Rev 9:11 | TNotes | STEP | 9:11 The king of the locusts is identified in three ways: (1) as the angel from the bottomless pit (probably different from the fallen star, 9:1 , who unlocked the abyss rather than coming from it); (2) as Abaddon (“destruction”), often paired with death (see Job 28:22 ; Ps 88:11 ); and (3) as Apollyon — the Destroyer (see 1 Cor 10:10 ). • Although John makes no direct connection between the devil and this king of the locusts, the prince of demons is linked with Satan in the Gospels (Mark 3:22-26 ; see Matt 12:24-27 ; Luke 11:15-18 ). The New Testament also identifies the devil as the prince of this world (John 12:31 ; 14:30 ; 16:11 ) and as the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2 ), so he probably represents Satan. There is also a connection with the Roman emperor Domitian, whose patron god Apollo was symbolized by the locust.

a9:11►

b9:1►

cJob 28:22►

dPs 88:11►

e1 Cor 10:10►

fMark 3:22-26►

gMatt 12:24-27►

hLuke 11:15-18►

iJohn 12:31►

j14:30►

k16:11►

lEph 2:2►

‏ Revelation of John 9:11

9:11 ^a The king of the locusts is identified in three ways: (1) as the angel from the bottomless pit (probably different from the fallen star, 9:1 ^b, who unlocked the abyss rather than coming from it); (2) as Abaddon (“destruction”), often paired with death (see Job 28:22 ^c; Ps 88:11 ^d); and (3) as Apollyon—the Destroyer (see 1 Cor 10:10 ^e).

• Although John makes no direct connection between the devil and this king of the locusts, the prince of demons is linked with Satan in the Gospels (Mark 3:22-26 ^f; see Matt 12:24-27 ^g; Luke 11:15-18 ^h). The New Testament also identifies the devil as the prince of this world (John 12:31 ⁱ; 14:30 ^j; 16:11 ^k) and as the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2 ^l), so he probably represents Satan. There is also a connection with the Roman emperor Domitian, whose patron god Apollo was symbolized by the locust.