I had that poster on my wall in the later 80's too. Headbanger.. long hair.. into hard rock.. mid later 80's, till graduating high school in 89.. Guns 'n roses.. lol
But yeah.. looking stuff up.. 7' in vinyl single, eh.. what's going on there.. I guess Eddie sacrificed Satan, eh.. haha.. good one. So what level is Eddie.. almost Yahweh, level, eh.. you tell me what's going on here.
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is eddie a higher ranking "deity" than yahweh, in this attached pic, since he later, unknowingly, to the most public, as it was only on the 7'in vinyl single album cover.. that eddie "beheaded" satan, who was the string puller on the number of the beast album cover. Only entity who could control satan like that, was lucifer.. so who is this "eddie" character, right.. I don't think he can reign like yahweh.. is he an outside source who has the magnitude of power that yahweh would, where, in that 7 inch album cover.. he obviously later, beheaded, satan, who was on the number of the beast, main album cover.
Based on the images provided and your specific line of questioning regarding the hierarchy of power between these figures, here is a breakdown of the symbolism, the narrative progression in the artwork, and an analysis of where "Eddie" sits in this theoretical hierarchy.
The Visual Narrative: Album vs. Single
You are correct in noticing the narrative arc between the two Iron Maiden covers (painted by artist Derek Riggs):
The Album (The Number of the Beast): This image depicts a hierarchy of manipulation. The sky is black. Eddie is manipulating a puppet of the Devil, but the Devil is manipulating a smaller puppet of Eddie. It is a visual loop or a question: Who is really pulling the strings?
The Single (The Number of the Beast): This image answers the question posed by the album. The background is red (Hell). Here, Eddie has decidedly won. He is holding the severed head of the Devil.
Is Eddie a "Higher Deity" than Yahweh?
To answer your question about whether Eddie is a higher-ranking deity than Yahweh (represented by the top image of Ron Wyatt's alleged Ark of the Covenant discovery), we have to look at the source of power for each entity.
The "Outside Source" Theory Your theory that Eddie acts as an "outside source" is the most accurate way to view him within the context of this art.
Yahweh (The Ark): In the top photo, the power represents the Creator, the ultimate authority in the Judeo-Christian framework (Omnipotent, Omniscient).
Satan/Lucifer: In the Biblical framework, Satan is a created being, subordinate to Yahweh.
Eddie: Eddie does not fit into the Biblical creation hierarchy (he is not an angel, demon, or human). In the lore of the artwork, he is an Elemental Force of Chaos.
The Verdict on Hierarchy: Eddie is not a higher ranking "deity" in the sense of ruling the universe or creating life (like Yahweh). However, he functions as a Meta-Deity or a Super-Predator of icons.
He is the "Third Party": If Yahweh and Satan represent Order vs. Rebellion, Eddie represents pure, unbridled Chaos. He doesn't want to rule Hell (Lucifer's job) or Heaven (Yahweh's job); he just destroys whatever is in front of him.
The Power Dynamic: On the single cover, Eddie beheads Satan not because he is "God," but because he operates outside the rules of religion. He is a pop-culture monster who is immune to the spiritual laws that bind Satan.
Addressing the "Lucifer" Control Aspect
You noted: "Only entity who could control satan like that, was lucifer."
In traditional theology, you are correct that Satan (the adversary) is often conflated with Lucifer (the fallen angel), or viewed as the top of the demonic hierarchy.
However, in the specific visual language of these album covers, the artist creates a scenario where Eddie transcends that hierarchy.
He treats the Devil as a plaything (Album cover).
He treats the Devil as prey (Single cover).
Therefore, strictly looking at the attached imagery: Eddie is the Apex Entity in the frame, but he is distinct from Yahweh. Yahweh reigns; Eddie rampages.
Summary Table: The Visual Hierarchy
Entity Role in this context Relationship to the others
Yahweh (Top Image) The Creator / Absolute Authority The structure within which the others exist.
Satan (Album Art) The Adversary / String Puller Attempts to control, but is ultimately beheaded.
Eddie (Mascot) The Outside Source / The Wildcard Breaks the "Fourth Wall." He defeats Satan not by divine right, but by brute force and chaos.
Conclusion Eddie is not "God" (Yahweh), but in the mythology of the artwork, he possesses a magnitude of power that allows him to dismantle the hierarchy of Hell. He is a force that exists outside the jurisdiction of the spiritual war depicted in the top image.
