July 16: TRUE SAFETY IN CHRIST

Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Revelation 9:3

The locusts appeared out of the smoke. In the literal sense, we know that locusts will swarm upon the food supply. In observing their appearance and behavior, locusts often look much like grasshoppers, and in small numbers also behave like them. However, in large numbers these otherwise harmless creatures morph into an aggressive, life-threatening force.

A symbolic aspect of locusts is that of judgment. In the Old Testament, a locust plague was dreaded for the destruction rendered to every edible crop. Such a judgment had fallen upon godless Egypt for their mistreatment of the Hebrews (Exodus 10:12-15). Later, a similar judgment landed upon the kingdom of Judah suddenly and without warning because of their long-standing and deliberate unfaithfulness to the covenant. A dense, black cloud of locusts devastated the entire land in a matter of hours. The prophet Joel describes this locust invasion, comparing them to strong people set in battle array (Joel 2:5). This chapter in Joel contains a vivid, frightening description, saying They climb the wall like men of war . . . though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down (vv.7,8).

In Gideon’s day, the enemies of God’s people toward the east were compared to locusts: Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude. (Judges 7:12 – see also 6:1-6) Earlier, when God had brought the locust plague into the land of Egypt, He used an east wind (twice mentioned in Exodus 10:13).

And now, for the locusts who appeared out of the smoke: many Bible students agree that the smoke of false teachings that came out of the fallen church does not produce insects. Rather, the fifth trumpet plague announced large numbers of very harmful and dangerous people known as the Saracens during the Dark Ages. By the early fourth century Rome had split into two halves: the western, Catholic half and the eastern, Byzantine half (a modified form of Catholicism called Eastern Orthodoxy). The Saracens were made up of Arabian tribes toward the east, and their encouraged invasions toward the west gave rise to a new religion: Islam. Arab invasions have continued over the centuries, pushing westward. Though “revised history” may indicate otherwise, long-recorded history reveals a connection between Catholicism of the western half of the divided Roman Empire and the establishment of the Islamic faith, originally for the purpose of thwarting Eastern Orthodoxy. The word of God supports the facts of history, just as they have unfolded. Our Omniscient Creator and Redeemer foresaw it all.

The power of Islam on the earth is compared to the stinging power of scorpions. The fifth trumpet plague is a woe still affecting the world today, along with the worldwide system of counterfeit Christianity. Dear follower of Christ, hear His words and be encouraged:

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19