I think There may be some that know what the Bible says. and purposely scoff the Bible. And do things like, well, the Bible says it's gonna have hair like a woman, gonna have teeth.
Well, let's put it on our, let's just paint it on the front, or let's incorporate it in some way. into what they're doing. thinking that it's a joke. To scoff at God. that all men be a liars.
be a liar, God is not mocked. You're listening to Cross Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Revelation. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching.
Demonic scourges is the title of Pastor Rick's message, and today he'll be teaching in Revelation chapter 9. There will be people that use the Bible in the Great Tribulation to point out. Only the true God could call this so far in advance with such minute detail. That we're living through, not us. We've got our share, we are living through some of it.
But they will, of course. Uh all the lines will connect. Going through the Great Tribulation period. Verse 5 now. We'll come back to the 144,000 in latter chapters.
We'll find out that they're virgins, for example, and they're a different class of people. Verse 5. And they were not given authority to kill them. Neither of the locusts were not given authority to kill the 144,000 or anybody else. But to torment them for five months, and not the one hundred and forty-four again.
Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
Well, another feature that is lacking in locusts as we know them today, How are they going to scourge people? They're gonna inject you're gonna get venom into them.
Something's going to be put into them.
Now I'm going to ease roll these out and come back to them. Germ warfare. There are options here.
Well, do you know there is a such thing as microscopic animals? I didn't say viruses, they're that too. but microscopic animals. and and some of them look like manatees. I mean, I'm just saying these are scenarios.
Don't go acting like, ooh, this is so far-fetched. This is sci-fi. No, it's not. We're right at the precipice of these things. Viruses, biochemical warfare.
Neurotoxins being injected. designed Bye. Human beings highly demonically influenced. And delivered by drones. And I get to that because we have, you know, you have to say, at some point, John is going to tell us these things made a lot of noise.
And they could fly.
Well, locusts do that, but some of the other features, as I mentioned, cancel out literal locusts. He's telling us, I'm seeing things in this revelation. Of something out there hurting people. That has faces like men, hair like women, teeth like a lion, they fly, they make a lot of noise. Very drone-like to me.
demonic powers that have turned on Opponents of Antichrist, again, is my position. And um Not to be too dogmatic about some of these. But here in verse 5, he says, but to torment them for five months.
Well, I'm told the normal cycle of the locusts is five months, and usually from May to September, that may be a time stamp for us. Their torment. was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.
So they have a striking mechanism. Later we'll find they also have armor. Evidently, John had in his life witnessed someone. Stung by a scorpion.
Well, there were scorpions in that part of the world, and probably more in those days. than they are now. But except the rural areas. Anyway, John uses this Greek word translated like Nine times. in his descriptions.
Because he's struggling to describe the future.
So how do I tell you what I'm seeing? Suppose he heard an instrument we've never heard before. How would he communicate that? Or a primary color? How would he be able to say?
You know, if you were describing the color red to someone who's never seen the color red, maybe you say, well, It's like the color red. Of all the colors, this one's like a trumpet blast. And when you get to some of the blues, it's like really cool. I know a guy that preaches in McCannisville who makes blue look like the most beautiful thing you've ever seen in your life. Anyway, any coming back to this, Revelation 22.
Uh tells us that John has no need. to sensationalize or exaggerate Anything he's looking at. Everything he's looking at probably is more of an understatement than because he couldn't just get it. How do you get to it? It's like the guys getting stung by scorpions.
There's a lot of pain, but it doesn't stop. That's why we're going to read about them wanting to die. But they don't die. because the pain doesn't let up. Revelation 22, and he said to me, This is at the end of the book.
These words are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophet sent his angel to show his servants the things which must. shortly take place. Yeah, on God's calendar shortly, but in human calendar a little different. Any The the fact remains Is that the revelation of Jesus Christ is faithful and it's true, and it will happen as said.
There's no mention of these victims who are stung Calling out to Christ. repenting, Their defiance is has so blinded them, they'll die on the dumbest hill available. And we're looking at that in politics, are we not? People that will just commit to Trying to take little children and change their gender. This is insanity.
