As Abaddon-Apollyon he assumes the part of Finisher of his task; when we see him a _destroyer_, we have a full-sized photograph--leaving out not a single line of countenance, or a single character or attribute of his composite nature. He may soil, spoil, deceive, traduce, accuse, slander, wound, etc., but the ultimate aim is destruction. "When sin is finished it bringeth forth death." We see how the two great Rivals stand over against each other in their respective spheres: "For this cause the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." With the same degree of purpose, the Devil seeks to destroy the work of the Son of God. The Devil seeks to destroy truth, righteousness, virtue, religion, hope, faith, visions of God, power of the Blood, thoughts of eternity and heaven. Every beautiful, holy thing on earth he would destroy, leaving behind only black, charred cinders where once were the flowers of Eden. Just as he destroyed the earthly Paradise in the long ago, so he would blot from our hopes and aspirations the Paradise of the soul. His ambition and supreme joy would be to turn this world over to God blighted and wrecked by his finishing touches, while hell echoed with triumphant shouts--an infernal jubilee. Abaddon-Apollyon: archdestroyer. VI THE DEVIL A "BLOCKADE" "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us."--_1 Thessalonians ii. 18._ "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me."--_Daniel x. 13._ We find another striking interpretation couched in the title of devil. The Church in its organization is called _militant_, because it is engaged in a moral and religious warfare. The writings of Paul bristle with military terms, as two mighty armies are contending and contesting for dominion. Each army is fighting under a leader; the surging campaign has changed its base of operation--the battle-field has been transferred from heaven to this planet. The rivalry between Christ and Satan has, many times, changed _modus operandi_, but the spirit of the contest and the end--all for which they contend--change not. The title-word of this chapter is not a Bible term; we appropriate and accommodate it because of its military meaning. Strictly in keeping with the use of terms, the "blockade" belongs to naval operations; but any movement, reconnoitre, or countermarch, which interferes, hinders, or hedges up the way of progress, is a blockade. A campaign ends in failure because of obstructions thrown up, access to base of supplies cut off, reinforcements thwarted in reaching the scene of activities, etc., convey the idea set forth in the key Scriptures used giving emphasis to the chapter heading.