THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

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Rev. 9:1 “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.”

The Fifth Trumpet in Revelation 9 unveils a terrifying scene where the bottomless pit is opened, releasing demonic forces upon the earth. These forces, led by Satan, bring torment upon those who do not have the seal of God. The imagery used in this passage is vivid, revealing the depth of spiritual deception and judgment coming upon the world. As we study this, we must be mindful of the spiritual implications, particularly regarding the importance of our foundation in Christ.

Rev. 9:2 “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.”

The pit is described as “bottomless” because it has no foundation. It is a realm of chaos and disorder, devoid of the stability that comes from being rooted in Christ.

In Ephesians 2:20-22, Paul speaks of Christ as the chief cornerstone upon which the entire church is built. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Paul urges us to be careful where we build, for no other foundation can be laid except that of Jesus Christ. This is a powerful reminder that only a foundation built on Christ can withstand the trials and deceptions of the end times.

There are many who preach about love, but if that love is not founded on the truth of God’s Word, it is like building on shifting sand. Such teachings will lead to a bottomless pit—an empty, endless abyss of deception. Even the Antichrist preaches love, but the difference lies in the foundation. A love that is not built on the truth of Christ is false and ultimately destructive.

As the pit is opened, smoke emerges like that from a great furnace, darkening the sun and the air. This smoke symbolizes a false glory and deception that blinds people from the truth.

Throughout the Bible, clouds often represent the glory of God (Isaiah 4:5, Exodus 16:10, Exodus 19:18, Numbers 9:15-16). However, the smoke from the pit is a counterfeit—Satan’s false glory. In Matthew 4:8, we see how Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world and their glory, a deceptive and fleeting glory compared to the eternal glory of God.

The smoke from the pit darkens the sun and the air, symbolizing how false glory blocks the light of God’s Word. Light and air are essential for life, and without them, there can be no spiritual life. Many ministers are deceived by the allure of false glory—positions of power and authority—that keep them from embracing the truth. As a result, those under such ministries are left in darkness, unable to see the light of God’s truth.

Those who remain in the Nicolaitan system, which represents a hierarchical, controlling church structure, are particularly susceptible to this deception. They do not love the truth and are blinded by the smoke of false glory. An example of this is the misuse of tithes, where the focus is more on financial gain than on spiritual growth and truth.

John 16:13 tells us that the Holy Spirit was given to guide us into all truth, not into false glory. If we are feasting on the truth today, it is evidence that the Spirit of God is working in us. The Spirit of Truth will continue to guide us until we come into the fullness of truth. It’s crucial to ask ourselves if our church is receiving a continuous supply of truth or if we have become stagnant in our spiritual journey.

Rev. 9: 3-6 “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 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 he 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.”

When the pit is opened, locusts come forth, representing demonic forces sent to torment those who do not have eternal life. These locusts are not ordinary—they can discern who has the seal of God and who does not. Those who remain in false religious systems, such as the Harlot and Nicolaitan systems, will be subject to this torment unless they come out of them.

The locusts are described as strippers of life, symbolizing how they attack those without the life of Christ. They torment those who are spiritually dead, bringing a sting like that of a scorpion, which causes “numbness, dullness, confusion, and delusion.”

The Torments of Job: To understand the extent of Satan’s power to bring torment, we can look at the story of Job:

1. Sabeans Led by Satan: Job 1:15 – The Sabeans attacked and took Job’s oxen and donkeys, killing the servants.

2. Fire from Heaven: Job 1:16 – Fire fell from heaven, burning up the sheep and the servants.

3. Chaldeans: Job 1:17 – The Chaldeans formed raiding parties and took Job’s camels, killing the servants.

4. Great Wind: Job 1:19 – A great wind struck the house, killing Job’s children.

5. Sore Boils: Job 2:7 – Satan afflicted Job with painful boils from head to toe.

These examples show the destructive power of Satan and his demonic forces when allowed by God. This period of torment is the First Woe, during which people will seek death but will be unable to find it. Such is the agony that death will seem preferable, yet it will escape them.

Rev. 9:7 “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.”

The locusts are depicted as war machines, like horses prepared for battle (Revelation 9:17-19). They symbolize the demonic forces under Satan’s command, ready to wage war against humanity. This is why we must put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:12-18), to stand against the wiles of the devil and his army.

The locusts have crowns like gold, representing false authority and glory, and faces like men, indicating that they possess intelligence and influence. Their “crowning glory” is a deceptive glory, intended to lead people away from the true glory found in Christ.

The Fifth Trumpet and the First Woe reveal the terrifying reality of spiritual deception and the consequences of rejecting God’s truth. The bottomless pit is a realm without foundation, and those who build on anything other than Christ are in danger of falling into this abyss.

False glory, false teachings, and the allure of power are tools that Satan uses to deceive and lead people away from the truth. As believers, we must be vigilant, ensuring that our foundation is firmly rooted in Christ, the chief cornerstone. We must be guided by the Spirit of Truth, continually growing in our understanding of God’s Word and not becoming stagnant in our faith.

The armor of God is essential in these times of spiritual warfare. We need truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer to stand against the demonic forces that seek to destroy us. Let us remain steadfast, building on the unshakable foundation of Christ, and shining the light of His truth in a world darkened by deception. The trumpet has sounded—now is the time to stand firm in the truth and be prepared for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.