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Before we even try to unpack those 21 verses, may I remind you again of what Jesus said about this book? Revelation 22:16a (NKJV) “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.
The Events in Revelation are God’s Truth they are not Fictional
Truth can be far more fascinating than fiction. So much entertainment of all forms centers around fiction because reality is often mundane and boring. As we get to Revelation 9, everything mundane or boring evaporates. Just to stay alive takes much of most people’s effort. Retrace in your minds what we have seen so far in Revelation chapters 6,7 & 8:
Just breathing will be hard as most of the world will have some form of respiratory damage from the smoke, ash, and violent weather changes.
Water deprivation, food scarcity, and the constant sights of death and destruction have all become familiar, common, and the “new normal” to the daily lives of earth’s survivors.
1/4th + 1/3rd = 58%
Remember, God has already told us that 1/4th of humanity has perished (that was in Rev. 6:8). Now God tells us that in Rev. 9:18 that 1/3rd more will perish. If you add 25% + 33%, that makes just shy of 60%. That means death is staggeringly common.
But life on this side of Hell will never get as unpleasant as we will see it becomes in this chapter. Again we must ask: what is the purpose of all this? Why would God share such a bleak, stark, and horrific record about the future?
One answer is clearly to show a contrast between two: Stark Choices between Christ & Satan. Remember how Jesus explained that He came to give abundant life (John 10:10); but the Devil came to kill, steal, and to destroy. That contrast is so evident here in Rev. 9.
God has always offered humans a way out of their sin. Here, again He does the same, and here again, humans refuse to repent.
A Summary of Revelation 9’s Biblical Lessons
Now, before we unfold the truths in each of the 21 verses of this chapter, walk through the chapter as a whole with me. You can outline the chapter into these seven clear divisions:
LESSONS FROM THE DEMONS’ LOCATION (9:1–2)
LESSONS FROM THE DEMONS’ LAUNCH (9:3–6)
LESSONS FROM THE DEMONS’ LOOKS (9:7–10)
LESSONS FROM THE DEMONS’ LEADER (9:11–12)
BEWARE OF THE TERRIFYING POWER OF DEMONS (9:13–14)
BEWARE OF THE HORRIFYING POWER OF DEATH (9:15–19)
BEWARE OF THE HARDENING POWER OF SIN (9:20–21)