AS THE SMOKE OF A GREAT FURNACE

God has consistently shown Himself to be the seeking Saviour God ever since the fall of man and his resulting alienation and condemnation. Never for a moment can we imagine the immense sense of grief in the heart of God that the release of these trumpet judgements will have as they impact with their devastating effects upon mankind.

Now, as the fifth trumpet sounds, God seems to use the very thing that men have preferred and sought after in their rejection of His love and grace in order, perhaps, to demon­strate to them their utter folly. He uses the powers of darkness to torment them!

The fallen star, possibly the one of the third trumpet judge­ment, is given the key to the abyss which holds captive the imprisoned fallen spirits of a bygone age. He swiftly uses it to release them out of their captivity and into society.

The abyss has a long history in scripture. It is associated with the inner earth and the realms of the dead, Ps. 63. 9. It then became the prison of God’s enemies where they were confined and restrained, Amos 9. 2; Isa. 24. 21, 22; 51. 9; Ps. 74. 13. As this abyss is opened up there is the belching out of thick blackness, as that of a furnace chimney, darkening all natural light and creating a choking pollution in the air. This then becomes the forerunner for spirits of darkness. Described as demon locusts, they inflict terrible suffering upon men. The whole thing is too horrendous even to imagine.

This world of satanically inflicted darkness is a depressing scene. The Lord Jesus is the Light of the world and the gospel alone is that which can shine into the heart bringing the light of salvation and peace with God. We are reminded by the apostle Paul that Satan ‘hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ … should shine unto them’, 2 Cor. 4. 4; and by the Lord Himself that ‘the devil … (cometh) and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved’, Luke 8. 12. We are now engaged in this struggle so let us shine as luminaries today and prayerfully watch and pray on our way to glory, cf. 2 Cor. 4. 6.