Rev 9:1-12. The Fifth Trumpet
Rev 9:1.2. Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke.
Who represents the fallen star in this text?
The only star which fell from heaven was the one Jesus Christ mentioned in reference to Satan. Luke 10:18. I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. The text does not state the word star. But Satan was one of the stars of heaven before he fell and was cast out of heaven.
Rev 12:3.4. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (The dragon refers to Satan, the devil or the serpent in Rev 12:9. The stars refer to angels in Rev 1:20. Satan is also referred to as an angel in Rev 9:1 and in Ezekiel 28:13.14.)
What does the bottomless pit mean in the book of Revelation?
There are only six other texts that mention the bottomless pit in the New Testament, and they are in the book of Revelation.
Rev 9:2. He opened the bottomless pit. (The bottomless pit refers to the earth in Rev 9:1. Satan was cast out of heaven to this earth).
Rev 9:11. And they had a king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in the Greek, he has the same name Apollyon. (The angel of the bottomless pit is Satan on this earth).
Rev 11:7. When they finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them and kill them. (Satan is described as an angel and a beast in the book of Revelation. Rev 12:9. He killed the witnesses: The Old and New Testament Bible and Christian´s during the French Revolution in this text. The bottomless pit is the earth).
Rev 17:8. The beast that you saw, was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the sea beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (This beast who ascended out of the bottomless pit refers to Satan after the 1,000 years of millennium on this desolate earth).
Rev 20:1-3. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years: and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. (After the Second Coming of Christ, the saints are resurrected to heaven, the unbelieving wicked are all destroyed by Christ at the Armageddon war, and Satan is bound to this desolate earth for 1,000 years).
Conclusion
The bottomless pit refers to this earth where Satan and his angels (demons) live. This earth can be both inhabited or desolate during the millennium in the future.
What does smoke causing the sun to be darkened mean in prophecy?
Genesis 15:17. And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.
Pieces of what? Verse 9.10. So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon. Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. (Smoke is related to destruction of animal meat).
Joshua 8:20. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven. (Smoke is related to destruction of a city).
Judges 20:40.41. But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to heaven. And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they saw that disaster had come upon them. (Smoke is related to disaster in this text).
Psalm 37:20. But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. (Smoke refers to destruction of the wicked).
Isaiah 51:6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look on the earth beneath. For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke. (Smoke is related to destruction).
Joel 2:30.31. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. (Smoke is related to the judgment of the wicked at Christ Second Coming).
Rev 9:18. By these plagues a third of mankind was killed – by fire and smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. (Smoke refers to destruction in this text).
Conclusion
Smoke is related to destruction and disaster of the wicked in prophecy.
What does sun and the air mean in prophecy?
The quote “sun and the air” is only found in this text in the whole of the Bible, so we have to look at these words individually.
The sun refers to Jesus Christ in symbolic language. Malachi 4:2. But to you who fear my name the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall fed calves.
The air refers to Satan´s spiritual kingdom on this earth which can be seen in the disobedience of unbelievers in this world. The prince and power of the air refers to Satan in this text. Ephesians 2:2. In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.
So, what does Rev 9:1.2. mean in symbolic language?
Rev 9:1.2. Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like smoke of a great furnace. So, the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke.
The star represents Satan who was thrown out of heaven at about the same time when this world was created, and when Adam and Eve were created and formed. Rev 12:7-9. Satan had access to heaven as a representative of this earth (Job 1:6) and then finally lost this privilege when he crucified Jesus Christ at the Cross (Luke 10:18). The bottomless pit represents this earth, both inhabited or desolate in the future. Satan has the key to the bottomless pit, that is he has limited power to control all unbelievers in this world. Satan has caused the smoke of destruction and disaster to appear in certain places in this world, causing the sun to be darkened representing the teachings of Christ´s Righteousness. The air represents Satan´s spiritual kingdom on this earth, which also becomes dark. Why? Because he does not want people to know that he is a fallen angel trying to mislead people into the wrong way of their beliefs.
