The Book of Revelation: Chapter 9

"And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" Revelation 8:13

We begin again…another day…another chapter, yet part of the former because of the word "AND."

Verse One: "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."

The number five is symbolic for "grace." It is not the kind of manmade grace that says "if you do this, then I will give you grace." The grace of God was given to each of us while we were still in ignorance and darkness. King James calls this darkness "sin." (Romans 8:5). The grace of God gives life allowing us to overcome every circumstance that we encounter.

As we mentioned before in previous chapters, the angel is a messenger of God. An angel may be a human that has been given divine revelation to bring life, love, and light to another. It may be the manifestation of an angelic being (son of God) that has already gone before us who has been commissioned to bring a message to us by God. Nevertheless; the issue is not about the messenger, but the message.

The sound the angel is making is the blowing of a trumpet. At this point I would like to share some wisdom about this trumpet that I have already alluded to in previous chapters. There is only one trumpet being blown, yet symbolically each sound is distinct as if there were seven (Rev. 8:6). This trumpet is the sound of JUBILEE. It is made by blowing into a Ram's horn. Jesus was this Ram who was slain so that the sound of Jubilee could be known through him.

Genesis 22:8, "And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together."…Genesis 22:13, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."

This ram was not just a sacrificial lamb, but represented the finished work that Abraham believed in by faith to be seen in a coming day. Hebrews 11:12-13, "Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

In the Old Testament, the people longed to hear this trumpet sound that would declare their jubilee. It was only heard once every 50 years on the Day of Atonement. However, the sound of the Ram's horn had to be heard. This day would come and the horn would be blown, but if the trumpet wasn't heard, jubilee would not come to that person. The Bible dictionary description of this time:

JUBILEE

At the close of the great Day of Atonement the blast of the jubilee curved trumpets proclaimed throughout the land liberty, after guilt had been removed through the typically atoning blood of victims. It is referred to as antitypical fulfilled in "the acceptable year of the Lord," this limited period of gospel grace in which deliverance from sin and death, and the restoration of man's lost inheritance, are proclaimed through Christ (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:19). Literally, hereafter (Ezekiel 7:12-13; 46:17) to be kept.

(From Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c) 1998 by Biblesoft)

Jesus is our jubilee. He is the star that fell from heaven in this first verse which brought unconditional grace to the world at the time that he was crucified on the cross. 2 Corinthians 8:7, "Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also."

"A star fell from heaven unto the earth." The word "unto" can be read "into." The word "earth" is not only the literal natural realm that Jesus came into, but also refers to our own flesh. We are earthen vessels that He has already come into so that we could dwell with Him and the Father. John 14:20, "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."

"To him was given the key of the bottomless pit" A key represents power and authority. Without a key you can't unlock a door or start a car. Within each of our hearts we hold the seed of our true identity as a son of God. "He hath set the world (eternity, His identity) in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11b).

We established that it was Jesus who has this key from Revelation 1:18, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Also in Matthew 28:18 we read,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Jesus has power and authority over the bottomless pit.

What is this bottomless pit? It is our imagination. Out of our natural understanding ascends any evil, fornication, adultery, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, and such like that Paul talks about in Galatians 5. Each time we blame a devil when these things happen we cheat ourselves from allowing the Holy Spirit to unlock the bondage of our imagination. This has been the problem since time began with Adam blaming the woman instead of being accountable before God.

Notice that we don't have the key, but Christ in us does. Jesus removed the bondage to our understanding so that we can now be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. He is the way; He is the door. What is this key that has power and authority over our imagination? It is the unconditional grace, mercy, and love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us. Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." This is what He wants us to give away to others, but we can't do this if we don't believe it ourselves. We can't be double-minded thinking we are "sinners saved by grace" and then think we can give away unconditional love. In this mindset our love will be judgmental because it is the only kind of love we have allowed ourselves to receive. It takes the faith of God to believe in unconditional love, mercy, and grace. It takes the mind of Christ to see that sin and therefore the "sinner" has been destroyed. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5-6, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"

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."

