4 Fallen Angels Are Bound Under the Euphrates River

 

We are studying a difficult portion of Scripture today. More difficult than the study itself is the context! Those who experience this chapter in the future will be those who, when the opportunity was before them to respond to the gospel invitation, refused, neglected or mocked the chance to be rescued from hell. Like Felix in the Book of Acts.

Acts 24:24-25 ~ "After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about the righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you."

Guess what? Felix never called for Paul.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ~ "Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Those of you who think you can put off making a decision to accept Jesus may come too late and God may harden your heart so that you can't make that choice because you simply pushed it off for too long just like He did for Pharoah.

The readers of Revelation are being exposed to what God says are demons, fallen angels, these demonic powers, that are bound right now in the spirit realm and they have a geographical location, the Bible says under the riverbed of the Euphrates River, somewhere buried beneath in the spirit realm there are a specific geographical spot where these demons are being held until they are released. The Bible says that they are so bad, that they are currently confined until they are released at an appointed time during the Tribulation Period.

The Euphrates is referred to as the cradle of civilization because on the human side we can trace languages and our human DNA to the location but it appears that God in Genesis is describing creation mentioning the Euphrates River. It may have as well hosted the location of the Garden of Eden.

We see that judgment is God's resource. It's a tool of His. We don't like the term judgment but when it applies to God, He is the ultimate Judge and is Holy and Righteous when He applies it.

Revelation 9:14 ~ "Saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

We know that the Euphrates River is very much a real location. These four creatures are not something you would see. They are not swimming around in the Euphrates River. You can't take dive gear and attempt to locate them. They are bound under the river. You can't take sonar equipment and attempt to locate them. They are there. The Bible tells us they are even if we can't see them. We can't see radio waves, but we know they exist. We know angels exist but we can't see them right now. As a Christian, based on the book of Matthew and Hebrews, we have at least one angel that is assigned to our life right now, regarding the heirs of salvation, and that is us according to the Bible.

There is spiritual for the good and spiritual for the bad entities around us at all times. So much so as what is talking about here in Revelation, when the spiritual world meets the physical world, two worlds in collision.

The Euphrates River is 1780 miles long and is considered to be the most important river in the Bible. It is located in the heart of the cradle of civilization and in the middle of the most oil rich nations in the world. After God created the heavens and the earth, that area in particular was known as the Garden of God. It was so beautiful.  Adam and Eve used to live in that region. Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers today it doesn't look like much and the environment is horrible. It's amazing to look at what happened when the fall of man occurred and sin entered the world. That region looks like it has been devastated and is a horrible place to be right now. You would think with all the abundance of water that flows from both the Euphrates and Tigris River, that area would be blessed but it is not. Have you ever thought about that before?

Some people have wondered if its not the demonic effervescence or the demonic influence of these four fallen angels that reside under the Euphrates River has an influence over the very topography and climates of that region. It is a stretch but it is interesting to consider. What was actually one of the most beautiful places on the planet is the most horrible place today.

If you are a skeptic, you will have a hard time dealing with the fact that the Euphrates River is mentioned in the Bible from the Book of Genesis all the way through the Book of Revelation. The Book of the Bible deals with facts. The Bible says that there are four terrible, horrible, evil angels that have fallen. They are bound and held under the great Euphrates River until a day of judgment appointed by God. Who are these fallen angels?

Jude 1:5-7 ~ "Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day - just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire."

This is referring to the final 3 1/2 years of the 7 year Tribulation period. The pieces are beginning to fit together. We have angels who once lived in heaven, that sinned and rebelled and were cast out of heaven. We know that four of them are bound in chains under the Euphrates River, and disobeyed and did something that went against their natural habitat. They went somewhere that was not authorized. For this reason, God has bound them up and they are held in chains, they are not free to run around like Satan is. These four are not.

What was the sin of these fallen angels?

Genesis 6:1-5 ~ "When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh, his days shall be 120 years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The LORD saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

He mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah because they were famous for their sin in the Book of Jude. There were angels who disobeyed God and were booted out of heaven. These angels went after strange flesh. In the Greek it was heteros, which is where we get the word 'heterosexual.' What does that mean? It means when two people of opposite genders of the same kind to procreate. The procreation of the same race but different genders. That is a good thing. That is the reason God designed it that way, a man and a women shall become one flesh!

The angels that did not keep their proper domain they got engaged in some sort of sexual deviation and went after strange or hetero flesh. They went after flesh that was not authorized for them. They went after something that was of a different kind. They are who comes out of the ground that is bound and chained in Revelation 9. The sons of God are reserved exclusively for angels if you want to do a further study on just the term "sons of God."

