Read Revelation 9:7-10.
Here we see a description of the “locusts” of v. 3. Their description is an awesome picture of power and terror:
- Crowns of gold
- Faces of human appearance
- Hair as a woman
- Teeth like a lion
- Breastplates of iron
- Wings like the sound of thundering horses and chariots
- Tails and stings of a scorpion
Now picture beings of this description angrily charging into the world to inflict devastation upon the earth. This fiercesome force is Satan and his demon army released from the Abyss. It is possible that this is a description of Satan’s forces working through human forces; either way, it is Satan’s power at its source, and it will be intimidating. I think this speaks to the serious power of Satan. It is true that “greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (Satan)”, but that does not mean Satan is not a powerful force to be reckoned with. His power as seen in this trumpet judgment reveals that it will extend over the world and will inflict pain and suffering for five months. For those alive during that time, it would be wise to take his power seriously! But is that not true for us today?
Ephesians 6 says that our power is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm (Eph. 6:12). And according to Eph. 6:11, his power today is often carried out through schemes rather than the plainly visible devastation seen in the sixth trumpet. His schemes take the form of temptation, a dulling of the senses to sin, the minimization of his presence, the distractions of this present world, and so on. But he is real… and he is dangerous. It is a mistake to give him too much power, but it is perhaps a greater mistake to minimize him or marginalize him in our life. And as we grow closer to Christ, his influence will grow stronger. C.S. Lewis once said something to the effect in his Screwtape Letters that Satan loves it when he is marginalized because then he doesn’t have to do much to distract them from their walks with Christ. It is when a person knows he (Satan) is real and begins to pray that he turns up the heat to get them to give in.
How is Satan’s power influencing your life in Christ? Are you acutely aware of his scheming attempts to make you fall? Hopefully you are walking close to Christ and thus living in the power of His Holy Spirit and His Word to fight off the schemes of Satan. If not, consider:
- When are you most susceptible to Satan’s scheming ways? (e.g. Do you tend to fall at certain times of the day or in certain situations?)
- How can you better recognize when he is attacking your life? (i.e. Do you know when you are stepping into a mine field?)
- What can you do to win the battle (e.g. prayer, Scripture memory, call a friend, etc.)?
Satan is a powerful force in our lives, especially for those who are fighting hard against him. If you have time, read Eph. 6:10-18 for more helps in this area.