Bible Word of the Day
Apollyon (Abaddon)
Meaning
During the Tribulation period God will not only pour out His wrath on the wickedness of man and an unrepentant world, but this will also be a time when Satan, demons and mankind will see the futility of their rebellion. This will be a time when Satan through the Antichrist will rule and destroy the world. A time when the wickedness of man will come to its fruition. And it’s sometime during the last three and half years of the seven year Tribulation period that Apollyon (also called Abaddon in the Hebrew) will be released. Apollyon is the demon who leads a large swarm of demons currently locked up in the Abyss or a bottomless pit. In the book of Revelation chapter nine we read about Apollyon and his evil forces.
“Then the fifth angel sounded: To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the fallen angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.”
These demons will be able to physically harm people and the pain will be severe. The Bible tells us those stung will seek death, but death will flee from them. Moreover, as we read these passages we get the idea that because of the appearance with these demons, those in rebellion against God will become fascinated with these demons and welcome them into their presence. After which because of their own sin they are stung and in torment for five months seeking death, but unable to die.
“The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” (Book of Revelation 9:7-11)