The Beasts of Revelation

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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    The Beasts of Revelation: Part 1.

    More than a few questions arise when reading Revelation. For example; How many times is a beast mentioned? Is there more than one beast? If there are more than one, who are they and what do they represent?

    If you search for the word “beast” in Revelation, depending on which translation you use, you will find different numbers. Using the NIV and NKJV, they list 35 occurrences in Revelation. The NIV and NKJV are missing Rev 4:6 which has: “four living creatures”, whereas the KJV has beasts. The main Greek word used throughout the Greek scriptures for beast is Zoon ( dzo’-on ) meaning:
    1 = a living being,
    2 = an animal, brute, beast.

    Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.” ( Rev 4:6 NKJV )

    And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.” ( Rev 4:6 KJV )

    Rev 4:6 is the first place in Revelation where there is mention of beasts (zoon ). Why should it be translated as “living creature”? In this case, it should not, because John uses: “And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.” ( Rev 4:7 KJV ) John uses each as a beast (zoon). They are all compared to animals, which is where we get the word zoo. A zoo is where people gather and keep animals. The root word is zao: a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):--life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick. Each one is different, but having some parts that are alike. The KJV and Codex Sinaiticus have zoon for each of the four beasts.

    These first mentioned beasts/living creatures, are found to be “in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.” ( Rev 4:6 KJV ) These beasts are apparently protecting the throne. “Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” ( Rev 4;8 NIV ) These four beasts/living creatures continually give praise to God. What are the features of these four beasts/living creatures?
    They all are full of eyes, vision in all directions. Nothing can sneak up on them. They all have six wings. The wings are used for rapid movement in any direction. Or, they could be the same living creatures described in Isaiah 6:2-3. “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” ( Isa 6:2-3 NIV ) “Above it stood the seraphs. Each one had six wings; with two he covered his face; and with two he covered his feet; and with two he flew. And one cried to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory!” ( Isa 6:2-3 LITV )

    These four beasts are the first mentioned in Revelation. They are mentioned in chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7.
    The mention of other beasts begins in Rev 6:8. These are described as “wild beasts”. The Greek word used here, is therion ( thay-ree'-on ), having the meaning of:
    1. an animal
    2. a wild animal, wild beast, beast
    3. metaphor. a brutal, bestial man, savage, ferocious

    Therion comes from the root word, thera (thay’-rah) from ther (a wild animal, as game)
    1. a hunting of wild beasts to destroy them
    2. metaphor. of preparing destruction for men

    I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” ( Rev 6:8 NIV )

    Chapter 7, verse 11, raises another question about the 4 beasts mentioned previously in Revelation.
    And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God,” ( Rev 7:11 KJV )

    This raises a question about the beasts mentioned by Isaiah 6:2. “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ( Isa 6:2 NIV ) In the Hebrew, seraphim means: majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God. Would this equal angels? If that is what it means, then why would it mention angels and the four beasts, if the four beasts are angels?

    This will be the end of Part 1: Identifying the “Beasts of Revelation”.
     
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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Part 2. Identifying the “Beasts of Revelation”

    In Part 1, there is mention of the seraphim meaning: majestic beings. But, there is another meaning of the Hebrew seraphim. The root word is saraph ( saw-raf’ )
    1. to burn
    a. (Qal) to burn
    b. (Niphal) to be burned
    c. (Piel) burner, burning (participle)
    d. (Pual) to be burnt up, be burned

    saraph ( saw-raf’ )
    1. serpent, fiery serpent
    a. poisonous serpent (fiery from burning effect of poison)
    2. seraph, seraphim
    a. majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God

    This can be rather confusing, even when reading the scriptures where the words are used.
    Then flew one of the seraphim's unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:” ( Isa 6:6 KJV ) How do you read this with understanding? He has the “live coal” in his hand. Does this mean that he only used the tongs to get hold of it from the alter? Were the tongs to remain on the alter?

