The words used by John with respect to their mission are basanizo, and adikeo. The first is rendered torment, the last, injure. The Spirit, doubtless, intended different ideas to be represented by the different words. They were to torment, but not to kill. It is clear from this that killing was not an element of the torment. Basanidso signifies to rub upon the touchstone, or basanos; hence, to try the genuineness of a thing. The touchstone used by the Saracen Locusts was "the Koran, tribute, or the sword." They rubbed all the unsealed upon this; and according to the result, was the genuineness, or true character, of the party in their estimation. If they accepted the Koran, they were then fellowshipped as devout Moslems, and subjected neither to tribute nor death; but if they rejected the Koran, or refused to become Mohammedans, which was the same thing, then they must either pay tribute or be put to death. Such a touchstone as this could not seriously affect those who had the seal of the Deity in their foreheads. The Saracens were particularly favorable to all who were persecuted by the constituted authorities of the Greeks. They became their protectors and allies, not their tormentors. To the Saracen touchstone they replied after this sort: "The Greeks are determined to abide the determination of the sword; but with the Greeks we desire no communion, either in this world or in the next, and we adjure forever the Byzantine tyrant, his synod of Chalcedon, and his Melchite slaves. For ourselves, we are resolved to live and die in the profession of the gospel and unity of Christ. It is impossible for us to embrace the revelations of your prophet; but we are desirous of peace, and cheerfully submit to pay tribute, and obedience to his temporal successors."

The word adikeo contains no idea answerable to that of using a touchstone of any kind. To injure, without defining how the injury should be inflicted, conveys all the meaning of the word in the text. They were to apply the touchstone five months of years; and they were to injure, or commit offensive operations, for an equal length of time. This we shall find was the fact. Power to torment and injure was divinely appointed to "the Angel of the Abyss" for three hundred years; and beyond this limitation he could not destroy.