[2] The title of the sermon today is “REVELATION CHAPTER 9.”
- Please turn to Revelation Chapter 9 in your Bibles.
- We’ll be going through this chapter verse by verse today.
- In Chapter 8, we saw the beginning of God’s wrath.
- We saw the first 4 trumpets sounded by the first 4 angels.
- Now, let’s start there in verse 1 of Chapter 9.
[3] Revelation 9:1 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.
- Now we see the fifth angel sounding the FIFTH TRUMPET.
- When this happens, a STAR falls from heaven to earth.
- But we see that this STAR is actually referred to as “HIM.”
- And the key to the bottomless pit is given to this star or to HIM that fell from heaven unto the earth.
[4] Revelation 9:2 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.
- So again, this star that fell from heaven is referred to as a HE or HIM.
- He opens the bottomless pit. Smoke arises out of the pit. It’s like smoke from a GREAT FURNACE.
- There was so much smoke coming from that pit that SUN and the AIR were darkened.
- So again, we see darkness upon the earth because of this smoke.
[5] Revelation 9:3 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.
- Now we see the first WOE, which is the FIFTH TRUMPET.
- Locusts come out of the smoke. God gives these locusts POWER as scorpions of the earth have power.
- In other words, these locusts are going to have power to hurt like scorpions on this earth.
[6] 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 men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
- These are special locusts that aren’t going to hurt the grass or the trees.
- Locusts that we see in the plagues in the Book of Exodus eat up everything.
[7] Exodus 10:15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
- Locusts are large grasshoppers that can fly and they’re good at it.
- Usually, these locusts don’t migrate but sometimes they begin to swarm and migrate in large numbers.
- These swarms of locusts as we saw in the Book of Exodus devastate crops and farms.
- This leads to famine, starvation, sickness, and disease because they eat up all the food.
- Here’s what a mild swarm of locusts looks like.
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- Imagine many more and you’ll see how the sun won’t shine through. It becomes dark.
- In the Spring last year, Las Vegas had swarms of locusts that looked like this.
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So this time, the locusts we see aren’t going to hurt the grass, tree, and fruit like we saw in the Book of Exodus.
- This time they’re going to hurt something else.
- And that’s going to be all the men left on this earth who don’t have the seal of God in their foreheads.
- And that will be everyone but the 144,000 that received the seal of God in Revelation Chapter 7.
- I also assume that the locusts won’t be hurting the 2 witnesses that are left on the Earth.
- Continuing in verse 5 of Chapter 9.
[10] Revelation 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
- So you have these powerful locusts that aren’t killing people like they could.
- But they’re tormenting the people who are left for 5 months.
- And you might think: “Well, God wouldn’t torture someone for 5 months!!!”
- Well guess what? My God would. Maybe you need to read the Bible.
- God will repay. Those people have tormented us their entire life. It’s time for pay back.
- And God’s running the pay back with these locusts who torment people like scorpions.
Some scorpions are found in Kentucky and they cover more than half the United States.
- I thought they were just out west in the desert areas, but they are all around the US.
- See this chart. The red area is the location where poisonous scorpions are found.
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- When scorpions sting, they may or may not deliver the venom with the sting.
- They only sting humans to protect themselves and sometimes won’t deliver the venom.
- This is what a scorpion looks like. They sting with their tail.
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- What’s a scorpion sting feel like? From what I understand, it’s similar to a wasp or hornet sting.
- It doesn’t feel good, but it doesn’t kill you.
- But think about how many of these locusts there are in Revelation Chapter 9.
- They are there to torment people for 5 months. So 5 months of scorpions stinging you.
- Torment and pain for 5 months. This is the FIRST WOE from the FIFTH ANGEL.
- So, HOW BAD is this PAIN going to be? Let’s see what the Bible says.
[13] Revelation 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
- The pain and torment from these locusts will be very bad.
- It’s going to be so bad that men shall seek death and shall not find it.
- They want to die the Bible says, but God won’t allow them to die.
- They will continue to suffer torment from these LOCUSTS.
- Let’s learn more about these locusts and what they actually look like.
[14] Revelation 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
- I want to make sure you see what these locusts look like.
- They don’t look like horses. They aren’t as large as a horse.
- It says the shapes of the locusts were LIKE unto horses prepared for battle.
- Imagine what a horse looks like when going into battle. They would have armor on them.
