Revelation 8:13 And I looked, and I heard an angel (eagle) flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” NKJV
- NASB 8:13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
Suddenly John encounters an eagle after the first four trumpets. The eagle is known for its swiftness, strength, far-reaching eyesight, and power. This particular symbol of power announces three woes to come forth, something like a triple witness. This last book of the Bible is providing a set of bookends to the first book (Genesis) split into four and three:
The days of the pronouncement of blessings (God blessed them and said):
Now we have the seven trumpets with the last three being announced as judgments rather than blessings. The woes specifically direct our attention to the last three trumpets. The first creation where blessing was initiated and then the sin of Adam came is being reversed now. The old creation is being concluded and judged and the new heavens and earth will replace the old. It will be a new day in the end and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. There has been a consistent theme of “bookends” as of late bringing our focus on the last three trumpets to be sounded. These woes are conveyed as intense and complete in nature.
The Fifth Trumpet
Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star (that had) fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.
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.
4 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.
The number five represents grace in Scripture but most people read these passage with horror. These are the sign-watchers. Their focus and source of information and revelation come from reading signs, not hearing FATHER’S Voice. They thrive on fear and lust for more adrenalin to flush through the veins. Each world event heightens their emotional state only to be told there is another delay due to some other sign yet to be seen. Years go by and they are kept at the same level of maturity of a decade ago. They never judge the fruit of those who have kept them hanging on and stringing them on. The result is that they have financially supported an adrenalin addiction, similar to wormwood (poppies, opium). Hearing FATHER’S Voice will change your path and put you back on the right path. HIS Grace is sufficient to accomplish this correction.
A star represents a word, a higher level of understanding or knowledge and this star had already fallen in the past. This star represents the WORD made flesh coming down from Heaven to the earth. This represents the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, the Star of Jacob as noted in Numbers 24:
17 “I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;
A Star shall come out of Jacob;
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
And batter the brow of Moab,
And destroy all the sons of tumult.
The time of judgment is at hand and destruction will result. This star is the living revelation of Jesus Christ, the focus of this entire book. It is a book of Love at its highest understanding depicting both aspects of the Divine Intent of Love: grace and judgment. Both are required to bring forth the fullness of HIM in our lives. Leaving out judgment is like enabling a drug addict to continue his path toward destruction. Without judgment and correction there is no growth and the immature are allowed to continue their childish acts no matter what their physical age.
Jesus humbled himself by descending from Heaven and taking on a body of flesh. He made himself of no reputation. He claimed no title of doctor, PhD, high priest, king, or any other label. He emptied himself and walked in full humility. The Sons must do the same. FATHER then exalted Jesus after His baptism and confirm His power and authority with signs following. The Sons will experience the same. To my knowledge, none have yet received this fullness. There is still time to be either blotted out or brought in.
This “star” or Jesus was given the key to the bottomless pit. When something is bottomless, it has no foundation whatsoever. A pit is a hole designed to ensnare the prey into captivity. It speaks of darkness where no revelation is to be found. It is where lies are found and there is no truth. Man’s carnal nature is drawn to this bottomless pit. In relative terms, it is as far as one can be from Heaven and it is in clear opposition to Christ. This is the core or root of all that is opposed to Christ but Jesus Christ has the key! He has the power to deal with the root cause of any aspect of our lives that would hinder our ascension to full spiritual maturity, the perfection of Love. Those secrets that are so deeply rooted no man can discover them, neither would you ever admit to them. However, FATHER knows the thoughts and intents of every man. The axe of judgment must be taken to the root of the matter. The beast of the fleshly nature residing in such great darkness must be removed and until then, the battle of the “I’s” will continue. The Psalmist wrote of the inward vastness in Psalm 51:
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
and in Psalm 64:
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter;
They talk of laying snares secretly;
They say, “Who will see them?”
6 They devise iniquities:
“We have perfected a shrewd scheme.”
Both the inward thought and the heart of man are deep.
The Key to this bottomless pit is in His hand and He has the power and authority to open the lock which will expose the roots of lies and deception. He is now ready to do surgery and remove anything that would prevent complete restoration from taking place. Woe to the man who trusts in lies and deception for his destruction will be great!