This is more than beyond insanity. You don't become that insane. by living in a fallen world. That brand of insanity is imported directly from the Obuso. from the pit of hell.
And so God is sort of saying to the, as we're moving closer to the end to this great tribulation, God is saying, I think you can see this happening, right? You can make out silhouettes enough. to tell what you're looking at. If you're honest with yourself. Verse 9: The shape of the locust was like horses prepared for battle.
On their heads were crowns. of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
Well, yeah, if we see anything like that, we're running. I don't think it's going to be that simple. Uh Is John describing what Will be seen under an electronic microscope. Or drones. Or, I believe, a hybrid.
drones delivering what we look at under an electronic microscope. That manufactured by men. You say, oh no, what could that be?
Well, remember the Wuhan virus? Who made that?
Some kids getting happy meals at McDonald's didn't come up with that. Those are very intelligent people.
Now, a lot of intelligent people are good people, too. But a lot of them are the Lex Luthors of earth. And they're committed to doing the evil that they do. Maybe something gets out of that. Doesn't matter.
What does matter is they'll be under the influence of evil, not the influence of the Holy Spirit. Drones that would not killed but incapacitating Men tying up resources. There is an infantry tactic. Of resisting an assaulting force. where you're not trying to kill them.
Well, if you do, fine. But you really want to wound as many of them as you can. Because when you wound them, you tie up resources of a decent army, in the sense that they're going to send men to rescue the wounded. You're tying them up. And that may be a little bit of what's going on here with them being sickened.
but not killed. Yet. Just again, giving scenarios. Verse You would rather Oreos, but you got scenarios.
Alright, that was a dad joke and I'm a dad. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.
Well, the crown in the he in the Greek is Stephanos. That's the victor's crown. They are successful at what they are doing for these five months. to torment men. That they have human faces, looking at how that shows up in other sections, like Ezekiel before the throne of God, and they had four faces, a woman.
They're intelligent beings. There's intelligence involved in this. This is not random stuff. They're not walnuts falling off a tree on your head. Verse nine: They had hair like a woman's hair, and their teeth were like lion's teeth.
Oh, there's a date. These aren't friendly. These are kind of freaky monsters if they're humanoids, but I don't again believe they are.
So let's take the hair like a woman.
Well, women tend to grow hair longer and better than men, as a rule.
Now, there are two exceptions in Scripture. Two men that really flaunted their due. and uh Samson and Absalom. It didn't go well for both, went worse for Absalom. The point is, long hair is noticeable.
I think there was a song years ago that Sometimes I Can't Get Out of My Head. Dude looks like a lady. And I think it has to do he had long hair. Because if he was bald. And handsome.
as some people Then you wouldn't say dude looks like a lady. He said, dude looks bald. But So my point, the hair. And some, the intelligent beings, there's going to be a lore that goes with this. But it's going to be a predator's lore.
And that's the teeth like a lion. These things are harmful. Verse nine. and they had breastplates like breastplates of iron. And the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.
Well, this breastplate, that's armor. There's a defense mechanism. of some kind. Maybe, you know, jamming a radar or something to reach their targets.
Well There's more here.
So in looking at it, you say, well, these are viruses. Wait a minute, viruses don't make noises. Not like not like chariots racing, and this is loud. And so, you have to factor that in as you're trying to. put this puzzle together and color in the picture.
And I, this is one of the... main reasons why I believe this is a drone or some sort of Uh machinery of men. And welcome. Come back to that.
Okay. And the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.
supporting uh mechanized activity. They had tails like scorpions. and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
Well again, the drone delivered warfare.
So you have the drone, how's he going to deliver his payload? I can't stress enough. I believe these things are designed by demonically twisted people.
Now, here's a twist to all of this: as it will be with the numbers 6, 6, and 6 when we get to that. later in life. I think There may be some that know what the Bible says. and purposely scoffed the Bible. And do things like, well, the Bible says it's gonna have hair like a woman, gonna have teeth.
