October 9, 2022

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 (see also v.2)

Locusts and darkening are reminiscent of the eighth and ninth plagues against Egypt (Exodus 10:12-23). The spiritual imagery is combined with scorpions which symbolize demons (see Luke 10:17-20). Their power is in their tails, which symbolize deception by persuasion (Isaiah 9:15). The scorpions of the earth have power to persuade. It was with lies and deception (his “tail”) that the dragon drew one third of his fellow angels out of heaven along with himself (Revelation 12:4).

The fifth trumpet sweeps through the Dark Ages and goes directly into the Reformation. The fifth seal (Revelation 6:9-11) also corresponds to this time. Many of the Reformers and their followers were martyred by the Roman church for daring to point out Biblical truth. There was also the remnant (the woman who fled into the wilderness of chapter 12) who had never complied with Rome’s unbiblical decrees in the first place, but quietly lived by and taught the Bible. Wherever they could be found they were slaughtered. The brave Reformers, in pulling back the curtain on some of the deceptions of the papacy, set a trend into motion that needed to continue. A journey into discovery of truth!

But many former Catholics who had been reached with Biblical truths accepted only minimal correction and turned a deaf ear to continued learning. Instead, they were satisfied to live on one or two doctrinal points that had been corrected. They established denominations by following only the limited discoveries of this or that Reformer, a mere man. This is still our situation today. A continued refusal to grow and learn can bring a devastating result: having one’s name blotted from the Lamb’s Book of Life. Hear Jesus in His fifth letter (to Sardis). They had been presented with opportunity to investigate all of the papal teachings for themselves, but the majority stopped short:

“. . . you have a name [reputation] that you are alive but you are dead . . . I have not found your works perfect [complete] before God . . . You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life . . .” Revelation 3:1b,2b,4,5a

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:11