Now we are shifting our attention to Watchtower misconceptions about Jesus’ role in the end times.

Who is Abaddon / Apollyon (the Destroyer) in Revelation 9:11?

Admittedly, Revelation is a very difficult book to understand because of all the apocalyptic symbolism.

The problem is that the Watchtower has given two completely contradictory answers over the years—Satan and Jesus Christ!

Let’s look at the Scripture itself:

Revelation 9:1-3, 11: “1 The fifth angel blew his trumpet. And I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to the earth, and the key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun was darkened, also the air, by the smoke of the shaft. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came forth upon the earth; and authority was given them, the same authority as the scorpions of the earth have… 11 They have over them a king, the angel of the abyss. In Hebrew his name is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” (Watchtower translation)

The Watchtower at the time of Jesus’ “1919 inspection”

According to the Watchtower, in 1919 Jesus made an inspection of the religions of the world and determined that the Watchtower organization (then known as the International Bible Students) was so faithfully teaching Bible truth that he appointed it to the task worldwide.

The latest book of theirs he would have inspected was the 1917 volume called The Finished Mystery.

Here is what that book said:

The “star” of verse 1 was John Wesley. He “fell” by starting a sect known as Methodism. He received the key to the bottomless pit (meaning the key to nothing) and opened the bottomless pit (meaning he opened nothing). The “locusts” of verse 3 were an immense number of his followers. (The Finished Mystery, pp. 155-156)

Now we come to verse 11:

[And] they [had a] HAVE THEIR king [over them].—The same king as exercises general rulership over all the ecclesiastical affairs of this present evil world.

[Which is] the angel of the [bottomless pit] ABYSS ‘The prince of the power of the air.”—Eph. 2:2.

Whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon.—And he is ‘a bad one,’ sure enough.—2 Cor. 4:4

But in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.—That is, Destroyer. But in plain English his name is Satan, the Devil…” (The Finished Mystery, p. 159, boldface original)

To recap:

  • The “star” of verse 1 was John Wesley.
  • The “locusts” of verse 3 were an immense number of his followers.
  • Abaddon / Apollyon the destroyer was Satan, the Devil.

The Watchtower currently

The Watchtower has completely changed its teaching.

Now:

  • The “star” of verse 1 is Jesus!
  • The “locusts” of verse 3 are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  • Abaddon / Apollyon the destroyer is their king, Jesus Christ!

This symbolic “star” also has a name for this occasion. In Greek its name is Apollyon, which means Destroyer. In Hebrew it is Abaddon, which means Destruction. All these features about this symbolic ‘star’ reveal him to be the glorified Jesus Christ. (The Watchtower, “Final Woes to Enemies of Peace with God, 12/1/69, p. 719)

These “locusts” are the army of Jehovah’s witnesses, and as to their effect upon Christendom’s ‘rich man’ class… They have over them a king, the angel of the abyss. In Hebrew is name is Abaddon [Destruction], but in Greek he has the name Apollyon [Destroyer]… Not surprising that the effort is made throughout Christendom to destroy Jehovah’s witnesses. The Watchtower, “No Relief for the Rich, but Comfort for the Poor,” 3/1/51, p. 149)

Using this with Jehovah’s Witnesses

I do not recommend getting into arguments with Jehovah’s Witnesses over the finer points of interpretation of the book of Revelation.

The key to this topic is Watchtower reliability and authority.

How could Jesus upon inspection in 1919 find the Watchtower to be faithfully teaching Bible truth:

  • When it misidentified Jesus (Abaddon / Apollyon / Destroyer/ the fallen star) as being Satan the Devil?
  • When it misidentified Jesus’ followers (“locusts”) as being followers of John Wesley and Methodism?

Witnesses will probably tell you that these 1917 Finished Mystery teachings have long been abandoned as “old light.”

If so, ask questions such as these:

  • Was it ever light at all?
  • Did any of it actually come from Jehovah?
  • If not, why did they think it did?
  • How could they have been in error this badly?
  • When did they change their interpretation and why?
  • When they changed their interpretation, what explanation did they give for having been completely wrong?
  • Did they apologize to their readers for being so badly mistaken?
  • How can I obtain a copy of their apology and explanation?
  • Does any of this trouble you as a Jehovah’s Witness?
  • If not, why not?
  • If so, what are you going to do about it?