Trumpet number five sounds, and an angel (likely an unfallen one) is dispatched to unlock the bottomless pit. This star that had fallen to the earth seems to be one of the good angels, and the “fallen” statement is simply indicative of having gone from heaven to the earth to await the job given. This angel is given a key to open the pit, and the key was given by God.
Smoke rises from the pit, and “locusts” are released on the earth. Who, or what are these locusts? It is clear they have destructive powers, and a reader of John’s letter would be taken back to judgments and plagues of the Old Testament, where locusts appeared often. Judging from the description of them, and looking at where they come from, these locusts are probably of demonic origin, supernatural. Their destructive powers last 5 months, so either their stings affect a person for that long, or their time on the earth is that long, with the affliction extending beyond their time here. As vicious and destructive as they are, the stings of these beings will not kill, although those affected will WANT to die, and cannot.
The leader of this demonic swarm is named Abaddon, or Apollyon, meaning “destructive” or “the destroyer”.
The sixth trumpet is blown, and this time the angel with the trumpet is given a responsibility: “release the four angels bound at the Euphrates”. They are to be released so that they can kill one-third of the remaining population on the earth. Contrary to the angel seen in action during the previous trumpet judgment, these four are likely fallen angels who have been literally bound until their being used by God for this judgment. Once they are released, they and their “army” become 200 million strong. Staying with the literal interpretation, John hears that number, so the number is a good one to stay with and is not an estimation. While some view this army being that of humans, the description of the horses goes well beyond what John would have seen if they were simple cavalry, leading many to believe this army is composed of the supernatural. And if they are indeed fallen angels, the number of 200 million is not far-fetched (though 200 million men could easily come from some countries in the world today). Regardless, horses often refer to warfare in the Bible. Again, John is writing what he saw, and we might only be able to speculate who this army is.
Their goal is not to injure or torture, but to kill. And those they kill are from the population not protected by God at that time. One might think it would make more sense for the fallen angels to team up with the wicked on the earth and attack the saved, but such is not the case. Evil typically results in this sort of confusion.
OK, I learned a new word: OBDURACY. From Merriam-Webster online comes the definition of the root word:
ob•du•rate
adj
\ˈäb-də-rət, -dyə-; äb-ˈdu̇r-ət, əb-, -ˈdyu̇r-\
1a : stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing b : hardened in feelings
This is the description (Thomas) of those, who in spite of seeing God’s wrath all around them, and spared harm, still refuse to repent and turn to Him. Their idols are described in terms that add up them being helpless and worthless.
Their unrepentance is not partial, either. Besides having no respect for God, they live immorally toward others as well. What else must God do to get them to see? When we realize that this period of time is about judgment and wrath on those who are God’s enemies, it may just be that His enemies will become hardened against Him, mad at Him for what He is doing. They may not deny it is God doing the judging, and they may refuse to follow Him, just out of sheer human stubbornness, or “obduracy”. And another trumpet still remains to be sounded.
SO WHAT…?
So, even on a different level, I can certainly let my stubbornness hinder my walk with God, no matter how He tries to get my attention.
So, I have available to me right here and now the ability to look around and see just how great God is, and worship Him with my life. I’d like to think that if I saw all those judgments, they would cause me to recognize my need for God. Thankfully, I don’t need to see them to know that. “I need Thee every hour.”
So, it’s a good time to take inventory of my idols, and what I still place in priority ahead of God. He wants to reign and rule in my life. May I not be obdurate, so blatantly stubborn, and simply let Him do so.
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