    Also ( Isa 6:2 KJV ) identifies the seraphim’s as majestic beings. The word “saraph” applies to the burning coal, not the one holding it. Also, “saraph” is applied to a serpent, fiery serpent.
    Quoting from Isa 14:29 KJV, there is a word used; cockatrice, translated “viper” from the Hebrew word tsepha = a poisonous serpent, translated in the KJV as “cockatrice.” “Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.” ( Isa 14:29 KJV )

    It is important to trace the use of unfamiliar words, especially when studying the Bible.
    https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=cockatrice

    Cockatrice (n.) “In classical writings, an Egyptian animal of some sort, the mortal enemy of the crocodile, which it tracks down and kills. This vague sense became hopelessly confused in the Christian West, and in England the word ended up applied to the equivalent of the basilisk. Popularly associated with cock (n.1), hence the fable that it was a serpent hatched from a cock's egg. It also sometimes was confused with the crocodile. Belief in them persisted even among the educated because the word was used in the KJV several times to translate a Hebrew word for "serpent." In heraldry, a beast half cock, half serpent. Also, in old slang, "a loose woman" ( 1590s )

    Some so called scholars claim that the four “beasts”/ “seraphim's” are angels. If they are “angels”, why would they not be included at Rev 7:11? “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,” ( Rev 7:11 KJV ) According to this scripture the “beasts are not angels”. They are separate from the angels.
    Or, according to Strong’s explanation of “all”, it does not include every single angel.
    According to Strong’s translation of the Greek word “pas”, including all the forms of declension
    (look here for explanation of “declension”. https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=declension

    Strong’s explanation of “all”
    1. individually
    a. each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything
    2. collectively
    a. some of all types
    ... “the whole world has gone after him” Did all the world go after Christ? “then went all Judea, and were baptized of him in Jordan. “Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem, baptized in Jordan? “Ye are of God,little children”, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one”. Does the whole world there mean everybody? The words “world” and “all” are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture, and it is very rarely the “all” means all persons, taken individually. The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts-- some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile ...”

    According to this description, there are different “types” of angels, just as there are different types of humans, there are different types of angels. I personally believe this to be true. I may be an engineer, and you my be a surgeon, but we are both human beings.

    The next occurrence of beast is at Rev 11:7. “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.” Who is this beast? He is the same as the “star fallen from heaven” ( Rev 9:1 KJV ) He is also given the key to the “bottomless pit”. He is identified as: “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. What does that Greek name mean? “Apollyon pronounced ( ap-ol-loo'-ohn ) meaning “Destroyer” 1. the angel of the bottomless pit, the Destroyer. He is also identified at Rev 11:7 as; “When they (two witnesses) finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”

    How do we prove who this beast is? “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” None other than Satan the Devil! What is perdition? mid-14c., “condition of damnation, spiritual ruin, state of the souls of the wicked in Hell, “a special theological sense; the general sense of “utter destruction, entire ruin, great harm, death, fact of being lost or destroyed,”
    https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=perdition

    End of part 2 Identifying the “Beasts of Revelation”.
     
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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    I would suggest that trying to decipher the messages of Revelation, and when the end will come, is time consuming and will never give the answer. Why? Read Mt 24:30.

    I am sharing my study of the beasts because there are many misunderstandings of who and which each represents. I will post
    Part 3 Identifying the “Beasts of Revelation”, in a few days.
     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...ring_the_plague_of_Rome_Wellcome_V0010664.jpg
    The angel of death striking a door during the plague of Rome: an engraving by Levasseur after Jules-Elie Delaunay


    And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” ( Rev 6:8 KJV )
     
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    Part 3. The “Beasts of Revelation”

    And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” ( Rev 13:1 KJV )

    To understand the meaning of this scripture it will be necessary to look for other places in the Bible that may give us information, rather than guessing. “And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.” ( Dan 7:3 KJV ) Each beast is diverse with characteristics of the animals they represent.