- On the heads of the locusts it says: “As it were CROWNS LIKE GOLD.”
- So they probably have pointed parts raised on their head that looks like a crown of gold.
- Their faces were AS the faces of men. They don’t have faces of men. But it looks similar.
[15] Revelation 9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
- These locusts have hair AS the hair of women. This most likely means they will have long hair.
- A woman should have long hair according to GOD ALMIGHTY. Not according to me. According to GOD.
- And the Bible doesn’t say women MUST have long hair, but LONG HAIR is the woman’s GLORY.
- So, it sounds like God loves long hair on a woman so if I were a woman, I’d have long hair.
- For a man, though, God doesn’t want long hair. And that’s why I will NEVER have long hair.
[16] 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
- So, these locusts have long hair like the hair of women.
- But what else do you see there in verse 8?
- The second part of that verse says these locusts have TEETH as the teeth of lions.
- So they don’t have lion’s teeth, but they’re similar to lion’s teeth.
- In other words, these are scary locusts. And you probably don’t want any part of them.
- In other words, be SAVED today by believing on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you won’t have to see them.
- You won’t suffer this torment for 5 months where you would rather die but can’t.
[17] Revelation 9:9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
- So please remember, these are locusts the Bible says.
- They have VERY STRONG breastplates similar to iron they are so strong. Not iron but strong.
- They have wings because they’re locusts. And their wings are very loud.
- The sound of their wings were like the sound of chariots of MANY HORSES running to battle.
- So, visualize all of this. You have these scary locusts swarming together everywhere around you.
- And the sound of them is very loud, and you won’t be getting away from them.
- A HUGE number of these scary locusts running into BATTLE sent from God.
[18] Revelation 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
- Now we see their tails are LIKE unto scorpions. And they have stings in their tails.
- God gives them the POWER to hurt men for FIVE MONTHS or 150 days.
[19] Revelation 9:11 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.
- The KING over these locusts is the ANGEL of the bottomless pit.
- And we see the name of this angel in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon and in the Greek tongue APOLLYON.
- I want to talk about this angel much more, but first I want to mention TONGUES.
- You see the Hebrew tongue and the Greek tongue is mentioned here.
- Notice these are KNOWN languages. There isn’t some unknown tongue language that constantly changes.
One day some babble comes out of somebody’s mouth and it means this one day.
- And then that same babble comes out another day and it means something different.
- That doesn’t exist in the Bible. It’s made up, and it’s PURE EVIL. Understand that TODAY. It’s evil.
- And I won’t be around it. I’ll get as far away as I can from the people who black out and speak in some unknown supposedly “HEAVENLY” language.
- That’s a topic for an entire sermon or two.
- But read Acts Chapter 2 for what it actually says, and you’ll understand SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
- And it has nothing to do with this BABBLING BOLOGNA you hear in false churches. It’s evil.
- God doesn’t black you out and take control over your body and your tongue.
- That’s evil things doing that. It’s not God my friend. NEVER happens in the Bible. Not once.
- Speaking in tongues are speaking in known languages.
Let’s get back to this angel of the bottomless pit. His name is Abaddon or Apollyon.
- Many people believe today that Satan is the Abaddon or Apollyon, but we know Satan’s name already.
- And it’s not Abaddon or Apollyon. Satan’s name is LUCIFER because the Bible says so.
[20] Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
- Where did this false belief about Satan being the angel of the bottomless pit come from?
- It didn’t come from the Bible. The Bible doesn’t teach that anywhere.
- That false teaching came from a book written by a man. It’s called Pilgrim’s Progress.
- It was written by a man named John Bunyan in 1678. It’s supposedly the first novel ever written in English.
- And people believe what it says, and it’s a FICTION BOOK. But people still believe what it says.
- And within that book, you can lose your salvation so you already know it’s FALSE. It’s FICTION.
- Instead of reading books written by MAN or study Bibles or commentaries, we should use the Bible alone.
- When we don’t, we get false doctrines and false teaching. We don’t need anything but this Bible.
So today, we need to show 100% how SATAN is not this angel of the bottomless pit.
- Today, you’re going to see that SATAN is not in charge of hell. He’s not running things down there.
- In other words, Abaddon or Apollyon is NOT Satan and is not LUCIFER. They are different angels.
- SATAN is Lucifer who is the Devil who is the GREAT DRAGON who is the “old serpent.”
