Revelation 9:1

Translations

Modern

Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss.

Traditional

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

Literal

And the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star having fallen out of heaven to the earth, and the key of the pit of the Abyss was given to it.

Latin

Et quintus angelus tuba cecinit: et vidi stellam de cælo cecidisse in terram, et data est ei clavis putei abyssi.

Original

Greek

English

Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss.

Notes

Revelation 9:1–12

The fifth trumpet is the first of the three terrors (Revelation 8:13). It brings a judgment of locusts from the bottomless pit, a place of horror. Ancient cultures thought the ocean depths, or the Abyss, was a home for demonic forces (see study note on Genesis 1:2).

Revelation 9:1–21

The fifth and sixth trumpets show how God's judgment affects people worldwide and highlight how worthless it is to resist God. These judgments should lead to repentance, but they do not. Sin controls people so much that they choose to worship the evil forces that harm them instead of repenting and turning to God.

Revelation 8:2–11:19

The second series of judgments involves seven trumpets. Like the first series (Revelation 6:1–8:1), it includes a pause (10:1–11:14; compare 7:1–17) and concludes with a view of God's eternal kingdom (11:15–19; see 7:9–8:1).
The trumpet judgments are similar to the ten plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7:14–11:10). They aim to show that earthly gods (or evil powers) are powerless and to clearly demonstrate God's power and control.

Theme notes and profiles

Visions

Related verses

Revelation 8:10
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.
Revelation 9:2
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.
Romans 10:7
…or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
2 Timothy 3:1–5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
Revelation 1:18
…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.
Revelation 9:11–13
They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.
Luke 8:31
And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.
Revelation 20:1
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.
Revelation 17:8
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.
Revelation 11:14–15
The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly.
Revelation 8:12
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.
Revelation 8:2
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

Glossary

Abaddon Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Bottomless Pit Place of the Dead

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Functions of Medium of Revelation to Prophets Astronomy: Sidereal Phenomena Hell: The Future Home of the Wicked Key: A Symbol of Authority Keys Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: General Scriptures Concerning Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: Symbolical used in the Revelation of John Pit: The Bottomless Pit Stars: Falling of Trumpet: Symbolical Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Falling Star

Revelation 9:1

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