spiritual battle, Demonic Horsemen (Rev.9)

The sixth angel sounds the trumpet...

(Revelation 9:13a)  Then the sixth angel sounded...

The sixth angel is then told to release the four fallen angels who are bound.   These demons must be so evil to have been kept bound until this point in time...

(Revelation 9:13b-15)  and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. 

The four demons are the horsemen.

Along with the horsemen came an army of 200,000,000...

(Revelation 9:16)  The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 

John then describes the horses and those who sat on them...

(Revelation 9:17-21)  And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

From this we see:
- the sixth angel sounds the trumpet (9:13a)
- the sixth angel is told to release the four fallen angels who are bound (9:14)
- these demons must be so evil to have been kept bound until this point in time (9:15)
- the four demons are released and permitted to kill a third of mankind (9:15)
- the four demons are the horsemen in charge of the army (9:16)
- the horsemen had an army of 200,000,000 (9:16)
- the riders
    * had breastplates the color of fire, brimstone and deep purple (9:17)
- the horses
   * had heads like lions (9:17)
   * out of their mouths came fire, smoke and brimstone (9:17)
   * a third of the men were killed by this fire, smoke and brimstone (9:18)
   * the power of the horse was in their mouths and in their tails (9:19)
   * their tails which were like serpents with heads could cause harm (9:19)

Personal experience:  and still the people did not want to repent!  They still wanted to keep worshiping demons, even though it was demons now boldly attacking them.  And they still thought there was power in idols, even though they themselves made these out of materials found on the earth.

What's so "funny" is that these types of people will make fun of Christians because we need a "crutch" in life.  Meanwhile, they don't see that they themselves are using "crutches".  And so they certainly do not see that the "crutches" they use are unreliable at best.

Today's takeaway:  yes!  I will admit - I need "crutches" - because I am crippled!  When Jesus saved me, not only did He help me walk, He gave me eternal life!  He gives me His strength...

(Psalm 103:1-5)  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

(1 Corinthians 1:18-31)  For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”