Coming Soon!
A REAL LIFE
HORROR STORY
                                                                                           By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                           July 4, 2018
     "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.
     And he opened the bottomless; 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.
     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 green tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
     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 it striketh a man.
     And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them," Revelation 9:1-6.  
Introduction
     When I was just a young boy, the Hollywood series of movies about Frankenstein were released to the public.  At the time, there was a public reaction.  Those who liked scary movies thought the Frankenstein series was great.  But some parents, who made the mistake of taking their little children to see those movies were appalled that such movies were even allowed to be shown, for in many cases their little  children, after seeing the movie, would wake during the night screaming and frightened out of their wits.  However, there was no real public outcry, and the movies continued to be shown.  
     Since that time, the Hollywood horror films have only gotten worse.  Today there are movies shown on TV as well as in theaters depicting demons, aliens, UFO terrorists, etc.  But today even most little children know they are not real, and watching them is considered "fun."  
     In this study, I want to tell our readers about a real life production that is coming to those left behind on the earth following the rapture.  And the people it concerns will not be able to turn it off.......
How It Will Begin
     As John was shown the vision given to him about the future Tribulation period and beyond, he saw "a star fall from heaven."  This likely will not involve a literal star, because the Scripture refers to the star by a personal pronoun; "him."  I suspect this is an angel, perhaps even one of  Satan's fallen angels.  In the little epistle of Jude, one of the labels placed upon the wicked is "wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever," Jude 13.  
      This "star"  is then given "the key to the bottomless pit."  Notice that he did not have the key, but that it was given to him after he had fallen to the earth.  
      The "star" then uses the key to open "the bottomless pit."  The Scriptures do not say, but this opening somewhere on the surface of the earth may involve a great earthquake or other geological activity.  I hardly see how such an opening in the earth's surface, would not require some sort of geological activity.  
     How large the opening will be, and where on the earth's surface the opening will be located, the Scriptures do not tell us.  But even as I write. the volcano on the big island in Hawaii is still shooting fire into the air some 200 feet  above the caldron.  That means the lava is being driven towards the surface by tremendous pressure in the bowels  of the earth.  Will the opening of "the bottomless pit" be just as spectacular as this present volcano in Hawaii has been, or even much more spectacular?  It remains to be seen by those left behind on earth when the rapture occurs.  
Then What Happens?
     When "the bottomless pit" is opened, there first comes out of it "smoke," like the smoke from "a great furnace."  Dear readers, those left behind on the earth when the rapture of God's people occurs, are unbelievers.  They will have spent their lives before the rapture denying the reality of God and of Christ, and denying the Word of God.  In their unbelief, they doubted or outright denied the reality of there even being a real Heaven or a real Hell.  When this "bottomless pit" is opened, Almighty God will be giving to mankind upon the earth visible proof that Hell is a real literal place, and that there is literal fire in Hell, in which the incorrigible wicked will be tormented day and night for ever.  
     Then "out of the smoke" come creatures which the inspired Word calls "locusts."  However, these creatures will not be like any locusts known to man on the earth today.  First, they will obviously be impervious to fire, for they will come forth out of "the bottomless pit."  Yes, I certainly do believe that Almighty God is capable of creating a creature who can live in fire without being harmed by it.  The Lord God has already demonstrated this truth to mankind.  See Daniel 3, particularly verses 19 through 30.
Their Service to God
     In human history there are many records of plagues of locusts hitting various nations, or areas of the earth.  Inevitably, these locusts devoured everything edible in their path as they passed through a country or land.  But these "locusts" out of "the bottomless pit" will be different.  They are commanded to "not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree."  Who gives these "locusts" this command?  The Bible doesn't say, but it does say that they do have a "king" over them.  See 9:11.  So the vegetation on the earth will not be harmed by  them.    
     However, they will be commanded to sting "those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."  This statement refers back to Revelation 7 where the 144,000 are sealed by God "in their foreheads" before any of the Tribulation judgments are poured out upon the earth, Revelation 7:1-8.  
     Dear readers, the resurrection and rapture of all New Covenant believers will be one of the greatest "witnesses" to the Jewish people that has ever occurred in their history.  Therefore immediately following the rapture there will be 144,000 of the Israelite people who will turn to Christ with their whole heart and soul, be saved, and then sealed by God's angels with a visible mark in their foreheads.  Thus they will stand in direct contrast to the followers of the anti-christ, who will have his name or number imprinted in their foreheads, Revelation 13:16-18.  
     It will be this latter group of incorrigible unbelievers who will be tormented by the "locusts," 9:4.   They will be "stung" by these "locusts" for a period of five months, 9:5.  "5" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "Grace; the grace of God."  The people the "locusts" are commanded to torment, will be those left behind when the rapture occurs, who will have totally rejected the Grace of God when it was available to them.    
No Escape....
