No Repentance and Idol Worshipers Revelation 9:20

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he shared concerning the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He began to write about what happened when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first, second, third, fourth and fifth angels” blew their trumpets, and great judgment fell upon the earth. John continued, “And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates, and the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths, for their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.” In chapter nine and verse twenty of Revelation John shared how “the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of their works” where we read:

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

The verse reads, “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, ...” John began with the words, “and the rest” which means “the remaining number” “of the men” or “of the people whether male or female” “which were not killed” which means “who were not destroyed, extinguished and abolished” “by these plagues” or “through and by way of the fire, smoke and brimstone and the serpent-like heads and tails of the horsemen” “yet repented not” which means “still did not change their minds for better or heartily amend with abhorrence” “of their works” or “pertaining to the business, employment, enterprise and undertakings” “of their hands” which means “the people's own might, activity and power”. John shared how the people who survived the “torment” of these “two hundred million horsemen” still did not turn from their evil ways and “works”.

The verse continues, “... that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:” John added the words, “that they should not worship” which means “so these people who survived the torture of the horsemen no longer would bow in obeisance, prostrate themselves or show homage to” “devils” or “evil spirits, demons or the messengers and ministers of the devil”, “and idols” which means “and images and whatever represents the form of an object either real or imaginary” “of gold” or “made of the precious metal gold”, “and silver” which means “and the precious metal silver”, “and brass” or “and copper or brazen metal”, “and stone” which means “and of stones”, “and of wood” or “made of wooden material”: “which neither can see” or “that does not have the faculty of seeing, discerning, perceiving or discovering”, “nor hear” which means “does not have the faculty of hearing, understanding, coming to learn or comprehending”, “nor walk” which refers to “making one's way, progressing and making due use of opportunities”. John saw how these people continued to worship “devils” and “idols” made of “gold, silver, brass, stone and wood” even though these “idols” could not “see, hear or walk”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see the stubborn resistance and rebellion within these people who remain upon the earth. Though God has judged one third of the people living through his “two hundred million horsemen”, they continue in their defiance to Him. Rather than turning from their wicked and sinful ways, they worship “devils” and insensate “idols”. God desires for every person to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and “pride” which is exhibited by these defiant people is often the deterrent to their submitting to Him. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 16:24), and this demonstrates willingness of heart and humility of spirit. The people in this time of the “tribulation” shall not submit, but let it not once be said that those reading these words shall be among them.

Next time John shares how people, “neither repented they of their murders...sorceries...fornication, nor of their thefts”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.