"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 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. 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. 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. 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. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 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. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 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. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 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." Revelation 9:1-11

LESSON 1, verse 1:

The "fifth" angel introduces this Text. "Pemptos" is a numerical adjective. Seven angels have each been given a trumpet to sound. Each brings with it terrible judgment. The verb "salpizo" means "to blow a trumpet."

"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." Revelation 9:1

The "star" is a representation of a person. In the second clause of this same verse a pronoun, "him," is substituted for the star. "Aster," the star, is often used in personification in the Bible. Job 38:7, describing Creation Week, says: "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Obviously these "stars" are angels, as are the "sons of God."  And earlier in Revelation seven "stars" in Jesus' Right Hand represent the seven Pastors of the Churches of Asia Minor. "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." Revelation 1:20

But who is this star?

No one knows!

I will not teach that it is Jesus because it "fell!" Jesus has never done such a thing! I will not teach that it's the devil because he may be represented as Destruction later in the Passage.

This star is just a errand runner for the Lord! The fact that he is given the "key" to the bottomless pit does not mean that he kept that key! It's on loan from the Lord Jesus!

And that "bottomless pit" itself is spelled "abussos." It is now the English term "abyss." Used nine times in the New testament, twice as the "deep," is a synonym for Hell.

The angel with the fifth trumpet is about to unleash terrible judgment upon the unsaved inhabitants of earth, post-rapture tribulation-marred earth!

What a terrible time it will be!

What is coming next is perhaps the greatest terrorist plot ever hatched! An unstoppable one!

Lord willing, more tomorrow!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, VERSE 2:          

The drama continues!

During the Tribulation, the coming seven years of God's judgment on earth, seven trumpets sound.

The one we are studying, the fifth trumpet, develops as follows: "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."

Then Verse 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." Revelation 9:1-2

The "bottomless pit" or "abyss" as it appears in Greek, is another name for Hell! Now this is to be differentiated from the Lake of Fire, the eternal state of the wicked.

To "open" is "anoigo." It means "to open" ("oigo") plus the prefix "up" ("ana"). This is a good example of how the Greek language of the New Testament combines words.

The verb "arose" is spelled "anabaino" and means "from the feet" ("basis") "upward" ("ana")! Can't you just see that dark smoke billowing upward?

"Smoke" is "kapnos" and means just what it says, all 13 times it appears in Scripture, twice in this verse!

"Pit" is "phrear" and can mean anything from "a hole in the ground" to a "well" to this "pit" in our Text. In its 7 uses in Scripture it's "pit" 5 times and "well" 2 times. The "well" locations are both found in John 4, the Samaritan woman event. Actually it's used three times in our Text verse here. This is the New Testament's "pit" chapter, being superceded only by Genesis 37 in the Old Testament, Joseph in the "pit."

Watch this word. It gives us a good example of the development of nouns from verbs. "Furnace" is spelled "kaminos." It is built upon the verb "to burn," which is "kaio" in Greek. Logical!

And to show the practicality of Greek, particularly when viewed through English, "sun" is "helios" and "air" is "aer." It is said that "hele" means a "ray," as of light. We build many of our English words on Greek.

"Skotoo" translates as "darkened." To obscure! Its noun cognate, "skotos," means "shade" or "shady." The Country Nova Scotia literally means "new darkness!"

And to illustrate the power of Greek prepositions, "by reason of" is simply "ek," meaning "out of!"

Won't the environmentalists love this scene?

Before the pain even begins, life is in an upheaval!

Prolonged darkness, little or no sunshine, will affect crops and health and attitudes! When will roosters crow?

Yes, this rebellious world, laden with sin upon sin, will experience these things literally, in days to come!

God's Word has so promised!

The only way to miss it, apparently, is to be saved by the Grace of God!

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." 1st Thessalonians 1:10

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, VERSE 3:

The Bible contains some amazing scenes!

For example, an invasion from another world!

Revelation chapter nine describes it in detail.

"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." Revelation 9:3

The noun "locusts" translates "akris," the literal insect that so badly infested the Holy Land during Biblical days. The etymology of the word is as follows: "akris" is derived from "akron" then in turn from "akmen" which is from "ake." The meanings begin with the word "point," that which is "sharp," maybe even in a painful sense! The pointed tail of a locust is quite painful when used as a weapon! Also some scholars believe that the "points" might refer to the very tops of plants and bushes where these creatures land ... to begin their destructive eating process, stripping landscapes and farms of all vegetation in very little time!

