The Sorrow of Death

Psalm 116:3,4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

The thought of death is one that we don’t like to dwell on. It brings sorrow to those who have loved ones that gone before us. Life, or walking among the living ceases and our bodies return back to the dust. It is painful to think of the place of the dead where life as we know it does not exist. Base on what scripture gives us, we can only imagine what happens after death. We know that ultimately at some time after death we either spend eternity with Jesus in heaven, or we suffer the torments of hell. Hell is a real place, and it is hard to imagine that those who die without God are suffering the torments of eternal fire and darkness. We cannot grasps the reality of it in our finite thinking. We leave final judgment in the hands of God who knows the heart of all who have walked among the living. The Psalmist may or may not be referring to this place, but even so, he acknowledges the source of his deliverance. He knows the One who is able to deliver his soul. For those who call upon the Name of the Lord, will be saved from the pains of hell and the fire of hell

Tormenting Locust

Revelation 9:1-12

These are days foretold by John that should cause all men to fall to their knees and acknowledge Christ as Lord of all. But, even with this warning, many will still deny the power of Christ to rule in their lives. For those who refuse to come under His Lordship, great torment will be afflicted. The pit of hell will open up and bring forth creatures that will cause the ungodly to seek death, but in vain, they will not find it. Woe unto those who call good evil and evil good, judgment is coming and all sinners shall see the wrath of God to come.

Four trumpets- events proceeding the fifth trumpet

• First trumpet- hail, fire, blood
• Second trumpet- a burning mountain-meteor
• Third trumpet- fallen star- meteor- bitter waters
• Fourth trumpet- stars, moon, sun- little light

Fallen Star – I saw a star fall from heaven

• Angel of God

• Satan cast to earth
• Christ- holds the keys- From Savior to Judgment

Furnace and Smoke- the smoke of a great furnace

• Bottomless pit- the Abyss- hell fire
• Smoke caused darkness- evil proceeds from darkness

Fierce Locust – and there came out a smoke of locust

• Body of a horse- with armor of protection- ready for battle
• Tail like a scorpion- The sting of pain and suffering
• Head of a man with long hair and a gold crown, teeth like a lion
• Intelligent, ferocious, victorious, and conquer

Fear and Torment – tormented for 5 months

• Fear will grip the heart of me- just looking at them
• Their focus was to inflict pain- not death
• Men and women will seek a place to hide

Faithful Spared –except for those who have the seal of God

• 144,000 Jews- The protection of Israel- Passover

• No indication that Gentiles will be included
• God will protect His own- In His providence

Futility of Men– shall me seek death and not find it

• Death is alluded
• A glimpse of hell- pain and suffering

Future Woes

• The wrath of God is poured out against the ungodly