    The Bible explains what is represented.
    These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” ( Dan 7:17 KJV ) Why is there a difference in “from the sea”, and “out of the earth.” The sea is part of the earth. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” ( Jam 1:6-8 LITV ) Another example is given at Rev 17:1. “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,” “Then he said to me, ‘The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.’” ( Rev 17:15 NKJV ) We are told that the harlot is named: Babylon the Great. ( Rev: 17:5 NKJV )

    This next part is rather lengthy: You may say, “Why is this part necessary? We already know about the creation of the earth!” I am going there for some who may not have the knowledge of the connections of earth and sea. Which is literal and which is figurative? If you have the knowledge, you can skip this part.

    There is an old saying: “Which came first, the chicken, or the egg?” We can apply this thought to the question of difference between earth and sea. What does the Bible say? There are 14 different Hebrew words translated as “water”. Which one are we to use and translate? It is the word: mayim ( mah’-yim ) dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense). “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” (Gen 1:2 NASB ) From this scripture we see that the earth is mentioned first, and is formless and void. Notice that there is more than one water. The word here is plural; waters. There is a period of time between the water on the earth and the “other water”. What is the other water? “And God said, Let an expanse be in the midst of the waters, and let it be dividing between the waters and the waters.” ( Gen 1:6 LITV ) So, there are two bodies of water that are mentioned. What is the expanse mentioned between the two waters? “And God made the expanse, and He separated between the waters which were under the expanse and the waters which were above the expanse. And it was so.” ( Gen 1:7 LITV ) The expanse/firmament is an empty space. The Hebrews thought of it as a solid empty space, supporting waters’ above. These waters and the earth are the literal water and earth.

    The previous portions show that the earth was a solid object and the water above was a gaseous fluid. The earth came first and the water is second. With this in mind, the earth is stable and solid. The water/sea is fluid and is not as stable as earth, and can be moved around with less effort. This is especially true of the water held in clouds. The Hebrews did not have a word for gaseous fluids.

    We have mentioned that the harlot/Babylon the great, sits on many waters. (Rev 17:1 ) The waters are made up of “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues”. Unbelieving persons are like a wave on the ocean/sea. ( James 1:6 ) These people make up the beast that comes out of the sea. “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” ( Rev 13:1 NKJV )

    There are some differences in translations and manuscripts used for Revelation 13:1. The NKJV is shown in the translation above. The Codex Sinaiticus is the likely source of this translation, “And I stood on the sand of the sea.” The NIV has; “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea.” The Douay-Rheims version omits this portion. The 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) also omits that portion. It appears to be an erroneous addition. I would also ignore this sentence because it is irrelevant to the rest of the subject matter.

    This beast, seen by John, coming out of the sea, is similar to the beast described in Daniel. ( Dan 7:3 )
    There are differences between the “vision” given to John by an angel, and the “dream” that Daniel had as he slept. ( Rev 1 ) and ( Dan 7 ) At this point, it is most important to see who this beast represents, and where it gets its power. “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.” ( Rev 13:2a ) This beast represents a form of government (kingdom) given to mankind, by Satan. ( Rev 13:4 ), ( Luke 4:5-6 ) There is a saying used by many Americans which says: “You can’t fight City Hall!”
    That is similar to:“Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” ( Rev 13:4b ) This is the beast that comes out of the sea. There is a greater beast to come.

    The beast from the earth: “Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It is important to understand who, and what this beast is. This beast is more powerful than the beast from the sea. ( Rev 13:13-17 ) This next verse/sentence/thought is extremely important. It has been spoken of, and discussed for centuries. “This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” ( Rev 13:18 ) I believe this represents the governments of man, which rejects God’s kingdom form of government. The number 7 has always represented perfection and completeness. The number 6 represents imperfection. They miss the mark of completeness. This is “a man’s number”. ( Rev 13:18 ) Man was created on the sixth day. Six always falls short of seven, just as Paul wrote to the Romans; “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Man is not God, just as 6 is not 7. So, 6 to the sixth power = 6x6x6. It is a cube root. Back in the 1960’s we would say, “Man, you are square!”

