ABADDON (Hebrew – “Destruction”) & APOLLYON (Greek – “Destroyer”)
Today’s Reading: Revelation 9
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
You can see the remains of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. This temple and the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood, which were in it, represents the efforts of man to replace Almighty God with likenesses of fallen angels and demons who desired to be worshipped as if they were “The Great Creator,” the One and only true God who is over and above His creation, yet is present everywhere, and who cannot possibly be represented by the works of man’s hands. At the writing of the “Revelation,” priests and people were in this building with the worship of (as Revelation 9:20-21 says), “demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Revelation 9:20a
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands…
Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ Day Unto Day devotional series)…
By now you’ve seen how difficult it is to try to analyze and systematize the content of apocalyptic writing. John is describing a vision, and in doing so is attempting to describe the indescribable. Scores of well-meaning attempts have been made over the years to tell us what John “really meant,” but all such efforts should be taken with a grain of salt. Especially if the would-be interpreter is dogmatic about his interpretation!
This is why it’s refreshing from time to time in Revelation to come across material that hints at the purpose of the vision. Look at verses 20 and 21. These two sentences follow a description of two of the three remaining trumpet-disasters. The fifth trumpet precedes a fallen star unlocking “the shaft of the Abyss,” out of which a dense cloud of smoke produces a plague of tormenting locusts (verses 1-11). The sixth trumpet releases a supernatural army of 200 million who destroy a third of mankind. What’s the point of these cataclysmic horrors?
Apparently repentance is the point. Verses 20 and 21 tell us that the “work of [mankind’s] hands” is sufficient to bring heaven’s wrath upon the earth. That “work” is idolatry, murder, occultism, and sexual immorality. The scope of the disasters shows how enraged God is at sin. Were it not for the gracious work of Christ, mankind would have been destroyed long ago. That’s why we should repent of all sin now – while there is yet time.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Almighty God, I pray for continuous grace so that I may live in a repentant state, deliberately turning away from sin and moving always toward You! Lord Jesus, may I take my stand beside You at the entrance to the bottomless pit, Hell, and by every means at my disposal, seek to rescue the perishing multitudes. In Your Name, Jesus, I volunteer! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As a Pastor for many years, I would take the opportunity at least once a month to speak at a gathering of our young people. On one occasion I passed around papers and pencils, asking that they would describe modern warfare…tanks, fighter aircraft, flame throwers, etc., but they were not allowed to use any language which was developed in the past 100 years. One by one, I saw the lights going on in their faces as they understood what their Pastor was getting at. They faced the same challenge as did John in Revelation, trying to describe a battle scene which was 2,000 years into the future (Revelation 9:7-10). John uses the word “like” four times here. This means it’s symbolic, not literal.
It’s confession time for me. The reason I chose to use Jim and Kathy’s commentary on Revelation, besides my high respect for them, is that I can sometimes be a chicken (the opposite of a lion) when it comes to this book. Surprised? As I shared in a recent blog, I think it has something to do with my Doctor of Theology Dad telling me when I was just a boy that he had visited a library in London, England, which had over 1,000 commentary books on Revelation and, according to the librarian, not one of them, as far as he knew, agreed 100% in their interpretations. Sometimes, we just have to wait and see. I remember coming home from grade 7 at Hopewell Public School, starting to cry when I saw my Dad, and telling him that my science teacher had made fun of me in front of the class because I had raised my hand and said that God created all things. My father put his hand on my shoulder and gently said, “Just wait David, God will prove Himself to you over the years.” I waited, and God has surely proven Himself to me over and over!
Yours for the blessing John promised we would receive from reading and hearing this book, even if we don’t understand everything at the present time,
David
Just to think David has reunited with his father in heaven and his Heavenly Father; it sure makes our reading this morning, most wonderful. We love You Lord Jesus. We praise You on high. Hallelujah, hallelujah. We thank You Lord, our Yahweh, our Jehovah Jireh, our Adonai, our Prince of Peace, our God of comfort, our King of Kings. We rejoice in Your Name. For You alone are Holy. You alone, are worthy to be praised. All for Your glory. Amen. His love, peace and joy be with you, fellow saints in the Lord.
“In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14 NKJV
Til The Storm Passes By – The Grace Thrillers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jr80iGvtog
Revelations reminds me of cannabis use or some other plant that causes illusions. Legalized cannabis, Oct. 17, 2018, in Canada, is able to help many people suffering from pain of various illnesses. A sinner like me, who has never tried the drug/plant, and has heard of good and bad experiences with it, makes me think it has revelations of its own. I was thinking of trying some on one of my dogs as it’s afraid of thunder storms; after watching some YouTube videos on that particular subject I wouldn’t try cannabis on a dog.
Revelation 9: The fifth trumpet sounds and John sees a star fallen from heaven to earth. This star that falls was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. The pit is literally the abyss (see HCSB, NIV, and NET). We immediately want to know who is this star that has fall from heaven (notice that the star is called a “he”). A single star falling from the sky to the earth is a common picture in scriptures of a mighty king or ruler.
So thankful David had Jim and Kathy Cantelon to fall back on for Revelation explanations.
God’s blessings on all believers this gift- of- a- day from our heavenly Father. How strengthening and joyful is faith in God.
Amen Lynda-Child of God!!
I used lots of cannabis in my life, but became addicted to it and increasingly paranoid. It is not as harmless as it is depicted. In some ways it’s like alcohol – harmless to many, but terribly dangerous for some.
I really don’t like many of the decisions of our current government. They are leading Canada away from the foundations of recognizing the supremacy of God and our accountability to Him.
Father God, please raise up Godly leaders in our land who recognize their own, and our corporate, accountability to You. You have this entire world in Your hands, Lord, so help people to open their eyes and hearts to You. Help all Your church to share Your gospel with all people everywhere, in Jesus’s great name, amen
I so agree with you, Rob, 100%. I have walked in the same shoes and yes, our government has made a dire mistake with it’s hippy move away from sound morals and guidelines. Jesus is the only way.
Amen
May God’s blessings be upon you and all dear saints Rob, always. Thank you for sharing your experience with cannabis. My sister-in-law was given Rx marijuana for pain as she has the worst kind of diabetes. She said it made her too happy, so she gave it up. Agreeing with you about our gov’t. Prayer really works and so important to vote.
pot has its purpose; every plant does; I would encourage people to find a Doctor that is experienced and get their help with using pot; many people say it relieves the pain and as I said, God knows this plant and He has given every plant a job; get educated,then share with us how it works……
God bless you
Amen Beverlee and Lynda. Prayed David’s prayer. Love that song Beverlee and great scripture with it. Hard to picture all the scenes in these chapters of Revelation but have to let it play out as David said. Beautiful sunny day and going out to get some Vitamin D which is good for the immune system.
God bless you, Ger. I have added Vitamin D3 to my daily intake of Calcium Magnesium with Zinc and Multi Vitamin. Not enough natural sun yet around here; still overcast and going to rain overnight and tomorrow. The cows were laying down in the field leaving Wellington and that always means a storm. But, this is my favourite weather.
Beautiful, sunny afternoon here with no wind. Unfortunately there were a lot of tiny bugs flying around my face & head. I guess it’s time for a bug spray or a strong wind! Beautiful day though. I hope you all can get church services on Zoom or Live Stream, etc tomorrow. I can get my church & a couple of other churches. There’s always good ones on tv as well. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Blessed be the Name of the LORD who was and is and is to come:
COME LORD JESUS!!!
Oh yes Irene ! AMEN
AMEN IRENE, AMEN AND PRAISE THE LORD; AMEN AMEN AMEN