Revelation 9:20-21 - They Refuse to Repent

“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, 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. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Today we will finish up our study in Revelation 9. We believe this takes us up to the middle of the Seven-year Tribulation. Remember in chapter 6, as the Tribulation begins, the seven-sealed book is opened by the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, revealing the coming of the Antichrist who sets up a one world government, a global economy and a one-world religion which is the worship of himself. When the seventh seal is opened in chapter 8, the trumpet judgments begin with terrible desolations on the sea, the earth and the heavens. Millions of mankind are killed in these judgments. Now in chapter 9, the fifth trumpet sounds, and an army of demons is released from hell, and they torment millions of unbelievers with the sting of a scorpion for five months (vv. 1-12). Men will seek to die to escape the pain but can’t die. This is also the first woe judgment.  Then the sixth angel sounds and an army of 200 million demons lead by four angels are released from the east and they attack humanity killing one-third of mankind. If you want to get a realistic picture of what this time will be like you might want to read a book written by Don and Carol Richardson called The Peace Child. In 1962, Don and Carol Richardson risked their lives to share the gospel with the Sawi people of New Guinea. The Peace Child tells their unforgettable story of living among these headhunters and cannibals, under the total influence of demons, who valued treachery through fattening victims with friendship before the slaughter. Today, it appears to me that our government, our media, our education systems, and our culture and society wants to get rid of a Creator God who is revealed in the Bible. So, when this tribulation period begins it is if God is saying, “You want a world without God, I will give it to you.” Wherever there is a culture or society that has no influence of Biblical Christianity and where demons are worship, it is a place of murder, sexual immorality, sorceries or drug abuse, and thieves. Already this is happening in America, as we have moved God out of the public square. It has always been amazing to me how our culture wants the benefit of a Biblical influence which brings individual responsibility, respect for others and property, and a fear of the consequences of violating the law. This is what we call a society that enjoys peace and order. The opposite is a world without God, that is filled with hate, violence, murder, sexual abuse, stealing, drug abuse. It is a culture where the earth is worshiped as “mother-god” and humanism (the worship of man), is the main religion. They believe the number one issue that threatens mankind is “global warming” or “climate change.” It becomes a culture of division, hate, anarchy and violence, filled with chaos and confusion! That’s what it’s like without the God of the Bible! Does that describe today? I think so! But my friend, just think what it will be like in the Tribulation when all Christian influence is gone, and demons are let loose that men chose to worship rather than repent. You definitely don’t want to be here during that time! May the Lord give us grace today even as we already see this time approaching! God bless!