Tormented Five Months Revelation 9:5

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.” John continued, “The first, second, third and fourth angels sounded ... And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” In chapter nine and verse five John saw how these people were “tormented five months” where we read:

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.

The verse reads, “And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months:” John began with the words, “and to them” which means “and toward the locusts from the bottomless pit” “it was given” or “it was granted, bestowed and delivered” “that they” which refers to “the locusts from the bottomless pit” “should not kill them” which means “were not to destroy, allow to perish, extinguish, abolish or inflict to mortal death”, “but” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding, without exception, yes and moreover” “that they” which refers to “that the people who are afflicted by the locusts” “should be tormented” which means “are to be tortured, vexed with grievous pains, harassed and distressed” “five months” or “five times of the new moon”. John shared how these “locusts from the bottomless pit” were not to “kill” the people without God's seal in their foreheads but to “torture” them for “five new moons” or “five months”.

The verse continues, “and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man.” John added the words, “and their torment” which means “and the people without God's seal in their foreheads' torture, harassment and distress” “was as the torment” or “was to be like the torture, harassment and distress” “of a scorpion” which means “the little animal which somewhat resembles a lobster which in warm regions lurks especially in stone walls; it has a poisonous sting in its tail”, “when” or “at the time and moment” “he strikes” which means “the scorpion smites, wounds or stings” “a man” or “a person whether male or female”. John shared how these “locusts” will torment people without God's seal in their foreheads with “stings” that feel like a “scorpion” when it strikes.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we can imagine how horrific this time will be for people who are living on the earth. Those without God's seal in their foreheads shall know His “wrath” through “stinging” “scorpion-like” “locusts” who are given permission to “torture” them for “five months”. Dreadful pain and despair shall come upon people, and they shall know they have been afflicted for their rejection of God and His Son Jesus Christ. This horror may be avoided simply by having faith and trust in Jesus Christ as a personal “Savior and Lord”, and those who are wise will not only accept and receive Him, but also call out upon Him before the time of “stinging” and “torture” come.

Next time John shares, “in those days shall men seek death”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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