Revelation of John 9
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
A star fall from heaven - An angel encompassed with light suddenly descended, and seemed like a star falling from heaven. The key of the bottomless pit - Power to inundate the earth with a flood of temporal calamities and moral evils.
Open source ↗THE FIFTH TRUMPET: THE FALLEN STAR OPENS THE ABYSS WHENCE ISSUE LOCUSTS. THE SIXTH TRUMPET. FOUR ANGELS AT THE EUPHRATES LOOSED. (Rev. 9:1-21) The last three trumpets of the seven are called, from Rev 8:13, the woe-trumpets. fall--rather as Greek, "fallen." When John saw it, it was not in the act of falling, but had fallen already. This is a connecting link of this fifth trumpet with Rev 12:8-9, Rev 12:12, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, for the devil is come down," &c. Compare Isa 14:12, "How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning!" the bottomless pit--Greek, "the pit of the abyss"; the orifice of the hell where Satan and his demons dwell.
Open source ↗And the fifth angel sounded,.... His trumpet: and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: some take this star to be Jesus Christ, the bright and morning star; and understand by falling, no other than his descending from heaven to earth, in which sense the word is used in Gen 14:10; and that because he is not only said to have the keys of hell and death, Rev 1:18; but particularly the key of the bottomless pit, Rev 20:1; but then there is a wide difference in the use of the key by the star here, and the angel there, or between the opening of the pit, and letting out smoke and locusts, and the shutting it up, and Satan in it; the one well suits with Christ, the other not: nor is Satan here designed, as others think, who once was a bright star, and shone among the morning stars, but by sin fell from heaven, his first estate; and the fall of this Lucifer, son of the morning, was as lightning from heaven, Luk 10:18. But then this was a matter over and past, and what was well known to John; nor did he need a vision to represent this unto him: nor is Arius intended, who lived before any of the trumpets were blown; nor the Emperor Valens, who fell from the heavenly doctrine of Christ's divinity into the Arian heresy, which he encouraged and defended; whereby Christ, the sun of righteousness, was obscured, and the air, the church, enlightened by Christ, was darkened; in whose time the locusts, the Goths and Vandals, infected with Arianism, greatly distressed the eastern Christians; but his reign was long before the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, which was after the year 600: wherefore by this star is meant antichrist; but whether the western or eastern antichrist, the pope of Rome, or Mahomet, is a question: some interpreters go one way, and some another: Brightman think…
Open source ↗Upon the sounding of this trumpet, the things to be observed are, 1. A star falling from heaven to the earth. Some think this star represents some eminent bishop in the Christian church, some angel of the church; for, in the same way of speaking by which pastors are called stars, the church is called heaven; but who this is expositors do not agree. Some understand it of Boniface the third bishop of Rome, who assumed the title of universal bishop, by the favour of the emperor Phocas, who, being a usurper and tyrant in the state, allowed Boniface to be so in the church, as the reward of his flattery. 2. To this fallen star was given the key of the bottomless pit. Having now ceased to be a minister of Christ, he becomes the antichrist, the minister of the devil; and by the permission of Christ, who had taken from him the keys of the church, he becomes the devil's turnkey, to let loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ. 3. Upon the opening of the bottomless pit there arose a great smoke, which darkened the sun and the air. The devils are the powers of darkness; hell is the place of darkness. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by extinguishing light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. He first deceives men, and then destroys them; wretched souls follow him in the dark, or they durst not follow him. 4. Out of this dark smoke there came a swarm of locusts, one of the plagues of Egypt, the devil's emissaries headed by the antichrist, all the rout and rabble of antichristian orders, to promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty; and these had, by the just permission of God, power to hurt those who had not the mark of God in their foreheads. 5. The hurt they were to do them was not a bodily, but a spiritual hurt. Th…
Open source ↗9:1-21 The fifth and sixth trumpets demonstrate how God’s judgment affects the people of the world and detail how futile it is to resist God. While these judgments should lead to repentance, they do not. Sin has such control over people that they choose to worship the evil forces that torture and murder them rather than repent and turn to God. 9:1-12 The fifth . . . trumpet, the first of the three terrors (8:13), brings the judgment of locusts from the bottomless pit, a place of horror. Ancient cultures viewed the oceanic depths, or the “abyss,” as a dwelling place of demonic forces (see study note on Gen 1:2).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… πέμπτος (pémptos, G3991) — fifth ἄγγελος (ángelos, G32) — compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by… σαλπίζω (salpízō, G4537) — to trumpet, i.e. sound a blast (literally or figuratively) εἴδω (eídō, G1492) — used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700… ἀστήρ (astḗr, G792) — a star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively πίπτω (píptō, G4098) — to fall (literally or figuratively) ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) οὐρανός (ouranós, G3772) — the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power,… εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… γῆ (gē, G1093) — soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe… αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… δίδωμι (dídōmi, G1325) — to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or… κλείς (kleís, G2807) — a key (as shutting a lock), literally or figuratively
