Revelation 9:18 By these three (weapons of purification) a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
Notice in the fifth trumpet passage, men could not die whereas in the sixth trumpet a third of mankind were killed and their death came by the fiery WORD out of the mouths of the army of THE LORD. The sounding of the trumpets focus on the Sons of GOD and we must see how they are separated out for duty versus the rest of mankind. These sons are willing to die to the flesh for the Gospel’s sake and embrace the ministry of the fiery WORD in their lives. In the past, ministers have assigned the term “a third of mankind” as a numerical, literal representation. They have claimed that over two billion people would be wiped out in some catastrophic event assigned to Heaven’s wrath. Instead, I am convinced this term represents a company separate from two other groups or divisions. This book focuses on three sets of seven: seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials. Each set refers to someone different.
The seven seals refer to the revealing of Jesus Christ on earth. The seven trumpets deals with the Sons of GOD maturing into the fullness of their calling. The seven vials deal with the church. These three sets of seven equal twenty-one and this number represents the time of “trouble” or distress. On a larger scale, the number 210 represents the time of Jacob’s trouble. Jacob had to be processed before his character change would occur. The good news is that it DID occur and we too will have a change from the old man to the new. The only question is which company or “third” we are to be considered. Those who hang on to religious traditions will be in a different third than those who not only have the revelation of the Sons of GOD but fully embrace it to the point of dying to the flesh and accepting FATHER’S processings of the fire, smoke, and brimstone. We must embrace the perfecting process and set aside every weight that would hinder us. We must focus on our own ascending to Spiritual maturity and let others mature in their own timing. We must expose our own lawlessness found in the depths of our heart and let it be removed once and for all by OUR LORD:
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
This brings us to the rest of mankind who are not counted or reckoned as Sons:
Revelation 9:20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these (weapons of purification), did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.
21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
In different versions of the Bible, the word “plagues” are inserted to describe the fire, smoke, and brimstone. I prefer to insert the term “weapons” because it reflects a consistency with the thought of an army endued with strength. It then improves our understanding, similar to what Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Certainly the locust army represents a stronghold in the bottomless pit that must be overpowered and pulled down. We must set aside any past paradigm we developed at a lower level of understanding so that we might not be hindered from receiving the higher revelation as we ascend to full maturity. We only need to look back at history when the church persecuted the Godly astronomers who discovered the earth is not flat and it is not the center of the universe. We take those discoveries for granted now that it has already been proven to be self evident. What traditions are you holding on to? Let them go and repent! We must change our entire way of thinking. The world’s economy is different from the Kingdom’s economy. The world is one of scarcity whereas the Kingdom is one of abundance. The world is based on external laws to police behavior. We will have the laws written within us. All of our concepts must change as we ascend to conform to the higher laws. We must repent of everything that has ruled over us in the past!
Notice that this next group continued its worship of demons and idols, as well as they continued their perverse walk. They continue to be ruled by the flesh. They continue to feed the serpent within them and the locust army is empowered in the depths of the bottomless pit. Remember, the battle is within us. The wars, famines, and other aspects of this world have at their source the intent of the carnal nature. Men are starving yet there are plenty of resources on this earth. Men want to control other men thus they go to war. Their carnal intent is continually fed by the deception originating in the Garden of Eden. Their separation from FATHER has promoted all this death and destruction. They will remain in this state as the Sons are being prepared to be a light unto all the world. Until then, their wickedness will grow and mature as tares among the wheat. Paul wrote of these two groups in Romans 8:
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Those who truly hear the WORD (the sounding of the seven trumpets) will ascend to become spiritually minded. The rest will remain in their carnal minds and focus on the things of this world resulting in death and destruction. A “third” will respond and a “third” will not.