We established what the bottomless pit was: our imagination. What is this smoke coming out? The smoke is humanity; the ignorance that mankind has in their mind. It was symbolized by the cherubim that were placed on the curtain between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of the Wilderness. These cherubim were created out of an Egyptian imagination. The Bible does not give any detail of what they were supposed to look like which is why different artists have different images of cherubim.

A hidden thought to consider that has caused misunderstandings through time can be found with the tradition of the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. The High Priest was supposed to meet with God in front of the mercy seat between the poles. This would allow the two Cherubim that are sitting on the mercy seat to be viewed facing each other bowing towards the middle of the mercy seat. The High Priest was to be in that same position between the poles that carry the Ark of the Covenant.

If you don't know a little about Jewish history and go by most artists' drawings of the Ark of the Covenant, you would find the High Priest not able to meet with God between the poles. Most illustrations would force the High Priest to visit God behind one of the cherubim, or be in front of the mercy seat with no poles. What difference do the poles make? The poles represent being locked into God with His mercy, love, and forgiveness. Meeting with God between the poles in front of the mercy seat, with the curtain that separates spiritual and natural behind us, allows us to receive all that God has already given to us through Jesus Christ. You are totally wrapped in the ultimate spiritual hug from your heavenly Father. If you are viewing this from the backside of Cherubim, you will never receive the fullness of what the Father has to give. You will still have your "imagination" between you and God.

Cherubim represent the bottomless pit of what comes out of our natural thinking process. There is no end to it. Our natural understanding is an abomination to God. He hates, or detests this "nation" because it apposes everything that allows the truth of our inheritance as His children to be manifested. Romans 8:6-7, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:" Where does death begin? It is in the power of our tongue; Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." What feeds the tongue? Matthew 15:17-18, "Do not ye yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."

Verse 2 of Revelation Chapter nine gives the wisdom we need to follow in order to be released from the control of the imagination. This nation only causes a veil to cover our understanding, polluting the air around us to mask the fullness of our identity as sons of God. The following is the author's translation of this verse to help give some clarity:

"And Jesus unlocked the imagination of humanity; ignorance came out of man's natural understanding. The ignorance veiling and controlling mankind had polluted the air they breathed causing a screen between man and the light of the world that Jesus was releasing never to have dominion again."

Verse 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." If I read this with my natural understanding my immediate thought would be "where is the blessing I was told I would receive in Rev. 1:3?" In the natural this does sound very fearful, but God is Spirit and so is His word!

"Came out of the smoke" speaks of the veil of man's ignorance being removed. The word "locust" does not refer to literal flying bugs, but is symbolic. The word means "to light on the top of." The word "upon" is the Greek word "eis" which means "into." These locusts are symbolic of something separating us from spiritually understanding what the Holy Spirit wants us to know. They are the destroying "ites" in Deuteronomy Seven that controls humanity. We have talked about these before in the previous chapter, but to refresh your understanding there was seven "ites" that had to be overcome by Moses and the children of God. They were:

Ÿ Hittites - violence

Ÿ Girgashites - lying

Ÿ Amorites - pride

Ÿ Canaanites - rebellion

Ÿ Perizzites - independent

Ÿ Hivites - fear

Ÿ Jebusites - religion

Humanity has unknowingly allowed these "ites" to return by giving them power that they don't legally have. Religious people (locust, or Christ mind destroyers) will use the word of God to try and control the Christ identity our heavenly Father has placed in each person's heart (Eccl. 3:11).

The reference to "scorpions" has the word "as" before it. This is not literal scorpions running around with big stingers in their tail. This is a spiritual issue referring to demonic power in our "earth" or in each of our lives. The power of a scorpion is in the tail to sting. If we are stung enough by the "doom and gloom" around us, it can kill us. Scorpions were very prevalent in Egypt. Egypt is symbolic of our natural or worldly understanding. The tail of the scorpion is symbolic of "false prophets or false teachers." They are people that interpret God's word with literal understanding bringing judgment and condemnation to others instead of the life and love that Jesus illustrated.

