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.

And {G2532} he opened {G455} the bottomless {G12} pit {G5421}; and {G2532} there arose {G305} a smoke {G2586} out of {G1537} the pit {G5421}, as {G5613} the smoke {G2586} of a great {G3173} furnace {G2575}; and {G2532} the sun {G2246} and {G2532} the air {G109} were darkened {G4654} by reason of {G1537} the smoke {G2586} of the pit {G5421}.

He opened the shaft of the Abyss, and there went up smoke from the shaft like the smoke of a huge furnace; the sun was darkened, and the sky too, by the smoke from the shaft.

The star opened the pit of the Abyss, and smoke rose out of it like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit.

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.

Context

Revelation 9:2 is part of the prophetic judgments unleashed by the sounding of the seven trumpets, specifically the fifth trumpet. Following the vision of a fallen star given the key to the bottomless pit in Revelation 9:1, this verse describes the immediate consequence of that pit being opened. This event signals a new phase of divine judgment, focusing on spiritual torment rather than direct physical destruction of the earth, as seen in previous trumpet judgments.

Key Themes

  • Release of Demonic Forces: The "bottomless pit" (Greek: abyssos) is consistently depicted in Revelation as a place of confinement for powerful spiritual entities. Its opening signifies the release of these forces, not by their own power, but by divine permission as part of God's sovereign plan for judgment.
  • Overwhelming Darkness and Oppression: The immense "smoke of a great furnace" that darkens the sun and air symbolizes the profound spiritual and psychological oppression that accompanies the release of these entities. It represents a pervasive gloom, confusion, and the obscuring of truth, plunging humanity into a state of severe distress. This imagery echoes Old Testament judgments, such as the plague of darkness in Exodus.
  • Divine Judgment and Consequence: This verse underscores the severity of God's judgments in the end times. The darkening of the natural world points to a disruption of creation's order, a common motif in prophetic warnings about the Day of the Lord, as seen in Joel 2:31.

Linguistic Insights

The term "bottomless pit" translates the Greek word abyssos (ἀβύσσος), meaning "abyss" or "deep." In biblical cosmology, the abyssos is often understood as a subterranean realm, a place of confinement for demons and rebellious spirits, notably where Satan himself is eventually bound for a thousand years in Revelation 20:1-3. Its opening here signifies a temporary, yet devastating, liberation of its inhabitants.

Practical Application

While this verse describes a future prophetic event, it offers timeless spiritual insights:

  • Awareness of Spiritual Reality: It reminds believers of the reality of spiritual forces, both good and evil, and that evil is often restrained by God until a specific time.
  • God's Sovereignty: Even the release of malevolent forces occurs under God's ultimate control and serves His purposes, demonstrating that no power, however dark, is outside His sovereign authority.
  • Seeking Light in Darkness: In times of spiritual or societal darkness, this verse encourages believers to cling to the true light, Jesus Christ, who has overcome the darkness of the world (John 1:5).
  • Hope in Ultimate Victory: Despite the terrifying imagery, the book of Revelation ultimately points to the triumph of God and His Christ over all evil and darkness, offering hope to those who endure.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Joel 2:10

    The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

  • Genesis 19:28

    And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

  • Joel 2:2

    A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of many generations.

  • Acts 2:19

    And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

  • Joel 2:30

    And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

  • Isaiah 14:31

    Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, [art] dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none [shall be] alone in his appointed times.

  • Revelation 14:11

    And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

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