Rev 9:3. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
A further description of these locusts is in Rev 9:7-11. The shape of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women´s hair, and their teeth were like lions´ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and they were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
The description of the text is using both symbolic and literal language. One thing is for sure and that is, the king over these locusts is the angel of the bottomless pit and that is Satan.
OK! The main subject of this text is the word Locust. What do locust mean in prophecy?
In the Oxford Dictionary the word locust means any of the various kinds of short horned grasshopper, which migrate in swarms and consume vegetation of whole districts.
Exodus 10:14.15. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt. (This is the eighth plague which fell on Egypt during the time of Moses. First the land was darkened by the locusts and finally they ate everything green on the plants and trees).
Joel 1:4-7. What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten. Awake you drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. For a nation has come up against my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste my vine and ruined my fig tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away; its branches are made white. (In verse 6 it says they had teeth like lion´s teeth and the same description is written in Rev 9:8. These locusts in Joel are representing the Babylonian soldiers, who came to Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and destroyed it and all the land of Judah, and took away the captives to Babylon).
Nahum 3:17. Your commanders are like swarming locusts, and your generals like great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges on a cold day; when the sun rises they flee away, and the place where they flee is not known. (These locusts represent the soldiers and leaders of Nineveh in this text Nahum 3:7).
Conclusion
God used literal locusts in destroying the green vegetation of all Egypt during the 10 plagues. In the book of Joel God sent the Babylonian army symbolized by locusts to destroy Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Locust were also a symbol of the soldiers from Nineveh. So, locusts are a symbol of a destroying army of soldiers in prophecy.
Rev 9:7. The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like faces of men.
The next description of these soldiers symbolized by locusts are, they had crowns on their heads and ready for battle. These crowns in the Greek are στϵφανοί Stefanoi. These stefanoi crowns were used by the Roman generals coming home to Rome from a victorious military battle over their enemies.
And their faces were like the faces of men. The greatest temptation in Biblical prophetical exegesis is to revert to a literal interpretation instead of a symbolic interpretation. The first creates more study, analysis and work from the Bible as a whole. The second is easy, making a parallel from historical sources. The rule in prophetical interpretation is, if the context is using symbolic language, then one uses symbolic interpretation. If the context uses a literal language, then one uses a literal interpretation. The majority of Bible commentaries go for the literal interpretation when it comes to the faces of men, even though the context is symbolic language.
A short word study on the “faces of men.”
This is a difficult citation because there are only two explanations for this text from the Bible. To help with these explanations I am going to use a quotation from Ellen G. White to clarify the use of the term “face of man” from Ezekiel´s vision.
The first explanation is taken from Ezekiel´s vision of God upon his throne with four creatures like angels guiding the thrown through the heavens. In Ezekiel 1:26. And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Ezekiel 1:28. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Ezekiel 1:5. Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. (It refers to God´s thrown). And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Verse 6. Each had four faces, and each had four wings. Ezekiel 1:10. As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.
“As the wheel like complications were under the guidance of the hand beneath the wings of the cherubim, so the complicated play of human events is under divine control. Amidst strife and tumult of nations, He that sitteth above the cherubim still guides the affairs of the earth.”[1]
The term “face of man” is related to the creatures around the throne of God, who together with God, have all human events under divine control and still guides the affairs of the earth.
The next explanation is taken from Deut 1:16.17. (Old Kings James version) And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God´s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. (The face of man is related to the fear of man and the judgment of God).
Which explanation shall we follow? It is the second explanation of fear because our citation is related to the affairs and actions taking place on this earth as opposed to the heavenly throne of God.
A short word study of the term face related to fear and the judgment of God.
Jeremiah 1:8. (Jeremiah is called by God to be a prophet). “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
Ezekiel 3:8.9. (Ezekiel is called by God to be a prophet to the house of Israel). Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces – – -. Do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
1 Peter 3:12. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Rev 6:15.16. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.”