People who preach by their carnal understanding lack a loving relationship with their Heavenly Father. Our Father is love, and we are created in His image with His blood. This is what Jesus came to show us. The Holy Spirit in us is releasing the bondage of the "sting of the scorpion" through the revelation of the word or "the light within us." Paul tells us the reason for this is, "to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9); however, we must remember that it is also written in Proverbs 25:2, "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter." If we do not grow up to be the kings and priests He made us to be (Rev. 1:6), we can-not expect to understand the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. Hence, we have many false prophets and teachers in the body of Christ giving us "the sting of the scorpion" through their carnal understanding of what the Bible says.

Verse 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."

John is writing some wonderful symbolism in this verse. The Holy Spirit is commanding the carnal mind in us (locust) not to hurt any grass, green thing, or any tree. In 1 Peter 1:24 and Isaiah 40:6 and 8, we will find that the word "grass" means "all flesh." When we receive revelation from God it is not to be hurtful to anyone. It is supposed to edify and encourage bringing unity to the body.

The "green thing" refers to anything that has life: revelation knowledge given by the Holy Spirit will not destroy. Remember, we are talking spiritual, not literal. How many of us have been victims of having the word of God quoted to us to bring justification and condemnation stirring our emotions to be afraid that God was out to destroy us? This is what God means when He says, "don't harm anything green" with His word. Many times children do something out of ignorance they shouldn't have done such as; pick up a dead bird that has fallen from a tree not realizing it may be full of a disease, or wanting to see mom in the hospital so they get in the car of a stranger to get a ride. The outcome of the child is ok, but out of our own fear as parents of the "what if" we get angry with the child leaving them hurt, confused, and fearful instead of loved. Yes, we need to teach them, but teach them in love, not fear.

"Neither any trees; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." What are these trees? They are humanity. Mark 8:24, "And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking." Judges 9:8, "The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us."

John has written three illustrations (grass, green things, and trees) to say the same thing; "don't hurt one another with the power that is in the word of God, but give them life." Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-9, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

If we know God as our heavenly Father, we should know Him and His word as PEACE that passes all our natural understanding. John 20:21, "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."

Many times because of our own ignorance when we pray we reflect our insecurities and judgments that cause others to be in bondage instead of setting the captives free as Jesus did. Illustration: let's suppose we find out someone close to us had an affair. Let's pretend this person has been married for 10-20 years, has a spouse with 2 kids, is very successful with their career, has a good reputation in the community, and they are a Sunday school teacher in the local church. What kind of prayers are going out for this person when the secret of the affair is exposed?

The following is a sample of two different ways to pray for the same thing; one is of a person that sees things with their natural understanding, and the other is from a person who is praying as a son of God:

Dear God,

I am praying for______. Please God, you know of all this ______, ______, and ______ that is in their life. They know better than to be doing this, and I just don't understand why they keep it up. Their life is just full of ______, ______, and _______. It is really causing me and _____, _____, and ______ so much grief to know they are going through this. God please change them and make them stop hurting themselves and others, including myself. Thanks God. Amen

Notice in the prayer how much negativism there is?