Notice that they "took," in Hebrew means that they mingled with humanity, with the intent to rape, capture or steal them. These women were wives of men and they were taken by these fallen angels for sexual encounters with them. You don't have to go far with Satanism and those who have been a part of it to understand the terms sucubus and incubus which goes back thousands and thousands of years. These are drug induced sexual encounters where a human waits on a demonic entity to have relations with them leaving behind physical manifestations on their body that even psychologists can't explain. These has been going on for at least 6000 years. This is a real dark sinister world.

We know that 120 years later a flood came and washed them all away. If you read about these offspring in Samuel, we know that they had six fingers and six toes on each hand and foot. They were men who stood 9 feet high and plus in height. They were absolute freaks of nature. But they were supernatural of nature. This will happen again during the Tribulation Period.

Daniel 2:40-44 ~ "And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron beaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, not shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, an it shall stand forever."

No wonder that this chapter is skipped over more than any other chapter in Revelation. Divine judgment is God's reward for all of humanity that is without the covering of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 9:15 ~ "So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind."

If you do the math, at this point in the Tribulation, half of the world's population is dead. Remember that this is a very specific day, month, hour and year that have been appointed that during the Tribulation Period this will happen and it is known only to God. God has appointments and God keeps His appointments. These creatures have been waiting for a very long time, to be released to do their mischief, and these fallen angels will stir up an army of demonic combatants with a great hatred for humanity. There's a scene of devastation when a demon army will come to earth.

Revelation 9:16 ~ "The number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number."  

Don't be mislead by some of the books out there that say that China has an army of more than two hundred million. They do and that's fine. This has nothing to do with an earthly army. This is a demon force. When these four angels will bring with them hordes of demons in an army upon the earth. I still don't believe we will be able to see these things. Remember John was shown them so he might be able to write about them. Imagine being attacked by things you can't see?

We learned that one set of demons will be released to attack and torment mankind for 5 months and then these four will be released along with a demon horde army to kill a 1/3 of mankind. Doesn't that make you glad you're a Christian today? There are those that if you're not a Christian will respond in a number of ways, there are those that will want to know how they can escape this judgment and turn to Jesus, there will be those that reject what is going to happen and say, "What a bunch of fairy tales."  You better watch out. Technology has taken on the look of a fairy tale and if that can happen, can't God through the physical and spiritual world take His apostle John, and try to communicate to us some 2000 years later what its going to be like for those Christ rejectors? For those who remain solidified in their concrete what they will see during this time?

We would hail Spielberg if he was able to portray this on the big screen! God's going to do it for real! He won't get an Oscar for it, instead He is going to get rejected for it.

A demon army is coming and they have supernatural powers.

Revelation 9:17-19 ~ "The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury."

Ephesians 6 tells us that as Christians we are not fighting fleshly battles but spiritual battles. We are all in the battle but if you're getting beat up, something is wrong. You may have ran out of the house without your armor on. Your spiritual armor. How do you do that? Read your Bible, pray, fellowship with God's people, attend church. If you are a Christian today, you may or may not be detecting spiritual battle. If you are coasting and cruising in your spiritual walk and you might be saved and going to heaven, but if you are not a threat to the kingdom of darkness, you're probably not experiencing much spiritual battle. You are not a threat to the enemy.

I guarantee you this, start praying more, witnessing to your friends, get more committed at your church, do something that honors and glorifies the name of Jesus, and the enemy is going to push back. If you don't have spiritual push back in your life, I'd be concerned if I was a Christian. I'd wonder why are things so peaceful and calm. What am I doing wrong? We are supposed to be in a war. We need to put our armor on. When we do that, we might be surprised that our marriage gets a whole lot better, or your kids start understanding more about God. If your Christianity is very calm and peaceful, you want to be out there putting a dent in Satan's door. Stand for righteousness. Do the Bible. Love God with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind. It's a wonderful thing to be battling for the Lord's cause!

Understanding The Differences Between Demons and Fall Angels and Yes, They Are Real!

 

Remember if you have been following my study into the Book of Revelation with me, as a believer in Jesus Christ, we won't have to be here when hell comes forth unto the earth like we are studying today. The wrath that comes to the earth during the Tribulation period is for those who have rejected God's offer and instead want to do things their own way.

Revelation 9:3-4 ~ "And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads."

Remember that Satan has been given the key to open the bottomless pit by the authority of God and when it is opened, demonic power comes forth in a smoke like cloud. Creature-entities will come forth upon the earth and they will afflict with terrible pain. They are living spiritual beings. Satan is real and demons are real. There are fallen angels and demons and both are real. Fallen angels appear and disappear. They have no need to take on a human body, animal, idol or statue. Demons have to have a human body, an animal, an idol or a statue to manifest their will. Fallen angels nor heavenly angels need any of that. Angels appear and disappear at will. We know that 1/3 of the fallen angels that God created fell when Satan tricked them although the exact number is unknown.

We know that they inflict pain for a short time. These are not earthly locusts that you might know of. So why does John mention the word "locust" then? If you live in the Middle East or in Africa, the word locusts sends fear into your mind right now. When normal locusts come, they leave nothing left. There is nothing left to eat, they eat all the bark off of trees, killing the trees and unless you can move to another area, you will die. Did you know that? They leave nothing behind when they attack. These locusts have the ability to sting like a scorpion. Locusts don't sting. Demonic aflliction will come upon those on the earth who are not (1) believers in God, because those who are believers are sealed and are protected by God,  and (2) those who have rejected Christ during the Tribulation period. This devilish affliction will be for 5 months. Now the question remains as to whether mankind will be able to see them when they come.

I believe that they will not be seen, that the apostle John was given the power to see them as this is being revealed to him. I believe that human beings will be tormented by the invisible spiritual realm for 5 months that is coming upon them. John sees them in the spirit and he tries to communicate that to us. One of the ways of demonic affliction is to get people away from the truth. Demonic affliction is nothing new. In many nations where the gospel is not preached there is a strong sense of demonic activity and demonism.

1 Timothy 3:16, 4:1 ~ "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great. He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

When someone knocks on your door with something that is abhorrent or off from the Bible, the Bible says that when they come knocking, they are promoting the doctrine of demons. That is the origin. When these creature entities come forth among the earth, their attack will be well directed. Look locusts consume grass and these locusts were ordered not to attack the grass, trees or any plants. These are not normal locusts. Those that are sealed are the only ones who can not be harmed, and those are the 144,000 Jewish evangelists from Revelation 7 as well as those who come to God during the Tribulation. There is no visible seal that you can see, just like if you look in the mirror you can't see anything, but if you are a believer in Christ, the Bible says that we have been sealed by the seal of our living Father in the book of Ephesians, chapters 1 and 2. You may not see anything, but God sealed you the day you accepted Christ. Those who trust in God during that time will be delivered and protected.

Matthew 12:43-45 ~ "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, "I will return to the house I left." When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

The interesting thing to note and consider further study on is why when a demon leaves a human body does it go to arid places, places without water? That is another study for another day but it is very interesting and one you may had never considered. Demons refer to the human body as their house. When the demon comes back and finds it empty it means the Holy Spirit did not move in, the person remained undecided. They didn't get saved. There is a vacancy. No God in their life. No Holy Spirit. Jesus shared an interesting insight into the demonic world.

When Hell meets earth, mankind will receive a token of eternity, to truly suffer, is to suffer without God's grace.

Revelation 9:5-6 ~ "They were not give power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die; but death will elude them."

The Book of Daniel, Chapter 12 and John's gospel 5:28-29 ~ "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

In the end, there will be a judgment of the righteous and the unrighteous, did you know that? Those of us that are Christians, will be judged by Jesus Christ, for the opportunities that were given to us, the open doors to us that allowed us to serve Him, to bring glory to His name. We will not be judged on any of our sins, or regarding heaven or hell. It's called the Bema seat! The judgment seat of Christ found in 1 Corinthians. It is a good thing! We all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We will receive rewards of what we have done while we were in our bodies here on earth. Did we live for Jesus or did we live for us? Did we give our attention to God? Did we help to expand His kingdom and did we give our money for the advancement of the Lord? Did we invest in God's kingdom? He is going to ask us this one question, "What did you do for My Son?" Jesus might say, "What did you do for Me? Let's take a look and see!" We will suffer loss or be blessed based on how we responded in faith to those opportunities. We need to figure out for ourselves what those opportunities are, that are given to us from God. This has nothing to do with heaven or hell! You're safe at this point. You are going to heaven.

But to those who are not Christ's...they do not appear before the judgment seat of Christ. The Bible says that they appear before God the Father. Without Christ, without Jesus' intervention. They stand before God in Revelation 20:11 and the books are opened and they are judged out of the books and the things written therein. It says that all those whose names are not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life, who are judged and cast into hell. What a horrific thing. Perhaps you are saying to yourself, "I don't want to go there." I don't want you to go there either.

The Bible says that the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to eternal life. We all fear judgment and there is a looming fear of that in the back of all of our minds. If we don't reconcile what God has said and what is in the Bible, the choice to accept God and what He has said throughout the Bible or to reject it all. The implications of those choices are ours alone. God doesn't send anyone to hell. We choose where we will go. If we accept God and the Bible and all that goes along with it, the choice is heaven. If we reject God, the Bible, Jesus and everything that goes with that, the choice is heaven. Even if we choose to not accept God, that choice determines our eternity for us. It's simple. Know Jesus, Know Life!  No Jesus, no life!

God knows everything, but He gives us the opportunity to choose. That is the only way to true love and life. People demand on going to hell, and reject Jesus. You are responsible for that choice, not God! Don't blame God.

What is Hell Really Going To Be Like?

Today we get into some of the symbols we discover in Revelation 9 today. These are manifestations of demonic powers that John is trying to describe while watching in the realm of the Spirit and we need to keep that in mind. During that time, people will not be seeing these freakish monsters walking down the street like in some bad movie. However, invisibly in the spirit realm this portion of scripture tells us that men are going to be tormented on earth by these demons that attack that sting, bite and inflict pain. Men are going to have such pain that it will be unquenchable for five months by virtue of these demonic powers. Remember that they have been given authority not to kill the mortals but to inflict pain upon them. The Bible says it will be like when a scorpion strikes a man, and sometimes you have to flick them off, because that hook-like needle in their tail gets stuck in the skin. You then get a fiery burn from the sting before the poison follows with their chemicals to debilitate a person. This is really going to happen.

You might be able to pick up some modern day translation and people are simply going to say that its all symbolic and so is the pain. John is saying, it is like when a scorpion stings somebody. He is trying to describe a real event using human things we can understand and relate to. Revelation 9 alone has more symbols than in any other chapter in the Bible. Remember John is trying to describe what he says and he is saying to himself, "How do I tell people what I am seeing? What's that like? It's like this!" But the pain and horror of it all is very real.

To truly suffer, is to suffer without God's grace. Remember what is coming to the earth is for those that have rejected Jesus and God's offer of salvation. We don't have to be here when that happens.

Revelation 9:5-6 ~ " They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them."

Ever been stung before? By a bee, a scorpion, spider or even bitten by a poisonous snake? Imagine being stung or bitten repeatedly for five months? Or even for those of you that fear getting a shot at the doctors? Imagine getting a shot around the clock for five months? One of the things about suffering is the hope that in the morning you might feel better. When you suffer all night long and you long for the morning, when you will feel better? Oh Lord bring mercy in the morning. There is hope in the morning! Not here, it lasts every single minute of the day for five months. These people are tormented by this demonic manifestation of things that operate in a swarm like locusts but they sting like scorpions. Whenever you read the word "as" or "like" it means it is not what it is saying, it is symbolizing or trying to explain something worse than what is being depicted. They are worse than locusts and scorpions.

Revelation 9:7-10 ~ "The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months."

The Bible talks about Hell, but have you ever really thought about it. What is means to be sent to hell? This is such a painful and terrible experience. That men and women will succeed at suicide, but will not be able to die. It's horrible to imagine that! Death "can be" a release to the tormented. "Just let me die!" But this is just a precursor to hell itself. It goes by a variety of names if you compile scriptures. If it makes you uncomfortable, there is a reason for it. The nature of hell is (1) never being able to die, (2) forever falling, (3) total darkness, (4) continues burning, (5) treading water in the lake of fire, (6) worm-like things that bite, (7) unquenchable thirst, (8) constant weeping, (9) breaking of teeth, (10) timeless, and (11) alone, absolutely. You will see no one from life. You are forever alive while dying. You will suffer a second death, a physical decay and a spiritual dying.

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army said he was given a vision of hell that forever changed his life. He saw an ocean of flame, and there were men and women doing their best to tread water in a ocean of flame, and their mouths were just above the water as they were trying to breathe, constantly trying to tread water, and neither one of them were trying to rescue the other or hurt the other, for they were not aware of the presence of the other. A lake of fire that puts out no light.

By the way, hell was created long before man was ever created and before Adam and Eve ever sinned. It was created for Satan and his punishment. Not for you. It was created to punish Satan, but for those that reject Jesus. You might argue that that is coercion, but let me ask you this, are you getting younger or older? You are older today than you were yesterday, that is a physical law. You are getting older. Can't change it. Doctor's are working on it. Good luck! You will still die. You might die good looking, but you're going to die. It's a law you can't change.

Matthew 25:41 ~ "Then he will say to those in his left, "Depart from me; you who are cused, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

When hell meets earth, demons will manifest themselves on earth, and no earthly power can save it. Do you remember when Jesus left his disciples alone for the day?

Matthew 17:21 ~ "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

Ephesians 6:11-18 ~ "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the saints."

No earthly power will be effective. No "Voo-Doo Garlic-Flavored Holy Water" will matter. No positive thinking, Tony Roberts, "Let's Make a Deal" act will work. When hell meets the earth, Satan himself will command the events and his anger will be vented on humanity.

Revelation 9:11-12 ~ "They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come." 

These "locusts" are demonic and they have a king.

Proverbs 30:27 ~ "The locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks."  

Revelation 9:11 ~ "They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon."

Abaddon and Apollyon mean destroyer of worlds. Satan is Abaddon and he is Apollyon. The destroyer of peoples lives, of peoples and nations. Satan hates you completely. Satan will be the devil that he is.

Revelation 9:12 ~ " The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come." 

No wonder why Jesus said in Matthew 24:21 ~ " For then their will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor shall ever be." Satan has a "no deposit," and "no return" stamped on him. He is terrified of hell. He will be tormented forever there. He cannot be redeemed. He cannot repent of his sin. There's no warranty with angels. When they sin, they are expelled from heaven forever, never to return. But remember Satan is a defeated foe for a Christian. It is past tense by the way.

You have a choice. You can accept Jesus and know life, or you can choose to not accept Jesus or any other form of god and you will have no life. Eternal judgment await Satan and his demons and angels and also those who reject Christ. There is no other way.

Put your faith in Jesus. Trust Him. Receive Him. If you haven't done this today, what are you waiting for?

Jesus says that you have to be born again. Our flesh may attempt to get in the way, but it is a defeated foe. There is freedom in having a relationship in Christ. You might think you are free because you have the choice to do whatever you want, but that isn't freedom. True freedom can only be found when you realize you have the freedom not to do those things anymore. God is the only one who can give you that freedom and power if your life and you can tell when it's Him doing those things in your life. Do you want that kind of freedom? Simply say this prayer"

Jesus come into my heart. Wash my sins away by your precious blood. I confess today that I am a sinner, and I want to be Your child. I want to be made new. I want my life not repaired but renewed. Lord, I want to start my life all over again. I believe what the Bible says, that You died on the cross, and rose again to save me. I give You my life from this time on. You take control. In Jesus Name ~ AMEN!!!

Understanding the Differences Between Demons and Fallen Angels! Yes, They Are Real!

Remember if you have been following my study into the Book of Revelation with me, as a believer in Jesus Christ, we won't have to be here when hell comes forth unto the earth like we are studying today. The wrath that comes to the earth during the Tribulation period is for those who have rejected God's offer and instead want to do things their own way.

Revelation 9:3-4 ~ "And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads."

Remember that Satan has been given the key to open the bottomless pit by the authority of God and when it is opened, demonic power comes forth in a smoke like cloud. Creature-entities will come forth upon the earth and they will afflict with terrible pain. They are living spiritual beings. Satan is real and demons are real. There are fallen angels and demons and both are real. Fallen angels appear and disappear. They have no need to take on a human body, animal, idol or statue. Demons have to have a human body, an animal, an idol or a statue to manifest their will. Fallen angels nor heavenly angels need any of that. Angels appear and disappear at will. We know that 1/3 of the fallen angels that God created fell when Satan tricked them although the exact number is unknown.

We know that they inflict pain for a short time. These are not earthly locusts that you might know of. So why does John mention the word "locust" then? If you live in the Middle East or in Africa, the word locusts sends fear into your mind right now. When normal locusts come, they leave nothing left. There is nothing left to eat, they eat all the bark off of trees, killing the trees and unless you can move to another area, you will die. Did you know that? They leave nothing behind when they attack. These locusts have the ability to sting like a scorpion. Locusts don't sting. Demonic aflliction will come upon those on the earth who are not (1) believers in God, because those who are believers are sealed and are protected by God,  and (2) those who have rejected Christ during the Tribulation period. This devilish affliction will be for 5 months. Now the question remains as to whether mankind will be able to see them when they come.

I believe that they will not be seen, that the apostle John was given the power to see them as this is being revealed to him. I believe that human beings will be tormented by the invisible spiritual realm for 5 months that is coming upon them. John sees them in the spirit and he tries to communicate that to us. One of the ways of demonic affliction is to get people away from the truth. Demonic affliction is nothing new. In many nations where the gospel is not preached there is a strong sense of demonic activity and demonism.

1 Timothy 3:16, 4:1 ~ "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great. He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

When someone knocks on your door with something that is abhorrent or off from the Bible, the Bible says that when they come knocking, they are promoting the doctrine of demons. That is the origin. When these creature entities come forth among the earth, their attack will be well directed. Look locusts consume grass and these locusts were ordered not to attack the grass, trees or any plants. These are not normal locusts. Those that are sealed are the only ones who can not be harmed, and those are the 144,000 Jewish evangelists from Revelation 7 as well as those who come to God during the Tribulation. There is no visible seal that you can see, just like if you look in the mirror you can't see anything, but if you are a believer in Christ, the Bible says that we have been sealed by the seal of our living Father in the book of Ephesians, chapters 1 and 2. You may not see anything, but God sealed you the day you accepted Christ. Those who trust in God during that time will be delivered and protected.