Conclusion
Face in Biblical prophecy is related to evil, fear and judgment. These soldiers in Rev 9:7 created fear and judgment to their enemies.
Rev 9:8. They had hair like women´s hair, and their teeth were like lion´s teeth.
Many Bible commentaries fall into the temptation of interpreting this text literally. So, they try to find soldiers in history with long flowing hair going into battle. For example, the Greek soldiers had long hair and some note that the Arabs or Muslims had long hair. However, Muslims and Arabs had short hair depicted in history covered by turbans.
Let us try to interpret women´s hair symbolically in harmony with the context of the passage.
A short word study on women´s hair.
Numbers 6:5. (This text refers to the Nazarite vow). All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
Judges 13:5. (This text refers to Samson and his Nazarite vow). For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb.
Judges 16:17. (This text refers to Samson and his Nazarite vow). If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, And I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
1 Corinthians 11:14.15. Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
Conclusion
Long women´s hair is related to men with a Nazarite vow to God. If men normally have women´s long hair, then it would be a dishonor to him, as Paul teaches. These soldiers in Rev 9:8 have women´s hair representing an oath to their cause which is not from God but is imitating the Nazarite vow to God, bringing dishonor to God.
Rev 9:8. They had hair like women´s hair, and their teeth were like lion´s teeth.
OK! What is the symbolic meaning of lion´s teeth in Biblical prophecy?
Job 4:10. The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken. (In verses 8.9. related to the wicked who are consumed by God´s wrath).
Psalm 35:16.17. With ungodly mockers at feasts they (The enemies of king David) gnashed at me with their teeth. Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, my precious life from the lions. (Teeth and lions are referring to king David´s enemies ready to destroy him).
Psalm 57,4. My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. (Refers to king David when he fled from King Saul to hide in a cave. Teeth are related to spears and arrows of destruction).
Psalm 58:6.7. Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out their fangs of the young lions, O Lord! Let them flow away as waters which run continually; when he bends his bow, let his arrows be as if cut in pieces. (Teeth of lions are related to bows and arrows of destruction).
Joel 1:4-7. What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten. Awake you drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. For a nation has come up against my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste my vine and ruined my fig tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away; its branches are made white. (In verse 6 it says they had teeth like lion´s teeth and the same description is written in Rev 9:8. These locusts in Joel are representing the Babylonian soldiers, who came to Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and destroyed it and all the land of Judah, and took away the captives to Babylon).
Conclusion
Teeth of lions refer to the wicked, enemies of God, who are ready to destroy the believers in God. They are also related to spears and arrows of destruction. In addition, they are related to the Babylonian soldiers who destroyed Jerusalem in in 586 B.C.
Rev 9:9. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.
What do the breastplates of iron represent in Bible prophecy?
The breastplate was part of the High Priests garment when officiating in the earthly Tabernacle, during the time of the Israelite wanderings in the desert. Exodus 28:15-30. The Bible calls this breastplate, a breastplate of judgment. Exodus 28:15. This was made of cloth with twelve precious stones woven onto it, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Furthermore, two extra stones were woven on it called the Urim and the Thumim. These lit up when the leaders asked God a question, signifying a yes or a no as the answer.
However, a breastplate of iron does not indicate a just judgment in the Bible. The metal iron is symbolic of strength, it breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush others. Dan 2:40.
Conclusion
So these soldiers are using an unjust judgment, not from God or the Bible, and they crush their enemies like iron, breaking a kingdom into pieces. These soldiers are going into battle and they are representing a religion which is not from God but imitating God´s judgment like the breastplate. They are going into battle to destroy nations who do not accept their false religion.
Rev 9:10. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
The next question is what does the citation “tails like scorpions” mean in prophecy?
What do tails mean symbolically in the Bible?
Deuteronomy 28:13. (Refers to blessings on Israel) And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God. (Tail means beneath, below and not worthy).
Isaiah 7:4. Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be faint hearted for these two stubs (tails: Zanab in Hebrew) of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah. (Tails is symbolic of fierce anger).
