Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

August 1, 2007

Volume 6 Number 15


The Angel of the Bottomless Pit

A "star" fell from heaven that was given the "key of the bottomless pit:"

1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. -Revelation 9

This was no ordinary star. It was a fallen heavenly being. It resembles the one called "Lucifer," meaning "light-bearer" or "shining one," that Isaiah describes. Personified as the king of Babylon, Lucifer fell from heaven:

12 How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! -Isaiah 14

Ezekiel reveals a "bright" and "beautiful" "anointed cherub." This important angel, personified as the "king of Tyre," was given the power to "cover," or protect, that which belonged to God. He walked in the midst of the "stones of fire," which may describe the heavenly angels (stars). However, because he lifted himself up in pride, he was to be cast out of the "holy mountain of God:"

14 You are the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set you so: you were upon the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

16 By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled the midst of you with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I will cast you as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I will cast you to the ground, I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you. -Ezekiel 28

The beautiful and bright "anointed cherub" was a wonder in heaven, as was also the "great red dragon:"

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. -Revelation 12

The "great red dragon" is Satan, who lost the heavenly battle against the Chief of the angels, Michael, and was cast out of heaven into the earth:

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. -Revelation 12

As the dragon was cast out of heaven to the earth, he brought his angels, a third of the "stars of heaven," with him:

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. -Revelation 12

He persecuted the "woman,"* through whom the Messiah was brought into the world:

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. -Revelation 12

Just as the "anointed cherub" had walked up and down in heaven in the midst of the "stones of fire," Satan walked up and down in the earth, presenting himself before Yahweh in the midst of the children of God:

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan came also among them.

7 And Yahweh said to Satan, From where come you? Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. -Job 1

Satan was given power over the kingdoms of the world, which he even offered to Yahshua (Jesus) if He would worship him:

5 And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 And the devil said to him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered to me; and to whomever I will I give it.

7 If you therefore will worship me, all shall be yours. -Luke 4

While Satan was given power for a season, it is Yahshua who has all power in heaven and in earth:

18 And Yahshua came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. -Matthew 28

He told John that He holds the keys of hell and of death:

18 I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. -Revelation 1

The place called "hell" here is translated from the Greek word, adhv (hades), whose depth cannot be known:

7 Can you by searching find out God? can you find out the Almighty unto perfection?

8 It is as high as heaven; what can you do? deeper than hell; what can you know? -Job 11

According to Strong’s Concordance, hell is the dwelling place of wicked disembodied spirits. It appears to be the same place described as the "bottomless pit," which is also called the "deep."

Having the key to hell, Yahshua has the power to confine evil spirits to the "deep," which is the "bottomless pit:"

30 And Yahshua asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion: because many devils had entered into him.

31 And they sought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. -Luke 8

When Satan was given power over the kingdoms of the world, he became the "prince of this world." However, as Yahshua told of His impending sacrifice on the cross at the passover, He said that "now" He was going to cast out Satan:

27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I to this hour.

28 Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spoke to him.

30 Yahshua answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. -John 12

Satan had already been cast out of heaven. To where was Yahshua going to cast him out now? He was going to cast Satan into the bottomless pit to be bound:

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations [Gentiles] no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. -Revelation 20

Speaking of Himself, Yahshua said:

21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. -Matthew 12

Even though the Gentiles who know and trust in His name could no longer be deceived, Satan was given the key to open the bottomless pit and send his angels, the evil spirits, to "hurt" those not having the "seal of God in their foreheads:"

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 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. -Revelation 9

Wearing crowns and even looking like people, these "locusts," may appear to be part of the "kingdom of God:"

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared to battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. -Revelation 9

In reality, however, they are the deceiving ministers of the "angel of light" posing as ministers of righteousness:

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. -2 Corinthians 11

They are part of the kingdom of the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name means "destruction:"

11 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 has his name Apollyon. -Revelation 9

Satan is preparing his army for the day when he is released and allowed to ascend out of the bottomless pit to try and claim the kingdom of God for himself.


*The "woman" that "brought forth the man child" is described by Isaiah as Zion (see Isaiah 66:7-8), which is also called the "city of the living God" and the "heavenly Jerusalem" (see Hebrews 12:22).

 

 

 

 

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