Rev 9: 1-11

by Smitty 5 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • Smitty
    Smitty

    Hi all. What do these scriptures apply to now? Who is Apollyon, the locust, the trees and grass??

    Rev 9:1-11

    The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
    7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. [1]

    Smitty

  • Robert_V_Frazier
    Robert_V_Frazier

    What do these scriptures apply to now? Who is Apollyon, the locust, the trees and grass??

    Now? Nothing that I know of. It's about an attack of a swarm of demons sometime in the future. Apollyon is a demon. Possibly Satan, possibly someone who works for Satan. The locusts are demons. Only someone who has been exposed to toxic WBTS fumes would ask "Who is the trees and grass?" Trees are big plants that you make baseball bats, pianos, and books out of. Grass is a small plant, often eaten by cows.

    Sheesh.

    Robert Frazier

  • SpannerintheWorks
    SpannerintheWorks

    Rob,

    Ditto.

  • UnDisfellowshipped
    UnDisfellowshipped

    Robert Frazier is correct about Abaddon/Apollyon being Satan or a demon.

    However, here is a very interesting list of Watchtower Quotes about WHO Abaddon/Apollyon is:

    Studies in the Scriptures, Volume VII, Page 159:

    "'The prince of the power of the air.' Eph. 2:2... That is, Destroyer. But in plain English his name is Satan, the Devil"

    Then is Finished the Mystery of God, Page 232:

    "In Hebrew his name is Abaddon, meaning 'Destruction'; and in the Greek it is Apollyon, meaning 'Destroyer.' All this plainly identifies the 'angel' as picturing Jesus Christ, the Son of Jehovah God"

    The Watchtower December 1st 1961 Issue, Pages 717-720:

    "United Against Nations in the Valley of Decision"

    "When Jesus was on earth as a man, he was a Hebrew, and now in his capacity as Jehovah's royal Executioner he is called by the Hebrew name Abad'don, which means Destruction. (Job 26:6; 28:22; 31:12; 12:23; 14:19) In the Greek in which the inspired Christian Scriptures were written his similar title is Apollyon, which means Destroyer."

    The Modern Plague

    How long are the remnant of the anointed Christian witnesses of Jehovah authorized to strike the religious clergy with this tormenting message? For the period of their life before God's war of Armageddon, as symbolized by the five months assigned to the locusts. Since Jehovah's anointed remnant are not authorized to act as his executioners of men who persecute them for preaching God's message, the religious clergy are left alive to suffer the tormenting pain from God's judgment message. Not that the clergy would not prefer to die rather than endure this judgment proclamation any longer; but as the apostle John says of them: "And in those days the men will seek death but will by no means find it, and they will desire to die but death keeps fleeing from them." God's execution of judgment, his infliction of death upon these hypocritical Christian clergy, is delayed till he begins his universal war of Armageddon.

    What do these symbolic locusts look like? John says: "And the likenesses of the locusts resembled horses prepared for battle; and upon their heads were what seemed to be crowns like gold, and their faces were as men's faces, but they had hair as women's hair. And their teeth were as those of lions; and they had breastplates like iron breastplates. And the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running into battle. Also, they have tails and stings like scorpions; and in their tails is their authority to hurt the men five months." From this description we note that the remnant of Jehovah's anointed witnesses were brought forth in 1919 for warfare, a spiritual warfare from that year till the actual outbreak of the "war of the great day of God the Almighty," commonly called Armageddon. (Rev. 16:14-16) Hence they looked like horses, which in Bible times were used for warfare. "The horse is something prepared for the day of battle," says Proverbs 21:31.

