Hi APAK, I have thoroughly read your post, and I do understand your historical focus.
I also tend to lean towards the historical view, but not as severe as you.
You have done a superb job in outlining the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70AD, but as to anything past that is concerning symbolism for locusts, I perceive that it is a bit fabricated, and has the appearance of force fitting minor Roman events to make it work.
If there be anything of an aftermath of 70AD, Daniel 9:26 called it: "....and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood,
and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
Because Revelation is highly symbolic, it can draw much speculation and conjecture from all readers, including myself. However, just because so many have speculated etc., that is not to say that the Lord Himself doesn't reveal His truth about it. He surely does know that there is much competition clamoring to be heard.
Because of Isaiah 55:8-9, I have understood that God speaks in the
past, the
present and the
future, all at the same time.
In Revelation, we have Jesus speaking to us through John, from His Heavenly realm of eternity. Though he speaks in the language of John's day, 2000+ years later, we find that we are not too far removed from it. But, it's not our language that is the problem, it's our limited human understanding, trying to ascend to His divine understanding. Hence the need for the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit.
Without Him, no prophecy of His shall be understood, unless He Himself reveals it to us.
John.8[
23] And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world
John.3[
12] If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
So then, as for our
self will, and all the
religious persuasion that can be had, it shall always be by only one process, by which we might know anything from His eternity, and that is "by my spirit".
Zech.4[
6] Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying,
Not by might
[self will], nor by power
[religious persuasion], but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
But, from all of that, we still have a problem. His knowledge is in His control and not ours. Therefore all the prying, contriving and studying on our part, doesn't cause Him to impart any of His knowledge to us in the least bit, until we abide by His instruction.
of
Prov.3[
5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
So my point is, in Revelation 9, there are two prophecies.
1. Revelation 9:1-11
2. Revelation 9:12-21
Of the first prophecy, you have attempted to reveal that it is all fulfilled in the past, and nothing of it shall be future. However, the second prophecy is still in the future, which shows my understanding, that the Lord speaks in the present, past and future, all at the same time.
But then again, the first prophecy of the two in Revelation 9 could also be in the
present, as in RIGHT NOW, IN THIS VERY MOMENT. Could you hazard a guess of what it might be?
And if the first IS what you have guessed or surmised, then the second prophecy shall be manifested right behind it, for surely THAT has NOT yet come to pass!
.