As we begin our study of this judgment it is important to
remember that these last three trumpets were called “woes”
(Revelation 8:13) to draw our attention to the increased
intensity of these judgments. Also, remember that one of the
purposes of the judgments is to unmask Satan’s true
character. In the church age, Satan often disguises himself
as an angel of light with his servants doing likewise (2
Corinthians 11:14-15), but from this point on the mask will
come off and his true colors will be evident for the whole
world to see.
John tells us he saw “a star from heaven which had fallen to
the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to
him” (Revelation 9:1). A careful consideration of the
context shows us that this star is not a meteor or a literal
star, but a symbolically reference for a person, an angelic
creature, specifically Satan.
In the account of what he saw John tells us the star “had
fallen,” signifying the result of a completed event rather
than as “fall.” “Had fallen,” describes a condition or state
of something that had already occurred. The event itself is
described in chapter 12. That the star is a personality or
another angel is supported by the following:
(1) The star is given the key to the bottomless pit and the
star is called a “him.” Note also the translation “he” in
verse 2. Some take the pronouns here to refer to the fifth
angel, but the nearest subject to the pronoun and the verb
is the star.
(2) The star is seen performing the actions of personality.
He opens the abyss (verse 2) which would indicate that the
star is in charge of these creatures of the abyss and
somehow related to them.
(3) In verse 11, he is called the angel of the abyss, and
given names, “Abaddon” and “Apollyon.” That the star of
verse 1 is the king and angel of verse 11 seems evident for
two reasons: First, the mention of the fallen star in verse
one would be meaningless unless he is the one who opens the
pit. Second, the fact the star was given the key and
authority to open the pit in order to bring destruction on
the world also fits with the names given to this angel of
the abyss. Both names, Abaddon and Apollyon, mean
“destruction.”
(4) There is further support for this view in the fact that,
in Scripture, angels are called “stars” (Job 38:7) and Satan
is specifically referred to as a star (Isaiah 14:12;
Luke:10:18). While the description in Luke 10:18 does not
use the term “star,” the description of seeing Satan
“falling from heaven like lightening” can certainly fit the
picture of a falling star streaking across the sky like
lightning or a beam of light.
(5) In Luke 8:31, 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 there is a
reference to the abyss, here called “the pit of the abyss,”
in 2 Peter 2:4, “the pits of darkness,” and in Jude 6,
“eternal bonds under darkness” is the abode of a portion of
demons or fallen angels. Other Scriptures teach us that
Satan is the ruler or king of the fallen angels; they are
viewed as his angels (Matthew 12:24, 26; Ephesians 2:2;
Revelation 12:4, 7). What we see in these verses fits very
well with the facts of Revelation 9.
Giving the fallen star “the key” obviously stands for
authority and power to open the bottomless pit.
