A Revelation Invitation

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. (Revelation 9:13-19 ESV)

Amid the political and social unrest of the Vietnam War, singer Edwin Starr recorded a song which asked the question: “War! What is it good for?” The answer he returned was an emphatic “Absolutely nothing!” He then explained, “Oh war, I despise ’cause it means destruction of innocent lives.” Few would dispute Starr’s conviction.

Interestingly, in describing the conflict with Rome the scene above highlights an unseen dimension of this war. Earlier, when the seventh seal was opened, we saw an angel stand at the altar with a golden censer filled with incense to offer with the prayers of the saints (Revelation 8:3-5). When he hurled the censer upon the earth, the angel showed that with the blowing of the seven trumpets God was answering our prayers. Now, when the sixth trumpet is sounded, a voice is heard from the four horns of that golden altar. The smoke of the burning incense rose to God along with the prayers of his people. So again, we are about to witness God’s response to our prayers!

We see God exercise his sovereignty with the blowing of the sixth trumpet just as we have with the other five. God authorizes the release of the four angels who had been prepared for this specific time. The invading army was released but limited to killing only a third of mankind. Even in the chaos of war God has not lost control. God has revealed to us how he operates in the world to bring about his will. Even when it seems like the world is spinning out of control, God is firmly in command of all that is happening. This does not mean that evil isn’t operating in these events, but it does mean that even evil serves God’s purposes.

The sixth trumpet signals the invasion of a foreign army by way of the Euphrates River. To the Jews the Euphrates served as their northern border from which armies like those of the Assyrians and Babylonians invaded. To Romans in John’s day it reminded them of the Parthian Empire to the east, a people they had never been able to conquer. They were a fierce, warring nation with which the Roman legions had tangled repeatedly. The parallels between the fifth and sixth trumpets indicate that we are probably looking at two facets of the same conflict—the visible, invading armies (sixth trumpet) and the invisible, demonic swarms (fifth trumpet) ravaging our world. Historically we know that one of the contributing causes to the fall of the Roman Empire was invasion from Germanic tribes from the north and Asian hordes from the east. While the early Christians would have been adversely affected by war, they would have nevertheless recognized that these invading armies were a curse upon and a warning to their persecutor Rome.

These mounted troops 200 million strong are an invincible army. John portrays this army as ruthless, destructive and terrifying. The torment inflicted on those who survive is unimaginable. Rome, the oppressor of the early Christians, would be unable to resist this army. Such will be the case in our day for any persecutor of God’s people. Their fall is inevitable. Our victory is assured. Even in war God accomplishes his good purposes. God will use even the horror of war for the salvation of his people.

God Almighty, commander of heaven’s army, I place my life in your protective care. With trepidation I witness your power and watch as nations fall at your hand. But in truth I have nothing to fear no matter how unsettling world events become. Give me courage to persevere. Give me confidence in your loving care to stand even in the midst of war. Amen.