     The severity of the "torment" by the "locusts" will be such that those being "stung" by them will actually seek to die. Those wicked unbelievers being "stung," will prefer death, rather than to  continue suffering such "torment."   I have been told numerous times that the "sting" of a scorpion is one of the most painful stings known to man.   Yet these people will not be allowed to die.  The Lord God is the giver of life, but also the One who sets the "appointed time" for mankind to die.  The Lord God will abolish death for those being "stung" by these "locusts," during that five month period.  They may attempt to commit suicide by various means in order to escape the stinging of the "locusts," but even their attempts to kill themselves will fail, 9:6.  
The Description of the Locusts
     The description of these "locusts" is set forth in 9:7-10.  But they are also described in Joel 2:1-11.  That they will resemble some sort of "insect" is obvious from the detailed description of them.  
     I am well aware that some commentators have made these "locusts" out to be modern army tanks with machine guns at the back of the tanks. Such a claim is unadulterated "hogwash."  Army tanks do not climb walls, run upon housetops, enter  into windows, or leap from the tops of mountains,  Joel 2:5-9.  Why don't those who claim to be "Christians" learn to take God's Word at face value for what it actually and literally says, unless there is a Scriptural reason for doing otherwise?  I am also aware that they are referred to as "people" in Joel 2, yet their description in that same chapter makes it obvious that it is not humans which are being described.  
       These "locusts" are literally some type of creature which God has created for this special purpose.  The inspired Word clearly states that such creatures have never previously existed, and after they have fulfilled the will of God, there will never be anymore after them, Joel 2:2.  
     The Bible does not tell us how large they are, but obviously they are large enough to be described in detail.  Perhaps an inch long, or perhaps even several inches long.  But their body shape is that of  "horses prepared unto battle."  They have gold colored "crowns" on their heads, and faces resembling "the faces of men,"  Rev. 9:7.  
     They have hair like "the hair of women," [apparently long hair], and teeth like "the teeth of lions," 9:8.  
     Their bodies are covered with breastplates resembling "breatplates of iron."  They also have "wings," and when they fly their wings make a sound similar to "chariots of many horses running to battle," 9:9.  
     Then as previously stated, they have tails "like unto scorpions, and stings in their tails," 9:10.  
     Additional details are given in Joel 2:1-11, which I suggest our readers study carefully.  
     Notice in Joel's account, that men attempt to stop these "locusts" by setting fires in front of them.  This has been traditionally practiced by mankind for centuries when a plague of locusts would invade an area.  In order to protect their crops, men would build a fire line in front of the advancing locusts and attempt to burn them up as they advanced.  It is obvious from Joel 2:3 that men during the Tribulation will attempt to stop the advance of these "locusts" by trying this again.  However, these "locusts" will have come out of "the bottomless pit," and men's fires will have no effect at all upon them.  
     When men try other methods to stop the advance of the "locusts," their methods won't work.  Joel 2:7 says that the "locusts" will not break their ranks, and 2:8 says that not even a sword will "wound them."  
Talk About a Horror Story
     Can our readers even imagine how horrible it will be for the incorrible wicked to be tormented by these creatures day and night for five months?  Just think about seeing hordes of these "locusts" approaching one's home, coming across the lawn.  Think about these creatures crawling all over a  person; on their body, in their ears, in their hair, stinging the person over and over again.  Think about them coming in the windows of one's home.  Think about waking up in bed at night to find these creatures crawling in your bed.  
     This is why the Lord Himself, in giving this vision to John, called this judgment upon the unbelieving wicked a "Woe;" the first of three "woes" that are coming upon Christ rejecting unbelievers during the Tribulation period, Rev. 9:12.  
     One would think that after such a horrible judgment, unbelieving mankind would repent and seek the Lord for salvation.  But they won't!  Even after the first two "woes" have occurred, the inspired Word clearly states, "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk.  
     Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts," 9:20-21.  
     This well illustrates the wickedness and depravity of the human heart who has rejected God's way of salvation, and turned their backs on God and His Word.  Every person born into this world, comes into it with a "sin nature" inherited from Adam, Romans 5:12; Psalm 58:1-3.  Our gracious Lord God sends His Holy Spirit to "reprove the world of sin," John 16:7-11.  When one has been convicted of the reality of their sin, then they have an opportunity to call upon the Lord and receive Him as their Savior, Romans 10:13.  Those who refuse to do so, while under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, may never be given a second opportunity to be saved, for God does not owe any lost soul an opportunity for salvation.  If one wants to be saved, and escape the horrible judgments described in this Bible Study, then they need to receive the Lord as their own personal Savior during that time when they are being "reproved" [convicted] by God's Holy Spirit.  
     Now take a Bible and read and act upon the truths set forth in John 3:3-7, 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24, 14:6, Acts 4:12, 16:30-31, Romans 10:8-13, and Ephesians 2:8-10.  In receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, you will never have this real life horrible experience of  the "locusts" being turned loose upon you during the Tribulation period, which is staring humanity in the face right now.  Hurry!  Time is swiftly running out for you to be saved.  
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     Permission is granted to any true believer, or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.  
      For those readers wanting to do so, I can be personally contacted by one of the following methods......
POSTAL.......Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401.
EMAIL..........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE........573-202-6493   
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