26 Feb 2014; Rev 9

26 Feb 2014; Rev 9

And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. (Revelation 9:1-2, ESV)

This is a picture of what hell is, a dark bottomless pit. Imagine someone is to fall into it. A never ending journey never reaching the bottom, filled with smoke and furnace.

Does this picture sound and move any heart of someone we loved that has not known Christ?

Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Revelation 9:3-4, ESV)

The good news is that if we are sealed by Christ on the forehead, we are safe. Are we and how about those who are not.

Clearly, it is a wake up for those who know Christ to proclaim the gospel to those who has yet to know. From the 7 seals to the now the 7 trumpets, it is an escalating tribulation. An urgency.

 The fifth and the sixth God gave Satan the rights to torment the people. Torment the very worshipers of Satan, and yet there is no repentance. It is for us who know and have known God to speak light to them.

I pray for a heart that see these things coming and what is the reality of hell, the torment that is about to come. I am assured that I am sealed by Christ and I am safe. But it is not a time to be just satisfied, but to go ahead and be filled for the lost so as to proclaim the gospel. Soften my heart do a work so as I want and want to touch lives again. Amen.