February 18 - The Sixth Trumpet (pt. 1)

February 18 – The Sixth Trumpet (pt. 1)
Revelation 9:13-16

“The sixth angel blew his trumpet and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God.” (Rev. 9:13)

This is the same golden altar that we saw in Revelation 6:9 and 8:3. The horns represent strength.

“It said to the sixth angel 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 released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.” (Rev. 14-16)

These angels were not angels of God, but of darkness. They had been bound throughout history for this moment.

“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.” (Jude 6)

The Euphrates River formed one of the borders of the land promised to Abraham and is now the river that the enemies of God will cross before the final conflict. It separated Israel from two of its chief enemies – Assyria and Babylon. What we are seeing here is that the angels are releasing the terrors of the world onto God’s people.

John heard the number ‘two hundred million.’ Some wild interpreters suggest that this army is Chinese, due to the fact that it comes across the Euphrates (come from the East) and that it has so many people in the army, due to their large population. But, I believe that we should interpret this for what it is. This is a supernatural army, led by four evil angels.