    Those who willingly accept, and participate ( receive the mark ) in the government of the beast, and are deluded by the false prophet, are condemned to destruction. They will also suffer from the same thing that happened to the Egyptians who refused to release the Hebrews; recorded in Exodus. (Ex 9:8-11 ) “The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.” ( Rev:16:2 NIV )

    What happens to the beast with the number 666 will suffer destruction, along with the false prophet, and those who choose to follow them. “But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” ( Rev 19:20 NIV )

    What happens next, is covered in Revelation chapters 20-24.
     
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    Joshuastone7

    Joshuastone7 Administrator Staff Member

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    Just some food for thought brother:

    Can we define Satan as "destroyer" in Scripture? Or is he just the lier, murderer?

    Is anyone actually mentioned as a "destroyer" in Scripture?

    Jer 51:20 "You are my battle-ax and sword," says the LORD. "With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms."

    Rev 2:26,27 "And to the one who conquers and observes my deeds down to the end, I will give authority over the nations, and he will shepherd the people with an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels, just as I have received from my Father."


    Exe 12:23 "For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you."

    Heb 11:28 "By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them."

    Rev 11:18 "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."

    In Hebrew the word Abaddon is synonymous with the grave, with Sheol. So, who is the king of the grave, who has control over it's hold???

    Rev 1:8 "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades."

    Would not the very one who holds the keys to death and Hades be the king over it? Our Lord is king, and he is king over Abaddon, the abyss, Sheol...

    Rev 20:13 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds."

    Mth 10:28 "And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Ge·henʹna."

    Some food for thought...

    Also, keep in mind from Amos and Joel; Who's army are the locusts in those narritives?
     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Well Brother; We have you back. Thankfully! I need a sounding board to question my comments. Your question about who the “destroyer” is, and whether he is identified, brings up a deep question that many people have asked. The only name given is what we read; destroyer. From other scriptures, he is described as the “angel of death”. The first place it appears is in Exodus. This may be a surprise to many who read this account. It is the “Passover”.

    And Jehovah will pass through to strike Egypt. And He will see the blood on the upper doorpost and on the two side doorposts, and Jehovah will pass over the door. And He will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” ( Ex 12:23 LITV )

    For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. ( KJV )

    For Jehovah will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Jehovah will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.” ( ASV )

    For Adonai will pass through to kill the Egyptians; but when he sees the blood on the top and on the two sides, Adonai will pass over the door and will not allow the Slaughterer to enter your houses and kill you.” ( CJB ) The word destroyer appears 11 times in the scriptures; 10 times in the Hebrew scriptures and 1 time in the Greek scriptures at ( 1 Cor 10:10 KJV )

    This is an interesting scripture because it infers that Jehovah will kill/destroy or not. But: when we read the complete sentence, the destroyer is another individual who destroys/kills those who reside in the residence. Many Bible Experts/Commentators say there is an “angel of death”, never identified in the Bible. There is one reference which mentions the angel of Jehovah; “And it happened in that night, that the Angel of Jehovah went out and struck a hundred and eighty five thousand in the camp of Assyria; and they rose up early in the morning, and behold, all of them were dead bodies.” ( 2Kings 19:35 LITV )

    There are 99 places in the Bible which use the expression “the angel of”; with fill in the blanks. There are 66 places in the “Old Testament”, and 33 places in the “New Testament”. Examples: “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:’” ( Rev 3:14 NKJV )

    The main subject is: Who holds the keys to the Abyss? Is the Abyss the same as the bottomless pit?
    Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.” ( Rev 9:1 NKJV ) This star did not come down, it fell down from heaven. The Greek word is pipto = pip’-to, having the meaning of:

