The Locusts and Bottomless Pit

Revelation 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.

Let’s consider the symbolism of stars in the bible.

Genesis 1

16 And God made -- two great lights; -- the greater light to RULE the day, and -- the lesser light to RULE the night: he made -- the stars also.

Here we see that the sun moon and stars are associated with rulership. 

Genesis 37

9 And he (Joseph) dreamed yet another dream, and told -- it his brethren, and said, Behold…the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

In Genesis 37 stars represented Jacob’s sons.

When we see stars being cast from heaven to earth or stars being darkened in Revelation, we’re seeing descendants of Jacob either loosing their positions of rulership or being corrupted. 

In my last article I spoke about the first and second trumpet and connected them to the Roman-Jewish war. Specifically Vespasian’s military campaign in 67AD when he filled the land and waters of Galilee with “fire and blood”, as detailed in `the Wars of the Jews’ Book 3 by first century historian Josephus.

In this article I’m going to venture into `The Wars of the Jews’ Book 4 that describes events occurring in 68AD.

In Book 4 we see how Zealot leader John Gischala fled from Galilee to Jerusalem for safety, taking with him a considerable number of armed men. (WOJ 4.2.1-4). 

High-Priest Ananus ben Ananus encouraged the people of the city to rise up against the Zealots after they’d seized upon the sanctuary. 

The people attacked the Zealots which resulted in numerous deaths on both sides. The Zealots fled into the inner court of the temple and shut the gate. Ananus ben Ananus set guards upon the cloisters so they could not escape (WOJ 4.3.7-12).

John Gischala befriended Ananus then betrayed him by telling Zealot leaders Eleazar ben Simon and Zacharias ben Phalek, that Ananus had invited the Romans to attack Jerusalem. 

Eleazar and Zacharias then resolved to call upon the Idumeans for assistance. The Idumeans immediately responded to this call and camped outside the city walls waiting to be let in (WOJ 4.4.1). 

The Idumeans were from Idumea, just below Judaea. They were also called Edomites and were descended from Jacob’s twin brother Esau.

Upon realising what was happening, another High-priest Jesus ben Gamalas, standing upon a tower, gave a powerful speech to dissuade the Idumeans from getting involved, however they would not listen (WOJ 4.4.3).

During the night Zealots sawed open the city gate to allow the Idumeans in (WOJ 4.4.6&7).

WOJ 4.5.1&2

1…the Idumeans…ascended through the city to the temple…A great howling of the women was excited…The zealots also joined in the shouts raised by the Idumeans: and the storm it self rendred the cry more terrible. Nor did the Idumeans spare any body. For as they are naturally a most barbarous and bloody nation…And now the outer temple¹¹ was all of it overflowed with blood. And that day, as it came on, they saw eight thousand five hundred dead bodies there.

2. But the rage of the Idumeans was not satiated by these slaughters: but they now betook themselves to the city, and plundered every house, and slew every one they met…

Let’s now compare this to Revelation 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.

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit…

3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth…

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.

The Idumeans were the locusts that ascended out of the bottomless pit. 

According to Josephus, Zealot leaders Eleazar ben Simon and Zacharias ben Phalek “derived their families from the priests” (WOJ 4.4.1). 

As I said earlier, stars in the bible represent the descendants of Jacob, particularly those in rulership such as priests.

Could it be that Eleazar ben Simon was the star that fell from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit? 

Could it be he opened the pit allowing the Idumean locusts to ascend out of it?

Please let me know in the comment section if this makes sense to you or you think the star represents something or someone else.

Revelation 9

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 the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

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.

Have you ever wondered what these verses could be taking about? How were the locusts tormenting men? Why does it say that men sought death but could not find it?

Let’s continue reading in the ‘The Wars of the Jews’ Book 4

WOJ 4.5.3.

3…the zealots and the multitude of the Idumeans fell upon the people as upon a flock of profane animals, and cut their throats…the noble men and the youth, they first caught them, and bound them, and shut them up in prison, and put off their slaughter, in hopes that some of them would turn over to their party. But not one of them would comply with their desires; but all of them preferred death before being inrolled among such wicked wretches as acted against their own country. But this refusal of theirs brought upon them terrible torments. For they were so scourged, and tortured, that their bodies were not able to sustain their torments: till at length, and with difficulty, they had the favour to be slain…

The Idumeans imprisoned and tortured the noble men and youth of the city until “at length and with difficulty they had the favour to be slain” (WOJ 4.5.3). This seems to match the language in Revelation 9.