Isaiah 9:15. The elder and honorable, he is the head; the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. (Tail is related to lies and not worthy to be a head).
Rev 12:3.4. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (This text refers to Satan convincing a third of the angels in heaven through lies that God is unjust unfit to rule in the heavens).
Conclusion
Tail is related to beneath, below, not worthy, fierce anger, lies, and lies again.
Rev 9:10. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
The Oxford dictionary states that a scorpion is arachnid with lobster like claws and segmented tail that can be bent over to inflict a poisoned sting on prey held in its claws.
There are only a few texts in the Bible to describe a scorpion:
Ezekiel 2:6. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. (The context of this verse is from Ezekiel 2:2.3. where the Holy Spirit said to Ezekiel, “I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me.”)
These scorpions are related to soldiers who rebelled against God, with their words and looks they make people afraid.
Rev 9:10. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
Their power was to hurt men five months. How many months are five months in prophecy?
One literal day is equal to one prophetic year. How do we get this?
Rev 12:6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. In prophetical writings, one day is equal to one year. Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6. Therefore when it says in the text “one thousand two hundred and sixty days” this means prophetical 1,260 years. This figure is also equal to “a time, times and half a time” in Rev 12:14. When we add this figure up, we have one time plus two times plus half a time which equals 3½ times. One time is equal to 360 years in prophecy. So 3½ times is equal to 1,260 years. Therefor these two verses in Rev 12: 6.14, reinforce each other in Biblical prophetic time. In addition, the 42 months in Rev 11:2.3. are also equal to 1,260 years in Biblical prophecy. If we times 42 months with 30 prophetic days for each month, this gives us 1,260 days or prophetic years. Hence, there is harmony in these calculations.
There are 30 prophetical days for each month. We have five months. 5 x 30 = 150 prophetical years.
So these soldiers during the history of the Church persecuted the Church for 150 years.
When and where in the history of the Church did this happen?
“In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfilment of prophecy excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch, one of the leading ministers preaching the second advent published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire. According to his calculations, this power was to be overthrown in AD 1840, sometime in the month of August; and only a few days previous to its accomplishment he wrote: Allowing the first period, 150 years, to have been exactly fulfilled before Deacozes ascended the throne by permission of the Turks, and that the 391 years, fifteen days, commenced at the close of the first period, it will end on the 11th of August, 1840, when the Ottoman power in Constantinople may be expected to be broken. And this, I believe, will be found to be the case. ` -Josiah Litch, in Signs of the Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, Aug 1, 1840.”[2]
“As already stated, Litch set 1299 as the beginning of the fifth trumpet, to be more exact, July 27, 1299, his date for the battle of Bapheum. He gave to this fifth trumpet a period of 150 years. This brought him to July 27, 1449, for the beginning of the sixth trumpet. Adding on 391 years brought him to July 27, 1840. The 15 days carried him over into the month of August of that year. – – – A short time before the expiration of this period he declared that the Turkish Empire would be broken August 11, which is exactly 15 days beyond July 27, 1840.”[3]
N. Loughborough another preacher of the same time as Litch writes in his book The Great Second Advent Movement, “The fifth trumpet presents the rise of Mohammedanism with its cloud of errors, but especially the period of `five months, ` or one hundred and fifty years from the time they had a king over them. July 27, 1299, Othman, the founder of the Ottoman empire, invaded the territory of Nocomedia. From that time the Ottomans harassed and `tormented` the Eastern Empire of Rome till July 27, 1449, the one hundred and fifty years of the sounding of the fifth trumpet.”[4]
Now let us go back to Rev 9:4-6. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
“They,” refers to the soldiers belonging to the religion Mohammedanism located in the Ottoman Empire. They tormented the Eastern Byzantine Roman Empire between 1299 and 1449. However, they were not allowed to harm the grass or any green thing or any tree.
What is the symbolic meaning of grass, green thing and trees in prophecy?
