are the diluvian angels having been incarcerated in Tartarus
since the flood and now released some 4000 years later.
11. It has been proposed that they are literal physical mutations of real locusts that are
possessed by these demons, but that does not materially affect the real issue of their
evil and intimidation.
12. In other words, whether they are demon-possessed locusts or simply manifesting
themselves to appear in this physical way does not deter from their activities.
13. Again, what is clear is that they are filled with tremendous anger and hatred toward
the human race.
14. These demonic locusts are a good example of using a literal object to represent
something else that points the interpreter to seek the literal meaning first and then
note similarities and differences.
15. Locusts differ from grasshoppers in that they have the ability to change their
behavior and habits and can migrate over large distances.
16. Though there does exist a number of different species of locusts, a most notable is the
Desert Locust that is considered to be the most important species due to its ability to
migrate over large distances and rapidly increase its numbers.
17. Ironically, the life span of this type of locust is between 3-5 months, the latter the
period of time attributed to the invasion of these demon locusts. Rev.9:5,10
18. Real locusts do not attack people or animals in contrast to our verses and there is no
evidence that suggest locusts carry disease that could harm humans.
Lake Erie Bible Church
P-T Ken Reed
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