Commentaries:
God frequently names people and things what they are, calling Satan, not only the enemy, but more specifically identifying him by what he does. In Revelation 9:11, Satan, the king of the bottomless pit, receives the Hebrew name “Abaddon” and the Greek name “Apollyon,” both of which mean “destroyer.” There is no destroyer greater than Satan, and one thing he destroys is life. Jesus says about him in John 8:44, “He was a murderer from the beginning.” Will he reap exactly what he sows?
John W. Ritenbaugh
Do Angels Live Forever?
Abaddon means "destruction" and Apollyon means "destroyer." A destroying spirit has deceived mankind. Because man is deceived, he does not realize that he has been the dupe of a destroying spirit.
Thus mankind, with these awesome, somewhat godlike powers and intellect, uses them to destroy, to maim, to sear, to rape, to exploit. It happens on a massive scale. It also happens in individual relationships with one another. It is not confined to the great and mighty things, which are only an accumulation of small things allowed to become big.
This destroying, deceiving spirit, through his minions, the demons, is able to deal with us on an individual basis. He can deceive us into using our powers to go counter to what God intended, to what God instructed all the way back in the Garden of Eden. He says there that we are to dress and to keep, to do things that produce positive results and beauty everywhere we go and in everything we do.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Right Use of Power
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Revelation 9:11:
Ezekiel 28:15-17
Ephesians 2:2-3
Revelation 9:11
Revelation 11:14