When we see something and we don’t know what it is, we describe it by comparing it to things we know. In other words, we try and explain the unknown with the known. One problem with trying to explain the unknown with the known is that sometimes, what we think we know, we really don’t know. Therefore, it’s more of an educated guess. 

Whenever I read the book of Revelation, I wonder what John saw when he saw visions of the future. For example, many people wonder about this passage in Revelation 9.

The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

Revelation 9:7-11 (NIV)

In 1970, Hal Lindsey and Carole C. Carlson wrote the book, The Late Great Planet Earth, where Lindsey stipulates that the locusts described by John are attack helicopters. If you’re interested in this idea, there’s a lot written about it online. More recently, some think that John was describing drones as locusts. Like the helicopters, you can find information on this by searching online. However, what I’d like to bring to your attention about these descriptions is this. They make sense because you know what helicopters and drones look like.

Why is that? Because we describe the unknown with the known. When Lindsey published his book, the Vietnam war was still underway, and the attack helicopter served as a savior and menace to friends and foes alike, so it makes sense to describe the locusts as something familiar; attack helicopters. As we know it today, Drone technology wasn’t a scientific reality in 1970. Science fiction, yes. Thus, the same thing goes for seeing those locusts as drones. Therefore, when John described what he saw almost two thousand years ago, he equated it with what he knew to be true relative to that time, and we do the same with what we know to be true today.

This is how ancient gods and myths came about. Someone heard thunder and saw lighting, and a “deity” was born. If you can think of it, there was probably a god that “ruled” over it. Look at this logic from the Old Testament. 

Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.”

1 Kings 20:23 (NIV)

When the king of Aram went next to fight the Israelites, he lost because he was fighting against God. However, if the king of Aram had won, would he have credited the win to better strategy and tactics or to the notion that the enemies’ “gods” weren’t gods of the plains? Consider these verses.

Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers. You must also raise an army like the one you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.” He agreed with them and acted accordingly (emphasis added).

1 Kings 20:24-25 (NIV)

Verse 23 suggests that the Arameans lost because of “gods,” but several strategic decisions were made. Get rid of the people who made the poor decisions in the first battle and replace them with new guys! Furthermore, fight on the plains, where a larger army has a more significant advantage over a smaller army, instead of fighting in the hills where horses and chariots are less maneuverable! 

If the king of Aram had won, he would have credited it to the “gods.” In other words, to something he thought he knew. 

When we read Revelation, we can try and decipher it or understand it for what it is. Revelation was written to give encouragement and hope to all Christians that Jesus is returning victorious. Indeed, Revelation was also written to warn nonbelievers about the Final Judgment that is coming on the Last Day.

Christians are saved whether the Lord returns today, tomorrow, or in 100 years. For the nonbelievers, your judgment will come when the Lord returns, or you die. Therefore, if you are not saved, the best time to be saved is right now. 

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

Advertisement