Well, let's put it on out, let's just paint it on the front, or let's incorporate it in some way. into what they're doing. thinking that it's a joke. to scoff at God That all men be a liars, men. Be a liar, God is not mocked.
And you'll you're a liar still. And that comes with consequence.
So When we get to 666, of course, how many unbelievers are familiar with that? many of them. And they know as you know, the Bible says they associate it with Satan in the evil world. That's not incorrect.
Well, then, when it comes time to use this number, won't somebody say, hey, wait, if we do 6, 6, 6, they're going to figure out this is fulfilled prophecy. No, their thinking's going to be, we don't care what you think. We're gonna mock you. and demonstrate That your Bible is a lie, and in so doing, they're going to demonstrate the Bible's true. This is insanity.
And it is Authored, okay, who is the author and finisher of our faith? Christ Jesus. Who's going to be the author and finisher of their behavior? Satan The devil. And to scoff at him is to play into his siren hand.
Or voice. Unless he's singing like that. As we look at the champions of wokeness, as it is called. Trying to change everything, which the signature of Antichrist is that he will change customs and laws on another scale. Much higher.
As we look at these champions today, we say these people are demonic. They're made insane. by something outside of themselves. They're not that evil inherently. They're going to be gleeful, as we mentioned.
And you know, when the two witnesses are killed, they're going to be sending gifts to each other like it's Christmas or something. This is the mentality. That will dominate When the billions are being lost.
Well, this tails and scorpions with stingers and armour Ferocious ability to attack and defend, as we're seeing. ferocious attacks and defense You know, let's protect alien murderers. Let's protect sexual perverts. Let's protect the trans as called the trans life. And let's get our children.
So you see, you see, this is this is. This is an evil that we are to point out. any chance we get. And we should know these things are in our scripture. for our benefit.
and therefore the benefit of others. You know, what is sane and what is demonic is becoming very easy to determine. God-given previews of where this will go and where it comes from when the pit is unlocked.
Well, 1 Timothy.
So none of us act, ooh, I'm so surprised at some of these prophecies about demons. 1 Timothy chapter 4, Paul said, Now the Spirit expressly says, in latter times, some will depart from the faith. That's called apostasy. That means you were once part of something and you fell away from it. By choice.
And he says, giving heed to deceiving spirits. And Doctrines of demons, demons teaching things through other people. Speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. We're watching that. You have people, you can't shame them, they're impossible to shame.
They do their dirt, they get caught, it gets proven that it's insane, and they continue to do it and defend it. And you say they have their conscience seared with a hot iron. They have the doctrine of demons. They are deceived spiritually, and they have allowed themselves. To be filled with the spirit of evil.
Remember what Jesus said to Judas Iscariot? What you must do, go. And Judas went out, and it was night, and Satan filled his heart. He had a chance to not allow that. He could have said No, I'm not going out there.
I'm staying here and I repent. He had that option. and he opted out of it. Their power, it says, In verse ten, was to hurt men five months, repeated for effect. Uh So again, let's not pretend these things are not sci-fi.
Such creatures already exist. Tratigrades. That's the one that looks like one of them looks like a manatee, but it's a microscopic animal. And I had one of a bee. Uh like uh A bee with hooves.
It behooves you to... The insect. That's a drone. And it's not a far-fetched thing to understand, we have drones very small. very capable of delivering viruses or microscopic animals that are deadly that we have not discovered yet, or at least no one's saying anything yet, that whole Wuhan thing going on.
So let's review these these monsters. Uh they will be hostile, noisy, and mobile. There will be hordes of them. The vegetation will be spared, the 144,000 spared.
Well, why is the vegetation spared?
Well, because drones don't eat leaves. Unless they're designed to eat lives, I guess.
Okay, coming back to this. They're not deadly. They're torturous because of their stingers. They are war horse-like, not work horse, not show horse, but war horse-like. They're not pets.