Let’s now look into the bottomless pit.

Bottomless 12. ἄβυσσος ábussos…Abyss, an extremely deep place. 

The Hebrew word "Tehom" (תהום) is equivalent to the Greek word "Abussos" (ἄβυσσος). 

The Book of Genesis uses the word Tehom to describe a watery state of pre-creation chaos.

Genesis 1

2 …the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Deep H8415. תְּהוֹם tehôm, תְּהֹם tehōm: A masculine noun referring to depth, a deep place. 

It indicates the deep, primeval ocean on earth as created by God (Gen. 1:2).

The de-creation process we saw unfolding in Revelation 8 went all the way back to the pre-creation chaos of Genesis 1:2.

The bottom-less pit is the direct opposite to the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21&22.

The New Jerusalem is a place of perfect order, it is full of light and has 12 foundations.

The bottom-less pit is dark, chaotic and has no foundation.

Does this sound like your life before you were born-again?

Maybe it’s your life now? 

If we are ruled by the desires of our flesh our life will be dark and dis-ordered. 

However if we humbly submit to Jesus as king, our life with be full of light and Godly order.

The Word and Spirit provide a firm foundation we can build our life upon. The Word never changes, it endures forever. All else passes away.

There is something else the Idumeans did that I’ve not yet mentioned. It was a very important, defining moment in the Roman-Jewish war but also has huge implications for us today.

Stay tuned for that article but in the mean-time, God bless as you study to show yourself approved.

Revelation 8: the first two trumpets

In this article we will look at the first two trumpets in Revelation 8…but before we do let’s reflect on Daniel and the writings of first century historian Josephus to get an ideas of where we are in time…

Daniel prophesied a three and a half year period beginning around about when “the sacrifice and the oblation” ceased and ending when "the city and the sanctuary” were destroyed (Daniel 9:26&27)

God told Daniel to seal up his words till the “time of the end” (Daniel 12:9).

In Revelation 6 we see Jesus opening the seals set upon Daniel’s words because the time of the end was “at hand” (Rev. 1:3).

Many believe the book of Revelation was written around 95AD, based on the ambiguous writings of early church “father” Irenaeus.

However there is both internal and external evidence that Revelation was written “shortly” (Rev. 1:1) before the Roman-Jewish war broke out in 66AD.

In around August of 66AD Eleazar Ben Ananias, governor of the temple, persuaded those who officiated in divine service not to receive a gift or sacrifice from any foreigner. According to Josephus “this was the true beginning” of the Roman-Jewish war (Wars of the Jews 2.17.2)

In Revelation 6 and 7 we see seven seals opened. In Revelation 8 a new phase begins…the seven trumpets.

Trumpets had multiple uses in bible times but in Hosea, Joel and Jeremiah they signaled God’s coming judgement and the need to repent (Hosea 5:8, 8:1 Joel 2:1&15 Jer. 4:19&21).

The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) was the first of the final three feasts listed in Leviticus 23.

It lasted ten days and was a time or reflection, repentance and preparation for the feast of atonement (Yom Kippur). 

At this point I would like to consider what happened as the first two trumpets were blown in Revelation 8 and compare that to the creation story in Genesis chapters 1 and 2.

Rev 8:7

-- The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood…and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Genesis 1:12&13

And the earth brought forth grass… and the tree yielding fruit…

Rev 8:8&9

And the second angel sounded, and…the third part of the sea became blood;

…the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

Genesis 1:21-23

And God created… every living creature…

And God blessed -- them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill -- the waters in the seas…

So we see a direct contrast between the creation story and Revelation 8.

Revelation 8 seems to describe a de creation process but a de creation of what? The entire earth?

Let’s spend some time reflecting on the creation story…

Where was the garden of Eden situated? Genesis 2:10-14 says that the river that watered the garden spit into four rivers, one of which still exists in the middle east. It’s called the Euphrates.

Further on in Genesis the Euphrates acted as a boundary-line for the land promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:18).

What does this tell us? Eden existed in the same area promised to Abraham.