Dear Father,

In the name that is above every name let your identity; your love; and your character be manifested. (Person's name), I hear the word of God, and I know that you are better than that. I know that you are a son of God. I surround you as I pray in the Holy Ghost with words that are words of power and life. I support your godly life. (Person's name), I call you to be a manifestation of who you truly are: to act, think, and talk like Jesus Christ. I declare and decree that people will come from afar to lead, guide, and support you in your true identity, and that you will be opened to receive their love that God has given them to give to you as you move forward and advance with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is resident in you and upon you, and He will break all of those things that are trying to destroy you. In Jesus name let His Life come forth in your life. Amen

"But only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." What is the seal of God? The Holy Spirit reveals to us the mind of Christ that is in us. This is not about whether we are children of God, but whether we are mature in Christ. Many people consider themselves Christians, but translate the word of God with their natural understanding which brings separation, division, and death. Romans 8:6-8, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh (natural understanding) cannot please God." Romans 8:13-14, "For if ye live after the flesh (natural understanding), ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit (mind of Christ) do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (mind of Christ), they are the sons of God." They are over comers in the body of Christ doing the Father's business as Jesus did, counting no man's sins against him, but cleansing the world of all unrighteousness by seeing the world through the mind of Christ.

Matthew 18:18-22:

"Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven."

There are many things in a person's past that can bring them to a point of doing something they know they shouldn't do. If we judge them because of what they did yesterday, we miss the opportunity to be a son of God radiating with His love, compassion, and mercy. It doesn't nullify the sin, but it does give life for them to move beyond the sin. The laws of reaping and sowing will still take place, but as sons of God, we have the opportunity to help someone be an over-comer when dark situations arise, or we can bring judgment and separation to the body of Christ. This is the wisdom of Revelation verse 4.

Those that have the seal of God, or the mind of Christ, will recall to their remembrance by the Holy Spirit who they were before they were conceived in the womb of their mother (Jeremiah 1:5) Isaiah tells us in 46:9-10, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" Verse 4 is not referring to harming the literal men that do not have the seal of God, but allowing the word of God which is full of love and mercy to destroy the ego of self control leaving them with a desire to want to know their heavenly Father because He first loved them.

Verse 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." We just covered most of what this verse is talking about in the previous verse. The five months is symbolic of the number for grace. However, if we are not receiving the grace that is available to us, then what we are going through will seem like tormenting darkness full of pain and bondage.

Verse 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." We have all been in situations where we see no hope. The problem is that we usually try to come up with solutions made from our own creation instead of surrendering it all to God and allowing His peace to be in control. As a person is going through a dark place in their life, this death referred to in verse 6 may seem like a literal dying of the flesh, but once the bullets of the ego have all been fired, and the Spirit of God is in control, the flesh won't need to go through a natural death and the soul will release its control allowing the mind of Christ to lead. Galatians 2:20-21 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God:" God is not glorified by us going through a natural death to come into His presence. He is glorified when we come into His presence as a son of God while in our natural body bringing the unity of faith lifting up the body of Christ as one.

Verse 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." Remember, the bottomless pit, or our imagination has been let loose and what is coming out of us is the mind-destroying locusts that cause those negative emotions, pain, sorrow, and suffering scribed likened to the sting of a scorpion's tail. In the Bible, horses are symbolic of power. These locusts are fighting the mind of Christ with humanistic strength or natural intellect trying to justify the ways of God to their understanding. Paul tells us in Romans 8:5-8, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." NIV

When we allow the Spirit of God in us to be in control while we rest in His peace telling our mind that we are "new creatures in Christ;" there is no sting of the scorpion and nothing for the locust to devour. A dead man can not be tormented. In 2 Chronicles 20:15 we read about the Lord telling the king and the people, "Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's." This "reason" is what our natural understanding is telling our mind making judgmental decisions on our emotions and what we see or hear.

When trials and tribulations come our way, God wants us to trust Him first. Matthew 6:24-7:2, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." NIV

On the heads of these locusts are crowns LIKE gold. Gold speaks of the character and nature of God. These are people that profess Christianity, but use human reason to interpret the word of God causing separation and division to the body of Christ. John clarifies their identity when he writes that "their faces were as the faces of men." In many churches today, we have lessons in psychology coming from the pulpit where the leadership is using the word of God to justify right and wrong instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal our heavenly Father's love.