The timing of the verb "came out" ("ekerchomai") is aorist. John is viewing a future event as if it has already happened! Bible Prophets often do this. In fact, if you are saved, the Lord already views you as "glorified!" Already are you sitting in heavenly places with Him, right now!

The "power" they have, given from God, means "authority, jurisdiction, capability," that kind of power. Almost one could say "permission" was granted them to spread their havoc!

I am amazed at the things that have been "given" in this Paragraph of Scripture. In verse 1 a "key" is given. Here in verse 3 "power" is bestowed. In verses 4 and 5 limitations were given! And in verses 11 and 12 a leader was given to them!

God is in control of this whole plague!

Rebels and reprobates and God-haters are being punished for their evil deeds and their wicked hearts!

The verb "given" is the usual "didomai," but as an aorist passive. For a limited time and donated by Another! The devil is not Almighty!

Now watch the noun scorpions in Greek: "skorpios!" We borrowed their word, nearly letter for letter!

"Have" is "echo" and means "to possess" or "to hold on to" or "to keep" something! The verb is an indicative present active 3rd person plural action word!

The second occurrence of "power" is again "exousia." Their natural stinging ability is not being discussed here. Their being allowed to do this five-month attack on mankind is being highlighted!

God in Heaven orchestrates everything on earth, even during the Tribulation!

Based on the Book of Job, even the devil is under God's mighty Hand!

Amen!

Personally I believe that the Lord is coming to "catch away" the Church before this awful event occurs.

I also believe this world is now being "conditioned" for this type of invasion! By means of various arms of the media so-called "science fiction" is being suggested that nearly fits this scenario!

Friend, are you saved?

                                                                              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 4: 

How very "contemporary" these beasts from Hell will be!

The army of "locusts" that invade the earth during the Tribulation!

Today we shall listen as Revelation 9:4 describes them: "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."

Notice how environmentally friendly these fiends are!

The grass of earth is spared, a miraculous thing considering these hoards are called locusts! Grass is spelled "chortus" in Greek and can mean anything from grass to herbage to hay! It is thought that the word originally meant "court" or "garden."

Nothing "green" is to be bothered either! "Chloros" gives us such words a chlorophyll. The New Testament name "Chloe" is the root of it all!

"Trees" are to be spared also! "Dendron" is found 26 times in the Scriptures, springing from the the noun "drus," an oak. See the name "Druids" therein.

These locusts could join any liberal "green" party in existence today. They spared nature and hated mankind! Save the whales and abort the babies!

However, in this case, these demons are "commanded" to act the way they do!

By Whom?

Almighty God!

The verb "commanded" is "rheo" and means "to utter" something, to say it. The root of the verb is a word that means "to flow," or "to pour forth." The Old Testament word "law" or "torah" has basically the same idea. God's Word indeed flows in that smooth way, at least when it's preached under Holy Ghost anointing! "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God." Deuteronomy 32:2-3

Earlier in the Tribulation grass and trees have not fared so well, even in these "trumpet" judgments! "The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." Revelation 8:7

The verb "hurt" is translated from "adikeo," not doing right! The prefix "a" is a prohibitive and the root "dike" means upright or righteous. Hence, "to do unrighteously" to God's created world! Yes, one can cut a tree to the ground ... and still be right with God! Yet if one eats of certain other trees, his act is ungodly because the Lord has forbidden such a thing. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:17) The heart of the matter is NOT in the tree itself, but obeying the God Who created it ... and us too!

"Only," the adverb, is spelled "monos" in Greek. Still today "mono" means just "one."

"Men" are "anthropos," a blending of  "aner" (men as opposed to women originally) and  "ops" (one's face) ... man-faced creatures! However, anthropos came to mean the population in general, men and women.

"Men who have not the seal of God" are unsaved, lost! The noun "seal" is "sphragis" and means an inscription or impression placed on something primarily for its protection! "Phrasso," the root here, means "to fence or enclose or block up" something! Further back yet, "phrao" means "to rein in or to curb" something!

Apply these definitions to the "sealing" power of God the Holy Spirit and shout a while! "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Or if you prefer, "After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 4:30 and 1:14 appear here in this sequence.

One's "forehead" is spelled "metopon" in Greek and combines "meta" and "ops," between one's eyes!

What an accurate Book the Word of God is!

We are told so much in this one verse about one of the most horrible events in coming world "history!"