The creation story is a picture of God in COVENANT with his people.

Genesis and Revelation perfectly book-end the bible.

Both contain COVENANTAL language.

According to the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter one, Abraham begat Isaac who begat Jacob (Israel) who begat twelve sons. These sons and their families moved to Egypt, became slaves and then were delivered by Moses into the wilderness.

They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before Joshua led them in the battle of Jericho. 

In the book of Joshua we see that Israel marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days. On the seventh day seven priests blew seven ram horns and the walls of Jericho fell (Josh. 6:2-17).

They had won their first battle in the conquest for Canaan, the “promised land” that flowed with milk and honey.

Canaan was eventually divided up between the twelve tribes with a warning that if they became like the Canaanites they would also be spewed out of the land (Josh 13-21 Josh. 23:5-13)

Joshua 23:12&13

…if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations…and shall make marriages with them…

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of -- these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps…and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

Lev. 18:24&25

Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

And the land is defiled…the land itself vomiteth out -- her inhabitants.

Leviticus 20:22

Ye shall therefore keep -- all my statutes, and -- all my judgments, and do -- them: that the land, whither I bring -- you to dwell therein, spew you not out.

In the Old Testament we see COVENANT inextricably linked to LAND. They go hand in hand.

By the first century, Rome had divided the “promised land” into five areas of provincial and semi-provincial status…Galilee, Samaria, Judea, Idumea and Perea.

Now let’s get into the first two trumpets of Revelation 8…

In around April of 67AD Vespasian began a brutal military campaign in Galilee, a zealot strong-hold.

What I simply want to do is compare the writings of Josephus in `the Wars of the Jews Book 3’ to the events described in Revelation 8 and you can judge for yourself wether you think they fit.

First trumpet…hail and fire mingled with blood…a third part of the trees burnt up and all the green grass

WOJ 3.4.1 (Spring 67AD)

…nor did the Romans… leave off, either by night or by day, burning the places in the plain, and…killing whatsoever appeared capable of fighting perpetually…so that Galilee was all over filled with fire and blood;…

2nd trumpet/angel…sea became blood, third part of ships destroyed

WOJ 3.9.3

…Now as these people of Joppa were floating about in this sea, in the morning there fell a violent wind upon them…and there dashed their ships one against another, and dashed some of them against the rocks...and some of the multitude that were in them were covered with waves, and so perished…But some of them thought that to die by their own swords was lighter than by the sea, and so they killed themselves…insomuch that the sea was bloody a long way, and the maritime parts were full of dead bodies, for the Romans came upon those that were carried to the shore, and destroyed them; and the number of the bodies that were thus thrown out of the sea was four thousand, and two hundred…

WOJ 3.10

9…they were killed by the darts upon the lake…one might then see the lake all bloody, and full of dead bodies, for not one of them escaped…the shores they were full of shipwrecks, and of dead bodies… The number of the slain, including those that were killed in the city before, was six thousand and five hundred.

The sea being turned to blood represents the 4200 who died in the sea off Joppa and the 6500 killed near and upon lake Gennesareth (the sea of Galilee).

The “fire and blood” that filled the land and waters of Galilee was a de creation of the “promised land” thus a de creation of the COVENANT God had with his chosen flesh race Israel/Judah.

Like with the feast of trumpets, the events of 67AD were a call to repentance.

Eventually we’ll look at an extremely significant event that happened when the 7th trumpet was blown in 68AD.

Just as seven trumpets were blown by seven priests at the end of the first Exodus, the 7th trumpet marked the end of the second Exodus.

The New Covenant is not about physical land. 

Those who've "put off...the old man" through repentance "...and put on the new man...created in righteousness" (Ephesians 4:22-24) inherit a spiritual kingdom of light and life in which there is "no more curse" (Rev. 22:3). 

Thank you for taking the time read this article. Please leave me a comment and God bless as you study to show yourself approved.

Bibliography

https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/a-historical-sketch-of-galilee/#:~:text=By%20the%20first%20century%20A.D.%2C%20much%20of%20Palestine%2C,semiprovincial%20status%3A%20Galilee%2C%20Idumea%2C%20Judea%2C%20Perea%2C%20and%20Samaria.

https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/a-historical-sketch-of-galilee/