5th Trumpet 2 - Breastplate Of Righteousness
(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.
In our last message, from this text, we dealt with the fallen star and the bottomless pit. We showed you how the fallen star represented a ministry that has fallen from a righteous position. That fallen ministry opens up the bottomless pit and teaches mankind to build their lives on false beliefs which have no foundation. In other words they are bottomless, they have no foundation, they will not stand the storms of life and they will not stand in eternity. Today we will focus our attention to the Breastplate of Righteousness.
Our text tells us that once this fallen angel opened the bottomless pit a lot of things came out of it. First there was the smoke which was so thick that it darkened the sun and the air. This means that when false doctrines are taught the truth of God’s Word is darkened. People become confused and don’t know what the clear teaching of God’s Word is. They cannot see clearly for the fallen ministry is obscuring the truth with the smoke of lies. This smoky gospel produces weird creatures like locusts. They are not real Christians and they don’t act like Christians either. Their mission is to torment people but they have no power to torment the people of God. Those that have the seal of God or the mind of Christ in their foreheads are the people of God. They have gained an understanding of God’s Word and they live according to it. They will not be duped by the lies of the locust ministry.
Now this locust ministry has power to torment men for a period of time. What they do is teach men to try and control themselves in their own power. Remember that we are dealing with those that live after the earthy man. They use the earthly man’s methods of mind over body, positive thinking and self discipline to control the body without using the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Such an effort sounds good but is impossible and in reality is actually a life of torment. Because the want to sin is not erased without the power of the Holy Spirit being given free access to your being. You want to die out to sin and be free to serve the Lord in holiness of life but you can’t with a smoky gospel. You need the power of God in your life to change your nature and make a new creature out of you. No other method of conversion will work. But the fallen ministry is hard at work to smoke you in by some other method. It is nothing more that a polite way to live and die and end up in hell. It is a torment and not a reality.
The king appointed over the locust ministry is named Apollyon which means a destroyer or one that destroys. If you want to be tormented in this life and then be destroyed in eternity all you have to do is reject God’s Word and build your life on the earthy foundation of the locust ministry which is in fact building without a foundation. There are several other details in our lesson about these locusts and their abilities which I will not take the time to discuss here. I want to turn our attention for the rest of this message to the breastplates that they provided. Verse 9 says that they had breastplates as it were of iron. Now we know that as Christians we are engaged in a spiritual warfare and we have breastplates to wear. But our breastplate is not one of iron as our battle is not literal. We are not trying to protect the flesh with a breastplate of iron; we are trying to protect the soul with a breastplate of righteousness. An earthly minded people and ministry are concerned about protecting the earthy body but Jesus tells us to rather fear those that have power to destroy both body and soul in hell.
(Eph 6:11-18 KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. {13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; {15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: {18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
In this passage we have some of the most basic instruction given to anyone that wants to live a Christian life. We are told that we need all of the armour of God to stand against the wiles or tricks of the devil. We are engaged in a spiritual warfare against spiritual wickedness. We are not fighting men; we are fighting wickedness. We are not using carnal weapons; we are using the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit. We have as protection a breastplate of righteousness. Now if you wish to live for Jesus and have Him bless your life, then you need to put on the breastplate of righteousness. How do you do that? Let us go through some of the Bible today and see just how you can put on the breastplate of righteousness. First, Jesus taught us that we should:
(Mat 6:33 KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Mat 5:6 KJV) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Yes, it all begins with a desire to be right. A desire to do the right thing, a desire to please God, A desire to be clean, A desire to be free from sin. A desire so strong that you hunger and thirst after it! A desire so strong that you seek it. Righteousness simply means to do right – the quality of being right or just. This is not a complicated doctrine nor is it difficult to obtain. Jesus said that if you hunger and thirst after it, you shall be filled. He said that you should seek it above all other things that you have need of. It has always been God’s plan for his people to enjoy living righteous lives.
(Deu 6:25 KJV) And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Righteousness for the people of God has always been for us to observe and do His commandments. It has never been easier for you to keep the commandments of God than it is today! God has provided for you the Bible, Pastors, teachers, and congregations of saints to love you and help you to do it. He has given the Holy Spirit to empower your life. And, He has given the gifts of the Spirit to perfect you in your righteousness. All you have to do is to get started. Do you long to live a clean, righteous, holy life? You can if you will seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, if you will hunger and thirst after it. Jesus and all heaven stands ready to assist you.