- The Book of Revelation goes over this twice, and I want to show you those verses.
[21] Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
[22] Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
- Never ONCE does the Bible call Satan Abaddon or Apollyon. Not once.
- But yet, you have people teaching this today.
- For example, a very popular Bible website called Blue Letter Bible says this:
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- This Blue Letter Bible is giving us all the names of Satan and they say his name is Abaddon and Apollyon.
- When you see this, you can know preachers are using this information and spread it FALSELY.
- For example, whenever you find information about the Bible, you better check it with the BIBLE!!!
- Don’t just take my word for it. Don’t take any man’s word for it. USE THE BIBLE.
- So, if you look there AGAIN in Revelation Chapter 9 verse 1. Let’s read it again.
[24] Revelation 9:1 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.
- People will say: “SEE!!! The angel fell from heaven and it MUST be SATAN because he’s a fallen angel.”
- But the Bible doesn’t call HIM Satan. It calls this angel Abaddon or Apollyon and he’s with God.
- Abaddon or Apollyon is working for God as we’ll see so he’s definitely not Satan.
- Let’s get this straight today, though: SATAN DOESN’T FALL FROM HEAVEN when the 5th trumpet sounds.
- The Book of Daniel tells us when Satan is
[25] Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
- So the Book of Daniel is telling us that Satan is cast out before the tribulation begins.
- But we use the Book of Revelation together with the Book of Daniel to tell us this.
- And Revelation Chapter 12 with Daniel Chapter 12, together, we can figure this out.
- Understand that Satan isn’t cast out of heaven at the sound of the FIFTH TRUMPET.
- That’s not Satan being cast out of heaven.
[26] Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
- Notice that Satan and all of his angels were cast out of heaven.
- Apollyon or Abaddon comes down from heaven AFTER these events.
- This means he isn’t with Satan. He’s with God. Abaddon or Apollyon is serving God.
- Understand this today: GOD HOLDS THE KEYS TO HEAVEN AND HELL.
- God doesn’t hand the key over to Satan at any time to heaven or to hell. Satan isn’t in charge of hell.
- Do you know who is in charge of hell? Watch what Revelation Chapter 1 says:
[27] Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
- So, Jesus Christ has the keys of hell and death.
- God gives the key to one of HIS SERVANTS who is this angel named Abaddon or Apollyon.
And remember, the Book of Revelation starts over in Chapter 12 with the birth of Jesus Christ.
- God then takes us back through all of the events with more detail.
- Satan is cast out BEFORE THE TRIBULATION begins. That comes from Daniel and Revelation.
- So the timing of the tribulation and the FIFTH TRUMPET is very different. Do you see this today?
- In other words, SATAN again is NOT EQUAL to Abaddon and Apollyon.
- But let’s look at even more proof that this angel of the bottomless pit is NOT SATAN.
[28] Revelation 9:11 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.
- We know 100% for sure from that verse right there that Abaddon or Apollyon is the angel of the bottomless pit. Right? There’s no arguing with that.
- There is no doubt about that. He is the king over these LOCUSTS that we see in Revelation Chapter 9.
[29] Revelation 9:1 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.
- And then, if you remember, VERSE 1 of Revelation 9 tells us that Abaddon or Apollyon has the KEY to the bottomless pit.
- That’s very important to see right there BECAUSE this is going to prove Satan isn’t the angel of the bottomless pit.
- Satan isn’t the KING OVER HELL. Abaddon or Apollyon is the angel of the bottomless pit. Not Satan.
- Watch this in the Book of Revelation Chapter 20. The Bible is VERY CLEAR and easy to understand.
- In other words, it’s very easy to prove Satan is NOT Abaddon or Apollyon.
[30] Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
- Do you see who this is right there? Who is the angel with the key of the bottomless pit?
- It’s Abaddon or Apollyon right there in Revelation Chapter 20.
- He has a great chain in his hand. Do you know who that chain is for?
- That chain is for Satan. Watch this in the next verse.
[31] Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
- If the angel of the bottomless pit is Satan, then that means Satan is bounding Satan.
- That makes no sense BUT YET people continue to teach that one of Satan’s name is Abaddon and one of his names is Apollyon.
- This just tells me people aren’t reading their Bibles and are listening to man.
[32] Revelation 20:3 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.
- Obviously, Abaddon or Apollyon is working for God.
- He bounds Satan and casts him into the bottomless pit. He shuts him up and seals him into hell.
