Revelation 9

I agree with the commentator that this images are more from the realm of terrible dreams than from an actual prediction of what will happen in the future.

We have described in Revelations 9 the fifth and sixth woes. The fifth is a locust invasion. But these locusts and like scorpions and seem to be as big as men. Or is that just my imagination. They torment people but do not kill them.

Could this describe a terrible tragedy in our lives? Like a divorce, a child with birth defects, prolonged loss of employment? These kinds of things are woes that make life hard to live. There is constant emotional pain. John says despite these woes people refuse to turn to God but continue to sin. Verse 21 lists murders, sorcery, immorality or thefts. Do tragedies bring us closer to God or drive us further as we blame God for our plight? God wants us to come to him for comfort and ask him for aid. He wants to help. But so often we want to keep our sins and therefore keep separated from a holy God.

Verse 20 John says people continue to worship idols of gold silver brass iron and wood. I can think each of those materials as describing things we worship now. Perhaps for you they bring up different things. Gold and silver could symbolize worship of money. Wood could symbolize worship of houses, bigger and better, never satisfied. Iron and brass could symbolize worship of automobiles. None of these is evil in themselves, but if we put them before God they are for us.

John comments none of these things can see nor hear nor walk. They cannot speak or act on our behalf. Neither can money or houses or cars. By themselves they cannot make us happy or keep us secure.

I think John's conclusion in verses 20-21 show these woes are to bring us to repentance. The fact that it doesn't means the woes will continue. Let us be wise and repent early. Let us seek God help and comfort. Let us remember, no matter how awful things are, God is a good God, full of compassion and love.