Is Apollyon the devil?
That is a very good question, and one which many have asked…and the answer, according to the scripture is that Apollyon is the angel of the bottomless pit.
“And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”
Revelation 9:11
The Hebrew and Greek names “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” mean “the destroyer.
Many well known theologians would say that yes, Apollyon is another name for the Devil, or Satan.
But according to the Bible it cannot be, for several reasons.
Firstly, the Devil is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2).
He is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).
He is operating in heavenly places with his angels who have also rebelled against the Most High God (Ephesians 6:12).
He has the ability to stand before the throne of God (Job 1:6).
Satan will verily be cast out of heaven in the future with all of his angels (Revelation 12:9), but that has not happened yet.
So, Satan is not in the bottomless pit, though many of his companions which left their first estate before the flood are in chains there, awaiting the day of Judgment.
And since Satan is not in the bottomless pit, he obviously cannot be the king over anyone or anything there.
Also, we can see that the creatures that have been prepared for judgment in that pit, to torment men for five months (but only those who have not the mark of God in their foreheads), are an army of creatures that are doing the will of God, doing as they are commanded of him.
As it is written,
“And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”
Revelation 9:3-6
This is not the work of Satan.
It is clearly the judgment of God Almighty.
So, whoever the angel of the bottomless pit is, he is a destroyer that has been prepared of God for just that purpose and at that exact time, to come down from heaven and command the other locust-like creatures that will come forth from that pit and torment sinners for five full months. That is the fifth woe unto men, that will come to pass when that fifth trumpet is sounded; not unlike the four angels which have been prepared of God to execute the sixth woe, or the sixth trumpet judgment:
“And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.”
Revelation 9:13-15
Amen.
We hope this will help you to see the matter more clearly, and may God bless you as you abide in his word, the KJV Bible, more and more.
Amen in Jesus’ name.
Sincerely,
GBQ