The Voice Of Seven Thunders

At the conclusion of the Fourth Trumpet, the world was plunged into darkness following a series of gigantic, cosmic disasters. It is unimaginable that earth would ever be in a situation worse than when the fourth angel sounded. However, subsequent to this judgment, a menacing sequence of “Woes” is pronounced from Heaven in association with the three remaining trumpets.

Similar to the Third Trumpet, the Fifth Trumpet’s herald announces the fall of another great star. However, an oddity appears. Although the Fifth Trumpet deepens the prevailing darkness, the source of the plague has changed. Formerly, most of the disasters were linked to natural or cosmic events. The Fourth Trumpet involved the diminished output of visible light from the sun, moon, and stars. Initially, the Fifth Trumpet also resembles a star, “I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth.” (vs. 1) However, this is no ordinary star based on John's use of two personal pronouns, “And to him was given... And he opened...” (vs. 1 & 2)

In the English language, the personal pronouns “him” and “he” are seldom used for inanimate objects. So, what kind of living creature is designated as a “star” in the Fifth Trumpet?

We find a single clue recorded in the Bible's oldest book, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:7

In this passage, the Hebrew word for star is “kowkab.” The inference is quite unusual because “kowkab” does not represent any kind of celestial object but refers instead to an individual of almost messianic status (i.e. a messiah's close relative, a brother or a son who might be viewed as an illustrious prince). The meaning of the first word also matches the following Hebrew phrase “ben Elohiym” (i.e. the sons of God). The context of Job's passage is one of absolute harmony prior to Satan's rebellion when all supernatural beings submitted to God's authority.

Speaking of a time following this most ancient period, Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Luke 10:18 Again, the reference is made to Satan’s dramatic and violent banishment.

John provided additional evidence for the angel's fall, “Behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.” Revelation 12:3-4

So, the creature unlocking the pit at the Fifth Trumpet is not a star but a fallen angel who has the ability to open the prison house of the damned. And the deep darkness that consequently sweeps the earth is not natural but spiritual due to the demonic influence of the unfettered pit. However, what is seen during this judgment period is not new to the earth. This same Evil prevailed on our planet during the days of Noah, causing God to destroy the first earth with a flood. The angels' spiritual rebellion led to even greater carnal offenses when “the sons of God (ben Elohiym) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” Genesis 6:2

Since natural laws were broken, “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4

Likewise, Jude wrote, “The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Jude 1:6

According to both Peter and Jude, this special group of demons would be bound in the abyss under the power of darkness until the time of Judgment. But at the sound of the Fifth Trumpet, a signal would be given for their freedom on earth once again. Undoubtedly, this is what Jesus meant when He promised, “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17:26 What Darkness awaits..., stalking the shadows..., crouching at the edge of human existence..., waiting in anticipation of the trumpet's instantaneous release?

After the fallen angel opens the portal of the abyss, the earth will immediately be overrun by a demonic horde. Although John identifies them symbolically as “locusts,” the creatures are not insects. No, the significance of the analogy is based on three unique qualities.

First, these supernatural beings are associated with locusts because of their inclination to destroy. Referring to Satan – the archenemy, Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. ” John 10:10 Later as the narrative of the Fifth Trumpet continues, there is additional proof that these creatures serve only a destructive purpose.

Secondly, John characterizes these hellish fiends as being locusts due to their action of swarming over the face of the earth. Similar to a large group insects, this cloud of demons will enshroud our planet in spiritual darkness just as the smoke rose from the pit to blot out the sun.

Presently, there are tormented individuals whose actions seem to be driven by dark, invisible forces. Without any sense of remorse, they commit unimaginable acts of cruelty. During the Fifth Trumpet multitudes of humanity will be driven by Darkness to commit these same heinous crimes. The extent of this somber reality was expressed when Jesus said, “If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:23 Characteristically, the world of the Fifth Trumpet will be a place of absolute darkness, without and within.

Thirdly, these creatures are something other than locusts because they do not exist to eat plants. In fact, a divine prohibition is made against them “that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree.” (vs. 4) Avoiding plants, they search for warm-blooded prey to strike instead! Their single focus is narrowly drawn to one living host, humans who do not bear the Seal of God's protection. By targeting individuals who have not accepted God's Grace, Scripture clearly indicates that the Church will be present during the Fifth Trumpet. If the Redeemed were absent from the earth, then no restriction would be necessary as to whom the creatures could attack. By designating one group as “victims,” we infer that other individuals are not included. Protected in the land of Goshen, Israel experienced a similar exclusion during the Egyptian plagues.

As the First Woe continues, we notice the effect the Fifth Trumpet has on mankind. Associated with destructive locusts, the escaping demons immediately focus on unsaved individuals.

After being imprisoned for millennia, the object of the creatures' vengeful attack is total annihilation or else Scripture would not have included a divine prohibition, “And to them it was given that they should not kill them,” Revelation 9:5