HIS NAME IN HEBREW IS ABADDON, AND IN GREEK APOLLYON

In the Bible, Satan is described with different names that reveal his character and the works he performs on earth. For example, when Scripture calls him Satan or the Devil, it is because he is the adversary and accuser of our souls before God. This aligns with the meaning of his name (Revelation 12:10).

Elsewhere, he is called the Dragon (Revelation 12:9) because he is a deceiver like the serpent in Eden and a devourer of souls just as dragons devour their prey.

In other places, he is called the prince of this world (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4) because much of what is exalted in this world is under his dominion.

He is also called the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), because the forces of darkness in the spiritual realm operate under his command. He is the father of demons, sorcery, and all wickedness.

Another title is the Tempter (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), because he is the source of temptations that seek to bring down believers. That is why Jesus warned:

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

But above all these names, Scripture shows that he will one day be revealed with another title—Abaddon (in Hebrew) or Apollyon (in Greek). This name means The Destroyer (Revelation 9:11). It describes his ultimate work: to bring destruction upon humanity.

The Fifth Trumpet and the Release of Abaddon
When we read the book of Revelation, after the rapture of the Church, extraordinary judgments will unfold on the earth. After the seven seals, the seven trumpets are blown. Let us focus on the fifth trumpet, which directly introduces Abaddon/Apollyon.

Revelation 9:1–6 (NKJV):
“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. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power… And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months… In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.”

John explains that these locusts are not literal insects but demonic forces imprisoned until that appointed time (see Jude 1:6). They will be commanded by their king: “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” (Revelation 9:11).

These spirits will torment people who do not have the seal of God (compare with Revelation 7:3). They will not kill but will inflict unbearable torment, so intense that people will long for death but not find it.

Why This Matters Now
Today Satan already acts as a destroyer, but the devastation in that time will be far greater. These demons will drive people to madness, cruelty, division, and unbearable suffering—like the man possessed in the tombs of the Gadarenes (Mark 5:2–5). They will produce affliction without relief, diseases without cure, and despair without death.

This terrifying prophecy teaches us that it is only the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church that restrains such evil from breaking loose now. Paul confirms:
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed…” (2 Thessalonians 2:7–8).

When the Church is taken away in the rapture, the restraint will be removed, and the earth will face unparalleled destruction. Jesus Himself warned: “There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).

A Call to Salvation
The question, then, is: Do we still despise the salvation offered in Christ?
Jesus is full of mercy and warns us before judgment comes suddenly. He calls us to repent, be baptized in His name (Acts 2:38), and live in holiness. For the world is passing away, but “he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

Christ asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Therefore, now is the time of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Let us surrender to Christ before it is too late.

✦ Conclusion: Abaddon/Apollyon is not just a title but a revelation of Satan’s destructive mission in the end times. Yet, those who belong to Christ have the seal of God and will escape the wrath to come through the rapture of the saints.

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