And the number of the mounted soldiers was two hundred million. I heard the number of them. And this is the way I saw horses and the ones sitting on them in the vision: They had breastplates the color of fire, hyacinth, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfurous fumes. Rev. 9:16, 17.
Satan's army can be numbered only at the time of the end. They are the counterpart of God's end-time people, the 144,000. The wicked beg for the rocks and mountains to fall on them (Rev. 6:15-17) while the great multitude stands safely before the throne (Rev. 7:9). Two hundred million surge forth in the sixth trumpet in contrast to the 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-4) and the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-6). A beast from the sea represents the wicked (Rev. 13), and remnant symbolize the righteous (Rev. 12:17).
The vision of Revelation tend to blur the distinctions between good and evil. The reason for the ambiguity in the vision is the role of deception and counterfeit in the central part of the book. Toward the end of time the line between truth and error will be hard to distinguish.
I know a man who went out one evening to raise funds door to door for charity. At the corner of one street he noticed a large and angry-looking dog guarding the yard of a house a few doors down. He expressed his concern to a companion and indicated that he wanted to skip that house.
The companion offered a piece of advice. "No dog will ever bite you if you stare right into its eyes. It shows them you are the boss. Go ahead. Try it! You can do it. It isn't hard."
The first man was a bit dubious about the advice, but decided to accept it anyway. He banished his fears and approached the house. As he passed through the gate the large dog charged toward him. He fixed his eyes on those of the dog and followed them as the animal veered off course and circled behind him. And he kept on staring at the dog's eyes as the creature continued circling in closer and bit him in the back of the leg.
So much for the advice "No dog will ever..." It turns out that all the facts were not in. The dog had a brain tumor that prevented normal behavior. Sometimes things are not what they seem. As we approach the end, Satan will do all he can to deceive us. Just because something is religious doesn't mean it is right or honors God. The Word of God is our best safeguard against Satan's deceptive advice.
Lord, as I approach life's challenges today keep my head clear through Your Word.
Satan's army can be numbered only at the time of the end. They are the counterpart of God's end-time people, the 144,000. The wicked beg for the rocks and mountains to fall on them (Rev. 6:15-17) while the great multitude stands safely before the throne (Rev. 7:9). Two hundred million surge forth in the sixth trumpet in contrast to the 144,000 (Rev. 7:1-4) and the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-6). A beast from the sea represents the wicked (Rev. 13), and remnant symbolize the righteous (Rev. 12:17).
The vision of Revelation tend to blur the distinctions between good and evil. The reason for the ambiguity in the vision is the role of deception and counterfeit in the central part of the book. Toward the end of time the line between truth and error will be hard to distinguish.
I know a man who went out one evening to raise funds door to door for charity. At the corner of one street he noticed a large and angry-looking dog guarding the yard of a house a few doors down. He expressed his concern to a companion and indicated that he wanted to skip that house.
The companion offered a piece of advice. "No dog will ever bite you if you stare right into its eyes. It shows them you are the boss. Go ahead. Try it! You can do it. It isn't hard."
The first man was a bit dubious about the advice, but decided to accept it anyway. He banished his fears and approached the house. As he passed through the gate the large dog charged toward him. He fixed his eyes on those of the dog and followed them as the animal veered off course and circled behind him. And he kept on staring at the dog's eyes as the creature continued circling in closer and bit him in the back of the leg.
So much for the advice "No dog will ever..." It turns out that all the facts were not in. The dog had a brain tumor that prevented normal behavior. Sometimes things are not what they seem. As we approach the end, Satan will do all he can to deceive us. Just because something is religious doesn't mean it is right or honors God. The Word of God is our best safeguard against Satan's deceptive advice.
Lord, as I approach life's challenges today keep my head clear through Your Word.
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