CHAPTER 9
VERSE 1: (Chapter 9)
​The FIFTH TRUMPET
The FIRST WOE - the FALLEN ANGEL
"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 things will be getting even more scary as the fifth angel sounds. An angel has fallen from heaven. Not just any angel, but an angel that at one time held a very high place in God's kingdom. A very intelligent angel. This angel is mentioned in Isaiah 14:12: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer ..." Jesus witnessed Lucifer fall from heaven. Jesus tells us in His own words in Luke 10:18: "...I (Jesus) beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
Satan was the most beautiful of all the angels in heaven. God describes Satan in Ezekiel 28:13-15. Ezekiel documents that Satan was covered with the most beautiful gems from God. Satan was also equipped with being very musical. The music from Satan was used to glorify God. It was uplifting and godly. Because of Satan's extreme beauty and musical ability, pride entered into Satan. God said to Satan in verse 17 of Ezekiel 28: "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty..." Because of pride, Satan was cast out of heaven. Satan then became "...the prince of the power of the air..." (Ephesians 2:2). Satan is no longer allowed into Heaven. God has put Satan on a spiritual leash. God tells us in Job 1:7 exactly where Satan is allowed to go: "...From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Satan has the freedom to go anywhere on this earth, including outer space. He also walks up and down in hell.
Satan is still very powerful today. He is like a ferocious lion. The Lord warns us of Satan in 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 not just as a lion; he is as a "roaring lion". He is on the prowl. He is hunting to devour anyone. Satan wants to drag lost souls to Hell, and he wants to get Christians out of the will of God. Ephesians 6:12 tells us: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places". Satan is not to be messed with. That is why God gave us an armour to protect us from Satan. This armour is available in Ephesians 6:11-18. It's up to you to put it on.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
(Ephesians 6:11)
We now know that Satan fell from Heaven because of his pride. We also know that Satan wants to cause harm to God by attacking people. This verse goes on to warn us about something else concerning Satan. Satan "was given the key of the bottomless pit". Satan was not given this key before the Tribulation Period. He will be given this key at the appointed time by God. We know that the purpose of a key is to open things like doors and treasure chests. This key is not going to open a nice door, nor is it going to open a treasure chest. It is going to open the demonic door of the "bottomless pit".
The LORD is going to reveal to us what will be coming out of this demonic pit in the next few verses.
VERSE 2: (Chapter 9)
​The FIRST WOE Continues - 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."
Satan, at this time, will open the bottomless pit. When he turns the key and opens this 'door', great billows of smoke will pour out into the earth. It will be an evil, black smoke. It may burn eyes. People nor animals will be able to see because the smoke will be so thick and dark. It blackens out the sun temporarily. This verse also tells us that it blackens the air. People and animals may die from smoke inhalation. It will be extremely hard to breath. It will be "as the smoke of a great furnace" being poured upon the face of the earth and into all the atmosphere.
As this smoke is billowing out of the bottomless pit; dark, demonic beings will immerge. God describes these demonic beings in detail in the next few verses.
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VERSE 3: (Chapter 9)
​CREATURES COME OUT
"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."
As this black smoke billows out of the earth, these locust creatures will ascend out of the bottomless pit with the smoke. The smoke will be dark and black. These locusts may be very hard to see because of the smoke, but they will still attack the people.
Locusts are in the family of grasshoppers and travel in swarms. This picture shows a normal scorpion. The Tribulation Locusts will have the power of a scorpion. The scorpion's tail is very powerful.
Scorpions are capable of inflicting painful wounds with the strength of their tails. Scorpions have a gland that secretes a poisonous fluid into the wounds that they cause. This venom affects the veins and nervous system.
Most scorpions grow from one to three inches long. However, scorpions found in tropical climates have measured nine inches! Unlike locusts, which eat vegetation, scorpions eat any small animal they capture. Scorpions eat insects, lizards, snakes, and mice. They will even eat small mammals.
A normal scorpion
The next eight verses describe what these Tribulation Locusts look like physically, how they will hurt people, and who their king is. God does not leave people in the dark, even if they are unsaved. God is revealing to every human being that these demonic locusts will be coming out of the "bottomless pit".
VERSE 4: (Chapter 9)
​The LOCUSTS are GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS
"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 locusts are a reminder to us that God controls everything, even insects. God controlled the flies, lice, frogs, and even the locusts back in Moses' day. God will still control these Tribulation locusts. God commands these Tribulation Locusts what not to hurt and what to hurt. God commands them not to eat any vegetation. God also commands them to hurt anyone who does NOT have the seal of God in their foreheads. That is their God given job. They are to hurt and torture unsaved people.