Verse 8: "And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions." This verse is not talking about literal women, but the soul of mankind being in control of the temple of God or body of Christ. The lion is known as the king of beasts, not sons of God. The teeth represent what is being chewed and digested going into the body. All of this is symbolic of Christians taking in the word of God while using their natural understanding to discern what Scripture is saying. Remember Romans 8:5-6 says. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;" NIV

Verse 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."

Where does a person wear a breastplate? It is worn over the heart. This is where God planted His identity in each of us (Eccl. 3:11). Iron speaks of the hardness of the shield we have placed over the heart which keeps His identity from being released. This "iron" is filled with "justification" and "self" concern. Ps 81:11-13, "But my people (Christians) would not hearken to my voice; and Israel (body of Christ) would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust (natural understanding which brings death): and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!"

The "wings" symbolize movement, and the "chariots" symbolize the vessel carrying the word of God. The "horses" symbolize the aggression that is taking place in the body of Christ when led by the soul of mankind instead of the Spirit of God. In 2 Chronicles 20:15 we are told, "Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."

As sons of God following after Jesus with the mind of Christ, our battles must be fought from Mt. Zion, or the inner court where the mercy seat of God is. Many Christians go into battle from the middle court of the Tabernacle. Scripture refers to this as Mt. Moriah where the "sand" company of Abraham's family dwells. A large majority of Christians try to fight battles for God from the outer court known as the hill of Ophel where the "dust" company focuses their Christian relationship with God. In 1 John these two realms are discussed as "little children" and "young men." John however talked to the father which shows he had the mind of an over-comer sitting at the right hand of God. Abraham was told this would be the "star" company that sees life from the heavens instead of the earth.

Let's read what David has to say about his soul being among the lions in Psalms 57:1-11:

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings (movements, ways)will I make my refuge (trust and rest), until these calamities (battles) be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth (the battle is the Lord's) all things for me. He shall send from heaven (His understanding and ways from our heart), and save from the reproach of him (soul control) that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth (inner court understanding). My soul is among lions (religious Christians): and I lie even among them that are set on fire (using the word of God for justification to destroy), even the sons of men (allowing the soul to be in control of the body of Christ), whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword (where God's word is being released). Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth (the glory of God is His sons that minister to the body of Christ as Jesus did). They (religious minds) have prepared a net (trying to justify God) for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit (imagination) before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves (create our own destruction with our imagination). Selah. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise (the Alter of Incense is before the mercy seat of God). Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth."

Verse 10: "And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months." These tails are the false prophets, or people that take the word of God to bring justification and condemnation to the body of Christ (Isaiah 9:15-16). The "sting" is the intimidation that comes upon the body stirring the soul of man to dwell in their heart and mind upon doom and gloom, or fear and anxiety instead of giving praises to God that He is in control.

Proverbs 30:4-5,

"Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and the name of his son?

Tell me if you know!

Every word of God is flawless;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." NIV

The number "five" is the number of grace when used according to the mind of Christ. However; if it is used by taking the word of God to justify good and evil, it becomes the number of death and destruction. This verse is not talking about a literal time period, but illustrates what happens when people try to use the word of God for justification. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil never gave mankind the Life of God. Jesus was crucified on this tree, and it is not meant to come back again. Unfortunately, mankind has allowed "ego" back into the picture which gives place to that which is antichrist. Let's read the following conversation that Jesus had with those that considered themselves the children of God in John 8:36-45:

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father (God): and ye do that which ye have seen with your father (ego). They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham (live by faith in God). But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father (natural understanding). Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication (this is explained in Romans 7); we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me (Deut. 10:19): for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word (they had a breastplate of iron around their heart). Ye are of your father the devil (ego, self), and the lusts of your father ye will do. He (first Adam) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie (changing the character and nature of God's word), he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."

Verse 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."

Many of the words in the verse we have already talked about, but to help us understand let's review. The word "king" represents someone given power and authority. Rev. 1:6 told us that Jesus Christ made us kings and priests unto God.