- This tells me that Satan sure isn’t the strongest angel. The strongest of all have God behind them.
- And Abaddon or Apollyon takes that old serpent, ties him up, and casts him into the bottomless pit.
One last time here today: SATAN DOES NOT RULE OVER HELL.
- If you serve Satan today BECAUSE you think you’re going to reign in hell with Satan, you’re wrong.
- There are books, movies, TV shows, cartoons that make people think they will reign in hell with Satan.
- People actually believe it’s better to REIGN IN HELL with Satan than SERVE GOD IN HEAVEN.
- The Bible tells us that Satan sure doesn’t reign in hell AT ALL. He’s going to be tormented in hell.
- And he’s taking all of his followers today to hell with him but it’s not to reign. It’s everlasting torment.
[33] Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
- We have to get this right, and we have to teach our children the right things.
- Satan has NEVER been to hell to this point in Revelation Chapter 9. But he will be there.
- In other words, Satan doesn’t reign over hell but he will be there in hell in the future.
- If you want to be evil, you won’t be reigning over anyone. You’ll be in hell. That’s the only option.
- God is the creator of heaven and hell. He’s in charge of both. He hates evil. That’s why there’s a hell.
- There’s only one way to escape hell and that’s believing on the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
So what is Satan and where is Satan right now if he isn’t in hell?
- Satan is a cherub or a living creature or a beast just like the Bible calls those angels.
- He is not flesh and blood. He is a spirit the Bible says.
- Where is Satan right now? Let’s see what the Bible says.
[34] 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- Satan is our adversary. Understand that right now. He’s not your friend in any way.
- He simply wants to take you with him to hell to burn forever.
Here’s another way to study the Bible.
- The Book of Revelation tells us that the name of that angel is Abaddon in the Hebrew.
- Apollyon in the Greek. So, we can use a concordance to show us where these words are used in the Bible.
- Let’s start in the Old Testament with Abaddon. That Hebrew word Abaddon is used 6 times.
- It means “DESTRUCTION” in English in the Old Testament. I will read all 6 verses to you in order.
[35] Job 26:6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
[36] Job 28:22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
[37] Job 31:12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
[38] Psalm 88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
[39] Proverbs 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
[40] Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
- So what is the word ABADDON or DESTRUCTION associated with in these verses?
- We saw HELL, DEATH, FIRE, and the GRAVE. Abaddon is related to hell, death, fire, and the grave.
- Do you see this? It all makes perfect sense that the angel ABADDON is the angel of hell.
- And this angel serves God. This angel doesn’t serve Satan.
- Now, let’s look at the New Testament word Apollyon, which is the GREEK TONGUE.
- There’s many more verse with this word, but let’s look at one.
[41] Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
- You can see the word DESTRUCTION there or Apollyon in the GREEK.
- The word Apollyon is related to destruction, WRATH, waste, damnable, death, and perishing.
- So, look, you don’t have to look at the HEBREW or GREEK to know that the angel of the bottomless pit is related to DEATH, HELL, DESTRUCTION, FIRE, GRAVE, WASTE, DAMNABLE, PERISH, and WRATH!!!
- I want to show you one more verse with the word APOLLYON because it’s very important to understand.
[42] 2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
- Unsaved people will not understand the Bible. I know because I was there one time.
- I was trying to read and understand the Bible, but it was difficult.
- I didn’t understand that all I had to do to be saved was to BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ.
- NOT ON MYSELF AT ALL. It’s only Jesus who saves. It’s not my good works. It’s not being a good person.
- It’s YOUR BELIEF on Jesus Christ to save you. It’s putting all your trust and confidence on HIM.
- It’s nothing else. Once you understand that, you’re saved.
- That verse on the screen right there is talking about unsaved people not understanding the Bible.
- Once you’re saved, it all starts coming together for you. It’s much easier to understand.
- If you can’t understand the Bible at all, I would get to believing on the Lord Jesus Christ TODAY.
- So again, the name of the angel of the bottomless pit is related to DESTRUCTION.
The name Satan does not mean DESTROYER like so many people use for proof that he’s the king over hell.
- So, let’s look at the first time the word Satan is used in the Bible.
[43] 1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
- Satan means to STAND UP AGAINST. He’s an adversary. He provokes. He’s an opponent.
- It’s all right there in that verse. It gives us the meaning of the name SATA