    1. to descend from a higher place to a lower
    a. to fall (either from or upon)
    1. to be thrust down
    b. metaphor. to fall under judgment, came under condemnation
    2. to descend from an erect to a prostrate position
    a. to fall down
    1. to be prostrated, fall prostrate
    2. of those overcome by terror or astonishment or grief or under the attack of an evil spirit or of falling dead suddenly
    3. the dismemberment of a corpse by decay
    4. to prostrate one's self
    5. used of suppliants and persons rendering homage or worship to one
    6. to fall out, fall from i.e. shall perish or be lost
    7. to fall down, fall into ruin: of buildings, walls etc.
    b. to be cast down from a state of prosperity
    1. to fall from a state of uprightness
    2. to perish, i.e come to an end, disappear, cease 2b
    c. of virtues
    1. to lose authority, no longer have force 2b
    d. of sayings, precepts, etc.
    1. to be removed from power by death
    2. to fail of participating in, miss a share in

    The bottomless pit is also the abyss. The translation “bottomless pit” is from the Greek “abussos phrear”. This “fallen star” is named Abaddon/Apollyon. ( Rev 9:11 ) He is the “king” of the abyss.
    Abaddon = “destruction”, Apollyon = “Destroyer”. Oh no!!!! “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

    Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.”
    ( Rev 9:14b-15 NKJV ) Although they are not called “destroyers”, These angels are destroyers. The Greek word for kill is apokteino ( ap-ok-ti'-no )
    to kill in any way whatever.
    a. to destroy, to allow to perish
    metaph. to extinguish, abolish
    a. to inflict mortal death

    Christ Jesus says: “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. ( Rev 1:18 NKJV )

    I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” ( Rev 1:18 NIV )

    This scripture shows Christ Jesus holds the keys to Death, and Hades (the grave). These keys are not the keys to the “bottomless pit”.

    And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.” ( Rev 12:3 NKJV ) So, who is this “fiery red dragon”?
    Let’s not guess. Let the Bible tell us. “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” ( Rev 12:9 NKJV ) Hmmmm... Could that be why everything here is so messed up? Easy answer - Yes! So, it’s not just Satan, it’s also all his “angels”! Here is something that adds additional reason for being thrown out of heaven. “they did not love their life even when faced with death.” ( Rev 12:11b NASB )
     
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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    I made an error in my selection of Revelation 12:11b. That scripture is speaking of the followers of Christ Jesus, not the angels of Satan.
    OOps!! While searching scriptures that listed as angels following Satan, this one slipped through. :eek::(
     
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    Joshuastone7

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    Greetings brother...

    You might agree that in each instance the destroyer is mentioned it is either Jehovah himself, or someone acting in his behalf.

    Joel 1:15 "Woe because of the day! For the day of Jehovah is near, And it will come like a destruction from the Almighty!"

    Just as Jehovah is the creater of all things through his son, I read Jehovah as the destroyer by those who carry out his will, regardless of who that is. It is by his will these things are done. Just as Amos and Joel seem clear to be speaking of the same locusts acting in behalf of Jehovah. Not to mention the locusts of Egypt.

    What happens when someone drinks from the cup of God's wrath? Is there not only one who can destroy both body and soul? (Mth 10:28)

    As for the fallen star of Rev 9, I tend to associate it with the angel of the church of Laodicea and its star in the same book. I prefer to allow Revelation to interpret itself when able.

    Rev 1:16 "And he had in his right hand seven stars."

    Rev 1:20 "The seven stars mean the angels of the seven congregations."

    Rev 3:14,16 "To the angel of the congregation in La·o·di·ceʹaz," --- "I am going to vomit you out of my mouth."

    I also wanted to add, Rev 9 does not say the star that had fallen and Apollyon were the same individuals. It seems more likely Apollyon gave the fallen star the key.

    All love...
     