If you are saved, Biblical evidence is convincing that you will not be here during the terrible time our Text describes.

If not, you have every reason to be fearful today!

                                                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 5:    

These locusts, though vicious, are limited in their power!

God still sits on the Throne of this universe!

"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." Revelation 9:5

These hordes of invaders cannot kill anyone, just torment them!

And their "targets" are not the relatively few godly men and women on earth during those dark days of Tribulation, those "sealed" of God, but the wicked population who have rejected Almighty God and His Son Jesus.

 The verb "torment" is spelled "basanizo" and its etymological background is hard to ascertain. It might simply mean "to test." Still, when such a situation arises, just notice how the Holy Spirit uses the word elsewhere in Scripture. And that is only twelve times. "Basanizo" is translated "torment" 8 times in the King James Bible, 3 of which are in this single verse! Then it is "pain" 1 time and "toss" 1 time and "vex" 1 time and "toil" 1 time!

No rest for the wicked ... during these five months! They are tormented and tossed and vexed and pained severely!

The "five months," or "pente men" in Greek, are precisely the average life-span of a locust swarm! Somewhere around 21 weeks! A hundred and fifty days!

As we have seen, "scorpion" is spelled "skorpios" and means that little animal that looks a bit like a lobster and lives in warm climates and has a painful poisonous sting in its tail!

The verb "striketh" is "paio" and means "to smite!"

These verbs, "tormented" and "striketh," are both in the subjunctive mood. They are suggesting to us that these things will occur, but have not yet happened. They are promised events. "Probabilities," the grammar teacher would say. "Certainties," would reply the Preacher!

In this day of feel-good medicine, what will people do?

In America I suspect a literal plague of five months duration, that prolonged a period of intense suffering by millions, world topple any government who did not respond quickly with some relief!

And yet, as we have seen ... no relief will be allowed, not even by God Himself!

We have already been warned as a nation that certain calamities, should they come our way, would be so vast and so widespread that real relief would be impossible!

Mankind has so beautified evil and the devil and iniquity that God seems here to be saying ... "Since you all like Lucifer so much, I'll give him to you, five months worth!" Apollyon, the destroyer, will ride the land unimpeded!

"You've sown to the devil, now reap his rewards!"

God is not mocked!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

P. S. --- Saints of God, as I read the Scriptures, we shall be "with the Lord" when this tragic invasion occurs! If you're unsaved today, you have been fairly warned!

LESSON 6, VERSE 6: 

The ironic thing about this locust invasion is its end result.

Men will suffer indescribably!

Yet they suffer being unable to die!

We might be talking about the only five month period of "deathless" existence outside the Book of Genesis.

"And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them." Revelation 9:6

The verb "seek" is "zeteo" as a future indicative active. It can even mean "to attempt" or "to strive after" or "to try."

Again and again suicide plans are designed, only to fail!

Here is a "seek and not find" verse of Scripture!

Match this with what Jesus taught us about prayer in Matthew 7:7, "Seek, and ye shall find."

But what works for the saint in a good sense will here not work for the sinner in a bad sense.

No death, just suffering!

Could this be a picture, a parable, of Hell itself!

Seeking non-existence, or at least relief of some kind, but in vain!

Oh, to be consumed by these flames!

Yet endless weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth continue perpetually!

To "desire" something translates "epithumeo," the word for "strong desire!" Actually it means "lust" or "coveteousness!" A kind of craving!

Then John has death to personify itself and "flee" these suffering citizens! This verb is "pheugo" and means "to escape or vanish!"

All four verbs in this verse are indicative mood and future tense units. However, while three of them are active voice, only one is "middle" voice, "pheugo." That suggests that even death itself is amazed at fleeing these suicidal multitudes! Perhaps death has never run from anyone before now! Death is changed by the experience, impacted!

At other times in the Tribulation have men sought death, but apparently with some success finding it. "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" Revelation 6:12-17, but notice the capitalized clause.

Here's another Tribulation situation when men will die from the calamities! "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:25-27

Not counting the millions of deaths from the seven seals and the seven trumpets and seven vials and so much more!

But here, under the "reign" of the angel of the bottomless pit, no death!

Just torment!

Sinner, take heed!

Notice particularly the words "not perish." You already know the verse: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Amen!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSES 7 AND 8:

The word is androgynous.

It combines the nouns for man (aner) and woman (gune) into one smooth-sounding term!

Yet to the Christian androgynous is a suspect word!

