At this point, the sixth angel sounded, or blows the trumpet that was given to him. John also hears a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the 6th angel, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates"

These four angels ( who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year ) were released, and it was to kill a !/3 of mankind. Imagine that, one third of earth's remaining population is now about to be killed.

Without any introduction, or explanation, John now talks about this army of 200 million horsemen. John says, "I heard the number of them" which I assume means that someone, told him how many there were in this army.

John goes on to describe those who sat on the horses, and the horses.  The horsemen had very colorful breastplates, and the horses heads were like the heads of lions. And, out of the horse's mouths, came 3 things. Fire, smoke, and brimstone.

It was by or through these 3 plagues that 1/3 of mankind was killed. That is from the fire, the smoke and the brimstone.

The power was in the mouths and the tails of the horses. Their tails were like snakes, having heads, and it was by them, that they did harm.

The remaining 2/3rd's who were not killed by the fire, the smoke and the brimstone, are said to "not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear, nor walk"

Finally, John says, neither did they "repent of their murders, or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts"



What to make of all this..........

1. It's true, whether we understand it or not.
2. God's Word is true.
3. John is describing things he had never seen before.
4. God continues to control each and every event.
5. Terrible destruction of unheard of numbers take place.
6. Imagine every third person you know being killed.
7. Man will not be able to protect himself against these plagues.
8. The army could be demons, or demon possessed men.
9. Certainly, there will be huge demonic activity in one way or another.
10. Repentance is possible, but not chosen by the survivors at this point.

Some further and final thoughts for reflection, and application.

1. God is telling us in advance of what He will do.
2. This is called prophecy.
3. This day will not overtake the children of God.
4. We are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation.
5. See Rom 5:8, and 1st Thessalonians 5:8
6. In reading all of this, what should it do to us, or in us, or for us?
7. Perhaps, it's to motivate us now, to be instruments of service to Jesus Christ.
8. And, to make sure the good news of salvation is known far and wide.
9. God does use those who make themselves available to Him.


Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Who is this star fallen from heaven? I'm not completely sure. But, believe it's not a holy angel. But rather, an evil wicked angel. I say this because of his involvement with the bottomless pit, and the things that come out of it.

Nonetheless, it's not a point of great importance for us in our attempt to understand the Book of Revelation as we will see in our study through this book. By the way, much is said throughout the book of Revelation in our study through it.

For starters, it's a real place on the earth. It's sometimes referred to as the shaft. A shaft doing down into the earth.

The BP as I'll call it here, is locked up until this point in the future of man's history. This angelic being, be he a holy angel, or an evil and wicked one, we can't say for sure, but what we do see, is that when he opens the BP up, and troubling, tribulation type events take place on the earth,

John likens what come out, to the smoke of a great furnace, This smoke is so thick, that it causes those on the earth to not see the or breath the air as they had been.

Then, out of the smoke, as it's teeming out of the pit, come these locusts, to whom is given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Along with this power, they were restricted as to their destructive activities.

1. They were given this power.
2. They were  also commanded as to the extent of their destructive activities.
3. They were to harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
4. They could harm them, but not kill them. They were to torment them for 5 months.
5. Their torment is likened unto the torment of when a scorpion stings or strikes a man.
6. During this time, men will seek death, over the torment caused by these locusts.
7. Death will not be found by those seeking it.

A few closing thoughts about this section, and then we can resume looking at the rest of the chapter tomorrow.

It's clear that the Lord is in charge of everything from start to finish.
God has this pit, and what comes out of it under His control.
He is using it to do with it as He pleases.
Satan who tricks man, will now be hurting the men whom he has tricked and deceived
Christians will be preserved through this 5 month period.
These Christians will not be harmed in any way by these locust beings.


God will be both bringing judgement on the earth, controlling demons and their activities, restricting them as to what they can do. God will be preserving, and protecting His own people from these locusts. God is at the same time saving people who come to faith. Right now, God is saving people generally speaking, but during the tribulation, He will be carrying out dual roles, Savior and Judge.

These things are truly coming. And, right now, you and I know people who may very well go through these events, unless they get saved now, and are taken by Christ at the rapture of the church.

Our motivation for service, and evangelism, is indeed the love of God. Let's pray for God's love to so grip our hearts, that we are actively involved in, praying for, and doing something to see people come to faith. Judgment is coming on the earth, and the people you know that are not yet believers can become so, by coming to Jesus now, and escape what is coming down the road. Perhaps that which is coming is much, much closer then we can even imagine.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia