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Jack Van Impe Ministries
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each day on our A MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE Revelation 9:1-12 Revelation chapter 9 contains the lengthy portion of Scripture covering trumpet judgments five and six. We will investigate both in depth. Fifth trumpet Verse 1: And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. The star John sees-a male personage-is without a doubt the devil of verse 11. The Greek tense in verse 1 is not fall - present tense, but fallen - past tense. Isaiah describes this fall in chapter 14, verses 12 through 14: How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high. Satan's fall came through pride. He wanted to be coequal with God. Jesus, in eternity past, beheld this fall and said to His seventy disciples, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Luke 10:18). This fallen one is presented with a key to the bottomless pit, and he uses it. Verse 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 term bottomless pit does not refer to one who has a voluminous appetite! Instead, the literal Greek renders it "the pit of the abyss." The term is found nine times in the New Testament. In each case, it is a place to restrain or hold certain beings which have come under the judgment of God. For instance, when Christ went into the country of Gadarenes, He met a certain man who had a legion of demons. The demons within the man besought the Lord that he would not command them to go out into the deep [or abyss] (Luke 8:3 1). Their dread and terror of the pit (or abyss) was so great that they would rather become incarnated in swine. Oh, the pit of the abyss must be a terrible place! How frightful, then, is the hour when the prison house of fallen angels is finally opened. The smoke ascending out of the pit darkens the sun and the air. Talk about pollution! The environmentalists had better get saved or they will be around for the greatest soot inundation in history. Then they will have a steady job picketing the portals of hell-but it will be too late. Verse 3: 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. These are not literal locusts. Their power is too great. They are most likely fallen angels who have been restrained and imprisoned in the bottomless pit since their fall (described in Genesis 6). These wicked beings, chained in darkness all of these centuries (see 2 Peter 2:4), can hardly wait to begin their acts of evil. They are told what they can and cannot do: Verse 4: 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. In chapter 7, we saw multitudes sealed. The locusts, or fallen angels, are not allowed to touch the sealed, only the unsealed-those who have worshipped the Beast and accepted his number, 666. Note also that the locusts are not allowed to kill the unsealed (the unsaved). They are permitted only to torture them. Verse 5: 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. What an agonizing period of time this will be! Verse 6: And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. The next four verses give us a vivid description of these locusts, or fallen angels. Verse 7: And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle [this speaks of strength and speed]; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold [this speaks of royalty; a picture of conquerors], and their faces were as the faces of men [denoting intelligence]. Verse 8: And they had hair as the hair of women [picturing attractiveness], and their teeth were as the teeth of lions [portraying cruelty]. Verse 9: And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron [picturing invincibility]; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle [denoting calamity]. Verse 10: And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. These facts reinforce the gruesome portrait of life upon earth as the pit of the abyss is opened and the convicts of the ages-the fallen angels-are released. The next verse clearly identifies the fallen star who is the leader of these perverted angels. Verse 11: And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. This king is named in both Hebrew and Greek. Abaddon is Hebrew. The term, found only this one time in our English Bible, is found six times in the Hebrew Bible: Job 26:6; 28:22; 31:12; Psalm 88:11; Proverbs 15:11; and 27:20. The Greek form, Apollyon, means "the destroyer"-a word that certainly describes Satan. Verse 12: One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. We will examine the sixth trumpet in our next newsletter. CHANGED LIVES-one at a time Ever since I was a young girl I have always been mystified and in awe of Revelation. Through your teachings and weekly newsletter I have been able to put verses I have read multiple times into clear view. I now know what is to come to those who believe, as well as those who don't [may they please be few]. Thank you for using the wisdom that God has given you to enlighten others of what is to come. Sincerely in Christ, Hollie
Dr. Jack Van Impe, I always felt that reading the Bible some how was so confusing. No matter how many times I read the Bible and asked my Pastor for guidance, I was still troubled and confused. But you have a gift of stating a scripture and helping me understand. Thank you so much. Edward HIGHLIGHTED PRODUCT OFFERS Heaven: An Out-of-Body Adventure Angels, harps, mansions, gold...? Dr. and Mrs. Jack Van Impe answer the age old questions and interpret what the Word of God says about... Heaven
The Rapture: Hope or Hoax? Grieved by the chaotic confusion within Christendom regarding the biblical truth of the Pre-Trib Rapture, and the heretical teaching of amillennialism, (the big lie), Dr. Jack and Rexella Van Impe have created this video. In it, Dr. Van Impe presents proof positive that the triumphant call "Come up hither" will reach every living Christian and rapture us before the Tribulation begins. He also proves that Christ will reign on this earth for 1,000 years. Some major Protestant denominations and at least one noted Catholic theologian have mocked and denied the truth of the Rapture and the Millennium. Now it is time to turn to Dr. Jack Van Impe, a noted authority you know and trust, for the truth from the Bible, and then share this video with a seeker who is concerned about the future and Bible prophecy. WE ACCEPT PRAYER REQUESTS HERE We receive prayer requests from far and wide via the mail, fax, phone, email and now through the prayer section of our website. FEEDBACK: Please help us with your valuable input. Let us know if you enjoyed this electronic newsletter. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! CONTACT INFORMATION: E-MAIL: jvimi@jvim.com PHONE: (248) 852-5225 (8am-4:30pm Eastern Time) FAX: (248) 852-2692 MAIL: Jack Van Impe Ministries JVIM FAMILY OF WEBSITES: JVIM PROPHECY
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