Scripture: Revelation 9:1-11 (NIV)
Introduction
- It has been 25 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001
- Do you remember where you were on that fateful day?
- I remember it as though it was yesterday
- I was working as IT Manager for Pari Respiratory next to Southside Speedway in Chesterfield.
- We manufactured nebulizer breathing machines using a patented method for making Asthma and RSV medicine into aerosol vapor.
- I had a TV in my office and turned it on as people rushed into my office.
- At first, we all thought a private plane had flown into the side of the building because the building stood there for a moment seemingly unharmed.
- Then, as we were still trying to figure out what happened, we see a commercial airliner heading straight for the other tower of the World Trade Center.
- According to a New York Post article from Sept 12, 2021: “More people have now died from 9/11 illnesses than during Sept. 11 attacks”
There were 2,996 victims killed on 9/11, while federal statistics show that 3,311 people enrolled in the CDC’s World Trade Center Health Program have died, although the agency doesn’t cite an exact cause of death.
- The September 11 attacks were a coordinated series of suicide attacks perpetrated by the Islamic terrorist organization al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001.
- A total of 19 terrorists hijacked four airliners.
- The first two planes were flown into each of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City, while the third plane crashed into the Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia.
- The fourth plane crashed in a rural field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania during a passenger revolt.
- It was believed the plan was to target either the United States Capitol or the White House.
- This is a well-orchestrated plan perpetrated over years of careful preparation.
- All four of the hijacking pilots went through flight training in the US and received commercial pilot licenses from the FAA.
- This plan was evil and destructive.
- But most of all, it wasn’t God’s plan.
- Today we are going to talk about God’s plan for the future.
- If anyone had known what was coming on Sept 11, wouldn’t they have done things differently?
- I know my cousin, Mark, would not have gone to work in the Pentagon that day.
- Here’s the thing, God will have HIS day against evil.
- We know it’s coming and we have a choice – and WE can avoid it.
What is coming?
- V1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth.
- Who is this star? Could be a good angel or it could be a bad one.
- Doesn’t really matter though because God has an assignment for him.
- The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.
- The key to the plans the hijackers had was that they had to be able to fly the plane.
- V2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.
- Let’s talk about the abyss for a moment. This cosmic prison for evil spirits.
- Revelation 20:1-3 gives us more information about the Abyss:
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
- V3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.
- God’s plan to combat evil somehow depends on these evil spirits from the Abyss.
- Why? Because He can. They will submit to His orders.
- V4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
- At this point in Revelation, the Rapture has occurred and now those who are left behind have a chance to accept Christ and many will,
- And if people accept Christ, they get the seal of God on their forehead.
- V5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes.
- The almost 3000 innocent people killed on 9/11 weren’t given a chance.
- And these evil people still on earth won’t be given a chance either.
- V6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
- Sadly, the victims of 9/11 died instantly – these evil ones won’t be so lucky.
- V7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.
- The horses represent organized, unstoppable military power.
- The crowns symbolize power and authority granted by God Himself.
- Human faces implies that these are intelligent creatures not insects.
- V8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.
- In ancient times, long hair symbolized wild, untamed, and unbridled cruelty.
- Lion’s teeth mean they possess fierce, predatory power.
- V9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.
- Breastplates mean there is no resisting them.
- The sounds are for psychological terror – much like the Al Qaeda terrorists.
- V10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.
- The stingers imply a slow, lingering poison.
- V11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
- In Hebrew, Abaddon referred to a place representing the deepest part of Sheol.
- In Greek, Apollyon means complete destruction,
- John uses these two names to show the universal threat to mankind.
- Unlike the victims of 9/11, we have been given a clear warning of what will ultimately happen to evil and those who reject Christ.