We find the answer which we have already studied in the first trumpet in Rev 8:7.
Grass is related to the following: men who have the seal of God on their foreheads and men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads, it refers to a man´s work of faith, to a rich man passing away, all flesh and all people, to Isaiah the prophet, to Hezekiah and his people in Jerusalem, to Job´s descendants, to evildoers, to all believers in Christ when he comes, and to the heart of a man. To sum up it refers to all people.
Trees are related to: the 144,000 servants of God who have the seal of God on their foreheads, the Israelite leaders of Shechem select a ruler over them, a man who delights in God´s law, a man who finds wisdom and understanding, the fruit of the righteous, a beloved man. To sum up it refers to all believers in God.
To confirm that grass and trees are related to men in prophecy the text itself in Rev 9:4 says only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
Now what is this seal of God on their foreheads related to man, in prophetic language?
Joh 6:27. The Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on him (Christ).
Rom 4:11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he (Abraham) had while still uncircumcised – – -. (Seal is related to righteousness of the faith).
2 Cor 1:22.22. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Ephes 1:13.14. In him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of your inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephes 4,30. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
2 Tim 2:19. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Rev 7:2. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.
Rev 7:3. Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
Rev 9:4 (Locust symbolize soldiers). They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
Conclusion
The seal of God on men is related to: God the Father has set his seal on Jesus Christ, righteousness of faith, the Spirit as a guarantee, the seal of the Holy Spirit is given to men after they have heard the gospel of salvation and is a guarantee to their inheritance, believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit, the seal of God is put on the believer´s foreheads.
This seal of the righteousness of faith in Jesus Christ is opposed to the manmade teachings of salvation called the other gospel by Paul in Galatians 1:8. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
The New Testament gospel incorporates the Ten Commandments of God. The Ten Commandments of God reveal our sinfulness like Paul says in Romans 7:7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” So we need the law to come to a knowledge of our sinfulness. When we realize our sinfulness, then we find out that we need a savior to save us from our sins. Then we believe in Jesus Christ as our personal savior, repent of our sins, stop willfully sinning in life and become born again Christians.
The other gospel of today which is manmade from many churches, proclaims that we should believe in Jesus Christ just as we are in our sinfulness and it does not matter if we should repent of our sins. We can carry on doing sin willfully. Hence, we have churches of today, with many Christians who have not repented of their sins and carry on sinning like anyone one else in the world. There is no difference between them and non-believers in the world.
A short word study on God´s seal related to foreheads.
Ezekiel 9:3.4. (The difference between believer´s in God and non-believer´s in Jerusalem). Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer´s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” (Mark is related to those who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done in Jerusalem).
Rev 13:16. He (refers to the beast with two horns like a lamb) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God).
Rev 14:9.10. Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on their forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of his indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God. If anyone receives this mark will receive the wrath of God).
Rev 15:2. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark (on the forehead) and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of gold. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God. This reveals the results of those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast on their foreheads: they come to heaven).
Rev 16:2. So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. (This is referring to one of the seven plagues poured out on those who receive the mark of the beast).
Rev 19:20. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God. This false prophet beast deceived those who received the mark of the beast).
Rev 20:4. Then I saw souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast and his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God).
Ex 13:9. It shall be a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes (Forehead), that the Lord´s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. (This is God talking to Moses and the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. The Lord´s law which is a memorial between the eyes or forehead is referring to the Ten Commandments of God outlined in Ex 20:1-17.)
Deuteronomy 6:6-8. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes (Forehead). (These words refer to the previous verses and the previous chapter Deuteronomy 5:1-33 containing the Ten Commandments of God).
Conclusion
God´s seal on the forehead is related to those who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done in Jerusalem. God´s seal is related to the Ten Commandments of God as opposed to the commandments of men for example the mark of the beast in Rev 13:1-10. This reveals the results of those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast on their foreheads: they come to heaven. It is referring to one of the seven plagues poured out on those who receive the mark of the beast on the forehead. The false prophet beast deceived those who received the mark of the beast on the forehead. The Lord´s law which is a memorial between the eyes or forehead is referring to the Ten Commandments of God outlined in Exodus 20:1-17.
