By Coty Pinckney

Read chapters 8 and 9 at least three times prior to answering the questions, without referring to notes or commentaries. Remind yourself of what you read last week in Exodus about the plagues. Also, look at Joel 1 and 2 for an Old Testament prophecy concerning God's judgment by means of locusts.

(1) The last verse of chapter 8 indicates that the effects of trumpets 5-7 are different in some way from the effects of trumpets 1-4. How would you characterize this difference? See in particular 9:4, 5, and 15.

(2) Does John see the star fall? Who gets the key, the star or the angel? Concerning the star, consider Isaiah 14:12 and Luke 10:18.

(3) What are the characteristics of the abyss or pit? See also Matt 8:28-32, Mark 5:1-11, and Jude 1:6.

(4) The locusts are told (!) that they must not harm those who are sealed. Look again at 7:1-3 and Ezekiel 9, as well as Ex 11 on the Passover. What purpose do the locusts serve? How is this similar or dissimilar to what we find in Exodus and Ezekiel? What is the purpose of the seal?

(5) Try to picture the locusts according to the description in verses 7-10. What do you come up with? What might be symbolized by the details of this description? Make sure your interpretation of the symbols is consistent with the purpose of the locusts.

(6) "Abaddan" and "Apollyon" mean "Destroyer." See Job 26:6, Ps 88:11, and Pr 15:11 for use of the Hebrew word. Who is this? Is your interpretation consistent with the purpose of the locusts?

(7) For verse 13, look again at 6:9-11 and 8:3-5, immediately preceding the sounding of the trumpets. What is this voice responding to?

(8) Verse 15 is in passive voice. These angels had been prepared for this very hour by whom? What is the significance of this prior preparation? What does this tell you about the one who did the planning?

(9) On brimstone see Gen 19:24, Ps 11:6, and Isa 30:33. Also note Hebrews 2:3. Does all this pain and destruction have an impact on the people suffering through it? Consider verses 20 and 21.

(10) What should be our response to this passage? What is likely to be the response from those who are described in 6:9-11? Should ours be the same? What impact should this passage have on the way we conduct our lives?

Now read Stedman's sermon on chapter 9 as well as Wilcock pages 96-100. Revise your answers, if necessary, in light of the insights of these two commentators.

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