People cannot die under the locusts because God restricts their assignment to torment only — they are not permitted to kill.
Revelation 9:5 says the locusts were given authority to torment but not kill, and Revelation 9:6 says men will seek death and not find it. Les Feldick emphasizes this divine restriction, noting that these demonic locusts will never put a man or woman to death. The prolonged suffering is part of God's righteous wrath after mankind continually rejects His patience.
Revelation 9:5 — Directly answers why people cannot die: the locusts are commanded to torment, not kill.
Revelation 9:6 — Shows the result: men will seek death but death will flee from them.
Revelation 9:5 (KJV) says of the locusts: "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man." Verse 6 immediately explains why death is not an escape: "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them." The passage therefore describes a judgment in which death is withheld so that suffering continues. Revelation 9:20 adds that after these plagues, "the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk." The judgment does not immediately bring repentance.
Les Feldick teaches that the locusts in Revelation 9 are demonic creatures whose power is strictly limited by God's command. He reads Revelation 9:5 and says, "to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented," then adds, "these locusts will never be able to put a man to death or a woman, but that they should be tormented" [Clip 0]. Les connects this restriction to the broader doctrine of God's wrath. He says that for the last 1,900-plus years, mankind has not seen the wrath of God; wars and earthquakes are not that wrath [Clip 4]. When God's patience finally runs out, He speaks to the world "in His wrath" and vexes (torments) them righteously, because they have continued to react in unbelief to His love [Clip 6]. Les also points out that the final three and a half years will be beyond human comprehension, worse than anything the world has ever seen [Clips 3, 5, 7]. The inability to die is therefore not an accident — it is part of the prolonged, just torment that constitutes God's wrath.
No. The biblical text explicitly says they may torment but not kill. Les Feldick emphasizes this, saying that the locusts "will never be able to put a man to death or a woman, but that they should be tormented." He also notes from the context that the 144,000 are protected by God's seal and cannot be touched by these demonic creatures [Clip 0].
Les Feldick explains that everything God does in this judgment is fair and just [Clip 0]. After centuries of God patiently pouring out His love and grace, the human race continues to react in unbelief. At that point, God withdraws His love and grace and speaks to them in His wrath, vexing (tormenting) them righteously [Clip 6]. The withholding of death is part of that judicial torment.
Les says the final three and a half years of tribulation will be beyond human comprehension — worse than the Holocaust or modern wars [Clip 5]. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24:21 that it will be a great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world. Les clarifies that the events earlier in Revelation are only "the beginning of sorrows," not yet the full outpouring of God's wrath [Clip 7].
Locusts Forbidden to Kill
Les shows from Revelation 9:5 that the demonic locusts may torment mankind but are never permitted to kill a man or woman, and this is part of God's fair and just judgment.
What Happens After Hell? The Great White Throne Explained
It's going to be a place of torment forever and ever bodily, bodily, with all the senses and with all of the feelings. They're going to spend their eternity. And now remember, as awful as it is, and it is awful, that's why I guess most people have quit talking about it, but that doesn't take it out of Scripture.
No Repentance After the Plagues
Les observes from Revelation 9:20 that even after the death and destruction of these plagues, the survivors still refuse to repent of worshipping demons and idols.
Wrath Beyond Human Comprehension
Les contrasts quick judgments of mercy with the coming 3½ years of wrath, describing it as beyond human comprehension.
Mankind Has Not Yet Seen God's Wrath
Les points out that people in Revelation 6 are so terrified that they plead for death, yet he maintains that the daily calamities of history are not the outpouring of God's wrath.
Final Three and a Half Years
Les says the last three and a half years will be worse than anything in history, including the Holocaust, because it will combine the wrath of God and the wrath of Satan.
God's Righteous Vexation
Les teaches that when God's patience runs out, He speaks in wrath and vexes (torments) people righteously, because they have rejected His long-offered love and grace.
Beginning of Sorrows
Les explains that the events leading up to the final outpouring are only the beginning of sorrows, not the full wrath of God.
Revelation 9:5: And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
This verse directly states the restriction: the locusts may torment but not kill.
Revelation 9:6: And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
This verse explains why death is not an escape for those suffering the torment.
Psalm 2:5: Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Les cites this verse to show that when God speaks in wrath, He vexes or torments people righteously.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Jesus describes the tribulation as worse than anything in history, which Les applies to the final years.
Revelation 6:16: And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Les points to this scene to show how people plead for death during the judgments.
Revelation 9:20: And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
This verse shows that even after the plagues, the survivors refuse to repent.
Matthew 24:8: All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Les uses this verse to show that the earlier tribulation events are only the beginning, not the full wrath.
Because God restricts them to torment only. Revelation 9:5 says 'it was given that they should not kill them,' and Les Feldick emphasizes that the locusts will never be able to put a man or woman to death.
The Bible says that in those days men will seek death and not find it, and death will flee from them (Revelation 9:6). This is part of the judgment: the locusts are permitted to torment but not kill, so death does not come as a relief.
Les Feldick teaches that everything God does is fair and just. After centuries of God's patience and love being rejected, God righteously speaks in wrath and vexes those who continue in unbelief [Clip 6].
Watch the Teaching: Revelation 9 Explained: Demonic Locusts & God's Wrath Unleashed