I know this sounds very cruel to us. That is because we only see the one side. Look at God's side. He has begged and pleaded for people to get saved. He gave His Son to suffer a tortuous death for us. God will take Christians out of the world at the Rapture hoping that those left behind will realize that their missing loved ones were right about Christ. God allows the people left on the earth to go through the Great Tribulation Period in the hopes that they will turn to Him. And now, here we are, when these creatures come out of the great abyss of Hell and torture ONLY the unsaved. God wants those that will be hurt by these Tribulation Locusts to notice that Christians are not being tortured by the Tribulation Locusts.
In Exodus, chapter 8, God used flies as a plague to show Pharoah that He is in command. God wanted Pharoah to repent. God showed Pharoah that there is a difference between God's people and unsaved people. Verses 22-23 tells us that God told Pharoah: " And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. And I will put a division between my people and thy people:" This is exactly what God will be showing again during the Tribulation Period with these locust creatures. He will be putting a noticeable difference between His people and those that are not His people.
God's plan is always to bring people to their place of repentance. God is calling to them, but many will not come. Most of the people will endure the pain and suffering of the Tribulation Locusts and not turn to Christ.
One more point to consider before we move on ... the fact that God puts His seal in the foreheads of His chosen. Satan is the Antichrist. He mimics God. Satan will also have a mark to put on people. Satan will also use the forehead. He also will use the hand. Computer chips are already in use today for buying and selling. There are even people today who have a computer chip implanted into their brain. These are counterfeits. Chips are definitely not God's seal. We will learn more about this in our study in Chapter 13. Let's proceed with these demonic Tribulation Locusts and their power.
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VERSE 5: (Chapter 9)
​The LOCUSTS STING
"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."
The Tribulation Locusts will not be permitted by God to kill people. Even though these Tribulation Locusts will be like scorpions in power, they will not be allowed to kill anyone. Normal scorpions have caused death to people. The Tribulation Locusts are not normal scorpions nor are they normal locusts. .
These Tribulation Locusts will have the power to torment people, "...their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man". A scorpion has very sensitive hairs that allow it to locate its prey easily. The scorpion will grab its prey and sting it whenever it wants. The Tribulation Locusts will have this power. Instead of using its stinger on other insects and small mammals, the prey of the Tribulation Locusts will be the people that are not saved.
The Tribulation Locusts will have the power to torment people for five whole months. Most locusts live for only a few weeks. Some desert locusts have been known to live for up to five months. The number five symbolizes grace. Even with the Tribulation Locusts, God still shows His grace to people. God could have allowed the locusts to live as long as a scorpion, which can be over 20 years. It is by God's grace, that He allows the Tribulation Locusts to torment people for only five months instead of 20 years!
The last part of this verse says: "...and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man".
It is said that the sting of a scorpion can feel like an electrical shock. Perhaps like even being hit with a bolt of lightening. The sting causes severe pain in the legs or arms. This can be very severe, especially for the first two hours of getting stung. The pain doesn't start to go away until approximately 24 hours are up. This is just for one sting. There are going to be millions of Tribulation Locusts upon the face of the earth. People may get stung several times, whether by the same locust, or by numerous locusts.
The next verse tells us what people will do when these Tribulation Locusts start attacking them...
VERSE 6: (Chapter 9)
​PEOPLE TRY HARD
"And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."
When the scriptures say 'men', it usually means mankind ... men, women, and children. It will be all of mankind, which are not saved, that will be tormented by the Tribulation Locusts. During these five months of the Tribulation Period, all the unsaved people will be begging to die. The pain that these people will have to endure from the Tribulation Locusts will be extremely unbearable. Their bodies may become swollen and infected from the stings. People's nervous system will be affected. People may have seizures or convulsions. The pain will be so awful for unsaved people that they will try to commit suicide but will be unsuccessful. Death "shall flee from them".
Hopefully, unsaved people will notice that the Christians will not be stung by these alien looking Tribulation Locusts and turn to Christ for forgiveness. Maybe a few people will get saved, but the majority will only become more and more angrier at God.
The next four verses describe in detail exactly what these Tribulation Locusts are going to look like! They are quite horrible looking.
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VERSE 7: (Chapter 9)
​​The LOCUSTS' ARMOR, CROWNS, and FACES
"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."
The Lord is describing these Tribulation Locusts to us so when people see them, the people will know they were foretold by God in Revelation. Some people like to symbolize Revelation, but God did not intend that. In fact, He gives us illustrations so we can relate to exactly what He is describing. For example, God describes the shapes of the Tribulation Locusts in this verse. God does not call them horses. He says they are "like" horses. God compares them to "horses prepared for battle". He did this so we can relate to what He is describing. God wants us to have a clear picture. Horses prepared to battle are simply horses with armor on. These Locusts will have an 'armor' coating to protect them. These Tribulation Locusts are not a horse neither are they the size of a horse. They just have a hard shell that protects it from easy destruction, just like a horse ready for battle wears an armor to be protected.
