Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 9:2

"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." — Revelation 9:2 (ASV)

And he opened . . .—It translates as: And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun was darkened, and the air, by reason of the smoke of the pit.

The first result of the opening of the pit is the diffusion of such dense smoke that light and atmosphere are darkened. In the previous vision, there was an obscuring of light arising from the striking of the luminaries; in this vision, the obscuring arises from causes external to the luminaries. In that case, the light-giving power was weakened; in this case, the light is not weakened, but obstructed.

This must be remembered. The interpretation of these visions is most difficult, but we must keep in mind that they describe the great war the Church wages against the world—the war good wages against evil. We are assured, however, that its end is the victory of good.

The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15). Yet, during the war's progress, the outcome will often appear doubtful; indeed, triumph may even seem to be in the enemy's hand; but faith disregards the receding waves, for she knows the tide is coming in.

We have seen that the advance of Christianity is marked by the manifestation of evils as well as the establishment of good. Christianity does not create evils, but the very intense honesty of her principles reveals the hidden force of unsuspected corruption. Thus, the faith of Christ has come to give light to the world, but in her progress many lights fall—the false lights of world-power, world-wisdom, false religiosity, and heresies.

The enemy, too, is at work and seeks to obscure her light by the diffusion of dark and base thoughts. The smoke of the pit blackens the light and confuses the atmosphere. Now, this obscuring is surely the diffusion on earth of evil thoughts and ideas, the spirit of falsehood and hate, hostility to truth, and enmity against God and humanity. The bright, clear air, brightened by the sun, is darkened; “all forms that once appeared beautiful become hideous.”