By Nab B.
October 11, 2016
Updated Oct 2025
The Meaning is Spiritual!
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(John 6:63)
(1 Cor 2:13-14)
Verse By Verse Series©
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Revelation 9:1
“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"
First, what are "stars"? Revelation 1:20 tells us, "The seven stars are the angels (human messengers) of the seven churches." Seven stars are messengers who faithfully transmit Christ's messages to the seven churches.
Here, one part of Christ's messengers fell. Why did it "fall from heaven"? They were once "enlightened," but later fell away through deception and splintered into many deceivers. They were once in a spiritual "heaven," but became "earthly" and carnal after the fall.
The early fall of the church laid the foundation for the condition we see in most churches today. Deception is never static that these “Evil men and impostors will advance to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13 BLB)
Note how false teachers infiltrate churches (from the first century to this day):
“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.” (Matt 24:24)
“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” (Acts 20:29)
“There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies...many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (2 Pet 2:1-3)
“These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.” (2 Cor 11:13; See also 1 John 2:18, 1 Tim 4:1, 2 Thess 2:3-4,7)
A key represents an office or authority. The fallen star has authority over the "abyss," as permitted by Christ.
"The abyss" or "bottomless pit" is the Greek word "ábyssos." It is composed of "a" = without, and "byssos" = depth or bottom. Put together, the word symbolizes deep spiritual darkness, a place of no depth or knowledge (of God), where unrepentant members of Christ's body find themselves.
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Revelation 9:2
"And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose 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."
Heavy "smoke rising" symbolizes danger and looming spiritual darkness. (See Exo 19:18, Deut 4:11-12, Acts 2:19)
There is a connection between the "smoke" in Revelation 9:2 and "puffed up" false teachers in 2 Timothy 3:4. Although the etymology of the words differs, they are related spiritually.
The Greek word for "puffed up"—'tuphoo'—used in 2 Timothy 3:4 means "to blow smoke," "a muddled mindset," "being lifted up," or "high-mindedness." It describes the spirit of false teachers as smoke, filled with pride and conceit. This ties well with the imagery of smoke rising from the pit or abyss. (Source: https://biblehub.com/greek/5187.htm)
Sun and air symbolize the pure environment of the righteous. (Matt 13:43, John 12:36, Dan 12:3) The heavy, dark smoke of false teachings will overshadow the purity of early churches, causing suffocation and darkness.
The verses below show how spiritual darkness has been sweeping both "earth dwellers" (fallen church) and "the sea" (fallen world):
Eph 4:17-18 “Gentiles... are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God.”
2Cor 4:4 “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.”
Eph 2:2 “You walked according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience."
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Revelation 9:3
"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”
Like swarms of locusts that cause darkness and famine, false teachers bring greater spiritual darkness and famine to churches across generations.
Famine-causing locusts have become venomous! Also, false teachers cause spiritual famine and spiritual pain to their flocks.
Proof scorpions mean false teachers and deceivers in scripture:
Luke 10:19 “I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions (false teachers) and to overcome all the power of the enemy.”
“You serpents, you brood of vipers (Ecclesiastical powers), how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matt 23:23)
“Neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions (false prophets), for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 2:6)
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Revelation 9:4
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”
Not to attack "any green thing" proves these locusts represent church false teachers.
The phrases “The grass, any green thing, and any tree” represent true believers who have God’s seal, which protects them from any spiritual harm. (verse 4a is interpreted by verse 4b.)
The Holy Spirit is God's seal that protects true believers from locust-like deceivers who can only hurt those unsealed.
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Colossians 1:13-14)
"In their foreheads" represents a person's thinking and motives, either for God and Christ or the deceivers
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Revelation 9:5
"And to them, it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man."
False teachers are permitted to cause spiritual famine and suffering only, not spiritual death yet!
The Greek word for torment is ‘basanizó’. According to Thayer's Greek lexicon, it means:
1. Test (metals) by touchstone
2. Vex with grievous pains (of body or mind).
"Torment" here refers to severe mental suffering, not physical torture. It's to awaken their minds and consciences, which may lead some to repent or be judged.
The lifespan of a locust is about five months. It symbolizes the testing period allowed for the church to "fall away." The symbolic "five months" spans the whole church age from Pentecost to this day. (See Rev chapter 20) In that time frame, Christ has been judging the churches, separating the wheat from the tares, the sheep from the goats.
Scorpion-like deceivers cause spiritual harm, such as confusion, discouragement, despair, and loss of faith. (Read 2 Peter chapter 2)
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Revelation 9:6
"And in those days people shall seek death and shall not find it, and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”
Understandably, some desire death to alleviate suffering. For example, when facing severe tests, Job pleaded, “Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures.” (Job 3:21) When Jonah was disciplined, he cried, “O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3) Rather than granting their wish to die, God strengthened them through trials.
Though the locust "woe" is a severe test to purify and save the churches, many would rather spiritually die than be healed.
During Israel's apostasy, God showed similar severity to purify and cleanse them.
"Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you." (Ezekiel 22:19-20)
Why do some prefer spiritual death? Likely, it relieves one from a guilty conscience, repentant urges, and a broken heart that are God's megaphone calling many to repent before the next "woe" is poured.
If not totally dead, some can be healed. It is mercy then to not let one completely die.
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom 2:4)
“The Lord…is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9 ESV)
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Revelation 9:7-9
"And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle, and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle."
Locust-like false teachers have several characteristics described below.
"As horses" OR Ready for battle.
"As crowns of gold" OR Royal authority.
"As the faces of men" OR Human intelligence.
"As the hair of women" OR Seductive.
"As lions' teeth" OR Ferocious (See 1 Pet 5:8).
"As breastplates of iron" OR Protected.
"As sounds of wings" OR Numerous.
"As the sound of chariots" OR Threatening.
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Revelation 9:10
“And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.”
"Tails" represent false teachers. Being the lowest part of a creature, they symbolize what is earthly and sensual! Here is scriptural proof that "tails" refer to false teachers:
“So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail. The prophet who teaches lies is the tail.” (Isa 9:14-15)
“The tail (deception) of the Dragon drew the third of the stars of heaven (deceived believers who were once in the spiritual heaven).” (Rev 12:4 )
“The Lord will make you the head (blessings and dignities) and not the tail (curses and judgments), and you shall only go up and not down if you obey the commandments.” (Deut 28:13)
See Rev 9:5 explanation above.
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Revelation 9:11
"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.”
Locust-like false teachers and deceivers have a king over them—the "dragon". Why do they need a king? To lead armies of deceivers, over many centuries, in the church age:
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed (over the centuries).” (Rev 12:17)
"Abaddon" means destruction. "Apollyon" means destroyer. The two nouns personify satan, a symbol of destruction. "Deception" is its way of destruction. Their king uses his human messengers for deception. These scriptures reveal satan's destructive nature:
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is TRANSFORMED into an angel of light...his ministers (messengers) also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness." (2 Cor 11:14-15)
“The thief (Satan) comes only to STEAL and KILL and DESTROY; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“You are of your father the devil. A MURDERER from the beginning.” (John 8:44)
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who DECEIVES the whole world.” (Rev 12:9)
This is a grim reminder that two more woes are certain to pass. The "locusts" woe caused full-scale spiritual darkness and torment; what will become of the second woe? Please refer to the next study here, "Who are the Fiery Horses in Revelation?"