Devine Scripture

Revelation 9:1

What does Revelation 9:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 9:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 9:1 means

At the blast of the fifth trumpet, John sees a "star" that has already fallen from heaven to earth. In Revelation, stars often symbolize angelic or spiritual beings. This one is entrusted with a key, showing that its authority is delegated, not inherent. The key opens the abyss, the deep prison of dark powers. Whatever its identity, this being acts under God’s sovereign permission. The scene announces that a new phase of judgment will not arise from human conflict or natural disaster alone, but from the release of restrained spiritual forces. God remains in control, even as He allows this terrifying opening to occur as part of His just purposes.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And at the sounding of the fifth angel I saw a star falling from heaven to the earth: and there was given to him the key of the great deep.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the fifth messenger did sound, and I saw a star out of the heaven having fallen to the earth, and there was given to it the key of the pit of the abyss,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the fifth angel sounded [his] trumpet: and I saw a star out of the heaven fallen to the earth; and there was given to it the key of the pit of the abyss.

Context

After the first four trumpets struck creation and humanity indirectly, an eagle pronounced three Woes yet to come. Verse 1 begins the first Woe with the fifth trumpet. The image shifts from earthly calamity to the unlocking of the abyss, signaling that the next judgments are distinctly demonic in origin. This sets the tone for verses 2–11, which describe the smoke, the locust horde, its limits, and its leader. The contrast with earlier trumpets prepares readers for a more targeted and spiritually charged affliction.

v.1This passage

v.2And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 14:12

    How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!

  • Revelation 8:10

    And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;

  • Luke 8:31

    And they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the abyss.

  • Revelation 1:18

    and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

  • Revelation 9:2

    And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

  • Luke 10:18

    And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven.

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