And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star, having fallen out of heaven to the earth, and the key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. And he opened the pit of the abyss and smoke came up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit. Rev. 9:1,2.
This section of Revelation is one of the most terrifying passages in the book. A star from heaven receives a key to the abyss. The opening of the abyss results in darkness that completely blot out the sun and the atmosphere. The darkness turns out to be locusts, agents of Apollyon (Rev. 9:3, 10, 11).
We find a couple significant parallels to this passage in the Gospel of Luke. When a demon-possessed man confronted Jesus, the demons pleaded with Him not to send them back into the abyss (Luke 8:30, 31). Evidently the abyss is where the power of God confines demons, a place they don't want to go.
Further parallels occur in Luke 10:17-20. There Jesus sees Satan falling like lightning out of heaven. Nevertheless, He states, His disciples should not be alarmed. They will have authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, symbols of the power of the enemy. Their assurance of salvation will provide the confidence to confront Satan in the name of Jesus.
How far does demonic power go? Would it be wrong for Christians to worship in a place that once served for the worship of Satan? Is it always wrong to use forms of music previously employed in pagan rituals or worship?
Consider the dilemma of those who first translated the Bible into a language steeped in the worship of spirits, trees, and other magical creatures. The translators struggled to find ways to express the sublime truths of Scripture and salvation in words and expressions already loaded with profane and even demonic associations. Its pagan origins saturated every aspect of this language. But the translators went ahead anyway. I'm glad they did. That language was English.
We may feel disturbed to hear the gospel in language and musical forms that have had a checkered history. But we mustn't forget that God chose to be incarnated in human flesh in spite of all its pagan, promiscuous, and perverted history. When the Word became flesh, however, He brought life and light to the human race. Wherever He went, the demons fled. It is not the presence of demons that condemns the human race--it is the absence of Christ.
Lord, I choose to have Christ with me wherever I go. I praise You for overcoming the evil one at the cross. May the power of Satan be vanquished in my life as well.
This section of Revelation is one of the most terrifying passages in the book. A star from heaven receives a key to the abyss. The opening of the abyss results in darkness that completely blot out the sun and the atmosphere. The darkness turns out to be locusts, agents of Apollyon (Rev. 9:3, 10, 11).
We find a couple significant parallels to this passage in the Gospel of Luke. When a demon-possessed man confronted Jesus, the demons pleaded with Him not to send them back into the abyss (Luke 8:30, 31). Evidently the abyss is where the power of God confines demons, a place they don't want to go.
Further parallels occur in Luke 10:17-20. There Jesus sees Satan falling like lightning out of heaven. Nevertheless, He states, His disciples should not be alarmed. They will have authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, symbols of the power of the enemy. Their assurance of salvation will provide the confidence to confront Satan in the name of Jesus.
How far does demonic power go? Would it be wrong for Christians to worship in a place that once served for the worship of Satan? Is it always wrong to use forms of music previously employed in pagan rituals or worship?
Consider the dilemma of those who first translated the Bible into a language steeped in the worship of spirits, trees, and other magical creatures. The translators struggled to find ways to express the sublime truths of Scripture and salvation in words and expressions already loaded with profane and even demonic associations. Its pagan origins saturated every aspect of this language. But the translators went ahead anyway. I'm glad they did. That language was English.
We may feel disturbed to hear the gospel in language and musical forms that have had a checkered history. But we mustn't forget that God chose to be incarnated in human flesh in spite of all its pagan, promiscuous, and perverted history. When the Word became flesh, however, He brought life and light to the human race. Wherever He went, the demons fled. It is not the presence of demons that condemns the human race--it is the absence of Christ.
Lord, I choose to have Christ with me wherever I go. I praise You for overcoming the evil one at the cross. May the power of Satan be vanquished in my life as well.
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