Revelation 9 Commentary
The fifth seal is interesting. Satan comes into the picture. He is given the key or permission to harm the earth. But he cannot touch the sealed saints (verse 4). He mustn’t harm grass, plants, and trees.
Yes, he shouldn’t harm nature. The mention of grass and trees may appear to restrict the scope of satan’s work. Grass shouldn’t be important in battle! He cannot drop a bomb that harms grass! He will not cut trees to make an access road for his military vehicles!
The scope is limited!
Early in the Old Testament, God caused everything, good or bad. Pagan nations would have different gods for each set of events. The church age has put a line between good events and bad events. Good events are caused by God; bad events are caused by satan.
But the scripture reveals a picture that is close to what Israel believed. God has the ultimate control of events. Satan would harm no one without the key or permission to do so. Even with the key, his activities are confined within the borders strictly defined by the Sovereign God.
Spanking (for a child) is painful but it isn’t evil. We should tell the difference. Discipline won’t come from the devil, though he may be a tool in the process – merely a tool.
Scripture celebrates the sovereignty of the Creator God over His creation.
Many people outside the church think of satan as having a parallel structure. He rewards his own. He protects his own. He enriches his own. You are better off at his club. But that is a lie. The people that satan harms during the fifth ‘trumpet’ are his own people! He is a bad devil! Like we needed to confirm the infallibility of John 10 verse 10: He comes to steal, kill, and destroy!
The sixth trumpet may reference Israel’s long-held tradition that some bad angels were kept bound when they transgressed. Could this sixth trumpet talk about the same concept? Regardless, we suspect these aren’t good angels and the term bound may mean chained, confined, or jailed. The good angels are never bound. They worship the LORD and await instructions from the Lamb.
But again, the number (4) for the bound angels may be a mere symbol. Regardless and unlike satan’s activities during the fifth trumpet, these angels kill people.
Verse 20 gives us a clue. These events are meant to prepare people for repentance. But who cares!
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