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἀνοίγω (anoígō, G455) — to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications) ἄβυσσος (ábyssos, G12) — depthless, i.e. (specially) (infernal) "abyss" φρέαρ (phréar, G5421) — a hole in the ground (dug for obtaining or holding water or other purposes), i.e. a… ἀναβαίνω (anabaínō, G305) — to go up (literally or figuratively) καπνός (kapnós, G2586) — smoke ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) μέγας (mégas, G3173) — big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application) κάμινος (káminos, G2575) — a furnace ἥλιος (hḗlios, G2246) — perhaps akin to the alternate of G138 (αἱρέομαι)); the sun; by implication, light ἀήρ (aḗr, G109) — by analogy, to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient) σκοτίζω (skotízō, G4654) — to obscure (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἐξέρχομαι (exérchomai, G1831) — to issue (literally or figuratively) ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) καπνός (kapnós, G2586) — smoke ἀκρίς (akrís, G200) — a locust (as pointed, or as lighting on the top of vegetation) εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… γῆ (gē, G1093) — soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe… αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… δίδωμι (dídōmi, G1325) — to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or… ἐξουσία (exousía, G1849) — privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively)… ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) σκορπίος (skorpíos, G4651) — a "scorpion" (from its sting) ἔχω (échō, G2192) — to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote;…
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ῥέω (rhéō, G4483) — to utter, i.e. speak or say αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… ἵνα μή (hína mḗ, G3363) — in order (or so) that not ἀδικέω (adikéō, G91) — to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically) χόρτος (chórtos, G5528) — a "court" or "garden", i.e. (by implication, of pasture) herbage or vegetation γῆ (gē, G1093) — soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe… οὐδέ (oudé, G3761) — not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole χλωρός (chlōrós, G5515) — greenish, i.e. verdant, dun-colored δένδρον (déndron, G1186) — a tree εἰ μή (ei mḗ, G1508) — if not μόνος (mónos, G3441) — remaining, i.e. sole or single; by implication, mere ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, G444) — from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)); man-faced, i.e. a human being
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… δίδωμι (dídōmi, G1325) — to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or… ἵνα μή (hína mḗ, G3363) — in order (or so) that not ἀποκτείνω (apokteínō, G615) — to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy ἀλλά (allá, G235) — properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) ἵνα (hína, G2443) — compare G3588 (ὁ)); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result) βασανίζω (basanízō, G928) — to torture πέντε (pénte, G4002) — "five" μήν (mḗn, G3376) — a month βασανισμός (basanismós, G929) — torture ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) σκορπίος (skorpíos, G4651) — a "scorpion" (from its sting) ὅταν (hótan, G3752) — whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively…
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. ἐκεῖνος (ekeînos, G1565) — that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed ἡμέρα (hēméra, G2250) — day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but… ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, G444) — from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)); man-faced, i.e. a human being ζητέω (zētéō, G2212) — to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a… θάνατος (thánatos, G2288) — (properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively) εὑρίσκω (heurískō, G2147) — to find (literally or figuratively) οὐ (ou, G3756) — the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… ἐπιθυμέω (epithyméō, G1937) — to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise) ἀποθνήσκω (apothnḗskō, G599) — to die off (literally or figuratively) φεύγω (pheúgō, G5343) — to run away (literally or figuratively); by implication, to shun; by analogy, to vanish ἀπό (apó, G575) — "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation;…
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ὁμοίωμα (homoíōma, G3667) — a form; abstractly, resemblance ἀκρίς (akrís, G200) — a locust (as pointed, or as lighting on the top of vegetation) ὅμοιος (hómoios, G3664) — similar (in appearance or character) ἵππος (híppos, G2462) — a horse ἑτοιμάζω (hetoimázō, G2090) — to prepare εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… πόλεμος (pólemos, G4171) — warfare (literally or figuratively; a single encounter or a series) ἐπί (epí, G1909) — properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of… αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… κεφαλή (kephalḗ, G2776) — the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) στέφανος (stéphanos, G4735) — a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor… χρυσός (chrysós, G5557) — gold; by extension, a golden article, as an ornament or coin
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἔχω (échō, G2192) — to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote;… θρίξ (thríx, G2359) — of uncertain derivation; hair ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) γυνή (gynḗ, G1135) — a woman; specially, a wife αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… ὀδούς (odoús, G3599) — a "tooth" ἦν (ēn, G2258) — I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were) λέων (léōn, G3023) — a "lion"