Remember, the word "angel" means "messenger." This would be someone that has been given a word from the Lord to share with the body of Christ to edify and unite the body. This might be someone of the five fold ministry: a pastor, prophet, teacher, an evangelist, or apostle. It may be someone that is just following the unction of the Holy Spirit. However, this messenger functions by the imagination of carnal understanding (symbolized by the bottomless pit) versus the mind of Christ. In Psalms 28:1 David cries out to God to keep him from allowing his imagination to take control, "Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit."

The name "Abaddon" in Hebrew and the name "Apollyon" in Greek mean the same thing: The destroyer, exterminator. Paul uses this word when talking to a body of believers in 1 Corinthians 10:10, "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer." He gives the illustration in the previous verses about the children of Israel being saved and baptized with Moses, but they tried to tempt Christ with their murmuring and complaining. We have the mind of Christ today. When our body and soul are going through trials we are not supposed to challenge the Spirit of God in us with doubt and complaining, but live by faith believing "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Verse 11 is not referring to one person being raised up as the "antichrist." We are each a "king" of the soul and body that we are in. By the words of our mouth we can create life, or we can create death to ourselves and those that are connected to the territory we live in. Proverbs 20:8, "When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes." (NIV) In Matthew 7:1-2 we read, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (NIV)

Peter shares with us how we should be with one another in 1 Peter 5:2-14. In these verses he is talking to Christians. The usage of the words "adversary the devil" in verse 8 is referring to our natural understanding that will try to cause separation and division in the body of Christ by subtly allowing "ego" to enter into the understanding of God's word.

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil (ego), as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen."

KJV

Verse 12: "One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter." Remember what these "woes" are? Woe, woe, woe; pain, grief, and suffering. As long as we stay in the outer or middle court mentality we are "serpent's food" or mixing our Christian life with our carnal understanding. We say we trust God and have faith in Him, but we mix that faith with our senses and justification. Those that come boldly to the throne of God cannot take anything of "ego" into the Holy of Holies. Only God can be in there. Selah.

What happened when the children of Israel were being bitten by serpents? Let's read:

Numbers 21:6-9

"And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived."

What are these "fiery serpents?" They are the words of their mouth that were causing their own death (Matthew 7:2). The brass is symbolic of human understanding. The "pole" is a "tree." This is a picture of Jesus becoming the curse and hanging on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil to do away with all sin. "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). We were once enslaved to sin, but the life we now live is unto Christ. We don't have to dodge the snakes, but come up to our heavenly identity in Him where snakes and lions can't roam.

We have the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the depth of hell, or bottomless pit, will not prevail unless we give place to it. The rock of revelation knowledge that Peter revealed in Matthew 16:16-19 is the rock we too must stand on. Once we establish who Jesus Christ is, then we must establish who we are. "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).

Verse 13: "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,"

The number six is the number of mankind. This verse is declaring that mankind is sounding a message for the world to hear. The number four speaks of completeness; the four corners of the world; ALL. The horns speak of authority. Golden is the character and nature of God. A message is going out for all mankind around the world to hear that is being sounded from the Christ identity within individual people. What is this message? The blowing of the Ram's horn; our jubilee is now here; it is finished; let the glory (sonship) of the Lord fill the earth.

Verse 14: "Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates."

Again, the number four means completeness or the four corners of the earth. The great river Euphrates is symbolic of the power found in water. This river is in Egypt which is symbolic of the world system. Have you ever seen a powerful waterfall like Niagara Falls? It is breathtaking to see such beauty and energy in God's creation, but if one is not careful and goes over the falls, the power and force could cause instant death.

Water represents the word of God. When we have His word in us we have His power and authority. Unfortunately, many of us have minds likened to the Assyrian or the Samaritan where the spiritual and the natural mind are mixed creating death instead of life. Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." God is Spirit. His kingdom must be all Spirit. We have been given the ability to come into His presence in the Holy of Holies, but we cannot bring anything of "self" or "ego" to the throne of God. God can only fellowship with His character and image.