God created the sexes to complement each other, not blend into each other.

When I grew up feminine boys were "sissies."

Masculine girls were "tom-boys" too.

But no more.

Boys play with dolls while girls wrestle and box and race.

To criticize such would be called "sexist" now, I think that's the term they use.

It is today "politically correct" to quietly stand by while the world obliterates God's design in marriage and the family and the nation.

Well, this coming invasion to earth, these hordes of demon-locust-scorpions are sure going to "fit" well!

Read: "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. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions." Revelation 9:7-8

The noun "shapes" is "homoioma" and means a "figure" or a "likeness" or an "image." This describes their physical appearance.

Remember that the noun "locusts," in Greek "akris," grammatically reflects little animals that are associated with a "point" or with something "sharp." That's what "akris" means. Maybe the sting of their tails is in view here.

The word for "horses" is just "hippos." Locusts so look like miniature horses that both the Germans and Italians use "horse" words to identify them. It's actually "little horse" in Italian!

"Prepared" is "hetoimazo" and means "made ready." In Greek "heteos" means the state of being adjusted or that which is made fit.

"Battle" is "polemos" and means "war." Not usually just one skirmish mind you, but all-out war! See the English word "polemic" here. It means confrontational, argumentative. "Pelomai" in Greek means "to bustle."

The noun "crowns" is "stephanos," rewards earned in battle! These demons may be veterans of spiritual warfare! "Stepho" means "to twine or wreathe," wrapping small olive branches around the heads of the victors in the Olympic Games no doubt!

One's "face" in Greek is expressed as "prosopon." It combines the preposition "pros" meaning "in front of" and the noun "ops" meaning one's very eyes! If I look at you, right in front of your eyes, I indeed see your face!

The final noun in verse 7 is "men," in Greek "anthropos." Again a blended word, "aner" still meaning the male of the species and "ops" meaning one's eyes or face! Male-faced monstrosities!

But verse 8 adds more, "And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions."

The noun "woman" is "gune" but is though to be derived from the verb "ginomai." That means "to cause to be," better yet "to give birth." To generate, one of the main functions God has bestowed upon the ladies.

The Greek noun for "teeth" is "odous" and is believed to derive from the verb "esthio," to eat! Language can be so very logical sometimes!

The noun for "lions" is "leon."

Look now at the amalgamation used in these creatures!

Faces of MEN!

Hair like WOMEN!

Teeth like LIONS!

A composite creature!

Man, woman, animal!

Now that is "politically correct" by this lost world's standards!

Masculine, feminine and primitive!

Won't the evolutionists be happy?

And the feminists?

And the poll-driven politicians?

Yes, Romans 1 says the day will come when mankind will worship the creature (lions and whales and monkeys) more than the Creator!

It also says men and women will trade the "natural" use of their bodies for the love of each other, men with men and women with women!

Androgyny!

Politically correct ... but recently arrived from Hell! That well describes these locusts!

Politically correct ... but devastating to a society!

Politically correct ... but soon very unpopular!

Looks like God is some day going to give this rotting culture just what it wants!

Plenty of it too!

Surely some news anchor will try to interview one of these demons!

They are so "in!"

But, I forgot, they are not real friendly!

"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. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."

Maybe battlefield footage would be better than a one-on-one conversation!

                                                                               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSES 9 AND 10:

The sense of sound, they will be heard!

The sense of sight, they will be seen!

The sense of touch, they will be felt!

These creatures from Hell are frightening, and literally coming to earth some future day!

"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. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months."  Revelation 9:9-10

The word for "breastplates" is "thorax" in Greek, the part of a human body from the throat to the navel.  These demons appear to be well armored!

Evil spirits from another world!

Visibly present on earth!

They had wings too!

They sounded like "many horses running," a distant rumbling maybe.

And they, like bees, could sting!

Severely!

Paralyzing and painful like scorpions!

And their apparent mission is simply to inflict pain on humanity!

One "futurist," a born-again gentlemen, says that he believes these beasts typify some sort of attacking army, flying like helicopters and attacking from the aft position with armor plated panels protecting its front side.

This may be.

But, literally, they represent an advancing army of demons!

Yet they come not to kill!

Just to "sting" and "torment!"

Brothers and Sisters, that's terrorism!

Apparently God allows this judgment to flood the earth because mankind has so ignored the real character of the devil!

Lucifer has been placed on a pedestal nearly!

But here, in these five months, Satan's true nature is revealed!

And it isn't pretty!

