A Star Fallen From Heaven

Lord, clean my heart and clear my mind so I can receive the word You have for me. Amen


"Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To Him was given the key to the bottomless pit." (Revelation 9:1)


We refer to people as "stars" today. We talk about movie stars, TV stars, sports stars and the like. This verse shows us satan, the fallen star. He was once Lucifer, the son of the morning (Isaiah 14:12). But now he is the father of the night. And in this darkest hour of the Great Tribulation, he arrives on the scene with a very important key in his hands.


Evidently there are some demons who are so wicked, vile and malevolent, God has incarcerated them in an abyss known as the bottomless pit. satan wants to free his imprisoned friends, and in the providence of God he's been given the key to this penitentiary for evil spirits. When he flings open the bottomless pit, a choking demonic darkness is unleashed upon the earth.


These demons are described as locusts (vv. 2-3). In the Middle East, locusts may swarm in great clouds that can actually blot out the daylight just by the sheer enormity of their presence. That's how these infernal invaders from the depths of hell will come - multiplied millions of them en masse, covering the earth.


Like actual locusts, they're insatiable, devouring everything in sight as they move across the landscape. But the strange thing about these locusts is that they do not feed upon green things. They feed upon the souls of men (v. 4). Though they do not have the power to kill, they impose intolerable torment (v. 5), inflicting such unimaginable pain that men believe death would be a welcome release (v. 6).


They are invincible, progressing rapidly over the land like powerful, unstoppable steeds charging into battle (v. 7). And the crowns on their heads signify that the fallen star and his cohorts are ruling the world for now. The devil has always wanted to be on the throne, and for a while he will wear the crown. What terrible woe will be to those who are on the earth when this takes place!


~Adrian Rogers~