There are two readings for today.

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. [Revelation 9:4]
This vision describes how the world will unravel – according to God’s plan – because of the power of sin, death and hell.
God is not causing this horror, but is allowing sin to have it’s way – but in the process He will guard and keep the sealed, those who remain faithful to Him.
Sin has it’s way in this world, but not beyond the Lord’s control – He directs when, where and how, for the sake of His people, and for the sake of His purpose.

“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. [Matthew 24:22]
When Jesus talks about the last day, He also says that though it will be horrible, it will be directed for the sake of His people (the elect, or the sealed).
The forces of hell will do all within their power to defeat Jesus’ followers, but they will not succeed – because of the Lord’s seal (guaranteed protection).
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. [Matthew 24:24-25]
This does not mean that they will not suffer or even die (many believers have, and will).
But they are secure in His hand for eternity – nothing and no one can snatch them from His hands, nothing and no one can separate them from His love!

I remember reading Hal Lindsay use the symbolic descriptions here to mean re 9:7-10 with http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYTSLuyMoMQ/Tj3TKUs79SI/AAAAAAAAACc/8XN7gOj_M5w/s320/Cobra-locust.jpg">military helicopters.
Interesting, maybe, but not necessarily.
Keep in mind that this is a vision, and it is filled with many symbols.
What the symbol is could be many things, but it will be terrible, whatever it is.

The important thing to remember in all of this is that the increase of suffering is not just God taking revenge or being cruel, but the natural consequence of sin.
The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. [[Revelation 9:20-21]
When people refuse to repent, refuse to give up sin, the result is hell on earth.
The Lord allows it, controls it, and directs it, to eventually punish those who refuse to repent, and to eventually save those who do repent.

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the assurance that we will be kept sure for eternity, no matter what happens. Give us strength to endure, to trust and to wait with hope!