Pandemonium Pandemonium and the Bibleand the Bible

By Beth CleggBy Beth Clegg

Overall ComparisonOverall Comparison•Jesus calls disciples to the Sea of Jesus calls disciples to the Sea of Galilee = Satan calls fallen angels Galilee = Satan calls fallen angels while standing on the burning lake.while standing on the burning lake.•Disciples find promise of salvation Disciples find promise of salvation = fallen angels find Satan.= fallen angels find Satan.•Catalogue developed the same:Catalogue developed the same:

•Verbal parallelVerbal parallel•Secondary identificationSecondary identification

12 Angels and 12 Disciples12 Angels and 12 Disciples

• MolochMoloch• Chemos/PeorChemos/Peor• BaalimBaalim• AstorothAstoroth• Astoreth/AstarteAstoreth/Astarte• ThammuzThammuz• DagonDagon• RimmonRimmon• OsirisOsiris• IsisIsis• OrusOrus• BelialBelial

• Peter/SimonPeter/Simon• AndrewAndrew• JamesJames• JohnJohn• PhilipPhilip• BartholomewBartholomew• ThomasThomas• MatthewMatthew• JamesJames• Thaddaeus/LebbaeusThaddaeus/Lebbaeus• SimonSimon• JudasJudas

Moloch vs. PeterMoloch vs. Peter

Most ferocious:Most ferocious:• Moloch associated with the sacrifice and Moloch associated with the sacrifice and

blood of children.blood of children.• Milton associates Peter with circumcision Milton associates Peter with circumcision

in in De Doctrina Christiana. De Doctrina Christiana. • Peter cuts off the ear of a servant of the Peter cuts off the ear of a servant of the

high priest in the Garden of Gethsemane.high priest in the Garden of Gethsemane.• Moloch represents Milton’s hatred toward Moloch represents Milton’s hatred toward

Peter.Peter.• Milton dismisses the elevation of Peter over Milton dismisses the elevation of Peter over

other disciples.other disciples.

Belial vs. JudasBelial vs. Judas• In In Paradise LostParadise Lost Belial is the one Belial is the one

closest to salvation.closest to salvation.• In In Paradise RegainedParadise Regained Belial urges Belial urges

Satan to tempt Jesus into falling.Satan to tempt Jesus into falling.• In In Paradise Regained:Paradise Regained: Belial’s Belial’s

violence and sexual perversion violence and sexual perversion mirrors Judas’ kiss of betrayal mirrors Judas’ kiss of betrayal showing love that has turned evil.showing love that has turned evil.

• Belial protests Satan = Judas Belial protests Satan = Judas betrays Christ.betrays Christ.

Mammon and Mammon and BeelzebubBeelzebub

•Two important fallen angels Two important fallen angels not in catalogue.not in catalogue.•Not directly related to a Not directly related to a pagan God.pagan God.

Why look at comparison?Why look at comparison?

• Erickson believes Milton uses disciples to Erickson believes Milton uses disciples to show “paradise is always to be found within show “paradise is always to be found within oneself and is a state of grace that is not to oneself and is a state of grace that is not to be acquired by belonging to a group, no be acquired by belonging to a group, no matter how elite or how hallowed by matter how elite or how hallowed by tradition.”tradition.”

• Thus Abdiel’s role: “the faithful soul does not Thus Abdiel’s role: “the faithful soul does not follow the thundering herd, remains steadfast follow the thundering herd, remains steadfast and constant in his belief, and is without and constant in his belief, and is without regard for the example or number of others, regard for the example or number of others, who have fallen.”who have fallen.”

Milton’s BeliefsMilton’s Beliefs

• Protestant mistrust of the “cults of Protestant mistrust of the “cults of sainthood associated with the sainthood associated with the disciples.”disciples.”

• ““Milton implies that apostles named in Milton implies that apostles named in the gospels are merely a few of many the gospels are merely a few of many believers and are not to be accorded believers and are not to be accorded more authority than any others of the more authority than any others of the faithful.”faithful.”

• Catholic Church bases its claim for Catholic Church bases its claim for papal authority on the primacy of Peter.papal authority on the primacy of Peter.

Disciples lead to more Disciples lead to more connectionsconnections

• Trinity of Satan, Sin, and Death.Trinity of Satan, Sin, and Death.• Satan going to Earth and becoming Satan going to Earth and becoming

serpent = Christ’s incarnation.serpent = Christ’s incarnation.• Satan’s actions antitypically Satan’s actions antitypically

foreshadow Christ’s.foreshadow Christ’s.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Erickson, Lee. “Satan’s Apostles and Erickson, Lee. “Satan’s Apostles and the the Nature of Faith in Paradise Lost Nature of Faith in Paradise Lost Book Book I.” I.” Studies in PhilologyStudies in Philology 94.3 94.3 (1997): (1997): 382-382- 394.394.