July 14: ESSENTIAL DIVINE PROTECTION
Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. Revelation 9:1
The star fallen from heaven to the earth is none other than Satan, that instigator of rebellion against God before our world was created. This manner of description is a reminder of the heavenly perfections that God bestowed upon His angels.
And what is the purpose of a key but to allow someone in (or as we will see in chapter 20, to lock someone in). The expression “was given” is known as the Hebrew divine passive. Among the Hebrews, only in rare circumstances was the sacred name of the Lord uttered. In speaking or writing of Him or His actions, divine passive mode was the norm. For example, “you are blessed” means “God has blessed you”.
The giving of this key is a frightening prospect unless one also understands that the ultimate blessings of God rest upon all who accept His grace to remain faithful to Him. Even in the happiest of circumstances, total surrender to His will accompanied by total reliance upon His grace are necessary for a life to move steadily in the direction of righteousness. His divine protection is essential for this to happen.
The term translated bottomless pit was first used to describe the chaotic state of the earth before the Creator made it into a beautiful paradise for His people. Previously described as being without form and void (Genesis 1:2), our loving Creator transformed it from chaos into a place of incredible beauty.
Isaiah employed the same terminology in describing the fallen earth as a prison for the fallen host of exalted ones, referring to Satan and his angels. Ever since the cross of Christ, they have been confined to the earth (Isaiah 24:21-22; Revelation 12:10). The work of our enemy and his host of demons has been to undo the law and order of the Creator, replacing it with chaos and confusion. In being shown the state of the earth farther into the future, Jeremiah develops the concept further (see Jeremiah 4:21-26). Verse 25 provides a glimpse of the earth after the second coming of Jesus. Not a single man is left alive on the earth.
The New Testament contains references to the word translated abyss or bottomless pit as a chaotic and spiritually dark prison abode of demons. While their loyalties may be to Satan, they are actually under the control and authority of the Lord (see Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 20:1,3).
We are about to study the Biblical description of the fifth trumpet plague. Although God allows the archenemy to temporarily hold the key to the bottomless pit, the threat of spiritual danger exists only for those who have either never accepted the free offer of salvation or have forsaken His covenant protection (see Hebrews 3:12,14; 10:26; 2 Peter 2:21). He promises to never forsake His people, yet people are certainly free to forsake Him. In doing so, however, they risk forfeiture of His divine protection.
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. Psalm 57:1