(Psa 85:10 KJV) Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
One of the benefits of righteousness is peace. Peace is the quality that only comes to your heart when you live right. The Kingdom of God is Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. When you obey the Holy Spirit and keep the commandments of God, you will enjoy a peace that passes understanding, a peace that flow like a river, a peace that is wonderful and beautiful in your heart. There is no peace to the wicked and there is no peace to those that live ungodly lives.
(Psa 96:13 KJV) Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
(Psa 98:9 KJV) Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
It is righteousness that the Lord expects of His people. The devil has done a job deceiving souls with his locust gospel. Many people think that they can live sinful lives and somehow still enter the eternal heaven. They have been deceived into building without a foundation on the lies of the fallen ministry. The only way to enjoy God in this world and in the world to come is to live a life of righteousness. Our Lord cometh to judge the earth with righteousness. Have you put on the breastplate of righteousness? Seek first His righteousness, hunger and thirst after righteousness and you shall put it on!
(Prov 10:2 KJV) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
When your Lord comes to judge, righteousness will deliver you. Nothing else will deliver you from eternal death in hell. All the wealth you can gather will not buy you one moment of peace, nor will it buy you one minute in heaven. If you live after the treasurers of this world and reject righteousness, you will have missed real life.
(Prov 14:34 KJV) Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
As we have observed the history of our world, we see the truth of this passage. When our nation or any nation has done the right thing, that nation has been exalted. And when our nation or any nation has committed sin, that nation has become a reproach. If there ever was a time when our nation needs to follow the paths of righteousness, it is today. This idea that we all must continue to sin, that no one can live righteous is not an idea that came out of the word of God. It came out of the bottomless pit. It is a smoky gospel that encourages souls to sin and sin is a reproach to any people.
(Prov 16:7-8 KJV) When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. {8} Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
(Prov 21:21 KJV) He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Follow after righteousness and find life, righteousness and honour. Seek the righteousness of the Lord! Hunger and thirst after righteousness! Put on the breastplate of righteousness! It is life!
(Isa 1:21-27 KJV) How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. {22} Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: {23} Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. {24} Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: {25} And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: {26} And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. {27} Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
Isaiah is asking a very important question. How is it that the faithful city of the people of God has become unfaithful? It had been full of judgment and righteousness. Now it is filled with murderers and thieves. This is what has happened to much of the church down through the ages of time. There was a time when the Word of God was preached anointed with the Holy Spirit. Sin was called sin, judgement was laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet. Christians were faithful to their Lord. They lived righteous lives and forsook sin. But someone opened up the bottomless pit and turned loose a smoky gospel that has changed Christians into some sort of weird locust. Instead of being holy, merciful and righteous, they have become corrupted into believing that they can continue in sin and still be Christians. I tell you plainly, there is no such creature. God redeems His people with judgement and righteousness. Without the breastplate of righteousness, you are not a real Christian.
(Isa 28:17 KJV) Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
(Isa 5:22-23 KJV) 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!
How many times I have heard preachers telling us that we cannot live without committing sin. Telling us that we are all sinners. Telling us that if we claim to be righteous, we are being deceived when the exact opposite is the truth. Woe unto them that take away the righteousness of the righteous from him. If you are not righteous, you can be. Listen to Jesus and seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Hunger and thirst after righteousness and you shall be filled with it. God’s Word is truth.
(Isa 26:9 KJV) With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Yes, when God’s judgements are being preached, the people are being taught righteousness. But when the devil is preaching through a fallen ministry, he is teaching the people to continue to live on in sin and hope that somehow God will overlook it because after all God is so good and forgiving. Such preaching is not God’s judgements, it is a smoky gospel that brings torment rather than peace.
(Isa 59:15-17 KJV) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. {16} And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. {17} For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
(Isa 61:1-3 KJV) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; {2} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; {3} To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
(Isa 62:1 KJV) For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Jesus came into this world to bring righteousness to you. He will not keep still nor will His people be content until the entire world is dressed with the breastplate of righteousness. The devil has his smoky gospel spewing out his lies tormenting and hurting souls. Jesus has his messengers proclaiming the judgments of God that condemn sin and teach righteousness. He stands ready to fill you if you will only seek His righteousness. If you really desire to be a Christian indeed, today, then come to Him, seek His forgiveness and His Holy Spirit in your life to put righteousness in you.
(Hosea 10:12 KJV) Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
(Luke 1:74-75 KJV) That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, {75} In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
(Ezek 18:20-24 KJV) The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. {21} But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. {22} All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. {23} Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? {24} But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
Maintained by: Brian S. Rexroth, Sr.
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