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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    This scripture identifies the “fallen star” which is also the same “fallen star” in Rev 9:1 and 9:11.
    ( Isa 14:9-15 NIV ), ( KJV ). Unfortunately, the KJV has the name of “Lucifer”, son of the morning! (Isa 14:12 KJV ), which is Latin, not Hebrew! It is the Latin translation of the Hebrew word haw-lal, having the meaning; to shine ( fig. of God’s favor ), or to be boastful. Depending on how the word is used within the idea of the sentence, it is to “act madly, act like a madman”.

    In the case used here in Isaiah, it is to be arrogant, boastful. “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.” ( Isa 38:18 KJV )

     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Here is another scripture to identify the fallen angel. "And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning."
    ( Luke 10:18 NASB ) "He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.'" ( Luke 10:18 NIV )
     
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    thinking Member

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    So the fallen star in Revelation is Satan....the key was given to him probably from Jesus......giving him the authority to open the Shaft.....of the pit/ abyss/Tartarus.....smoke came out first the smoke ..that smoke darkened the sun and air ( Satan being prince of the air with his false demonic teachings..thus spiritual darkness..)
    THEN...the locusts came out of the smoke...

    Apollyon is Destroyer.( Jesus or an angel of Jehovah ) ...who therefore is the commander and King-over the fallen star and thus gives him authority...to release those in the pit ...because the judgement has started

    have I got that right.


    Aid to Bible understanding ..page 1073
    The life span of a locust is between four and six months ....therefore the symbolic locusts of revelation 9
    :5 are said to torment men for five months or what would commonly be their full life span .....
     
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    Joshuastone7

    Joshuastone7 Administrator Staff Member

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    Let me come at this another direction...

    If we are simply connecting Satan to the fallen star of Rev 9 because he was seen as a star that had fallen, then this star in Rev 9 could be any of the numerous stars that fell from heaven. Rev 12 tells us there were multitudes of stars that fell from heaven...

    "And its tail drags a third of the stars of heaven, and it hurled them down to the earth." Rev 12:4

    Even the term, "morning star" isn't unique to the reference of Satan. In fact all the heavenly hosts are described as morning stars.

    "When the morning stars joyfully cried out together, And all the sons of God began shouting in applause?" (Job 38:7)

    Daniel even discusses men as stars that are equally described as falling from heaven.

    "It grew so great that it reached all the way to the army of the heavens, and it caused some of the army and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down." Dan 8:10

    As well as descriptions in Mathew and Mark of stars falling from heaven.

    "Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven," Mth 24:29

    "And the stars will be falling out of heaven," Mth 13:25

    And continued in Rev,

    "And the stars of heaven fell to the earth as when a fig tree shaken by a high wind drops its unripe figs." Rev 6:13

    I could go on, but I think you start to get the picture. So let me explain a little more why I associate the star in Rev 9 with one of the stars in Christs hand.

    Let's look at the chapter just previous to Rev 9, and see it's description of a very important star that fell from heaven.

    "The third angel blew his trumpet. And a great star burning like a lamp fell from heaven, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters." Rev 8:10

    You would no doubt agree that this star cannot be Satan, nor any of his cohorts for this occurs right in the middle of the trumpet blasts in the time of the end. So we have a star falling from heaven, just previous to chapter 9...

    Look further,

    "The name of the star is Wormwood. And a third of the waters turned into wormwood, and many of the people died from the waters, because these had been made bitter" Rev 8:11

    Do you remember who it is Scripture describes as being given wormwood to drink?

    "Therefore this is what Jehovah of armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘Here I am making this people eat wormwood, and I will make them drink poisoned water." Jer 9:15

    It's Israel that is given the wormwood to drink for their errors, and it is the prophetic Israel that falls in the time of the end. It is the first four horns\trumpets that disperse Gods people among the nations in the time of the end.

