(1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a (2) star fall from heaven unto the earth: (3) and to him was given the key of the (a) bottomless pit.
(1) The first execution on the wicked men inhabiting the earth (as the angel said before) wrought by the infernal powers is declared from here to (Revelation 9:2-11) and after the sixth execution to (Revelation 9:12-19) and lastly is shown the common event that followed the former execution in the world, in the two last verses (Revelation 9:20-21). (2) That is, that the angel of God glittering with glory, as a star fallen from heaven. He may be Christ, who has the keys of hell by himself and by princely authority, (Revelation 1:18) or some inferior angel who has the same key entrusted to him and holds it ministerially, or by office of his ministry, here and (Revelation 20:10) so the word "falling" is taken; (Genesis 14:10; Genesis 24:46; Hebrews 6:6). (3) The key was given to this star. For those powers of wickedness are sent to hell, bound with chains of darkness and kept there until damnation, unless God lets them loose for a time; (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 20:7) the history of these agrees with this chapter.
(a) By the bottomless pit, he means the deepest darkness of hell.