5th Trumpet 1 - No Foundation, Deception

Rev 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

(Rev 9:1-12 KJV) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. {2} And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. {3} 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. {4} 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. {5} 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. {6} And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. {7} And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. {8} And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. {9} And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. {10} And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. {11} 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. {12} One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

Before launching into the message of this 5^th trumpet angel, let us review briefly the messages of the first four trumpet angels. First we find that the trumpet angels are the pastors of the churches and their messages are solemn warnings about impending dangers to our souls. The first angel sounds a warning of the dangers of growing cold, lukewarm or indifferent to the Word of God. The second angel sounds a warning of the danger of backsliding. The third angel sounds the warning of a falling ministry that leads souls astray. The fourth angel warns us of the light of God’s Word being darkened by the attempting to mix light with darkness. The fourth angel also warned us of the impending woes that the three remaining angels had to preach about. As we turn our attention to the fifth angel today we will consider the first of the three woes to all the inhabiters of the earth.

The term “inhabiters of the earth” refers to those that live after the earthy man and not after the spiritual man.

(Rom 8:4-8 KJV) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. {5} For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after 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, neither indeed can be. {8} So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

And so we see by the Word of God that all men are either living after the spirit___ or after the flesh___. And they that live after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. In other words they are the inhabiters of the earth. The trumpet angels are preaching woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth. Satan is fighting hard to conquer your soul and drag you down to the pit with him. He is using every trick that he can invent to deceive you and get you to believe his lies rather than to trust in the pure Word of God. He and his angels misinterpret, abuse and twist the scripture to lead you into the practice of sin. He will do anything he can to keep you from living the righteous, peaceful and joyful life that the Lord wants you to live. He knows that if he can get you to allow sin in your life, he can lead you into total darkness.

The prophet Isaiah describes the three woes:

(Isa 5:20-23 KJV) Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! {21} Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! {22} Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: {23} Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

Notice that Isaiah in verse 20 describes the first woe as that of calling evil good and good evil, putting darkness for light and light for darkness and bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. This is direct confusion of the meaning of the scripture. This is mass confusion. How could a people get into such a condition that they don’t know the difference between good and evil? Easy enough, for by putting your own ideas in place instead of the Word of God little by little you move off the true foundation for life. Let us use some examples of our present world.

For one we are being told that homosexuality is not sin and that God makes people that way. Now you will not find this teaching in the Word of God for it is opposite of what the Bible teaches. Even good common sense will teach you that no one is born a homosexual any more that one is born a pedophile, a rapist or a murderer. Another lie that is common in our land today is that everybody has to sin every day. Now if that is true, then why did Jesus instruct people to go and sin no more? And why does the Bible say that God leads in the paths of righteousness? Where in the Bible does it say that God will lead in the paths of sin? It clearly does not say any such thing. The problem is that many have left off living according to the Word of God and have been deceived by Satan to live after the flesh. Woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth!

Our lesson says that a star fell from heaven and a key was given to him (notice that this star is a person) to open up the bottomless pit. From our study of the symbols, so far in the Revelation, we know that a star falling from heaven symbolizes a minister falling from a righteous position. This fallen minister is given the key to the bottomless pit. This is the first reference in the Bible to this place called the Bottomless pit. The word translated bottomless means a place without a foundation, an abyss. Now Jesus taught us that if we did not obey the Word of God we were likened to a foolish man that built his house without a foundation or shall we say on the bottomless pit!

(Luke 6:46-49 KJV) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? {47} Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: {48} He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. {49} But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Why call Jesus Lord and do not the things which He says? To do so is to build without a Foundation_____. It is to build on the bottomless pit. And, such a life is destined to destruction. Do you realize that every time you obey the scripture and do what the Bible commands you to do, you are building your life on the Rock_______? And every time that you reject the commands of the Lord and do as you please, you are building your life on the bottomless pit? Look at what the trumpet angel tells us about this bottomless pit. First there is the key which is given to the fallen minister. Jesus gave some keys to His disciples

(Mat 16:17-19 KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. {18} And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. {19} And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

I would much rather have the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven than to the bottomless pit and every true minister of God has those keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. When we persuade a soul to repent of sin, forsake it and live righteous, we have in effect bound sin in that person’s life and loosed their soul to live free from the bondage of sin. If that person will remain faithful to the end of their life, they will be loosed in heaven, free of the bondage of sin just as they were here in the earth. At the same time as we preach the truth of God’s Word and people reject it, they are bound in their darkness and unless they repent of their sin, they will go into eternity bound by their sin.

