“And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind” (Revelation 9:16).

A time is coming when the number will be this high.  During World War Two, three percent of the population of the world was killed.  Deaths from this kind of calamity has been rising over the centuries.  We are heading to the place where vast numbers will be wiped out.  War and hatred drive this age.  Living like one who is a Christ-follower is the answer; there will be no more war in eternity with Christ.

It is not pacifism, but it may look like it.  It is not capitulation, but at first, that is what it seems.  It is humility and compassion.  It is living the two rules, doing as you would be done by and loving the Lord and your neighbor as well.  It is becoming like Christ.  In this age, some will, and some will not.  The question is whether you will be a Christ-follower or not.

Lord Christ, You have come to set the captives free.  You have also come to pour into us the Christ life so that we become what You have always intended.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may indeed become like You.  You have set the course, now direct my steps so that I may live as You guide me, my Savior, Lord, and God.  Guide me forward, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates” (Revelation 9:13-14)

From the heart of civilization comes the unleashing of judgement.  It may have happened in Rome, but how often is it from the outsider that calamity comes?  Is it not more often that it comes from the inside?  Yes, from the inside comes calamity too.  Governments treat their citizens as objects and humanity is lost in the cogs of the machine.  It has happened and the final day will come when the final judgement ends this age.

Lord, regardless of where I am on the timeline, help me to be faithful at all times.  Even though the culture I am in may kill its people, let me never forget that You are Lord of life and have commanded me to love my neighbor.  Help me to be mindful of others and to treat others as I would want to be treated.  You have guided into me Your principles.  Help me to live within them.

Lord Jesus, without the grace You give, I would be carried away by the culture in which I find myself.  Lead me this day to live the faith You have given me and love my neighbor as myself.  Help me through whatever may come to live by the simple guidelines You have given, remembering that You, too, know suffering.  Peter and Paul were faithful amidst great persecution.  I can too, by Your grace with Your grace, can be faithful in suffering if that be my lot.  Amen.

“The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things” (Revelation 9:12).

This age is filled with woe.  Yes, I know, many look to these words as those which shall be fulfilled at the end.  Have you not heard that things come in threes?  Most everything has its roots in Scripture.  Whether in your life personally, or in the world, these calamities drive a wedge.  The wicked grow farther away from God and the righteous come closer to Him.  Similar actions produce different results based upon your relationship with the Lord.

Lord, let every action of this world drive me closer to You.  I can do nothing about what happens in this world, but I can do something about how I react to it.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go and then help me stand firm in that way.  Guide me in Your goodness to see this with clarity so that when I am tempted to be angry and blame You, I will instead praise You.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to receive curse after curse.  You have experienced this with every generation.  You experienced this when You went to the cross.  You do understand how difficult it is.  Help me through every difficulty to draw nearer to You.  Help me through every circumstance to learn how to respond as You responded to Your adversaries.  Teach me, Jesus, to be like You.  Amen. 

“They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon” (Revelation 9:11).

The wicked one kills, steals, and destroys.  The name means ‘destruction.’  How many times have the wicked of this age destroyed God’s people?  Many ancient things are gone because they were destroyed, not by time, but by people.  How sad that this world has been ravaged by destruction.  Our Savior has come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Flee destruction and come into constructive life as it is meant to be lived.

Lord, I may not know the times, but I can see the seasons.  I may not live in the end of time, but I know destruction.  Teach me to reject wickedness such that it has no power over me.  Though I lament, teach me to rejoice in the grace and mercy which is mine in You.  Help me to become clear that this age is temporary, but that You are forever.  Guide me in this upward way to see through the wickedness of this age.

Savior of my soul, guide me through the destruction that is all around me.  Guide me in the way of righteous living so that I may persevere no matter what I encounter.  Guide me to look to You in and through all things.  Help me to not fear the destruction of this temporary body that I inhabit, but to have true and godly fear of what is good and right.  Thank You for saving me from the mess of this world.  Though I die, yet shall I live!  Amen.

“They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months” (Revelation 9:10).

Yes, a day is coming when what this means will be fully known.  The sting of pestilence is quick, but the aftermath is long.  We give things a day or two and then we want bad things to go away.  The Lord leaves in place what He leaves in place and we should be thankful for His provision in every season.  You have been hurt because of sin.  All sin has been heaped upon Christ.  Your hurt has become His hurt and His overcoming should be yours also.

Lord, the mystery of this is great.  I often wonder and ask, “Why don’t You remove the pain of the world?”  And you answered by taking pain upon Yourself.  You have also given us the promise that all things work together for good for those who love You.  When I put these two things together, it is very mysterious.  Lead me out of the pit of wanting to figure all things out so that I learn to simply trust You amongst all the perplexing things of my life.

Savior of the world, who died in my place, You poured Yourself out in order that I might be filled up with You.  Take the portion of sin in me that remains and fill me with You.  Let me be emptied of myself so that I can focus on You and my neighbors.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be kind to others and love them as You have loved me.  Through all that will come upon me, help my eyes to turn You first, always, and in every circumstance.  Amen.

“They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle” (Revelation 9:9).

