How does the name "Abaddon" or "Apollyon" reflect Satan's destructive role? Setting the Scene in Revelation 9:11 “They were ruled by a king, the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.” • John records a literal demonic king released during the trumpet judgments. • The abyss (bottomless pit) is the present domain of some of the most destructive spirits (cf. Luke 8:31; Revelation 20:1–3). • The Spirit–given names Abaddon/Apollyon are not symbolic titles for evil in general; they identify a real being whose nature is bound up in ruin and destruction. Unpacking the Names: Abaddon and Apollyon • Abaddon (Hebrew): “destruction,” “place of ruin.” • Apollyon (Greek): “destroyer.” • Combined meaning: one whose fixed character and mission are to devastate everything God loves. • Scripture never grants Satan creative power—only the ability to corrupt and consume (cf. Job 1–2). Old Testament Echoes of Abaddon • Job 26:6 — “Sheol is naked before Him, and Abaddon has no covering.” • Proverbs 15:11 — “Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD.” • Proverbs 27:20 — “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied.” Key observations: • Abaddon is linked with the grave, restlessness, and insatiable appetite. • God sees and rules over that realm, proving Satan’s limits even in his own sphere. Jesus Exposes the Destroyer’s Agenda • John 10:10 — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” • 1 Peter 5:8 — “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Practical take-aways: • Every temptation hides a destructive hook. • The destroyer targets bodies, relationships, and, if possible, eternal souls. • Christ came to give the opposite—abundant, undying life—proving Satan’s program a doomed counterfeit. From the Abyss to the Lake of Fire: Satan’s Final End • Revelation 12:9 — The dragon, “that ancient serpent,” is cast out of heaven. • Revelation 20:1–3 — He is bound in the abyss for a thousand years. • Revelation 20:10 — “The devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire… They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Sequence to notice: 1. Currently active in the world (Ephesians 2:2). 2. Temporarily confined (abyss). 3. Ultimately condemned (lake of fire). The names Abaddon/Apollyon fit each stage—destroyer of earth now, but himself destroyed forever by God’s justice. Living in Light of the Destroyer’s Defeat • Stand alert, yet unafraid—our foe is real but restricted. • Resist with truth (Ephesians 6:10-18); hell’s gates cannot prevail against Christ’s church. • Celebrate the gospel daily: the One who was “manifested to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8) guarantees victory for all who believe. |
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