Say “hello” to the 2nd most deadly scorpion on earth, the Deathstalker Scorpion. One sting from this little creature causes extreme pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath and heart failure. So, here’s the deal:
During the great tribulation, coming soon to Earth, all that refuse to accept the free pardon paid by Jesus on the cross – all who would not believe on Him – will have to endure such as this.
(Side note: I don’t understand why anyone in their right mind would risk this, but I know that many will.)
During these 7 years of hell on earth, there will befall – 3 groups of 7 each – judgments on the people left on this earth that do reject Christ’s offer. The Bible calls them the 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets and 7 Bowls. Each is described in chilling detail in the book of Revelation – read them if you dare.
The one I felt compelled to tell you about today, though, is the 5th of the 7 Trumpet Judgments.
It says that Scorpion-like creatures will be released from the pit of hell and commanded to “torment” those on the earth for FIVE months! They are not given the authority to kill people, only to torture them with stings so horrible that people will try to kill themselves, but death will not come.
Day and night… for five long months. Try to wrap your mind around that. And that is only ONE of the 21 terrible judgments that people are going to endure during this 7-year period of time.
And after that is finally over, an eternity of even worse torment than can be imagined by the human mind. That torment will last for all eternity.
I’ve said this before, but have you ever tried to imagine “eternity”? Shivers. BUT, here’s the good news:
No one has to endure ANY of this. Those who accept Christ’s offer of salvation before this time begins will be spared the entire thing. We will have been caught up to be with Him in heaven, to be with Him forever, before this time of tribulation begins.
God does not force himself on anyone. He loves us so much that he gives us the freedom to choose for ourselves. Please don’t choose hell.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”
It’s just that simple. Believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, died on the cross to pay for all your sins, that He rose from the dead three days later and ascended to heaven to prepare a place for those who will believe.
In Revelation 9:3-11, John describes what he saw with his own eyes when he was caught up to witness and record the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
“Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months.
“Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
“The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.
“And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.”