Commentary on the Apocalypse and commentary on the Book of Daniel
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1910
Apocalypse: Trumpet V, Falling Star (Revelation 9:1-3) -- Nimbed angel sounding trumpet; stars flanking larger star darkened by smoke rising from pit; locusts stinging six men; star, and wingless angel holding key in the pit; starred background.
And the fifth angel sounded the trumpet. And I saw upon the earth a star that had fallen from heaven, and the key to the well of the abyss was given to him. And he opened the well of the abyss. And the smoke of the well ascended, like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were obscured by the smoke of the well. And locusts went forth from the smoke of the well into the earth. And power was given to them, like the power that the scorpions of the earth have. And it was commanded that they must not harm the plants of the earth, nor anything green, nor any tree, but only those men who do not have the Seal of God upon their foreheads. And they were not to kill them, but torture them for five months. In those days, men will seek death but not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. (Rev. 9:1–6)
The artist depicted the falling star twice, in the sky and in the pit. According to Beatus, the man in the pit with the key and the star relate to fallen sinners who have opened their hearts to Satan.