L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 9:1-21
The Fifth Trumpet: A Demon Infestation (vv. 1-12) The sounding of the fifth trumpet discloses "a star fallen from heaven:" it is already fallen (v. 1). This is the same star that fell under the third trumpet (Revelation 8:10). Thus the false prophet, the Antichrist, is given the key to the pit of the abyss. His opening it (v. 2) releases a smoke that darkens the sun and the air. This is the darkening and polluting of the very atmosphere of people's existence by satanic doctrine that will... read more
Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Revelation 9:1-21
CHAPTER 9 Revelation 9:1-12 . The remaining three trumpets have a “woe” attached to each. This is announced in the last verse of the preceding chapter, where the word angel should be “eagle.” An eagle, the bird of prey, proclaims the threefold woe. He acts thus as a herald of great judgments (Matthew 24:28 , Revelation 19:17-18 ). The fifth trumpet is a special judgment upon apostate Israel: because those who suffer are they “which have not the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4... read more