They have crowns. They achieve their objectives. They have the faces of men. They are. intelligent beings.
Who are acting unintelligently by going against God? They have a woman's hair, that means they are impressive. They get your attention. They have lions' teeth. They are predators.
Iron breastplates, they are armored up, they have wings, they fly. Noisy, they are detectable. They're part of the physical realm. They are scorpion-like. Venom is delivered from them.
And we're now going to find out They are subject to a king. And that brings us to verse 11. these demonically bioengineered microscopic life forms delivered somehow I opt for drones. Kind of strange that there were no drones in Abraham's day. Because they couldn't recharge them.
That's why. Anyway, well, it's kind of strange that all these things, these technological advances, many of them. Have been preserved for the end of the end times. The end times began with Jesus, the end of the end times. are unfolding.
You couldn't have a cashless society globally. In the day of John. You couldn't move 200 million troops to battlefields Across the world, as you can in the book of Revelation. We'll get to the next chapter. Verse 11.
And they had a king over them. The angel of the bottomless pit. whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon. But in the Greek He has the name Apollion, That's kind of a nice name, Apollyon. But I wouldn't name my kid that.
God makes here a direct statement that these things are spiritual. Proverbs 19: Judgments are prepared for scoffers and beatings for the backs of fools.
Well, that's what's going to be happening. 2 Peter 3, knowing this first, the scoffers will come in the last days walking according to their own lust. That's what they're doing.
Solomon observed that the locusts in Proverbs 30, verse 27, they have no king, these do.
Something is coming. to Earth. It's already here as far as the resources. and is not going to be good. whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in the Greek He is He has the name of Apollyum, which is destroyer.
He is a colleague of Lucifer, if not Lucifer himself. I believe he's a colleague released from jail. You can say, well, what about when Satan is cast down to the earth and we get to Revelation 12?
Well, we'll open that up when we get to Revelation 12 because none of Revelation is easy. I wish I could tell you, I didn't have to prepare for any of this. I just glanced at my notes from the last few times I did. No, this stuff is so hard. It was really hard.
You're going to walk around thinking about it all day. x over square y equals a. You just go nuts. talking to yourself walking down the street.
Well, uh coming back to this Satan again, he He finds a world now matured in an evil way, void of care for God's truth and ripe for takeover. And so he is allowed to do it. It's mentioned in the Hebrew and Greek. Why would that be? Why would John have to say, this is it in the Greek and this is it in the Hebrew?
How come he leaves out the Latin?
Well, he's essentially saying my take is this is going to hit Gentile and Jews alike. The only Jews are going to be spared this or those not in that faith. theater of operation, and the 144,000 who may find themselves. in that area. But otherwise, it will be another opportunity for those living at that time to say, Huh?
That's what the Bible said. Revelation 16, verse 14, for they are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth, to the whole world, to gather them to battle of that great day. of God Almighty. The Armageddon. It will that's where it will The ultimate will climax there.
Verse twelve: one woe is past, behold, two. More. Wars are coming. After these.
Well, the behold is an understatement. Two more coming. Because they will not repent. That's why they're. They're still getting hit.
They're caught up again in their own defiance.
So he closes with this verse from Ephesians 5: Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. When God says, I'm gonna deal. with impenitent people. He's not joking.
It's not a philosophy, a mere philosophy. It's not, it is a fact. Mm-hmm. Uh This has been Cross-Reference Radio with Pastor Rick Gaston. This program is a radio outreach of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Pastor Rick has been teaching through the book of Revelation, but if you're interested in learning about a different book of the Bible, we have hundreds of past episodes available to listen to on demand. Just visit us online at crossreferenceradio.com and you'll find an archive of Pastor Rick's past teachings. While you're there, you can also find links to follow our program on your favorite podcast app, as well as links to get connected with us on Facebook and YouTube. There's also an interviews tab where you can learn more about Pastor Rick's heart for ministry.
Well, we hope you'll join us next time here on Cross Reference Radio.