Some have tried to make of this some modern machinery that would terrorize us.  The pestilence in our life is strong and the noise of our culture is deafening.  It is hard to “be still and know that You are God.”  Yet, this is the call for all of us: to learn how to be still and listen to the Lord even though a battle rages around us and the noise is overwhelming.  Turn to the One who calls us to come to Him and He will help.

Lord, direct my life so that I see these things and do not fear them, for You have said: “fear not.”  You are, as You always have been, Lord of all.  The directions You give sometimes seem so hard, but that is because I try to do these things on my own.  Take away my pride and help me to turn to You.  Guide me in the way of righteousness so that I may follow You in all ways and learn from, and trust in. Your gentle love.

Lord Jesus, You are with me in every time of need.  You poured Yourself out so that Your life could become deeply rooted in the new life You give.  Guide me in the fruit of the Spirit so that I learn them as they become a part of me.  Let me not be afraid of this world, for it is passing away.  Help me to always look to You continuously.  You know what I need.  Thank You for providing all things necessary.  Amen.

“They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions” (Revelation 9:8).

Soft and alluring, but inwardly, ravenous and with intent to devour.  The world does act this way often.  Politicians plead and then destroy.  It’s all about the struggle for power.  But all power belongs to the Lord.  Yet the wicked continue as if they had the power.  That is the deception of this age.  The devil wants to be God.  But the clear word of the Lord has been spoken.  Listen to truth.  People want to be their own god.  But there is only One who is God and He is the Savior.

Lord, I may not know much, but I can understand if I see things in simple terms.  Open my eyes to see so that when deception raises its head, I see it.  Of course, the temptation will be alluring.  I would not willingly jump into a pit filled with deadly snakes, but trickery causes people to do just that.  Lead me to live a sober and humble life that seeks You always.  Guide me in the way You have established and light my path to walk in Your way.

Lord Jesus, I need Your help.  As You spoke through Psalm 22, I sometimes feel like the dogs have circled around me to devour me.  Even if I am consumed, remind me that I am always Yours no matter what.  Even if my body is destroyed, remind me by Your grace that with my own eyes I shall see You.  Fill me with the hope You give so that I may now and always abide richly in You.  Amen.

“The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men” (Revelation 9:7).

“Oh, for the sake of humanity!”  How often do we hear a cry that seeks to open the way, but for what?  We live in a world where we cannot be sure that what we are hearing is true.  Coming with wealth and friendly faces are those who come to destroy, steal, and kill.  Is that not what the devil does?  Are we not in a war against principalities?  Come then and see things as they truly are.

Lord, I do not always know why things are the way they are, but I do know when I see that things are not as they should be.  Lead me, O Lord, to live through the nonsense of this world by keeping my eyes fixed upon You.  You must be the author and finisher of my faith.  You must be the One that leads me through this world, for I cannot see through the haze of this age.  Guide me now and always in the way of truth.

Lord Jesus, Hold me fast to the word You have spoken.  Guide me to not be deceived by what the wicked one sends my way.  Open my eyes to see.  Lead me in the way of truth so that I may now and always live according to the goodness of the Father by Your grace and mercy.  In that goodness, help me to understand more fully the truth You have revealed and how to apply that truth to my life.  Amen.

“And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them” (Revelation 9:6).

We live in an age where, more and more, there are those places that encourage euthanasia.  How cheap life has become.  There are those who long for death and it is not present.  What a crazy world.  Life and death belong to the Lord.  In pain, will you praise the Lord?  In torment, will you take control yourself and ignore that the Sovereign Lord is in control?  We all experience many things, but who is the Lord of you?

Lord, I do not understand the mind of the wicked.  At one moment they will yell at me that I am insensitive because I do not love their cause.  In the next moment, they will go back on their word and hate me.  Are they seeking death?  They are dying, but why do they do these things?  Help me to lean on You, the Author of life, and then live the life You give.  Guide me in Your goodness, Lord, to live beyond the insanity of this world.

Savior of the repentant sinner, there are times when the relief of death is a temptation.  In those moments, Your Spirit reminds me that I am in Your hands and that all belongs to You.  Let me stand against any who would take life or death into their hands, including me.  Let me be one who stands for life amidst a culture that loves to murder.  Let the longing of my heart be for Your righteousness.  Amen.

“And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man” (Revelation 9:5).

Wickedness does create torment.  In your own experience, you have witnessed where one does something wicked and another pays the price.  Is the Lord doing it?  No!  How many times has the Lord stopped wickedness from hurting you?  We do not know.  The sting of pain without the relief of sleep, or even death which makes us lament is also a part of this age’s experience.  Turn to the Lord, for He is the only salve of comfort in this world.

Lord, there has been disappointment and heartache.  Help me to look to You and know that You not only are with me, but that You too have experienced these things.  Let me not linger upon the sting of pain nor the anguish of suffering that comes because of wickedness.  Let me instead taste the sweetness of Your presence and the truth of Your goodness in my life no matter the circumstance.

Lord Jesus, Savior of all who believe, You have not stopped the judgement that comes upon the wicked.  I have experienced its sloppy recompense.  Save me in every time of trial and no matter what comes, keep my heart close to You.  No matter the cross I must bear, You have given me a promise that there is purpose in everything and a gift that comes through carrying my cross.  In time of need, help me to see Your promise unfolding.  Amen.