Revelation 9:1 - Meaning and Application

When this trumpet sounds, several things deserve attention. First, John sees a star fall from heaven to the earth. Some take this star to mean a leading bishop in the Christian church, an “angel” of the church, since pastors are called stars and the church is called heaven in that kind of language. Others think it points to Boniface III, bishop of Rome, who took the title of universal bishop with the help of Emperor Phocas, a usurper and tyrant in the civil state, who let Boniface act the same way in the church as a reward for his praise.

To this fallen star is given the key of the bottomless pit. Once he is no longer a minister of Christ, he becomes an antichrist, that is, one who stands against Christ and serves Satan instead. By Christ’s allowance, after Christ has taken away his keys in the church, he becomes the devil’s jailer, opening the way for hell’s powers to come against Christ’s churches.

When the pit is opened, a great smoke rises and darkens the sun and the air. The devils are powers of darkness, and hell is a place of darkness. Satan works by blinding people, putting out light and knowledge, and spreading ignorance and error. He first deceives people, then destroys them. Poor souls follow him in the dark, or else they would be too afraid to follow at all.

Out of that dark smoke comes a swarm of locusts, one of the plagues of Egypt. These are the devil’s agents, led by the antichrist, the whole crowd of antichristian orders that spread superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty. By God’s just permission, they are allowed to hurt those who do not have God’s mark on their foreheads.

The harm they do is not bodily, but spiritual. They do not destroy all people in war by fire and sword, and they do not touch the trees and grass. The people they hurt are not killed outright. Instead, they spread a secret poison into the soul, taking away purity and then peace. Heresy is such a poison. It works slowly and quietly, but in the end it turns bitter.

They cannot even hurt those who have God’s seal on their foreheads. God’s choosing grace, his effective grace that truly works in his people, will keep them from complete and final falling away. The power given to these servants of hell is also limited by time, five months, a set season and a short one, though no one can say exactly how short. Gospel seasons have their limits, and times of deception do too.

Even if the time is short, it will be very painful. Those who feel this poison in their consciences will be so troubled that they will wish for death, as Revelation 9:6 says. A wounded spirit, who can bear it? These locusts are also shown as monstrous in size and shape, like battle horses prepared for war. They pretend to have great authority and seem sure of victory, with crowns like gold on their heads, though their authority is false.

They also appear wise and sharp, with human faces, though they have the spirit of devils. They have the looks of beauty and attraction, which they use to trap and defile minds, with hair like women, and a style of worship that is showy and decorated. Yet, though they seem gentle like women, they have lions’ teeth, and they are truly cruel. They also have the support and protection of earthly powers, like iron breastplates.

They make a great noise in the world, moving from one country to another, with the sound of chariots and horses. At first they flatter people with a pleasing appearance, but there is a sting in their tails. The cup of their false worship seems sweet at first, but in the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.

Their king and commander is also described. He is called an angel, because by nature he was once one of the angels of heaven. He is the angel of the bottomless pit, still an angel, but a fallen one, cast into the pit from which there is no recovery. In those dark regions he acts like a prince and ruler, with the powers of darkness under his command. His true name is Abaddon, or Apollyon, both meaning destroyer.

That is his work and purpose. He is always about destroying, and he succeeds at it. He takes a terrible pleasure in it, and he sends out his agents and armies to destroy people’s souls. Here one woe ends, and another begins.