The best insurance against this ordeal is salvation!

Being born-again!

Then, at the Rapture, you will be leaving here!

But woe to those who stay, left behind to face seven years of unprecedented agony!

No wonder they call Jesus' return "The Blessed Hope!"

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, VERSE 11:

It is believed that there is "rank" among the angels of God.

In fact, the very existence of Michael the Archangel is proof of such a thing! That prefix "arch" means "chief."

Then there are Cherubim and Seraphim and countless other regular angels too!

In like manner it appears that the demons too are arranged in some sort of authority structure. Paul lists them as "principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world and those who are overseeing spiritual wickedness in high places." That last expression, "high places," means "in the heavenlies" literally!

Back in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, Satan apparently had a demon in charge of Greece and one in charge of Persia, ranking though fallen angels of wickedness. These tried to withhold answers to prayer, frustrating Daniel the Man of God. See Daniel chapter ten.

All this talk today because our verse, describing the fifth trumpet of judgment during the coming Tribulation, says: "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." Revelation 9:11

Here's an invasion from Hell!

Multitudes of demons apparently!

Attacking lost mankind!

Stinging and inflicting unbearable pain for five whole months!

Worldwide it appears!

And they have a leader. The noun "king" is spelled "basileus" and means commander or prince.

His name is given, bi-lingually even!

In Hebrew it is "Abaddon." It means "destruction!"

In Greek, "Apollyon," or "destroyer!"

Both these names occur only once in Scripture, right here!

It is so interesting that the Holy Spirit ends this frightening account by showing us the hierarchy of demonism!

Of course the head of Apollyon is Lucifer himself!

The Devil!

But, surely, this is what we are being taught today ... in charge of even all these wicked hordes is ... The One Who controls the universe!

The One Who is above all others!

The One Who abides Heaven's Throne!

The Lord God Almighty!

Yes, just as the devil could not so much as "touch" Job without God's permission, neither can this awesome army march without His Nod too!

Way back in Revelation chapter six, when we first see the Anti-christ, He is pictured as having a bow ... but no arrows! "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."

See?

A bow, a crown, a white horse ... but no ammunition, no power, no weaponry!

Not until God allows so!

Then no wonder Revelation is filled with adoration and praise to God upon His Throne and the Lamb slain yet alive for evermore! He is indeed all mighty! He is The Most High God!

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."

To which we all say a hearty ... AMEN!

                                                                                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, CONCLUSION:

A demon invasion from Hell!

Literally that's what Revelation 9:1-11 could be called!

Monstrosities attacking earth for five long months!

Death being impossible during that time!

Just severe pain, if struck by one of these creatures!

Unavoidable scorpion-like stings!

The hordes of attackers being led by a demon named Apollyon!

Such is the nature of the Tribulation, at least most of it!

And as terrible as that sounds, here's a list of some other things that will occur during those eighty-four months.

An initially friendly, but ultimately horrible world leader will arise. Anti-Christ by name, according to the Scriptures.

World war!

Famine, even in these days of modern technology!

Death to people by the billions!

Upheaval in the heavens too!

Prolonged periods of darkness!

Armies marching with as many as two hundred million soldiers!

Earthquakes!

World religions joining in a giant ecumenical and apostate machine, Jesus being omitted entirely!

The globe's financial systems finally collapsing!

Sores will appear upon the followers of iniquity, nearly everyone left on earth!

The world's oceans will "die!"

So will the planet's rivers!

Then the sun, for a while anyway, will "scorch" men and women mercilessly!

Uncontrollable impenetrable darkness will follow!

Major world governments will crumble, especially its "darling" known by the name of Babylon!

Entertainment gone!

Pleasures, so-called by lost men and women, all eradicated!

Shopping ceases!

And by that time, multi-national forces, nearly the combined armies of all remaining nations, attack what I believe is the Nation of Israel.

Armageddon will have arrived!

Judgment!

If these days were not mercifully shortened by Almighty God, not one person would survive!

Perhaps this over-all description renders our current Text, Revelation 9:1-11, almost insignificant. But, for sure, it will happen just as God has said!

"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 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. 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. 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. 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. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 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. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 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. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 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."

Are you saved?

Are you awaiting Jesus' Return to "call away" His Church?

Not to be prepared is perhaps the most foolish gamble in history!

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

... JESUS PLEDGED TO TELL US THE TRUTH! "IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU!" HE INDEED HAS DONE IT AGAIN!