ACC ~ Revelation 9 v1

TO AGREE WITH THE DEVIL IS TO FALL FROM HEAVEN. TYCONIUS: In this star he speaks of the body of those many persons who have fallen from heaven through agreement [with the devil]. … We ought to understand the key to the pit to be false teachings that confine those within it in such a way that they are not able to look upon the light of truth. And so the devil fell from heaven and received the key to the pit, and [he] opened his mouth in blasphemy and taught his followers not to do the will of God but to do their own will. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.1.

THE JUDGMENT OF SINNERS WILL BE ON THE EARTH. OECUMENIUS: Until now the vision has explained to us how and by what manner of plagues that upon the earth and in heaven and humankind together with them shall be brought to completion or will be changed. But now, since the consummation has already occurred and the resurrection has been effected, the vision indicates the punishment of sinners. “I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth,” calling an angel of God a “star” because it descends to the earth with brightness. For the judgment of sinners will be on the earth, which was called the “valley of Jehoshaphat” by one of the holy prophets. “And he was given,” it says, “the key of the shaft of the bottomless pit.” He calls Gehenna “the shaft of the bottomless pit.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.1-4.

THE HUMAN HEART IS AN ABYSS OF INIQUITY. PRIMASIUS: The abyss and the pit are people who are hiding places for error, that is, they hide iniquity in their hearts even though they are in the church. … I think that they receive this key to the pit, and through it they open the poisons of their hearts and, once made manifest, burst forth into the open. For, as the apostle says, “There must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.” Whenever error arises, the truth is preached all the more, and as the integrity of the faith is being defended, that deceptive falsehood that had been hidden for such a long time is at the right time uncovered. For schismatics and heretics frequently arise from those who have fallen, and of these the church truly speaks in the Song of Songs, “The sons of my mother fought against me.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.1.

GOD ALLOWS DEMONS TO DO THEIR WORK. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: The “star” is a divine angel. With God’s permission he leads up [from the pit] the evil demons who have been condemned to the pit, namely, those whom Christ bound at his incarnation. [He leads them up] so that they might do their work before the consummation but then attain to neverending torment. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9.1-5.

HERETICS ARE FORERUNNERS OF THE ANTICHRIST. BEDE: The fifth trumpet reveals the increased infestation of the heretics who are the forerunners of the time of the antichrist. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 8.2.

Rev