Matthew 12:43-45 ~ "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, "I will return to the house I left." When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

The interesting thing to note and consider further study on is why when a demon leaves a human body does it go to arid places, places without water? That is another study for another day but it is very interesting and one you may had never considered. Demons refer to the human body as their house. When the demon comes back and finds it empty it means the Holy Spirit did not move in, the person remained undecided. They didn't get saved. There is a vacancy. No God in their life. No Holy Spirit. Jesus shared an interesting insight into the demonic world.

When Hell meets earth, mankind will receive a token of eternity, to truly suffer, is to suffer without God's grace.

Revelation 9:5-6 ~ "They were not give power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die; but death will elude them."

The Book of Daniel, Chapter 12 and John's gospel 5:28-29 ~ "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

In the end, there will be a judgment of the righteous and the unrighteous, did you know that? Those of us that are Christians, will be judged by Jesus Christ, for the opportunities that were given to us, the open doors to us that allowed us to serve Him, to bring glory to His name. We will not be judged on any of our sins, or regarding heaven or hell. It's called the Bema seat! The judgment seat of Christ found in 1 Corinthians. It is a good thing! We all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. We will receive rewards of what we have done while we were in our bodies here on earth. Did we live for Jesus or did we live for us? Did we give our attention to God? Did we help to expand His kingdom and did we give our money for the advancement of the Lord? Did we invest in God's kingdom? He is going to ask us this one question, "What did you do for My Son?" Jesus might say, "What did you do for Me? Let's take a look and see!" We will suffer loss or be blessed based on how we responded in faith to those opportunities. We need to figure out for ourselves what those opportunities are, that are given to us from God. This has nothing to do with heaven or hell! You're safe at this point. You are going to heaven.

But to those who are not Christ's...they do not appear before the judgment seat of Christ. The Bible says that they appear before God the Father. Without Christ, without Jesus' intervention. They stand before God in Revelation 20:11 and the books are opened and they are judged out of the books and the things written therein. It says that all those whose names are not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life, who are judged and cast into hell. What a horrific thing. Perhaps you are saying to yourself, "I don't want to go there." I don't want you to go there either.

The Bible says that the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to eternal life. We all fear judgment and there is a looming fear of that in the back of all of our minds. If we don't reconcile what God has said and what is in the Bible, the choice to accept God and what He has said throughout the Bible or to reject it all. The implications of those choices are ours alone. God doesn't send anyone to hell. We choose where we will go. If we accept God and the Bible and all that goes along with it, the choice is heaven. If we reject God, the Bible, Jesus and everything that goes with that, the choice is heaven. Even if we choose to not accept God, that choice determines our eternity for us. It's simple. Know Jesus, Know Life!  No Jesus, no life!

God knows everything, but He gives us the opportunity to choose. That is the only way to true love and life. People demand on going to hell, and reject Jesus. You are responsible for that choice, not God! Don't blame God. 

Demonic Activity is On the Rise and It Will Only Get Worse

If we apply the Bible to our lives specifically, we don't have to be afraid of being wrong. If you're biblical, you'll always be right. We have recently learned that America has vowed that they are no longer a Christian nation, contrary to what Jefferson, Washington, Adams, and Franklin believed so many years ago. This just goes to show how far as a nation, we have fallen in so many areas. It's not about changing to accept the beliefs of other religions, it is about refusing to stand up for what this country has been founded on for fear of offending someone. Lately that is all it seems to be, what offends someone needs to be removed. Now the minority rules the majority. How did things get so twisted?

The original founder of this nation, William Bradford wrote down in the Mayflower Compact, only two paragraphs long, that they have come to this continent for the propagation and establishment of the Christian faith.

We continue our study this morning about the falling of Satan from heaven, Jesus said, like lightning falls from the sky.

Luke 10:17-21 ~ "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.: He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. At that time, Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit said, "I will praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

When ministry happens, Satan falls from heaven. When hell meets earth, this creature-personality will come and demonic activity will collide with this world.

Revelation 9:2 ~ "When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss."

It's pretty interesting to note the Satan doesn't have the key, he has to be given the key. God allows this to take place. Why? The Bible says that even God uses evil to His own glory. Nobody reads the Book of Job unless you're going through a "Job-thing." Some might not want to read it for fear it might come upon them. Satan could not get near Job until God said, "Okay, you are allowed to do this and this, but nothing else." You can't experience anything, not even your own heartbeat without the grace of God. He has given that to us as believers.

