Ⅳ
"I saw a star out of heaven fallen to the earth, and to him was given the key of the pit of the abyss"—Rev. 9:1-2; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3:
A
The star in Revelation 9:1 refers to Satan, who will be cast down from heaven to earth:
１
The angels are likened to stars—Job 38:7; Rev. 12:4.
２
Satan, as the archangel, was the Daystar—Isa. 14:12.
B
" 'Who will descend into the abyss?' that is, to bring Christ up from the dead"—Rom. 10:7:
１
In Greek the word rendered as "abyss" is abyssos.
２
This word is used in Luke 8:31 in reference to the dwelling place of the demons—vv. 27, 33, 35, 38.
３
It also occurs in Revelation 9:1-2 and 11 to denote the place out of which the "locusts," whose king is Apollyon, will come.
４
In Revelation 11:7 and 17:8 it signifies the place out of which the beast, which is the Antichrist, will ascend.
５
In Revelation 20:1 and 3 it specifies the place into which Satan will be cast and imprisoned during the millennium.
６
In Romans 10:7 abyss points to the place Christ visited after His death and before His resurrection, which place, according to Acts 2:24 and 27, is Hades, for Acts 2:24 and 27 reveal that Christ went into Hades after He died and rose from that place in His resurrection.
７
According to biblical usage, the word abyss always refers to the region of death and of Satan's power of darkness into which Christ after His death descended as into the lower parts of the earth (Eph. 4:9), which He conquered, and from which He ascended in His resurrection.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 9:1-2 And the fifth angel trumpeted, and I saw a star out of heaven fallen to the earth, and to him was given the key of the pit of the abyss. And he opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.The star [in Revelation 9:1] refers to Satan, who will be cast down from heaven to earth. The angels are likened to stars (Job 38:7; Rev. 12:4). As the archangel, Satan was the Daystar (Isa. 14:12). In Luke 10:18 we see the judgment upon him. In Revelation 9:1 and in 12:9-10, we see the execution of that judgment.
Revelation 12 reveals that after the man-child is raptured to heaven, he will fight against Satan…According to that chapter, Satan will fall from heaven at the beginning of the last three and a half years…This is a strong proof that the great tribulation will not begin before then, for, prior to this, Satan will still be in heaven.
When Satan falls from heaven to earth, the key of the abyss will be given to him that he may open the abyss to release the demon-possessed locusts to torment men for five months. (Life-study of Revelation, p. 279)
Today’s Reading
Speaking of the locusts, Revelation 9:11 says, “They have a king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon; and in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” The angel of the abyss is the beast, Antichrist, who will come out of the pit of the abyss (11:7; 17:8). In Hebrew the angel of the abyss is called Abaddon, which means “destruction,” as in Job 26:6; 28:22; and Proverbs 15:11. In Greek he will have the name Apollyon, which means “destroyer.” As the destroyer, Antichrist will do much destroying (Dan. 8:23-25).Satan will then release the locusts, which will be organized as an army under the rule of the beast, Antichrist, who will be their king. The locusts will proceed to torment for five months those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Life-study of Revelation, pp. 281-282)
At the sounding of the fifth trumpet, Satan will be cast down from heaven to earth, and the key of the pit of the abyss will be given to him. After he opens the pit of the abyss, smoke will go up out of the pit of the abyss, and out of the smoke will come forth locusts to the earth (Rev. 9:1-3). These are demons, because they dwell in the pit of the abyss. These strange creatures have tails like scorpions and in the sting of their tails is their power to harm men for five months (vv. 3-5, 7-10). The pain from their sting torments men but does not kill them. Verse 6 says, “In those days men will seek death and shall by no means find it; and they will long to die, and death flees from them.” The plagues of the first four trumpets are on men's outward environment, but the woe of the fifth trumpet is directly upon men. (CWWL, 1955, vol. 1, p. 455)
In Greek the word rendered as “abyss” [in Romans 10:7] is abyssos. This word is used in Luke 8:31 referring to the dwelling place of the demons. It also occurs in Revelation 9:1-2 and 11 denoting the place out of which the “locusts,” whose king is Apollyon, will come; in Revelation 11:7 and 17:8 signifying the place out of which the beast, which is the Antichrist, will ascend; and in Revelation 20:1 and 3 specifying the place into which Satan will be cast and imprisoned during the millennium. The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses this word for the word deep in Genesis 1:2. Here in Romans 10:7 it points to the place Christ visited after His death and before His resurrection, which place, according to Acts 2:24 and 27, is Hades, for Acts 2:24 and 27 reveal that Christ went into Hades after He died and rose from that place in His resurrection. So, according to biblical usage, the word abyss always refers to the region of death and of Satan’s power of darkness into which Christ after His death descended as into the lower parts of the earth (Eph. 4:9), which He conquered, and from which He ascended in His resurrection. (Life-study of Romans, p. 263)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1955, vol. 1, p. 455; Life-study of Romans, msg. 23