The Bible says, “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star (angel messenger) fall from heaven unto earth: and to him was given the (not “a” key) key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke (where there’s smoke there’s fire) out of the pit, . . . And there came out of the smoke locust upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. . . . And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it: and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. . . . And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name . . . is Abaddon, . . . (or) Apollyon (Destroyer) (Rev.9:1-11).

The book of Revelation is a book of redemption. Through His death on Calvary Jesus redeemed (bought back) reconciled (make peace) all things back to God (Col.1: 20) that were lost because of sin. Through the horrific plagues He sends to the earth to judge Satan’s world system and the Antichrist he has put in charge, God is still hoping that men will repent, but they don’t (9:20, 21, 16:9, 11). Because men don’t come to the altar for forgiveness, from the altar judgment is sent forth (8:5).

The church will have already left this world at the Rapture, but many people who hear the Gospel for the first time (2 Thess. 2:10-12) will be saved during the Tribulation because of the 144,000 virgin male Jews; that preach the Gospel (7:4-8, 14:1-5). These Tribulation Christians become martyrs for their faith (Rev.7: 9).

We know Hell and the bottomless pit are in the heart of the earth because an angel comes to earth with the only key to the bottomless pit and opened it to release the legions of creatures that God wanted released.

These will be real living and breathing creatures, the likes of which this world has never seen. They will not have the power to kill, but for five months they will have the power to inflict horrific pain to all mankind.

This will not be one of Hollywood’s attempts to depict the way they think the Apocalypse will be. This will be reality, the fulfilling of God’s Word (KJV).

The populace will try to commit suicide to escape the torment of these creatures but they can’t (9:6). This should let us know that ultimately the death of every individual is in the hand of Almighty God.

But death returns and is ministered by a supernatural army of 200,000,000, which may be made up of human beings or demons or demon possessed humans. This army kills one-third of the world’s population. This means at that time one-half of the world’s population is dead (6:8, 9:18).

All the events in the book of Revelation will one day unfold as God through judgment takes back from Satan what is rightfully His.

James H. Cagle is a resident of Ray City.