The fifth angel sounds; and one who should have been by position the
instrument of light and governmental order over the earth was seen as
having lost his place; and the power to let loose the full darkening
influence of Satan was given him. He opened the bottomless pit-the place
where evil is shut up and chained; not where it is punished, that is, the
lake of fire. Supreme authority, and all heavenly light over the earth, and
healthful influence of order, were darkened and made to cease by the evil
Satanic influence which was let loose. Nor was this all: direct instruments
of Satanic power came out of this evil influence in numbers; crowds of
moral locusts with the sting of false doctrine in their tail. But it was
not to destroy temporal prosperity on the earth, but to torment the ungodly
Jews; not to kill, but to harass and vex them. This was to continue five
months; for it is not the final judgment. The torment was worse than
death-pain and anguish of heart. But they had the semblance of military
imperial power, crowned, and with masculine energy, to those that met them;
but they were, if seen behind and the secret disclosed, subject and weak:
their faces were as the faces of men, their hair as the hair of women. But
they were armed in a steeled conscience. They were the direct instruments
of the power of Satan, and under his orders. The angel of the bottomless
pit-he who rules the depths of Satan's wiles, as the ruler of the power of
darkness-led them. We are too unbelieving as to the direct influence of
Satan in darkening men's minds when permitted, when men are given up to his
darkening influence. Cruel harassing torments, worse than death, with
darkening of their minds, become the portion of the once beloved people.
One woe was past.
The sixth angel sounds. The woe which follows is much more human and
providential. It is directed against the inhabitants of the Latin Empire.
The instruments of it are let loose from beyond Euphrates -a countless
crowd of horsemen. But they were not simply such. Their consciences and
their words, both were in the power of Satan, but in judgment from God. But
it now killed men. Their mouths belched forth the power of Satan, and their
influence in doctrine was Satanic: with both they did hurt. I do not
believe this death here is mere temporal death (there may be such), but, I
suspect, making apostates. The rest, who did not thus fall, did not repent
of their idolatry and misdeeds.