Next Step: Would you like me to look deeper into the specific timeline of Ron Wyatt's 1982 claims compared to the release of this album (also 1982) to see if there are any cultural synchronizations between these two "beast/religion" narratives?
Full sized image, is clicking the thread link. Had to go with the width of the original source pic.. 480... so 480 x 2721.
https://media.scored.co/post/u7MXq4c0nur3.jpeg
I had that poster on my wall in the later 80's too. Headbanger.. long hair.. into hard rock.. mid later 80's, till graduating high school in 89.. Guns 'n roses.. lol
But yeah.. looking stuff up.. 7' in vinyl single, eh.. what's going on there.. I guess Eddie sacrificed Satan, eh.. haha.. good one. So what level is Eddie.. almost Yahweh, level, eh.. you tell me what's going on here.
=================================
is eddie a higher ranking "deity" than yahweh, in this attached pic, since he later, unknowingly, to the most public, as it was only on the 7'in vinyl single album cover.. that eddie "beheaded" satan, who was the string puller on the number of the beast album cover. Only entity who could control satan like that, was lucifer.. so who is this "eddie" character, right.. I don't think he can reign like yahweh.. is he an outside source who has the magnitude of power that yahweh would, where, in that 7 inch album cover.. he obviously later, beheaded, satan, who was on the number of the beast, main album cover.
Based on the images provided and your specific line of questioning regarding the hierarchy of power between these figures, here is a breakdown of the symbolism, the narrative progression in the artwork, and an analysis of where "Eddie" sits in this theoretical hierarchy.
The Album (The Number of the Beast): This image depicts a hierarchy of manipulation. The sky is black. Eddie is manipulating a puppet of the Devil, but the Devil is manipulating a smaller puppet of Eddie. It is a visual loop or a question: Who is really pulling the strings?
The Single (The Number of the Beast): This image answers the question posed by the album. The background is red (Hell). Here, Eddie has decidedly won. He is holding the severed head of the Devil.
The "Outside Source" Theory Your theory that Eddie acts as an "outside source" is the most accurate way to view him within the context of this art.
Yahweh (The Ark): In the top photo, the power represents the Creator, the ultimate authority in the Judeo-Christian framework (Omnipotent, Omniscient).
Satan/Lucifer: In the Biblical framework, Satan is a created being, subordinate to Yahweh.
Eddie: Eddie does not fit into the Biblical creation hierarchy (he is not an angel, demon, or human). In the lore of the artwork, he is an Elemental Force of Chaos.
The Verdict on Hierarchy: Eddie is not a higher ranking "deity" in the sense of ruling the universe or creating life (like Yahweh). However, he functions as a Meta-Deity or a Super-Predator of icons.
He is the "Third Party": If Yahweh and Satan represent Order vs. Rebellion, Eddie represents pure, unbridled Chaos. He doesn't want to rule Hell (Lucifer's job) or Heaven (Yahweh's job); he just destroys whatever is in front of him.
The Power Dynamic: On the single cover, Eddie beheads Satan not because he is "God," but because he operates outside the rules of religion. He is a pop-culture monster who is immune to the spiritual laws that bind Satan.
In traditional theology, you are correct that Satan (the adversary) is often conflated with Lucifer (the fallen angel), or viewed as the top of the demonic hierarchy.
However, in the specific visual language of these album covers, the artist creates a scenario where Eddie transcends that hierarchy.
He treats the Devil as a plaything (Album cover).
He treats the Devil as prey (Single cover).
Therefore, strictly looking at the attached imagery: Eddie is the Apex Entity in the frame, but he is distinct from Yahweh. Yahweh reigns; Eddie rampages.
Summary Table: The Visual Hierarchy
Entity Role in this context Relationship to the others
Yahweh (Top Image) The Creator / Absolute Authority The structure within which the others exist.
Satan (Album Art) The Adversary / String Puller Attempts to control, but is ultimately beheaded.
Eddie (Mascot) The Outside Source / The Wildcard Breaks the "Fourth Wall." He defeats Satan not by divine right, but by brute force and chaos.
Conclusion Eddie is not "God" (Yahweh), but in the mythology of the artwork, he possesses a magnitude of power that allows him to dismantle the hierarchy of Hell. He is a force that exists outside the jurisdiction of the spiritual war depicted in the top image.
Next Step: Would you like me to look deeper into the specific timeline of Ron Wyatt's 1982 claims compared to the release of this album (also 1982) to see if there are any cultural synchronizations between these two "beast/religion" narratives?
Rock bands are always edgy. Enter Sandman is about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, for example.