Men will NOT be able to kill these Tribulation Locusts easily.
The Lord goes on describing the Tribulation Locusts as having "on their heads were as it were crowns like gold". Again, notice the word "like". The Lord is giving us a comparison again so we understand what these Locusts will look like. These Tribulation Locusts will have little spikey things coming out of their head in a circle. The spikes may be a yellowish color that will make it look like little crowns on their heads. These spikes may be very hard like gold and hurt.
God tells us "their faces were as the faces of men". Notice the words "were as". The Tribulation Locusts' faces are not human, but they do have human-like features. These I do not have bug-like faces. They won't have antennas or pinching mouths. They will have a face that closely resembles a man ... eyes, nose, chin, cheeks.
The next verse continues describing these demonic creatures ...
VERSE 8: (Chapter 9)
​HAIR and TEETH
"And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions."
God is continuing to describe the Tribulation Locusts. He tells us that they will have "hair like the hair of women". In other words, these Locusts will have long hair. There are some insects that have hair, like caterpillars, fuzzy centipedes, and even bumble bees. But I do not know of any insect that has long hair like a woman.
The Bible describes women's hair in 1 Corinthians 11:15: "...if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." God gave these locusts 'long hair'. Their hair will not be as long as a woman's hair, but it will be long for a locust. These are going to be strange looking Locusts.
The second half of this verse states that the Tribulation Locusts' "teeth were as the teeth of lions". Their teeth will not be the size of real lion's teeth, but they will be shaped like lions' teeth. Lions have a fearsome set of teeth. They have long canine teeth and are razor sharp. The canine teeth are used to catch and kill their prey. Not only can lions' teeth help catch its prey, but their teeth are also used for tearing flesh and crushing bones. The Tribulation Locusts will have the capability of tearing flesh.
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VERSE 9: (Chapter 9)
​BREASTPLATES LIKE IRON and NOISY WINGS
"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."
In verse 7, we saw that the Tribulation Locusts will have armor like horses going to battle. Verse 9 here affirms that the Tribulation Locusts will have breastplates. God tells us that these breastplates are as strong as "iron". The verse says, "as it were breastplates of iron". Breastplates were worn to protect vital parts of the body like the heart, lungs, etc. Law enforcement and military wear bulletproof vests. These Tribulation Locusts will have 'breastplates' protecting their vital organs. They will be very hard to destroy.
The Tribulation Locusts will also have wings. Not only do their wings help them to fly, but their wings will enable the Locusts to maintain a constant angle of attack. Their wings will enable them to be like a sniper or a sharpshooter. The Tribulation Locusts will be very accurate with their attack.
The Locusts' wings will make a very loud sound. Back in the chariot days, horses, riders, and chariots would collide. The sounds of swords, spears, shields, helmets, and armor of horses and riders were heard throughout the whole stadium. In the chariot days, a country knew they were going to be attacked when they heard the chariots and horsemen coming from miles away. The Tribulation Locusts will be heard coming. Their wings will be sounding out the inevitable attack.
VERSE 10: (Chapter 9)
​TAILS INFLICT PAIN
"And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
Verse 10 is a confirmation of verse 5. When God says something twice, we had better listen. God warns people that the Tribulation Locusts will have "tails like unto scorpions". God tells people that they will be stung by these Locusts' tails. He lets people know that they will be tormented five months. God warned them in verse 5 and verse 10. Remember ??? Revelation is to REVEAL.
Here is a picture of the Tribulation Locust using the above descriptions. These Locusts will be upon the whole face of the earth. They will be in homes, hospitals, and all through the streets. No one will be able to completely hide from these terrible creatures and their torment. Now is the time to become a Christian.
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VERSE 11: (Chapter 9) ​
The LOCUSTS' KING
"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."
Even though these Tribulation Locusts will be controlled by God, they had another king. God tells us that their king is "the angel of the bottomless pit". The Lord even reveals to us the name of this king ... "Abaddon" and "Apollyon". The name "Abaddon" means destroyer. "Apollyon" equals worldly values and control.
Satan is the Antichrist. As the Antichrist, Satan tries to duplicate God. One of the attributes of God that Satan tries to copy is the trinity. Just like there is the Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Satan has his trinity. Satan has his trinity as the Antichrist, the Beast, and the False Prophet.