    The symbolic locusts are royal warriors, as denoted by the goldlike crowns upon the locusts' heads; for by being anointed with God's spirit they have been made "joint heirs with Christ" and have been assigned a crown and throne in Christ's kingdom of a thousand years. (Rom. 8:16, 17; Luke 22:28-30; Rev. 3:11, 21) During this time of spiritual warfare with Christendom these symbolic locusts are mere humans gifted with intelligence, as denoted by their "men's faces." Like Hebrew warriors in the field who did not have barbershop facilities, they let their head of hair grow to the length of women's hair, so that they had a hairy mane and looked like lions for fierceness. (1 Chron. 12:8) Appropriately, then, "their teeth were as those of lions," that could devour solid food, flesh, like the strong judgment message of God's vengeance against Christendom. (Heb. 5:12; 1 Cor. 3:1, 2) Their hearts, the organs of love for God and for his righteousness, hence hearts that know no fear but are courageous, are well protected as if by impenetrable breastplates of iron. So they never lose love and courage.

    Like a huge swarm of winged locusts that are capable of flying for a thousand miles or more, they unitedly make a noise that sounds like a squadron of war chariots rattling along to the beat of many horses' hoofs into the battle. It is a terrific sound. The symbolic locusts shout as from the house-tops and let God's judgment message be heard over a vast distance in the territory that they cover. Fear of the enemy does not soften down their message to a mere whisper. Jehovah's war declaration must be sounded loudly. He is responsible for the hurting of feelings that the message causes to the ones who are stung by it. For the brief time interval till Armageddon breaks out, "five months," as it were, the symbolic locusts must use their scorpion-like tails, God's Word, "the sword of the spirit," and must strike men against whom God's judgment is directed. It is not God's time to spare feelings. His enemies have to be exposed and notified of coming judgment.-Eph. 6:17.

    The symbolic locusts must follow their King, Jesus Christ. John says of them: "They have over them a king, the angel of the abyss. In Hebrew his name is Abad'don, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon." The resurrected heavenly Jesus Christ is the "angel of the abyss," for he holds the "keys of death and of Ha'des." In the finale of the universal war of Armageddon he will bind and pitch Satan the Devil and his spirit demons into the abyss of deathlike inactivity. (Rev. 20:1-3) When Jesus was on earth as a man, he was a Hebrew, and now in his capacity as Jehovah's royal Executioner he is called by the Hebrew name Abad'don, which means Destruction. (Job 26:6; 28:22; 31:12; 12:23; 14:19) In the Greek in which the inspired Christian Scriptures were written his similar title is Apollyon, which means Destroyer. This name clearly shows that he comes to the throne at God's right hand to rule first in the midst of his enemies and to destroy them in execution of Jehovah's righteous judgment, Jehovah's judicial decision against them.-Jas. 4:12.

    The symbolic locusts who must proclaim the judgment message before the judgment is executed in the "low plain of the decision" have Jesus Christ as their King, but he is invisible. They have no visible king any more than literal locusts have: "The locusts have no king, and yet they go forth all of them divided into groups." For the reason that they move forward in groups or swarms, they are "instinctively wise," although being among the "smallest" things on earth. (Prov. 30:24, 27) The symbolic locusts, the anointed witnesses of Jehovah, move forward united, grouped according to their local congregations. But this is not due to any locust instinct. It is due to the heavenly wisdom imparted by God's spirit. Also, their following their heavenly King Jesus Christ as the Leader whom God had enthroned is what keeps them united in their attack upon the men not sealed. (Rev. 7:2-8; 9:4) Willingly, obediently, they subject themselves to his command; and this is what may also be pictured by the fact that the symbolic locusts "had hair as women's hair," since a woman's long hair naturally is a sign of her subjection, a sign of having authority on her head.-1 Cor. 11:10, 15; Ps. 110:3.

    Revelation -- Its Grand Climax At Hand Book, Page 148:

    The First Woe-Locusts

    "Rather than announce the incoming Kingdom of God, Christendoms clergy have chosen to remain with Satans world. They want no part with the locust band and their King, concerning whom John now observes: They have over them a king, the angel of the abyss. In Hebrew his name is Abaddon [meaning Destruction], but in Greek he has the name Apollyon [meaning Destroyer]. (Revelation 9:11) As angel of the abyss and Destroyer, Jesus had truly released a plaguing woe on Christendom"

    Insight Book Volume 1, Page 12:

    ABADDON

    (Abad'don) [from Heb., meaning Destruction].

