Commentators on the Second Woe

Ford Cyrinde Ottman, The unfolding of the ages in the Revelation of John

The activity and power necessary for the accomplishment of this prophecy is seen as soon as the four angels are loosed. Instantly there appear upon the scene of action hosts of horsemen, and our attention, in the most emphatic way, is called to their number. John says: "I heard the number of them." This implies the significance attached to the number: and the number of the hosts of the horsemen was two hundred million. Though divine significance is given to the number, commentators again warn us against seeking for any literal interpretation. The magnitude of the host has been urged against any attempt at literalism. Bengel "has added together all the Turkish armies of more than two centuries." To apply the number to some angelic host, without producing Scriptural warrant therefor, is to send us into a region where all reasoning is lost, and to permit man to roam wherever his imagination leads him. In seeking for some explanation of this great host, we must remember that we have come to a time in the world's history when supernatural agencies are manifest, and at work in every direction. It is the final assault of Satan against God and His people, and all his resources are summoned to the conflict. Until the time of his ultimate overthrow he is recognized as "the god of this age." He has angels and demons subordinate to him, and the restraining power of the Holy Spirit is alone holding in check his last outbreak among men. We have already seen something of the effect that shall follow the removal of all restraint upon evil. The pit of the abyss shall be opened, and demons shall be permitted to come out, and enter upon their destructive work under the direction of Satan himself. At the same time rebel angels, hitherto restrained, shall be liberated, and become active again in the sphere of human government.

If these weird horsemen, two hundred million strong, are demon-possessed men, it would not, after all, make the number so extraordinary, provided there be given to us the number of the demons rather than of the horsemen. A legion of demons can possess one man. This fact is certified by the demoniac at Gadara. If demons be intended, then a host of less than forty thousand horsemen would insure the number so solemnly impressed upon John. This theory is not unworthy of serious consideration in view of "the great tribulation" toward which the world is hastening. Demon worship is, in fact, the very evil that shall give character to those days.

It would not require much time for such a host of demon-possessed men to reconstruct the city of Babylon and restore its magnificent temple. We are told that "Alexander found the great temple of Belus in so ruined a condition that it would have required the labor of ten thousand men for two months even to clear away the rubbish with which it was encumbered." With ten thousand horsemen, such as we are considering, Alexander easily might have carried into effect his desire for the restoration of Babylon. Humanly speaking, it may seem as if seven years were altogether inadequate to accomplish all the various restorations necessary for the literal fulfillment of prophecy. When, however, we take into consideration the fact that superhuman agencies shall be at work, and the power of Satan unrestrained, it is impossible for us to overestimate the possibilities of accomplishment in even so limited a time.

The horses of the vision are seen coming in three companies, characterized by the breastplates of their riders. The first have breastplates of "fire," the second of "jacinth," and the third of "brimstone." These breastplates seem to be formed by "the fire and smoke and brimstone" that proceed from the mouths of the horses. The smoke answers to the hyacinthian hue of the jacinth. The heads of the horses are spoken of as the heads of "lions." The lion is the symbol of strength and ferocity. The most valiant men in David's army were the "lion-face warriors" of Gad. Judas Maccabaeus, the Jewish patriot, is described as "like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey." The lion, as the symbol of sovereignty, occurs frequently in the prophetic visions. Christ is referred to as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah." Satan is also spoken of as a "roaring lion." The lion was assumed by the heathen as the emblem of different gods, and it occurs in the names and standards of many nations. The lion was the emblem of the Babylonian empire. Daniel speaks of this empire as a beast like a lion with "eagle's wings"; the wings speaking of the rapid progress toward universal empire. The "lion-like faces" of the horses would seem to connect naturally with Babylon restored.

The "fire and smoke and brimstone," going forth from their mouths, are spoken of as "three plagues" by which the third part of men were killed. These look like divine judgments, and, though executed by satanic influence, they are such, and therefore under the hand of God, who maketh "the wrath of man" to praise Him, while "the remainder of wrath" He restrains. The tails of the horses "were like serpents, having heads, and by them they hurt."