    "These are the horns that dispersed Judah to such an extent that no one was able to raise his head." Zech 1:21

    So then, a star is seen fallen in Rev 9, where in the previous chapter of 8 we read of a star called Wormwood who had fallen from heaven. It seems clear to me when you put it all together, this star in Rev 9 can only be one of the stars in Christ's hand, and that of Laodicea. The star in Rev 9 seems clear to be a star that falls right at the time of the end for their error, and this can only be that angel of one of the churches of Christ. When the prophetic Israel falls in the time of the end to the prophetic Babylon, it is that Israel that is metaphoric of nearly half of the Old Testament when it discusses Jehovah coming against his people for their errors.

    As I mentioned before, the king over the abyss can be none other then one associated and working in behalf of Jehovah. Just as the locusts obviously do the bidding of the Almighty himself all throughout Scripture.

    Just a little more of my two cents brother... :)
     
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    Tsaphah

    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Hey Bro,
    This goes beyond; “The Beasts of Revelation.” So, here is some additional information on those followers of Satan, and where they reside.

    And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” ( Rev 12:7-12 NKJV )

    The “earth” and the “sea”. Not a literal earth and sea! These are symbolic of the established human system as part of the “beasts”, and the “sea” being the symbolic “sea”/ “many waters”. ( Rev 17:15 ) But, don't think this is not that important. We are living on the earth with Satan having great power, anger, and a desire to eliminate all mankind.

    The “world/kosmos” is the: system of man.
    6: ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.
    world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.
     
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    Joshuastone7

    Joshuastone7 Administrator Staff Member

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    Greetings brother...

    I agree the sea and earth in Rev are metaphors for earthly matters.

    I might add that Scripture separates earth and sea as definitions, never combining them into one. Just as the dry land separated from the sea of creation.

    Earth metaphorically often refers to mankind as a collection of either governments or groups.

    While the sea often refers to the turbulent godless entities of mankind.

    I might add as well that the "abyss" is wholly separate from these two.
     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    Well Brother, I must "beg to differ" on the location of the Abyss.

    What is the “Abyss” mentioned in the bible? The name comes from the Greek word; Abussos, from “a” alpha; the first letter of the Greek alphabet. And “as a negative particle and variation of Buthos ( boo-thos’ )
    1. the bottom or depth of the sea
    2.the sea itself, the deep sea which is another variation of Bathos ( bath’-os, meaning:
    depth, height
    of “the deep” sea
    metaphor
    1. deep, extreme, poverty
    of the deep thing of God
    or as used in (Rev 2:24 NAS ) “But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them--I place no other burden on you.” The word used as “deep” here, is bathus. It is also used at John 4:11, referring to the depth of a well, and at Acts 20:9 NIV, referring to a “deep sleep”.

    It is sometimes referred to as a bottomless pit, or a deep hole with no bottom. ( Rev 9:1-2, 11, 17:8, 20:1. 20:3 NKJV ) I liken it to a “black hole”. Like those observed in the universe, where things that go in, cannot come out; not released. But, in Rev 9 there is a “key” given To the “star fallen from heaven”, which opens the “bottomless pit” and is apparently on the “physical earth”. ( Rev 9:1-4 NKJV ) That star falls "to the earth".
     
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    Tsaphah Experienced Member

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    How about the beast that comes out of the sea? Here is what some bible “scholars say: “Preterists say they are the Roman power (the empire), and the pagan priesthood supporting emperor worship, particularly in the province of Asia.

    Historicists find here the Roman empire and the Roman Catholic church (the papacy).
    Futurists identify the first beast as Antichrist, and the second as the false prophet.”

    Having ten horns and seven heads ...
    These seven heads are the symbols of seven great world empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and another future from the time when John wrote. “The symbolism is analogous to that of Dan. 7, where we find the key to the interpretation. The seven heads are symbols of universal dominion, and the horns are the type of power.” The horns also represent the multiple kingdoms that succeed the fatal wounding of the sixth head.” (Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament )

    It is quite interesting how many different scholars "think" that Revelation means and when it begins and ends.:rolleyes::eek:
     
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