    At Revelation 9:11 this Hebrew word is transliterated into the English text. There we read concerning the symbolic plague of locusts that they have a king, the angel of the abyss. In Hebrew his name is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

    In Hebrew the word avaddohn' means destruction and may also refer to the place of destruction. It appears in the original Hebrew text a total of five times, and in four of the occurrences it is used to parallel the burial place, Sheol, and death. (Ps 88:11; Job 26:6; 28:22; Pr 15:11) The word avaddohn' in these texts evidently refers to the destructive processes that ensue with human death, and these scriptures indicate that decay or destruction takes place in Sheol, the common grave of mankind. At Job 31:12 avaddohn' designates the damaging effect of an adulterous course. Job declared: That [adulterous course] is a fire that would eat clear to destruction [`adh-avaddohn'], and among all my produce it would take root.Compare Pr 6:26-28, 32; 7:26, 27.

    Abaddon, the angel of the abysswho is he?

    At Revelation 9:11, however, the word Abaddon is used as the name of the angel of the abyss. The corresponding Greek name Apollyon means Destroyer. In the past century there were efforts made to show that this text prophetically applied to individuals such as Emperor Vespasian, Muhammad, and even Napoleon, and the angel was generally regarded as satanic. It should be noted, however, that at Revelation 20:1-3 the angel having the key of the abyss is shown to be Gods representative from heaven, and rather than being satanic, he binds and hurls Satan into the abyss.

    Commenting on Revelation 9:11, The Interpreters Bible says: Abaddon, however, is an angel not of Satan but of God, performing his work of destruction at Gods bidding.

    In the Hebrew scriptures just considered, it is evident that avaddohn' is paralleled with Sheol and death. At Revelation 1:18 we find Christ Jesus stating: I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. His power with regard to the abyss is shown at Luke 8:31. That he has destroying power, including the power of destruction over Satan, is evident from Hebrews 2:14, which says that Jesus partook of blood and flesh in order that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil.

    At Revelation 19:11-16 he is clearly represented as Gods appointed Destroyer or Executioner.See APOLLYON.

    Insight Book Volume 1, Page 126:

    APOLLYON

    (Apol'lyon) [Destroyer].

    The Greek name used by the apostle John to translate the Hebrew Abaddon at Revelation 9:11. Apollyon means Destroyer, and is given as the name of the angel of the abyss. Though most reference works apply this name to some evil personage or force, the whole setting of the apocalyptic vision is to the contrary, as it consistently portrays angels being used by God to bring woes upon His enemies.

    The use of the related verb apol'lymi illustrates this, as at James 4:12, which says of God: One there is that is lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. (Compare Mt 10:28.) The unclean spirit cast out of a man by Jesus in a synagogue at Capernaum acknowledged Jesus as Gods agent and said: What have we to do with you, Jesus you Nazarene? Did you come to destroy us? (Mr 1:24; Lu 4:34) Jesus warned unrepentant opposers among his listeners of the danger of being destroyed. (Lu 13:3-5; 20:16) These and other texts point to the glorified Christ Jesus as the one referred to by this title.Compare Re 19:11-16; Lu 8:31; see ABADDON

  • willy_think
    willy_think

    Hi smitty,
    I found this good bible site a long time ago but I think it's still one of the best free bible sites online. I noticed you seem interested others thoughts on scripture, well, you will find the site offers multiple commentaries on every book of the bible. I think you might enjoy the commentaries.

    http://www.biblestudytools.net/

  • UnDisfellowshipped
    UnDisfellowshipped

    willy_think, Thank You very much for Posting that Link!

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