Isaiah says, "The prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail" (Is. 9: 15). Lying prophets characterize this time when men everywhere shall be given over to believe a lie. Both physical and spiritual death follow in the wake of this army of horsemen. "Fire and smoke and brimstone," which constitute the torment of hell, are permitted to overwhelm men. Satan, and his angels, shall inflict upon men the torture of hell, but so strange and obdurate is the human heart, that the men who suffer from such torment do not repent of their sins, nor learn through experience "that they should not worship the demons, and the idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their thefts."

Demon worship, with the long train of evils that issue from it, not only gives character to these last days, but also shows how God shall be given up entirely and the heart of men altogether alienated from Him.

Some consideration should be given to this intensely solemn sin, which is the fountain head of all these iniquities. Paul says: "The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" (i Cor. 10:20-21). The Greek word is demons, not devils, and should be so translated. The idol itself, as the apostle shows, was nothing; but the heathen deity, represented by the idol, was a solemn reality. In all the idolatry, so manifest everywhere, the power of Satan was working, and the Gentiles were sacrificing to demons.

This fact is established by the Old Testament as well as by the New. The Jewish idea of heathen deities is expressed in the fifth verse of the ninety-sixth Psalm, which reads literally: "All the gods of the nations are demons: but the Lord made the heavens." The Bible plainly affirms the possibility of communion with demons, and utters the most solemn warnings against it. Modern philosophy does not take much account of this, but that need not disturb our confidence in what the Bible teaches. Spiritual existences are certainly recognized in connection with the idols of heathenism, and they are declared to be demons. These beings, whatever their origin, are realities, and must be reckoned with in our estimate of evil powers exposed by the Scriptures. They are declared to be the "gods of the heathen," and in the Old Testament there are repeated accounts of Jehovah "executing judgment" upon them.

Before the passover night in Egypt Jehovah said to Moses: "I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord" (Ex. 12:12). This Scripture, instead of ignoring the fact of false gods, clearly affirms the reality of their existence. The execution of judgment upon them implies both reality and personality.

In the book of Leviticus the Jews are strictly prohibited from offering sacrifices unto demons. (Lev. 17:7).

In the song of Moses the people are charged with violating the statute. They not only provoked God to jealousy with a multitude of strange gods, but they actually sacrificed unto demons. (Deut. 32:17).

When Jeroboam had expelled the Levites from the northern kingdom, "he ordained priests for the high places, and for the demons, and for the calves which he had made" (2 Chron. 11:15).

In the one hundred and sixth Psalm, where the rebellion of Israel is reviewed, we read: "They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: but were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood" (Ps. 106: 34-38).

Whatever theory man may have about demons, they are plainly recognized in passages like these, and repeated warnings are given against any communion with them whatever. Because these warnings were unheeded by the Jews, God gave them up to the abominations of the heathen by whose false gods they had been seduced. The unclean spirits that haunt the air, and seek for embodiment among men, are the gods worshiped by the heathen. These demons inspired the oracles in the pagan temples. They furnished wisdom to the "soothsayers," the "wizards," the "sorcerers," the "enchanters," and "diviners," and men of similar evil character.

Moses charged the Israelites, saying: "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee" (Deut. 18:9-12). These evils against which they are warned constituted a righteous cause for the expulsion of the Canaanites.

Such passages assume the possibility of establishing communion with demons, and, judging from the statement made by Paul, if fellowship with demons were once formed, it would result in that fellowship that the apostle used as the very antithesis of the communion between the Lord and His people. Such unlawful intercourse has always been the curse of paganism.

The Canaanites had broken through all restrictions that God in His mercy had placed about them, and the whole land became filled with these abominations. It is almost inconceivable that such a history should ever be repeated, but the express declaration of the Spirit is, that, in the last days, men shall once more be guilty of the awful wickedness that brought condemnation and ruin upon the Canaanites of old.

Polytheism is characteristic of all pagan religions, and the most hideous examples of demon possession are found among the heathen at this day. The object of the demon, after gaining possession of a man, is to compel his victim to worship him.