(John 20:22-23 KJV) And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: {23} Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Jesus passed this power to all of his disciples and this power is given to all that obey the Lord. Jesus came to set you free from the bondage of sin. You do not have to be a slave to sin. You can be free in earth as well as in heaven. If you are not free in earth then you will not be free in heaven. If you are a servant of sin in earth, then you will remain a servant of sin in eternity.

(John 8:31-47 KJV) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; {32} And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. {33} They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Here Jesus explains the key. It is the truth that is the key for it is the truth_ that sets you free of sin. If you believe Jesus Christ and continue in His Word, then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. All you have to do is to continue or to obey the Word of God. Search it, study it, obey it and it will unlock the mysteries of life to you.

{34} Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Jesus is very emphatic about why people commit sin; they are the servants_ or slaves of sin. If you are one that has to commit sin, then it is because you are a servant of sin. As long as you are a servant of sin, you cannot be a servant of righteousness. Jesus is giving you the formula, the key to be free of sin. Believe on Him, continue in His Word, learn and obey the truth and you will be set free.

{35} And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. {36} If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. {37} I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

Jesus said to those Jews that day that His word_______ had no place in them. How about you? Does Jesus’ Word have any place in you? Do you believe Him? He said that you were to live according to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. If you believe Him, then get started living according to every word of God. Many like the earthly minded of that day are not paying attention to the entire Word of God. Rather they are selecting the passages that support their beliefs and doing what they want to do. That is why Jesus said they were seeking to kill Him, because His word was not in them. His word was not being obeyed.

{38} I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. {39} They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. {40} But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. {41} Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. {42} Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. {43} Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. {44} Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. {45} And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. {46} Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? {47} He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Jesus clearly lets us know that when we are not living according to His Word, then we are the children of the devil__. Because when you obey the lies of the devil, you continue on in sin and if you like these Jews of old think that you are somehow still right with God, you only deceive yourself. Notice that Jesus says that the devil is the father__ of lies, he never abode in the truth and has been a murderer____ from the beginning. When you reject God’s Word and live according to the devil’s word, you are living according to a lie. The Word of God is the key that will set you free from sin.

(Heb 4:12 KJV) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Yes, the Word of God is quick meaning life giving. It is powerful meaning that when you obey it you experience the power of God flowing through your life. That is how you overcome sin. We know and God knows that in yourself you cannot help but commit sin. That is why God puts the power in the Word of God so that through obedience to it, you are filled with the power of God to be an overcomer. The Word is sharp, it divides and it discerns even the very thoughts of your heart. It is a wonderful blessing to man. It is the bread of eternal life. It is the drink of eternal life.

(John 12:46-48 KJV) I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. {47} And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. {48} He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

When you step through death’s door into eternity, you will face the Word of God. You will be judged according to What The Word of God says, not according to your beliefs, not according to what your preacher taught you, not according to what your family said, but according to the Word of God. Jesus said it.

(Mat 24:35 KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

So the devil is busy through his backsliden, fallen ministry preaching false doctrines to the multitudes to get them to stumble along in sin living miserable, sinful lives. Jesus warned us about the teaching of false doctrines:

(Mat 15:8-9 KJV) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. {9} But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

(Mat 16:6 KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Jesus said of those scribes and Pharisees of that day that they were guilty of teaching for commandments the doctrines of men. They had left off the commandments of God and had replaced them with their own commandments. They wanted the people to follow and serve them instead of following and serving God. So it is in our time that many have departed from the commandments of God in order to gain a large following.

(2 Tim 3:1-7 KJV) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, {3} Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {4} Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; {5} Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. {6} For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, {7} Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Indeed we can say that in these times perilous times have come. Men are selfish, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient, without natural affection and lovers of pleasures. Many have a form of godliness but they do not have the power to live sin free, righteous lives. The bottomless pit has been opened up and multitudes have been deceived to build their lives without a foundation. The trumpet angel is sounding out the warning. Your soul is in impending danger in these times. Draw close to God, search the scriptures, listen attentively to the preaching of God’s Word. Obey the commandments.

(Mat 7:24-25 KJV) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: {25} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.