Revelation 9

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Fifth and Sixth Trumpet Judgments

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The Fifth Trumpet Judgment involves opening the abyss.

  2. The Sixth Trumpet Judgment involves releasing a great army.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don’t think that pain necessarily leads to repentance.

QUESTIONS

  1. When do we believe these trumpet judgments will occur?

  2. What is apocalyptic literature?

  3. What does the star in Revelation 9:1 represent?

  4. Where is Satan now? What is the abyss?

  5. What is the toll on mankind following these judgments?

ANSWERS

  1. During the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period, known as the Great Tribulation

  2. Apocalyptic literature involves visions concerning the future. This style of literature is highly symbolic, but it is not all symbolic.

  3. The star is symbolic of an angel – probably Satan himself (see Revelation 12:12).

  4. At the present time, Satan is not in hell. He is free to roam about the earth and has access to heavenly realms. The abyss or bottomless pit is not hell, but many demons are confined there (Luke 8:31-32). There Satan will be bound for 1000 years during our Lord’s future millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1).

  5. Following the sixth trumpet judgment, the death toll rises to 1/3 of mankind. Combined with the death tolls of the other judgments, at least ½ of the world’s population will have perished at this point in the Tribulation Period.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss the dilemma of interpreting apocalyptic literature with its highly symbolic language. How do you work to interpret these passages as literally as possible?

  2. We tend to think that if an unbeliever experiences enough pain he will turn to God and repent. We see this is certainly not the case in the Tribulation Period (see Revelation 9:20-21). Discuss why pain does not necessarily lead to repentance. What does cause repentance?

CHALLENGE

  1. Recall the point in your life when you were brought to repentance and trusted Christ. Praise the Lord for this!

KEY VERSES

  • “In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.” Revelation 9:6

  • “They had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” Revelation 9:11



New Testament, Revelation, TalksDeb HarmsRevelation 9