Dr. Nevius, who for many years was a well-known missionary in China, wrote a volume entitled "Demon Possession and Allied Themes." He illustrates how a demon, after possessing a man, compels him to yield to, and worship him. Torment of the most afflicting kind is visited upon the demoniac until his will is completely surrendered, and he becomes, not only a private, but also a public worshiper of the demon. Dr. Nevius says: "Before this full surrender of the will is made, if he had worshiped a demon, he would scarcely have owned it except with shame. Now he boasts of his power, and professes to heal diseases by the demon's aid." Testimonies of a similar character can be found in the annals of all pagan people. The whole spirit of paganism is to personify, and deify the lusts of the flesh. Gods are created that answer to the fallen nature of men, and, while they personify what he loves and would lawfully enjoy, they are nevertheless demons of lust worshiped as gods. These fallen men are the slaves of lust, and, repudiating the God who denies such cravings, they give themselves over to the unclean spirits, who not only permit, but urge them on to do what they desire. Wherever these evil spirits are tolerated among men, they make their way with irresistible power, and in the end we find them in solid phalanx against all that endeavor to keep the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

The mystery of lawlessness, found at work in the days of Paul, is moving steadily on, fitting the rejecters of Christ for the last outburst of rebellion. The history of the Old Testament people shall once more repeat itself in the final phase of humanity. From the days of Solomon the decline in Israel was swift and sure. Jeroboam made his name proverbial by regarding the calves, worshiped in Bethel and Dan, as "the gods which brought Israel out of Egypt." In the days of Ahab the awful apostasy from God assumed its worst form. Jezebel introduced the worship of Baal, and to him all Israel had bowed the knee, except the "seven thousand" that were hidden in the caves of the earth. Other altars were raised, not only in Israel, but also in Judah, and, the flood gates once open, the tide of iniquity rolled in. The Israelites held unlawful intercourse with demons, as did the Canaanites before them. Men turned from God, consulting mesmerizers, sorcerers, soothsayers, and mediums with familiar spirits. As an offering to Molech children were flung from the frenzied arms of mothers into the devouring fire. Men were not simply demon-possessed; they became demon worshipers. The judgment of God on Israel followed in the wake of these miseries; the land was smitten with famines; invading hosts from the surrounding nations desolated and oppressed them; calamity after calamity fell upon them, but nothing availed to turn them from the wretched misery of their unbelief, and they were finally lifted from their ancestral seats and scattered to the four comers of the earth. Christian nations, which are supposed to represent God among the heathen as did Israel of old, are moving swiftly on to the same doom. The revival of ritualism and the trend toward Romanism show how Christ is being displaced in the hearts of men by image worship, and by divine honor given to "the queen of heaven and mother of God." Pagan lands are no longer the restricted territory of the foul spirits; they are now flooding countries professing Christianity. Men that have forsaken God are eagerly, and earnestly willing through divination, astrology, necromancy, spiritism, and the like, to get into communication with the spirits of the dead. The resulting evils are the accursed brood of these foul spirits driving men on to the battlefield of God. There is a falling away from God's truth that solemnly testifies to the darkening of the skies. We can almost hear the distant moan of the coming storm that shall burst upon an apostate world.

These myriads of horsemen, whose coats of mail are mingled with "fire and smoke and brimstone," are the demon worshipers of a coming day, and it cannot be far distant from us now. They shall openly introduce once more the festering corruptions of Sodom that shall provoke the final judgment of Almighty God. Secure is no man that strives in his own strength to withstand the seductions of these foul spirits that are even now abroad seeking to gain full possession of men. Much less will it be possible to stand against the evil that shall roll in upon the world when it shall be no longer under divine restraint, and unclean spirits of the abyss are let loose. Man may not bow down to any graven image, nor to idol carved in stone; but, if he be the slave of lusts which inevitably result from these delusions, he should consider the solemn question of Paul--"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom. 6: i6).

"Surely in vain" says the wise man, "the net is spread in the sight of any bird."

May God open our eyes to see the "net spread" before us, lest that day come upon us unawares! "For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:35-36).