Voice of the Lord

Revelation 9:3-4, 13-14, 11-12

And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

"For just and true," holy and righteous are your judgments, oh God, who was and is and is to come. It is your way, oh God, and not our own at all. Forgive us then Lord for standing in your way. How some of us would do well to practice it as in Revelation 15:3 a bit more often. In judgment then as in mercy, it is important first to get a right view of God. Here, if you do not view him correctly, all else will be messed up. How often have you been in a situation, focused on it long enough, and soon it was all that could be seen. Yet in Revelation 5:5-6, John and all of Heaven saw him well. Whether as the Lamb who has been slain or the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has overcome all, catching sight of who God is, is key to putting everything else in place. It shall be then that he desires of Hosea 6:6 mercy and not sacrifice. For if the appointing is spiritually given based on physical patterns of behavior, so also is the anointing. Yet we see here that both have physical manifestations. As such of Jeremiah 1, are they carried out in the world. It is for this cause in Malachi 3:11, he promised to rebuke the destroyer for our sake.

If all the rest are spiritual appointments and annointments carried out physically, then could not the matter of the sealing also be seen in spiritual matters. Just when you think you have written the last chapter, the devil has finally won, God has a way of bringing you out. Somebody shout, 'he's keeping me.' Perhaps you did not hear. I said is he keeping you. Oh, my friends, it seems God is in the keeping business. His mercies are new every morning and his faithfulness is still there. How easily he could have thrown away the fallen angels and rose up to start again. But for the fact he is keeping you amen. God is bringing his children home amen. He is bringing his prodigals back into his Heavenly kingdom amen. He is bringing some people into his house today which really have no business being here if you asked me. See then, their nature in Luke 14:21-24 as at first. They come now, the lame, the halt, the blind, the destitute, and those without that his house may be filled. There is a feast ready for those of you that know the Lord. My, it should be good news to some indeed after all the days of famine. See that of the marriage supper of the Lamb. Oh, my dear friends, all are invited. What is your excuse for not making it.

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Trust me, these angels who had been bound at the bottom of the river Euphrates for their outrageous actions once had plenty. Now, here Scripture does not directly state who these are nor yet for what actions they are bound. But their sending purpose in the hands of the Lord indicates it well. These are some destroying angels with the heart of the enemy of John 10:10. Remember, he sought only to steal, kill, and destroy if you will. Notice the heart of the Father on display for his church. Somebody shout, 'appointed for a saving purpose.' With all these forces let straight out of hell, your life is on the line. More than that, your relationship with God is being tested. You will be kept by his position, his power, and by the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 1:12-13 testifies to the position of the seven lamp stands and the churches standing before him. See this One who holds all things in his hands. Believe me if it were possible for you to fall all by yourself you would. But by the blood of the Lamb and your place in Christ are you kept. These saints of Revelation 12:11 then have overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." Now are the purposes of God from out of judgement to bring righteousness. God is calling all people unto himself at this time spoken of by 2 Corinthians 6:2. If he allows you to hear him, do not delay. Today is not promised and tomorrow was never given. Hear the Lord while it is called today then and respond. Tomorrow might be forever too late.

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

Notice these locusts' manner of dress. They each had their own crowns on their heads, indicating they ruled in their own right. Yet here they bow before the One who wears his by default of his suffering. Sin's price demanded to be paid. Not only did Jesus pay it all, but he also set it all aside for a moment to win these also. Revelation 22:17-19 is for all should any but come to him. "Whomsoever will" may come with all invited to the wedding banquet both small and great. See, the point is not whether God let these out or not or whether he saved them or not. The fact of the matter is they came at his bidding for the purpose of doing his will. Revelation 5 shows the matter thusly. Of all Heaven and earth and that underneath none could be found to break the seal, open the scroll, or pick up his crown, much less with rights to sit on his throne. So then in Revelation 4:10-12 all those bearing crowns, however they might have obtained them, bow before the king.

More than that, they take off those crowns to lay before his throne. Now by no means am I suggesting that the Lord has somehow emptied hell and taken them all off to Heaven in a cloud of glory. Oh no. It is the Lord's place, of that you can be sure. So then, he can be trusted for it was his place all along. How some of us would do well to leave the vision and the interpretation thereof then unto himself. See, it is hard to have what has been given without first seeing the Giver. Thus, if the God of Revelation 5 has not yet been clearly seen, let me refer you back to him. I want us to see this King Jesus for just a moment. He is "Alpha and Omega," "the first and the last." He is honorable above all and to all things despicable. He is seen as the servant and the master, the ruler and the Lord. Above all, before all, and in all most holy. Little wonder then all of Heaven praises him who was and is and is to come. For whose pleasure all things were created and by him hold together even those of your life and mine. Hear him now, the alpha and omega, the first and the last. Oh woe has been given the voice of the Lord.