No attack, no flat tire, no sickness, no stress, no problem can come to us unless it is first filtered by our heavenly Father. Whatever is going on in our life, it is Father-filtered. God wants it to work that way. Remember when God reminded Paul after hearing about his issue three times said, "Enough, my grace is sufficient for you. My strength will become perfect in your weakness."

When we look at Revelation 9:2 we see that wholesale demonic activity is about to break forth upon the earth. Before this happens on the earth in full scale, we need to remember where we are in our Book of Revelation timeline. (1) The church has long been raptured, out of the earth and is in heaven by Revelation 9. (2) The world is about 4 years into that 7-year Tribulation period or 4 years into the 7-year peace treaty that Israel is under. (3) There has already been a temple rebuilt in Jerusalem by this time. The push to rebuild it is already all over the nation even today. Orthodox Jews believe at any moment that their Messiah will arrive. They are so ready to receive anyone who will bring peace to the Arabs and the Jews, and when the Antichrist comes he will do that and allow them to rebuild the temple. (4) Europe will have already become the religious and financial center of the world. This has to happen before we get to Revelation 9.

We already have the Euro that is shredding the US dollar by the way, we already have the largest conglomerate of nations that have surpassed the United States in gross national product when the European Union has become the largest empire since the Ancient Roman Empire. We know that the European Union will embrace a global faith. Everyone worshiping the same God in whatever manner they want to go. If it's good for you, it's good for us too! Did you know that the United Nation has a declared faith, the Bahi faith, did you know that? An all sincere, everyone go their own way religion.

Did you know that there are some demons and fallen angels that are so bad, that they are confined and locked up in hell. God won't allow them to be loosened on the earth at this time. That there is a rise in the amount of demonic activity and satanic ritualistic killings that law enforcement even have their own cult investigation unit that goes out to these cases where pentagram are carved in the floor the victims chest and forehead. That besides being tortured that they have been subjected to a satanic ritual and it is only increasing? Possession is being ruled out as psychological disorder, don't get me wrong but not all of them are the issue of chemical imbalances, but some for a fact are demonic in nature and increasing. Look around you today, Satanic materials are being distributed in schools, their are Satanic displays cropping up everywhere, from holiday displays, music, television and movies. No one is really concerned but they should be.

Jude 1:6-7 ~ "And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home - these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire."

These demons are reserved and are sitting in confinement like they did back in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was the very reason that God sent the flood.

Revelation 9:13-15 ~ "The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angels who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were release to kill a third of mankind."

These four are fallen angels. Demonic powers released for such a time during the Tribulation. The point I make today is do you know Jesus personally today, to escape these things? Do you think you will outlive it or die before it happens? That's not a relief. Jesus said it is appointed once for every man to die and then the judgment comes. He put it this way, "All those who trust in the Son of God, has passed from judgment into eternal life. You need to make sure today that you know Jesus Christ personally. I don't want you to leave here today saying I hope I will be okay in the end. You can't do that. You can't guess.

You must know. In your own mind and heart, the Lord is stirring you up right now. There is a little bit of fear and anxiety in your life right now. That is the Lord speaking to you right now. Don't leave here today without being sure. All God wants is a personal relationship with you. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? It is your choice and your decision.

Can you lay down your life before Jesus? Then go for it. Christianity is a verb. Go for it. You can have that kind of love that casts out all fear. If you're not a Christian, you should be very fearful. Chapter 9 will happen, it will be fulfilled. Where will you be when it happens? You don't know when your last day will be. Fall into the arms of Jesus today and completely surrender it to Him. You will fail without Jesus, its just a matter of time. The only way you can win is to surrender to Jesus today.

Taking A Look at the Real Enemy in Our Lives!

A lot of Christians today want to criticize God when you consider that Satan was a perfectly created being. Many would argue why did God create Satan if He knew he was just going to rebel and lead the world into sin. The Bible says that God created him in perfection by going to Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 where it describes who Lucifer was. That was his original name, the bright and morning star, Lucifer. He led the angelic host in worship to God. The Bible says he was the most beautiful created of all God's creations. So what happened.

The same thing that happens to you and I when we refuse to submit to God. The Bible tells us that he got puffed up with pride. See a lot of people want to blame God for making a bad guy. He didn't make a bad guy, He made an angel and even us humans with the ability to choose. Angels can't worship the Lord without having a free will. Just like we can not worship God without a free will either. Therefore, Satan exercised his own judgment and decided he wanted things differently for himself. He wanted what God had. The Bible says he sinned and therefore he fell. That's our battle today, to either worship God or worship ourselves. It's one or the other. So be careful.