Satan is very evil and destructive. He can easily deceive people. He uses worldly pleasures to distract people from getting saved. Satan even lures Christians away from God's will with many worldly temptations. Satan does what he can in order to destroy both unsaved people and Christians ... just like the meaning his name indicates ... "Abaddon", the destroyer.
It may seem like Satan and his helpers are in control of the earth at times, but God still has them on His spiritual leash. God's leash is actually a very real spiritual chain. These demonic beings are on spiritual chains and the chains can only reach so far. Satan and his helpers will have an end someday soon. God promises us this in Jude 6: "And the angels (now demons/fallen angels) which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day". After the Tribulation Period, God is going to grab Satan by his chain and wrap it around his neck and destroy him and his demons forever in the "Lake of Fire". Amen!
VERSE 12: (Chapter 9)
​The FIRST WOE ENDS
(The Second WOE comes later in Chapter 11)​
"One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter."
If people think these locusts were terrible, wait till they see what is coming next! Remember what a Woe is. We covered this in verse 13 of Chapter 8: The Bible refers to "woe" as an exclamation of judgment. It is anguish, grief, and trouble.
Right after the "First Woe" ends, the Sixth Trumpet sounds. This is not the Second Woe. It is the Sixth Trumpet and it is fierce.
VERSE 13: (Chapter 9)
​The SIXTH TRUMPET
The SIXTH ANGEL SOUNDS
"And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,"
The sixth angel is standing ready. He sounds his trumpet. Then John hears a voice coming from "the four horns of the golden altar which is before God". John is still documenting all that he witnesses. John informs us that as this "sixth angel" sounds his trumpet, he hears a voice from God's golden altar. This voice of God will be giving a command to the "sixth angel", and John is going to tell us what this "sixth angel" will be commanded to do in the next verse.
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VERSE 14: (Chapter 9)
​​The SIXTH ANGEL RECEIVES HIS ORDERS
"Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates."
The voice of God, coming from the golden altar, talks directly to the "sixth angel". He commands the "sixth angel" to release the four angels which He had bound. Remember in Jude 6 we read "... He (God) hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day". Well, that "judgment of the great day" is occurring now in the scriptures. These four demonic 'angels' are going to be set free. Only God has the power to bind and the power to set free.
These four demonic angels have been bound since the fall of Satan "in the great river Euphrates". Here are some interesting facts concerning the Euphrates River:
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The Euphrates River first appears in Genesis when Adam sinned.
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The Flood began at the Euphrates River.
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The Tower of Babel was built near this river.
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Babylon was built near the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
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The prophet, Daniel, was taken as a teenager to Babylon (Iraq) as a POW.
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World government and world religion began near the Euphrates River.
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Militants committed gruesome murders near the Euphrates River.
Four demonic angels are bound in the great river Euphrates. On the appointed day by God, these demonic beings will be set free. When the fallen angels are loose, they will cause more tribulation to those who are still living on the earth. God reveals what these demons will do in the next verse. Again, God is showing us what is truly going to happen. He is not hiding it. God reveals. This is why He gave us this Book of Revelation. What these four demonic angels are going to do will be catastrophic.
VERSE 15: (Chapter 9)
​​FOUR DEMONIC ANGELS PREPARE
"And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month and a year, for to slay the third part of men."
The four demonic angels will set be free during the Great Tribulation Period. When they are freed, they will go "prepare" themselves. The definition of the word "prepare" means to get something ready for use. To get established and be ready to set up also defines "prepare". To make an arrangement was another definition. These four angels are going to go set up, establish, and get ready. They only have one year, one month, one day, and one hour combined to be ready. God will allow these demons a certain amount of time to "prepare". God controls all time. He is never late, and He is never too early.
When the year, month, day, and hour have expired, these "four angels" are going to go forth and kill one third of the people who are left alive from all the other judgments that have already occurred.
Judgments that will Occur: Revelation Chapters:
Killing each other 6:4
Starvation 6:6
One forth dies by swords, hunger, beasts 6:8
Many die from bitter, bloody waters 8:8-11
Civilization will be dramatically decreased. This verse tells us that another one third of the population will be killed. God tells us, in the next few verses, how people will die.
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VERSE 16: (Chapter 9)
​The ARMY of HORSEMEN
"And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them."
This seems odd to us today because our military does not really use horses anymore for battle. However, border guards and special forces use horses today because they are more useful on roadless and rough terrains. Horses are better suited for this type of rough terrain than modern ATVs. There are still countries that utilize mounted troops because horses can go places where infantry and motorized units cannot.