The major difference between the Ten Commandments of God and the commandments of men is the day of worship: the sabbath. The Ten Commandments of God in the Old and New Testament stipulate that the sabbath is on a Saturday, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. However, the commandments of men, which the majority of all churches use, stipulate that the day of worship for them is Sunday, of which there is no scriptural evidence to support this view. The commandments of men state, that they worship on a Sunday because Christ was resurrected on a Sunday. Again, there is no evidence in the Bible to support this view.
This is the major difference between the seal and mark of God on the forehead or between the eyes, and the mark of the beast. The decision to worship on one of these days, the sabbath or a Sunday will decide our destiny for the future.
Choosing the Ten Commandments of God including the Sabbath day of worship and the faith of Jesus Christ will lead to eternal life (Rev 14:12); choosing commandments of men including Sunday as a day of worship and another gospel in Jesus Christ will lead to eternal death (Rev 14:9.10).
Now how does this seal of God relate to the Muslim world in the Ottoman Empire? Rev 9:4-6. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
They, refers to the Muslim soldiers in the Ottoman Empire. “The fifth trumpet presents the rise of Mohammedanism with its cloud of errors, but especially the period of `five months, ` or one hundred and fifty years from the time they had a king over them. July 27, 1299, Othman, the founder of the Ottoman empire. Invaded the territory of Nocomedia. From that time the Ottomans harassed and `tormented` the Eastern Empire of Rome till July 27, 1449, the one hundred and fifty years of the sounding of the fifth trumpet.”(5)
It is interesting to note that the Muslims did not harass and torment the men with the seal of God in the Eastern Roman empire (Byzantine Empire), that is those who worshipped on a Sabbath which is a Saturday. Why?
Dr. Barbar Shah in his book writes, “Early Muslim believers noticed that though the day of worship according to the Bible (previous scriptures, Tawrat) was Saturday, and was known as the seventh-day Sabbath especially in Arab lands for centuries, many of the People of the Book (The Bible amongst Roman Catholic Christians), were keeping Sunday as the day of rest instead. The Sabbath was revealed by Allah to the prophet Musa (pbuh), which the Qur´an also affirms in several verses such as verse 65 in Surat al Baqara (2:65).
People of the Book who kept Sunday as the day of rest could not support their belief from the Previous Scriptures (The Bible), because in the Arabic language the word for Saturday was Al-Sabt (which means the day of rest) and Sunday is Yom Al-Ahad (which means “Day one”).” This book is only available from a course given by Dr. Barbar Shah, What does the Holy Qur´an say about the Holy Bible? 2017.
The Muslims from the Ottoman Empire did not torment the men who kept the Sabbath as a holy day, but they did torment those who kept Sunday as a holy rest day in the Eastern Roman Empire for example in Constantinople the capital city.
Rev 9:11. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
The angel of the bottomless pit is Satan as we have found out in Rev 9:1. However, a further description is given of him through two names: one in Hebrew and one in Greek.
What does Abaddon mean in the Hebrew? Destruction and ruin.
What does Apollyon mean in the Greek? A destroyer or one who destroys.
We must remember that these seven trumpets are given as a warning to the church, and as the fifth trumpet warned of the coming crisis of Mohammedanism attacking part of the church in the Eastern Roman Empire, God is saying that one should hold fast to the Bible and the seal of God, which is the Sabbath day on a Saturday and part of the Ten Commandments of God.
[1] Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc.,) 178.
[2] Ellen G. White, Confrontation (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 334. 335.
[3] Francis D. Nichol, Edit., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Washington D.C.: The Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1980), 795.
[4] J. N. Loughborough, The Great Second Advent Movement, 128. http://www.giveshare.org/churchhistory/great-second-advent-movement-loughborough.pdf
[5] Ibid,. 128.