With the fifth trumpet, the scene changes somewhat. It still has the appearance of a natural plague of locusts, but there is nothing natural about it. This plague lasts for five months. One should not take this literally; instead, it is another symbolic indicator that this is temporary and limited. 5 is ½ the complete number, 10. So this is not the final judgment. But those who have not been sealed will feel like it’s forever.
Unlike the first four trumpets, this plague does not affect nature itself, grass, trees, wildlife, etc. Instead, it is focused exclusively on those without the seal of God. This plague of cartoon-like locusts emanates from the Abyss and is led by Satan himself.
There is all kinds of speculation about what these Marvel comic book locusts might be. Some think John was describing helicopters. Likewise, modern technology might suggest drone swarms. But all these weapons of war are deployed to kill mankind, not just torture them. The imagery we see is not, I believe, that of a physical locust, but of something less tangible. There is a miraculous twist to it, as no one is allowed to die. It seems to me that persons so tortured would find ways to end it all, but as with Job of old, Satan is not allowed to take the lives of the poor, hapless throngs.
I believe this is not some military campaign with helicopters or drones, but rather something far more insidious. It is the rottenness of self-indulgence in a hedonistic culture. It is characterized by unbridled passion, unrestrained excess. I’ve seen it in the tortured posture of a homeless man strung out on drugs. It is described in the agonizing journals of mass shooters who want to end it all but want to take everyone with them. I’ve witnessed the face of it in the mindless, joyless, silence at a row of brightly lit casino “one-armed bandits,” the zombie-like players robotically feeding coins and pulling levers. We’ve all witnessed this torture in the failed marriages of our world where partners have walked away after they’ve sucked the life out of each other in a wicked spiral of psychological greed.
For John’s readers, this torture played itself out in the Roman populace as they became more and more obsessed with the entertainment and blood lust of the gladiatorial games. As the desire for more pleasure and free food accelerated, Rome descended into a decadent sewer and was subsequently conquered by outside forces.
Paul describes this plague in Romans 1:28-32:
"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." – NIV
I remember many years ago watching the move, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” I have never felt so depressed. It was like descending into hell, watching this couple torture each other psychologically. That is what this plague reminds me of. This scenario plays out in the final act of the rise and fall of every empire, every culture, and every society.
Unlike the first four trumpets, this plague does not affect nature itself, grass, trees, wildlife, etc. Instead, it is focused exclusively on those without the seal of God. This plague of cartoon-like locusts emanates from the Abyss and is led by Satan himself.
There is all kinds of speculation about what these Marvel comic book locusts might be. Some think John was describing helicopters. Likewise, modern technology might suggest drone swarms. But all these weapons of war are deployed to kill mankind, not just torture them. The imagery we see is not, I believe, that of a physical locust, but of something less tangible. There is a miraculous twist to it, as no one is allowed to die. It seems to me that persons so tortured would find ways to end it all, but as with Job of old, Satan is not allowed to take the lives of the poor, hapless throngs.
I believe this is not some military campaign with helicopters or drones, but rather something far more insidious. It is the rottenness of self-indulgence in a hedonistic culture. It is characterized by unbridled passion, unrestrained excess. I’ve seen it in the tortured posture of a homeless man strung out on drugs. It is described in the agonizing journals of mass shooters who want to end it all but want to take everyone with them. I’ve witnessed the face of it in the mindless, joyless, silence at a row of brightly lit casino “one-armed bandits,” the zombie-like players robotically feeding coins and pulling levers. We’ve all witnessed this torture in the failed marriages of our world where partners have walked away after they’ve sucked the life out of each other in a wicked spiral of psychological greed.
For John’s readers, this torture played itself out in the Roman populace as they became more and more obsessed with the entertainment and blood lust of the gladiatorial games. As the desire for more pleasure and free food accelerated, Rome descended into a decadent sewer and was subsequently conquered by outside forces.
Paul describes this plague in Romans 1:28-32:
"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." – NIV
I remember many years ago watching the move, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” I have never felt so depressed. It was like descending into hell, watching this couple torture each other psychologically. That is what this plague reminds me of. This scenario plays out in the final act of the rise and fall of every empire, every culture, and every society.
RSS Feed