Verse 15: "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."

This is one of those verses that can bring fear and judgment if we are not reading and understanding with the mind of Christ. Remember, the angels are messengers being loosed around the world to declare at different seasons and times that our real identity is found in what Paul shared in Colossians 1:26-28, "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"

The slaying of a third part of men is not literally killing people, but removing the outer court of the tabernacle of God where sin offerings were given for purification of the people. Scripture confirms this in Hebrews where we read, "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin" (Hebrews 10:7-18).

Jesus took the outer court sacrifice system away over 2000 years ago. In the eyes of God there is no saved or unsaved, Jew or Gentile. The message of the angels is clarified by Paul when he writes to Timothy, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher (angel) of the Gentiles" (2 Timothy 1:8-11).

Verse 16: "And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them."

The army of the horsemen is not a literal army, but the "self-ego" that interprets the word of God for justifying instead of cleansing and edifying. The number used in this verse is not an actual number, but the word "myriads" which means "innumerable amounts."

Verse 17: "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."

Remember we have a picture of messengers of God being released around the world declaring a trumpet cry that our Jubilee is today. There is nothing more for Jesus to do that was not completed at Calvary. It is up to us to recognize and believe that today we are new creatures in Christ and as He is so are we in this world. When this message is declared, who do you think will be the first to oppose it? It will be the religious system we call the church because the control they have on the people (calling it doctrine and theology) will be challenged. With it will also be the money system of the church controlling the tithe and storehouse of God. Jesus was confronted with the same issues.

The breastplates symbolize what covers the heart of religion or the people in control of the church. Fire represents purification. Jacinth is a stone that changes color likened to a chameleon that changes to blend in with the environment. Many messengers of God are teaching the Scriptures according to what the people want to hear instead of being led by the Holy Spirit. Brimstone is sulfur that was used through out the Old Testament in the sacrifices for purification. The fire and brimstone purifies and corrects. It doesn't seem like there would be anything wrong with that except this purification is done with fear and control instead of the love of the Father.

The heads of the horses as the heads of lions is symbolic as well. A lion in Scripture could refer to Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah; or as our adversary, the devil, walking around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. This symbolic lion is in opposition to the messengers of God. Again, these are those that know the word of God, but rather than edifying and encouraging one another in love to bring unity to the body of Christ; they use the word of God to bring fear, separation, and division scaring people to become Christians.

Verse 18: "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."

The three elements: fire, smoke, and brimstone are coming from the mouths of the horses with lion's heads. If this were literal, this would be a gruesome picture of a fire breathing beast. However, these beasts are really those that speak the word of God to bring judgment and condemnation to the body of Christ. Again, fire and brimstone are for purification. Smoke is symbolic of ignorance, darkness, and cloudiness. The person using the word of God does not see clearly and is bringing death to those in the outer court that are seeking mercy.

Verse 19: "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."

If we took these scriptures literally we would now have a horse with a lion's head sending fire, brimstone, and smoke out of its mouth with a tail of a snake. Talk about our imagination going wild! This sounds like a horrible Halloween costume. Yet, the reality is how far many Christians go to distort the truth and love of God's word. I've been around these people and felt the persecution of their mouth. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:21). "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:1-2).

The prophet Isaiah speaks of those whom John is describing. In Chapter 9:15-16 we read, "The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Isaiah shares with us that these people have the word of God in their mind, but what comes out is the equivalent to being a false prophet. The leaders or those sharing their knowledge of God's word are not leading by the Holy Spirit manifesting His peace, love, and truth of His word.

Verse 20: "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:"

The rest of the men refer to Christians that were so set on their ways of understanding Scripture that they refused to change. This is why we have so many denominations interpreting the word of God not discerning the Lord's body, but teaching with separation and division among the body. Look in any phone book and you will see numerous listings of different churches that all declare to be Christian, but won't have anything to do with one another, even if they are right across the street.

