It is our practice to let the scripture speak therefore, if we diligently search the scriptures for clues we can expect them to reveal the identity of this satanic being. The key is the application of the linkage principle. We discover this linkage in the following scriptures: Revelation, 9:11, 13:3 and 17:8, 11-13.

9:11 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 his name is Apollyon. 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 11: And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. 12: …but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 13: These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

We deduce the following: The linkage is the bottomless pit. There is a high-ranking angel (fallen) responsible for the bottomless pit, who is soon to be the released upon the earth (Israel); and he has two names: Abaddon and Apollyon respectively. Then there is someone referred to as ‘The Beast’ – notice the definite article? Not just any beast!!! Strangely he too originates from the bottomless pit!? Either these two are one and the same character or, they are separate entities altogether.

There are three primary evil end-time role players (excluding the ten kings who are subordinate to the beast {Rev 17:13}) and they are: Satan, the beast and the false prophet. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Rev 19:19-20). And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season  (Rev 20:1-3).