Revelation 9:1a
Re-evaluation Translation:
9:1 Uriel explained, A rebellious light-bearing leader, Sêmjâzâ, rebelled from serving Yehuveh and gave mankind the key to limitless moral corruption.
Bible, KJV Translation:
9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Significant Words and Comments:
Commentary on Revelation 9:1 (23 January 2008): “The fifth angel sounded . . . .” Enoch provides us no clear statement regarding the identity of “the fifth angel,” as he did for the first four who were specifically numbered. However, he named all seven of the “holy angels who watch” and stated their jurisdiction, providing us sufficient clues to complete their identification and rightly associate them with the fifth, sixth, and seventh angels of Revelation 9-11 who proclaimed the three woes. The names and work of these last three angels are introduced in notes on Revelation 8:13. Enoch 20:1-8.
This fifth message addresses matters relating to “the bottomless pit,” known in Torah as the deep, and in Enoch as the abyss. Throughout The Book of Enoch, Uriel is the angel who explains to Enoch matters relating to the heavens, the earth, and the abyss. “Uriel, one of the holy angels, who is over the world and over Tartarus.” [Tartarus, reduplication of the primary root tuwr [H8446], meaning “to meander,” is a reference planets, “wanderers.”] Enoch 20:2. [For full comparison of Uriel’s work with Revelation 9, study: Enoch 9:1-6; 10:1-3, 11-14; 19:1-2; 21:1-7; 27:2-5; 33:3-4; 72:2; 74:1-2; 75:2-4; 78:10-15; 79:1-80:1; 82:7-8.]
“I saw a star,” a light-bearing messenger, which includes but is not limited to the descendents of Abraham. See notes on Revelation 6:13 and 8:10.
“Fall from heaven,” represents a descent either to accomplish a heavenly purpose on earth, or in rebellion against Yehuveh. No timeframe is placed on this fall, but its association with the abyss ties it directly to the fall of a heavenly angel described by Enoch. Fall, as in Revelation 8:10, is from pipto [G4098], meaning “to descend from a higher place to a lower.” “From heaven” is from Yehuveh’s protection. See notes on Revelation 4:1. “Unto the earth,” to life not under Yehuveh’s authority or in resistance to it. See notes on Revelation 5:13.
Early in his book, Enoch begins telling the story on which Revelation 9:1-12 is based: “And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: ‘I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.’ And they all answered him and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.’ Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And these are the names of their leaders: Sêmîazâz [or Sêmjâzâ], their leader, Arâkîba, Râmêêl, Kôkabîêl, Tâmîêl, Râmîêl, Dânêl, Êzêqêêl, Barâqîjâl, Asâêl, Armârôs, Batârêl, Anânêl, Zaqîêl, Samsâpêêl, Satarêl, Tûrêl, Jômjâêl, Sariêl. These are their chiefs of tens.” [See explanatory note.] The same story is told in much briefer form in Genesis 6:1-2: “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of Elohim saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” What began with this rebellion is completed in the events and closure described in Revelation 9:1-12. Enoch 6:1-8.
For information on “bottomless pit,” and “abyss,” continue . . . .
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 23 January 2008
Latest Update: 28 May 2008
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