October 14, 2022

Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” Revelation 9:13-14

This command from the heavenly sanctuary is the second of the last three woes to the inhabitants of the earth (8:13). John hears a voice from the golden altar which is before God. This is the altar of incense in the heavenly sanctuary, the designated place where the prayers of God’s people have been lovingly collected. The mention of the altar reminds us that God’s answers to the prayers of His suffering saints will happen in His timing. The great river Euphrates is the Old Testament symbol of the boundary between God’s people and their enemies (see Isaiah 7:20 and Jeremiah 46:10). The releasing of angels who were previously bound there indicates intensifying of demonic power in the last days. In the fifth trumpet the demonic powers were not allowed to kill, but a time is surely coming when:

So the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. (vv.15-16)

A divinely appointed time comes – when God allows more freedom than in the fifth trumpet for the harmful demonic hordes. The number, two hundred million, is given in contrast to the 144,000 sealed saints of God. Here we are shown that, at the time of the end, the number of those who are lost greatly exceeds the number of saved. Verse 18 shows us that a third of mankind are killed by fire, smoke, and brimstone which came out of their mouths. The mouth is the symbol of spiritual weaponry. It is a sad reality that Satan uses people to propagate his deadly deceptions in the world.* Peter knew it is better to trust in Him who has the words of eternal life (John 6:68)!

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by [Jesus] in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:14-18

*Revelation 16:13-14 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12