Crown

Matthew 27:29 (ESV) and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Revelation 9:7-11 7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth; 9 they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

The Lord Recently was Talking to me about Abaddon and crowns. A synopsis: Abaddon and the crown of laurel. Jesus and the crown of thorns. First, let us go into who Abaddon is (also called Apollyon).

"Abaddon" is Hebrew for "destoyer" or "destroying angel" or "place of desctruction." Strong's G3. In Revelation 9:11, it is the name of a being; the only use of the word for Strong's G3. Abaddon is used in the following Scriptures, these are Strong's H11 referring to the underworld / place of destruction:

• Proverbs 15:11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

• Job 28:22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

• Job 31:12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.

• Psalm 88:11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?

• Proverbs 27:20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man. (*note: this one is Strong's H10, but still refers to underworld.)

Apollyon is Greek, also meaning "destroyer." (Strong's G623) The Lord took me to Apollo, who had a crown of laurel. Some theologians believe there's a link between Apollyon and Apollo. There is a link for me; because God made the link for me. But here's some data:

• Apollo: Olympian deity, son of Zeus. The name is a Latin form of Greek Apollon, which is of uncertain origin. (*note: but see third bullet below) (etymonline.com/word/Apollo)

• Apollo (Greek: Apollon) is a major deity / god in Greek mythology. He is the god of light, the sun, music, prophecy, healing, and plagues. He is associated with locust plagues; both sending and removing them. In Revelation 9 (see beginning of this post), Abaddon is called the 'king of the locusts.' (patheos.com)

• Strong's G575 is the Greek root "apo." In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc. I assume this is the root of Apollo as well as Apollyon.

The Panhellenic Games of ancient Greece were athletic and cultural competitions held at four major sanctuaries across the Greek world. Held at sanctuaries because religious ceremonies and sacrifice were intertwined with the competition. The 4 Games were staggered, so there was a game each year. In chronological order of implementation:

1. Olympic Games started in 776 BC, held at Olympia every 4 years in honor of Zeus. Victor's prize: wild olive crown.

2. Pythian Games started in 586 BC, were musical and athletic competitions held in Delphi every 4 years in honor of Apollo. Pythia was the title of the high priestess at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, serving as the Oracle of Delphi and acting as the primary medium through which the god Apollo delivered prophecies (worldhistory.org) Victor's prize: a laurel crown. Apollo is often depicted with a bay laurel crown.

3. Isthmian Games started in 582 BC, held in Isthmia-Corinth every 2 years in honor of Poseidon. Victor's prize: a pine crown.

4. Nemean Games started in 573 BC, held in Nemea every 2 years in honor of Zeus. Victor's prize: a wild celery crown.

   (thecollector.com)

The Bay Laurel (laurus nobilis) plant back story: Greek Mythology says Apollo went to Delphi to establish a temple for himself. Apollo slayed the serpent / dragon Python (also known as Delphyne) who was guarding the area. Python was said to be offspring of Mother Earth / Gaia, born from the mud left after a great flood. Yes, you read that right. Apollo was ordered to perform a series of cleansing rituals to atone for his sin of killing Python. Long story shortened ... during the cleansing rituals, Apollos made himself a crown of Bay Laurel to signify his victory over Python. Then Apollos built his first temple out of Bay Laurel. Because of this, the Bay Laurel became a symbol of ritual cleansing and victory. (mkarakitsou.com)

So ... The Lord Led me through all that. To contrast the Crown of Thorns on Our Savior.

• 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

• Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.

• Colossians 2:14-15 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

• Hebrews 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil

• 1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

• John 19:1-3 1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

The wood used for The Crown of Thorns is not known for certain. But the primary contender is "Christ’s thorn jujube" (Ziziphus spina-christi). This thorny shrub is native to the Levant region, and therefore Jerusalem. Interestingly, the only tree species deemed holy by Muslims is the lote tree, which actually is the Ziziphus spina-christi. The lote tree is described in Islam's Surah An-Najm (53:14–18) as being beside Allah's throne in the Islamic seventh heaven, the limit of creation beyond which no angel or human can pass, marking the boundary where divine revelation descends and earthly deeds ascend. Muhammad reports he saw this tree when he ascended to heaven multiple times. (myislam.org) So we have an association with the lote tree (happens to be the likely tree Crown of Thorns made from) and Islamic prophecy from Allah, just as with the laurel tree and Apollos' oracles / pagan prophecy.

Another interesting tie in all this to Islam: Allah has 99 names in Islamic holy texts. "The Destoyer" is one of them. The Bringer of Death: "Al-Mumit" The Creator of Death, The Destroyer, The One who renders the living dead. (muslimandquran.com)

See graphic below for the name "Allah" written in Arabic calligraphy. It reminds me of a pitchfork.

So The Lord Gave me a much deeper revelation of the mockery involved in The Crown of Thorns. Much more layered and nuanced mockery and Luciferian connections by God's enemies putting that Crown of Thorns on Jesus.

1. Apollos is god of locust. Abaddon / Apollyon is king of the locust.

2. Apollos (Lucifer?) wears a bay laurel (laurus nobilis) crown of victory, nobility ... made while ritually cleansing to atone himself of his sin.

3. The enemy forced a Crown of Thorns on our Lord while He Atoned for our sin.

4. The king of the locusts, with his bay laurel crown, mockingly titled Jesus "The King of the Jews" with The Crown of Thorns.

5. The religion of Islam, where humans must strive to 'cleanse' themselves to attain atonement, calls only one tree 'holy' - the tree likely used to make Jesus's Crown of Thorns. Islam denies Jesus's Work on The Cross, so the 'holiness' here is not veneration of Jesus nor The Cross. This is mockery, not veneration.

6. Mockery of prophecy that involves a serpent for Apollos, and the Ziziphus spina-christi tree in Islam.

7. Abaddon / Apollyon is The Destroyer. Allah is also called The Destroyer in Islamic religious texts.

But, Praise God, we get the last laugh, so to speak.

Jesus Christ won The Victory.

Revelation 4:10-11 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

In Jesus's Name,

Christy Hale

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