Revelation 9:11 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.
The number 911 is the emergency phone number in the U.S. You dial 911 when some event occurs requiring an immediate response by first responders- police, fire, and/or ambulance services. This number is certainly an attention getter. In this writing, I will pose an unpopular view for the reader to consider but I am not seeking out a vote for “Mr. Popular”. Instead, I only seek out a greater and deeper revelation of FATHER’S Divine Intent. In order to do this we must look at the bigger picture. If we do, we will surely blast away past doctrines and beliefs based on teachings that hung their hat on a handful of Scriptures taken out of context. A narrow perspective is the enemy to understanding the big picture.
The entire book of Revelation is focused on Jesus Christ overcoming death and destruction. It focuses on bringing forth a body known as the Elect, the Overcomers, or the Sons of GOD. Everything described in this book of Love is seen by John in the Spiritual realm. Past interpretations have always focused on the external and the negative resulting in promoting fear among the masses. Is this what Love does?
Who is king over the bottomless pit? Who is this “angel” that has been described as Abaddon or Apollyon? If you believe as I do that the bottomless pit refers to the depths of our heart and not some literal pit found in the physical earth, then you must consider that Abaddon (aka Apollyon) is none other than the King of Kings. Jesus Christ is truly the only King in the book and has the keys of hell. He has been given all authority even over death. He is the conquering Christ who has the key to the bottomless pit and releases or exposes its contents to be dealt with once and for all.
The Hebrew name Abaddon means “destruction”. The Greek name Apollyon means “destroyer”. They are one and the same. Fear would suggest to us that this angel is an adversary to our wellbeing. I would suggest that if this book focuses on the internal maturing process rather than solely and external commentary of future events, the actions of this angel must ultimately be to our benefit. The conquering Christ is an adversary to all His enemies. Our Heavenly Father is an adversary to anyone who promotes lawlessness. Consider the following Scripture:
Numbers 22:22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. KJV
The word “adversary” in this passage is the Hebrew word satan:
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adversary, one who withstands
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adversary (in general – personal or national)
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superhuman adversary
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Satan (as noun)
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This angel of the LORD was sent by FATHER on a mission to resist Balaam who had been hired to proclaim a curse on Israel. This was after FATHER told Balaam to refrain from doing so. An adversary is anyone who is against the current acceptable state of being. If you go against the will of Our Heavenly Father then you are HIS adversary and HE is yours. HE is an adversary to our carnal nature, HE resists the proud.
Who is able to release the locusts? Who has this power to enter the depths of the bottomless pit with those keys? Only Our Lord Jesus Christ has this power and authority, no one else. Let’s go back to chapter one of the book and reread the words Jesus spoke to John:
16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Satan has no power or authority over death, no keys to the bottomless pit, and no ability to be omnipresent. All of creation no matter what the realm is subject to Our Lord Jesus Christ and His power and authority. He looses the bands of wickedness, He undoes the heavy burdens, and lets the oppressed go free. Our bottomless pits must be cleaned out and He is just the One to do the job. He is the Word of GOD made manifest thus:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Our biggest adversary is in the mirror, not some being walking around with a pitchfork. When Adam disjoined himself from walking with FATHER, death entered in. Through Jesus Christ, death is removed. Jesus has the keys to bring this to pass. He is King over everything and everyone, even death. Now let’s consider Revelation 20:
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
Who is this angel? Is it not the same “angel” of 9:11 with the same authority? Jesus is the ONE who has power and authority to shut or open, not Satan. Satan is the great deceiver and would have us believe that he has power and authority over us. He would also have us believe that Jesus would not be called a “destroyer” or an “adversary”. This is promoted by the fact that Jesus has only been associated with the right arm of Grace but not the left arm of judgment. Judgment requires destruction of doctrines that are in opposition to the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus was an adversary to the scribes and Pharisees. He was an adversary to the moneychangers. Love operates as a scale of equal weights and measures and the task of ruling and reigning requires both aspects in righteous balance. Has the elect been somewhat deceived by focusing only on the external? Has there been a misdirection away from the revelation of what it takes for the perfecting of the saints? We must be willing to consider the higher levels of understanding that are adversarial to our current understanding, doctrine, and knowledge. There are higher laws to embrace that nullify the effects of lower laws. Jesus will deal with any deception found in our hearts no matter how deep they run. He has the key to unlock and expose them. Are you willing to let them go or will He become an adversary to you as well? With this in mind, consider what Paul wrote:
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
FATHER, open the eyes of our understanding so that we may embrace the fullness of what you have called us to be. Let nothing deceive us and draw us away from ascending to the fullness of Spiritual maturity and Love!