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἔχω (échō, G2192) — to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote;… θώραξ (thṓrax, G2382) — the chest ("thorax"), i.e. (by implication) a corslet ὡς (hōs, G5613) — which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) σιδήρεος (sidḗreos, G4603) — made of iron φωνή (phōnḗ, G5456) — a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose),… αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… πτέρυξ (ptéryx, G4420) — a wing ἅρμα (hárma, G716) — a chariot (as raised or fitted together (compare G719 (ἁρμός))) πολύς (polýs, G4183) — (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial,… ἵππος (híppos, G2462) — a horse τρέχω (tréchō, G5143) — compare G2359 (θρίξ)); which uses (the base of G1408 (δρόμος)) as alternate in certain… εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… πόλεμος (pólemos, G4171) — warfare (literally or figuratively; a single encounter or a series)
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἔχω (échō, G2192) — to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote;… οὐρά (ourá, G3769) — a tail ὅμοιος (hómoios, G3664) — similar (in appearance or character) σκορπίος (skorpíos, G4651) — a "scorpion" (from its sting) ἦν (ēn, G2258) — I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were) κέντρον (kéntron, G2759) — a point ("centre"), i.e. a sting (figuratively, poison) or goad (figuratively, divine… ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… ἐξουσία (exousía, G1849) — privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively)… ἀδικέω (adikéō, G91) — to be unjust, i.e. (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically) ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, G444) — from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)); man-faced, i.e. a human being πέντε (pénte, G4002) — "five" μήν (mḗn, G3376) — a month
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἔχω (échō, G2192) — to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote;… βασιλεύς (basileús, G935) — a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively) ἐπί (epí, G1909) — properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of… αὑτοῦ (hautoû, G848) — self (in some oblique case or reflexively, relation) ἄγγελος (ángelos, G32) — compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by… ἄβυσσος (ábyssos, G12) — depthless, i.e. (specially) (infernal) "abyss" αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… ὄνομα (ónoma, G3686) — a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character) Ἑβραϊστί (Hebraïstí, G1447) — Hebraistically or in the Jewish (Chaldee) language Ἀβαδδών (Abaddṓn, G3) — a destroying angel ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. Ἑλληνικός (Hellēnikós, G1673) — Hellenic, i.e. Grecian (in language) Ἀπολλύων (Apollýōn, G623) — a destroyer (i.e. Satan)
Open source ↗μία (mía, G3391) — one or first οὐαί (ouaí, G3759) — "woe" ἀπέρχομαι (apérchomai, G565) — to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or… ἰδού (idoú, G2400) — used as imperative lo!; ἔρχομαι (érchomai, G2064) — to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) δύο (dýo, G1417) — "two" ἔτι (éti, G2089) — "yet," still (of time or degree) μετά (metá, G3326) — properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according… ταῦτα (taûta, G5023) — these things
Open source ↗καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἕκτος (héktos, G1623) — sixth ἄγγελος (ángelos, G32) — compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by… σαλπίζω (salpízō, G4537) — to trumpet, i.e. sound a blast (literally or figuratively) ἀκούω (akoúō, G191) — to hear (in various senses) μία (mía, G3391) — one or first φωνή (phōnḗ, G5456) — a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose),… ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) τέσσαρες (téssares, G5064) — four κέρας (kéras, G2768) — a horn (literally or figuratively) χρύσεος (chrýseos, G5552) — made of gold θυσιαστήριον (thysiastḗrion, G2379) — a place of sacrifice, i.e. an altar (special or genitive case, literal or figurative) ὁ (ho, G3588) — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) ἐνώπιον (enṓpion, G1799) — in the face of (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗λέγω (légō, G3004) — properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or… ἕκτος (héktos, G1623) — sixth ἄγγελος (ángelos, G32) — compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by… ὅς (hós, G3739) — the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that ἔχω (échō, G2192) — to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote;… σάλπιγξ (sálpinx, G4536) — a trumpet λύω (lýō, G3089) — to "loosen" (literally or figuratively) τέσσαρες (téssares, G5064) — four ὁ (ho, G3588) — the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) δέω (déō, G1210) — to bind (in various applications, literally or figuratively) ἐπί (epí, G1909) — properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of… μέγας (mégas, G3173) — big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application) ποταμός (potamós, G4215) — a current, brook or freshet (as drinkable), i.e. running water Εὐφράτης (Euphrátēs, G2166) — Euphrates, a river of Asia
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.
or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.
the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.
And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.
So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.
Then the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun and moon and stars were struck. A third of the stars were darkened, a third of the day was without light, and a third of the night as well.