Theological Definition: Abyss
The abyss is the bottomless pit that serves first, as a prison for Satan and his demons, second, as a place for the dead in which the living cannot enter, and third, as the place from which the anti-christ arises from. The Hebrew word is tehom meaning "the deep."
According to early Semitic teaching the earth was supposed to rest on a vast body of water which was the source of all springs of water and rivers (Genesis 1:2; Deuteronomy 8:7; Psalms 24:2, 136:6.) This subterranean ocean was sometimes refered to as "the water under the earth." In the New Testament, αβυσσος means "the abode of demons." In Luke the demons who possesed the Gerasene demoniac begged not to be sent there, in Romans 10:7 the word is used equivalent to hades, "the place of the dead." In Revelation αβυσσος denotes the abode of evil spirits, however, this is not the final place of punishment. αβυσσος or the abyss is not the "lake of fire and brinstone where Satan, the Beast, the False Prophet, and the lost are to be finally cast.
See Hades, Deep, or Hell. (Luke 8:31; Rev 20:1, 3; cf. II Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Ro 10:7; Rev 11:7, 17:8)
Bibliography: Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology; Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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Join Gospel-driven Disciples each Thursday as we unlock the meaning of various theological terms, definitions, and theological news.
According to early Semitic teaching the earth was supposed to rest on a vast body of water which was the source of all springs of water and rivers (Genesis 1:2; Deuteronomy 8:7; Psalms 24:2, 136:6.) This subterranean ocean was sometimes refered to as "the water under the earth." In the New Testament, αβυσσος means "the abode of demons." In Luke the demons who possesed the Gerasene demoniac begged not to be sent there, in Romans 10:7 the word is used equivalent to hades, "the place of the dead." In Revelation αβυσσος denotes the abode of evil spirits, however, this is not the final place of punishment. αβυσσος or the abyss is not the "lake of fire and brinstone where Satan, the Beast, the False Prophet, and the lost are to be finally cast.
See Hades, Deep, or Hell. (Luke 8:31; Rev 20:1, 3; cf. II Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Ro 10:7; Rev 11:7, 17:8)
Bibliography: Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology; Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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Join Gospel-driven Disciples each Thursday as we unlock the meaning of various theological terms, definitions, and theological news.
Ingteresting.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
In your view of eschatology: If the "anti-christ" arises from the abyss, does that mean he is (a)one who was dead and given supernatural "life"-after-death, or (b)a demon-in-the-flesh?
ReplyDeleteJust curious...