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Eureka

AN EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE
Sixth Edition, 1915
By Dr. John Thomas (first edition written 1861)

 

 

Chapter 9

Section 1  Subsection  2

The Key of the Pit


 
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A key is symbolical of governmental power and authority. The laying of the key of the house of David upon the shoulder of Eliakim, was representative of the bestowal of regal power upon ONE, who should be for a glorious throne to his father’s house, and have the sole power of opening and shutting (Isa. xxii. 22). With the Mohammedans, it is also symbolical of administrative power. "The Koran," says M. Peyron, "continually speaks of the Key of God, which opened to them the gates of the world and of religion. So in the Koran: "Did not God give to His legate the power of heaven which is above, and fire (the furnace-pit) which is beneath? With the Key, did he not give him the title and power of a porter, that he may open to those (the locusts) whom he may have chosen?" The parentheses in this quotation are mine. The following form of renunciation of Mohammedanism, enjoined on a convert to the catholic superstition, thus alludes to Mohammed’s key of heaven: "I anathematize the spurious teaching and promising of Mohammed among the Saracens; who says, that he is become the Key holder of Paradise." The key was also an armorial bearing of the Mohammedans in Spain. When they crossed from Africa to Spain, it was on their standard; and was afterwards sculptured on the archway of the Alhambra, an engraving of which is given in Mr. Elliott’s work.

In the apocalypse, there are two keys spoken of in connection with "the abyss;" this in ch. ix; and another in ch. xx. 1. They are, however, not the same. The former is the key of the pit of the abyss; and the latter, the key of the abyss itself. The key of the pit was given to the Star of the pit, or the Star who kindled the furnace of the pit; while the key of the abyss is brought out of the heaven by the angel thence descending. He descends with power to enlighten the earth with his glory, and to shut down the Dragon "into the abyss," out of which, according to Daniel, he came up -- !Hebrew! salkan min yammah (vii. 3).

 

 


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