Breaking down some of the words in this verse: "devils" refers to an antichrist spirit or using the word of God to justify self understanding. "Idols" speak of an imagination that exalts itself against God. We have taken the word and character of God (gold) and brought wrath and condemnation instead of love. The gold speaks of an image that we "think" is God. Silver speaks of redemption, but it isn't God's redemption for mankind. It is the interpretation of religion. Brass is symbolic of the suffering Jesus went through that we think we understand, but we only have an understanding of what we have created in our own mind. Stone speaks of foundation. Our foundation should be Jesus Christ with each of us having the mind of Christ. Unfortunately, what should be the mind of Christ in us is really a mixture of what we "think." Wood speaks of humanity. Even in this area we each have only a portion of what humanity is to God.

None of these images that we have created have life in them. They are just our opinion of our understanding. There is nothing wrong for us to receive our portion of what the Holy Spirit reveals. The problem comes when we camp on that revelation and make a religion out of it trying to convince others that we have the whole picture. The body of Christ is made of many members, but is one body. We are supposed to join the body together in love having a teachable Spirit to acknowledge what God is showing others as well. The Apostle Paul tells us that we are not all supposed to be an arm or a leg, but we are to be one body. We need to be re-united. This is the discerning of the Lord's body that we are supposed to understand when taking the Lord's meal.

In John 1:12 we are told that if we receive Him, even His name, that we would be given His power to become the sons of God. Sons of God are peacemakers (Matt. 5:9). They don't have to be right.

WE must have ears to hear what the Spirit of God is saying. If you believe He is speaking through someone then go to the Scriptures and find the witness of what they are saying making sure that it lines up with the character and nature of God who is LOVE, LIFE, and LIGHT. In HIM, there is no darkness. It is Christ in you that desires to speak out transforming you into HIS IMAGE to bring unity to HIS BODY.

Verse 21: "Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."

Let's discern some of these words in this verse. "Repent" means to change our way of thinking. What do we need to change about how we think? "Murders" refers to death. Scripture tells us the power of death is in our tongue. What comes out of our mouth begins in our heart. We cause death and destruction by taking the word of God and bringing judgment, condemnation, and separation to the body of Christ. This is not the mind of Christ that Jesus gave us.

The word "sorceries" is the same as word witchcraft. For us today it is the word "Pharmacia." Now we are not implying that it is wrong to take medicine. This verse is talking spiritual. What do medicines do to the body? They alter the mind. This is what the word "sorceries" is implying to the body of Christ. Instead of sharing the word of God with the mind of Christ, there are those that alter the understanding of Scripture to justify and condemn.

The word "fornication" is not a literal sexual relationship outside of marriage, but the body of Christ listening and living a life that is not with the mind of Christ. The fornication is against Jesus.

The word "thefts" takes us to the Scriptures in John 10:8-10, "All that ever came before me (representing God) are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (by their tongues): I am (TRUTH, THE WORD of GOD) come that they might (it is already our inheritance since Calvary) have life (resurrection of immortality), and that they might have it more abundantly."

In Romans 8:29 Paul says, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." The words "to be" are not part of the original. King James added them. When we take those words out the verse reads that we are already made in HIS image, the image of Jesus Christ. It is not something that we have to work at or do, but it is the faith of God in us which will bring forth this revelation of our true identity. We will no longer wonder whro we really are, or question if God still loves us if we do something wrong. We are not going to be created; we already are in His image.

Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Romans 8:5-8, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."

Paul tells us that we must put off our old way of thinking and be new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Today, we are a new humanity infused with the Spirit of God. The book of Revelation has been written to reveal Christ in each of us first individually, then corporately to bring unity to one body so that Christ will be manifested all and in ALL.

Colossians 3:9-17

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."