We do not know what nations Satan will use to "prepare" a two-hundred-million-person army. But the nations the four demonic creatures will choose to use, will be prepared for a terrible, terrible battle where they will kill another one-third the population.
John goes on to describe this army in more detail in the next verse.
VERSE 17: (Chapter 9)
​The ARMY of HORSEMEN DESCRIBED
"And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone."
God was revealing to John in a vision everything that God wanted him to write down. This is how God gave us the Book of Revelation. John had never seen such a massive army, neither had he ever seen horses like this before.
Let's look at John's description of the riders that are on the horses. They have "breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone". John is describing the "breastplates" as being fiery red, jacinth (bluish), and brimstone (sulfur yellow). This could be the description of military "breastplates". Firing power. Red, blue, and yellow bursts coming from these "breastplates" as they attack.
"And thus I saw the horses in the vision ...
John goes on to write about the horses. He states that the "heads of the horses were as the heads of lions". He does not say they have the head of a lion, he says the horses' heads "were as" the heads of lions. In other words, these horses' heads are big and fierce. These horses may be very well equipped with military weapons. These horses could be 'horse robots'. We don't know. It doesn't matter if they are real horses with special equipment or robot horses; fire, smoke, and brimstone will come out of their mouths.
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VERSE 18: (Chapter 9)
ONE THIRD of MEN will be KILLED
By THESE HORSEMEN​
"And by these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths."
This verse is verifying that one third of mankind will be killed. The phrase "by these three" is just indicating "by the fire, by the smoke, and by the brimstone". By these three ways, one third of civilization that was left from the previous tribulations will die.
This verse is also reverifying the fact that the "fire", "smoke", and "brimstone" will come out of these horses' mouths. This was first stated in verse 17. When God says something twice, like in verses 17 and 18, it means God is confirming what He says as extremely important.
VERSE 19: (Chapter 9)
​The HORSES' TAILS have POWER
"For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt."
It is mentioned here again that power is going to be in the horses' mouths. God also tells us that there will also be power in their tails. "For their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads". These are very demonic beings. This is the army that the four demonic angels, that will be loosed from the Euphrates River, will gather together. Remember the number of this army is two hundred thousand thousand (v 16).
These "horses" are going to hurt people with their tails and kill others with their mouths. Whether these are real horses or robots, time will tell. This mammoth army on military "horses" will kill one third of civilization.
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VERSE 20: (Chapter 9)
​PEOPLE Still WILL NOT REPENT
"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
God now informs us, in this verse, about the people who were left alive ... "men which were not killed". We are told here that these people "repented not". After everything that has happened to the earth and civilization, these people still will not repent. Repent means to be sorry for sin, turn away from it, and seek God. These people do not repent. The Lord will use these few years of the Tribulation Period to encourage people to come to Him. 2 Peter 3:9 says the Lord "...is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance". God does not want these people to perish. Jesus' own words are: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). The Lord even says in Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him". The Lord is calling to people. He wants them to hear His voice. He wants them to open the door to their heart. The Lord will not come in uninvited. Each person has to open their own door to their own heart. Christ will not force it open. People during this time do not want to open the doors to their hearts. Our verse tells us why ...
"... the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood..." Online dictionaries describe humanism as people putting the main importance on humans instead of on divine importance. Humanism stresses the value and goodness of human beings and seeks only human logic to solve problems. They rely on "...the works of their hands". People will feel that they can unite together and pull themselves 'up by their own bootstraps'. They will feel they do not need nor want God. They are probably blaming God.
The people spoken about in this verse "worship devils". Anything that is not of God is of the devil. Idol worship is not of God. The second command of the Ten Commandments says: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:3-5). Idols can be gold, silver, brass, stone, or wood. An idol is anything that is put before God. It can be a statue that people bow down to or give reverence to. It can also be jobs, cars, houses, pets, and so on. Anything that gets first place over God is an idol. God even indicates here that 'idols' are just materialistic stuff. These objects of affection cannot "see, nor hear, nor walk". God is alive. He is to be the center of our affection and love. These 'idols' can't love. Only God has Holy, genuine love. The people who refuse to "repent" will never experience the real love of God. They will experience the real wrath of God.
VERSE 21: (Chapter 9)
​NO REPENTANCE
"Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."
The Lord is continuing here from the previous verse. He is continuing to say that these survivors still will not repent. God lists more things that they will not repent of ... "murders ... sorceries ... fornication ...thefts" There will be more murders happening during the Tribulation time than ever before. Satan's demons will be everywhere in a lot of different forms. Sins will more tolerated and accepted. Thefts will rise because people will be stealing just to survive. People will become more and more hard hearted. Instead of turning to God, they may even display more hatred toward Him for what they are going through.