Let's look ahead at Revelation 12:7-9 ~ "And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

Michael is always in a fight when he shows up in the Bible. He is there with his soldier, or angels. The Bible says that Satan will fall from heaven. The Bible says that he is coming to earth I believe that in Revelation 9 and 12, those are parenthetical inserts, of the teachings and very event mentioned in Revelation 12 is mentioned again in chapter 9. It is describing the very persona of who Satan is and where he came from.

Isaiah 14:6-17 ~ "He who struck the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, the ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution. The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing. The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, "Since you were laid low, no wood cutter comes up against us" Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations. All of them will answer and say to you; "You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us! Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers. "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the face reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you; "Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook the kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?"

Ezekiel 28:13-19 ~ "You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardis, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, til unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. You heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."

This is the plight of Satan found in the Bible.

Revelation 12:12 ~ "Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

The great Tribulation period of the coming down of Satan to the earth in all of his violence, as the last days will consummate.  (1) There are some of you that believe that Satan is not as powerful as you think he is. You blow him off and make light of him. (2) Some of you believe that Satan is too powerful and you've given him too much credit, and (3) then some of you don't know what you believe about Satan. You don't think he exists at all. Be careful.

The truth is he is a real localized entity of hell. He is real and he is not as powerful as some of you give him power for having and then again, he is not as weak as some of you think he is.

1 Peter 5:6-9 ~ "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

If you are having a problem in life and you think that your child is the problem, if you think your parents or husband are the problem, whatever might be the outward problem, its not so much a problem, give up and stop being the one who has to win the fight. You claim to be a Christian, you have to go out on top, you have to win and you have to have the last word.Wake up! You are not fighting your husband or your wife. There is a demonic world behind them. Satan knows not to send some overt blatant temptation into your life. Satan attacks Christians with other Christians. How does he attack families? With family members. Be wise and know where your fight is coming from. Know that there is a spiritual warfare behind it. Understand that and fight for your home! I'm tired of people giving up!

Wives are giving up! Husbands are giving up! Everyone is giving up! They fail to realize that they need to be walking in the Spirit and in faith. Knowing that your enemy is seeking to devour you. You might be that person that he is seeking to devour in your life. Its an important thing and we are missing this as a church. He is a wicked, very evil foe.

1 John 2:15-17 ~ "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

This is where all the problems start. Satan even said that he wanted to be like God. It is the pride of life. He wanted what God had. Here is what you can do:

Resist him by building up your faith by launching out and doing impossible things for God. It gives God all the glory. God will do it through you.

Resist him by building up your faith by obeying what God says instead of what you feel.

Resist him by building up your faith by applying the Bible daily to your own life. Are you reading your Bible daily?

Resist him by building up your faith, by being here, right now, doing this study with me! Do you know the Bible builds into the believer a blessing for going to church, not watching it on the internet or listening to the tapes? No matter how advanced technology is, God will not allow it replace the fellowship with His people. That is a serious issue today, most people would rather sit at home and watch church, then get up and participate in church. If your sick or having a broken leg, that is another issue.

Hebrews 10:25 ~ "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of ding, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  

It goes on to say that many will fall away because of their lack of commitment.

Romans 10:17 ~ "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." 

There are a few things to remember about Satan. He has great power, he has great dominion and great influence but... all of which God has allowed. He is not eternal. He is not all-powerful. He is not all-knowing. He is not all present, meaning he can't be everywhere all at once. He is limited to one location at a time. He is localized. You might ask well how can I be tempted all the time? Demons, the flesh and living in this world. He is not God, he just wants to be.

We don't need Satan and his demons to get us off track, did you know that? We are so able to do that perfectly fine on our own. We are well able to get into trouble all on our own without the devil's help. Satan is a liar.

John 8:41-44 ~ "You are doing the things you own father does. We are not illegitimate children, they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

So when we lie, we are acting like Satan. You are either from the Father, God, or the father, Satan, the devil of this world. Jesus claims it is black and white. You might not want to hear it, but it is the truth. You're either of God or you're not. Jesus says if you are not of God, then you are of the devil. You might find that offensive but it is the truth.

John 10:10-11 ~ "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." 

We need to start giving credit where credit is due and stop blaming God for all the wrongs in this world. We know God allows things to happen, but remember when you walk out from underneath the covering of God, you are on your own. If you are not a Christian, you are living each day by the grace of God. If your struggling in your life, come back underneath God's umbrella. Come back to God.

God has come to give life, and remember that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. Man yielded to Satan and thus he is the prince of the world for now. When we look at the war, the mayhem, starving, the violence, the hate that is out there. It comes from the demonic spirit that comes from Satan's doctrine. We need to stop blaming God. Even those who don't believe in God are quick to blame God. Atheists are always quick to tip their hand and blame God, but don't they believe He doesn't exist. You are admitting that He actually does exist.