With the fifth trumpet, the fallen star opens the pit with a key that has been given to him. From the pit comes ascending smoke like a great furnace (Revelation 9:1-2). The smoke ascending from the pit reminds us of the smoke ascending from the sacrifices of the altar, the smoke of incense and prayer in 8:4.

This is the inverse of the vision of chapter 4, where John ascended through an open door in the sky and entered the heavenly worship. As heaven, so hell: Both are liturgical settings. And an important practical lesson: The fact that there’s smoke doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s true sacrifice.