Death is not worse pain than an empty life. -- Lun Tha

Many people have hurt so much, been in such great pain, that they just wanted to die.  Some have even taken their own lives, as the alternative was beyond what they thought they could manage. 

Can you imagine not being able to die? Even if you tried desperately to do so? 

Four out of seven trumpets have sounded, heralding a horrid time of fire and darkness and terror.  John, watching these visions, was undoubtedly frightened at what he saw. But still, he records what is shown to him, not flinching from his task.

He sees, he says in Revelation 9, a star fall from the sky with a key to open the Abyss.  The Greek term is "very deep" or "bottomless."  The classic "bottomless pit," we might say.  But this is not a big empty space. 


These creatures had been there, waiting for who knows how long, angry and avid to destroy.  These were not just any locusts, either.  They were designed for a purpose, with the tails of scorpions that would sting and cause great agony. 


I have not been stung by a scorpion, but I know people who have.  I am told it's pretty bad.  These locusts brought up to the earth here will be after people for months. I have read that the average "locust season" is five months, where they eat and eat.  These locusts will not be able to eat -- much of the green might be destroyed at this point, remember -- but they will go solely after people. To torture them.  The Bible says that these people will seek death and not find it.  I can only imagine how terrified and desperate they will be.

The locusts are described in detail in such a way as to make modern readers sure that John must have been seeing a weapon of war.


I can't say what they might be, if they are not supernatural creatures.  I have read that these might really be helicopters with biowarfare weapons on board.  Or special tanks, perhaps.  Again, I don't know.  In any event, they will be terrifying and inflict great suffering.

But not for everyone and not on everyone.  The creatures are told to harm only those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.  And who are the sealed? The 144,000 from the tribes of Israel pointed out in chapter seven.  The Bible is specific about that number there, and specific about their immunity from attack, here.

What about the rest of the people?  They will try to hide from these locusts, I'm sure. It's only sensible.  But how effective is Man against the hand of God?

We do not know when this "woe" – the first of three called out by the eagle – will take place, in the big picture of the last days of the world.  We only know that it will happen, somehow.

When the Lord causes a "woe" to be sent to the Earth, he is serious.  We need to be serious about heeding him, in the time we have, now.  He loves you. He wants you to love him, too.  Only in such love is there hope in times of terror.  Only in such love can you experience salvation and peace.