Bible Word of the Day
Abyss, Abysso (Bottomless Pit)
Meaning
This word comes from a classic Greek verb which means bottomless. In Hebrew the word is “tehom.” In the Bible the word refers to the world of the dead as well as a subterranean prison for demons or fallen angels. The term is most well-known for its use in the book of Revelation chapter nine verse one which reads, “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.” The Bible tells us this is a real place with real fallen angels.
These demons are so severe and dangerous God has locked them up for an appointed time. We have to remember that the Tribulation period is seven years long and the last three and half years of that seven year period are called the Great Tribulation. Jesus told us that God made this time brief only three and half years, because if it were any longer no one would survive it. The Bible tells us that during the Great Tribulation the Abyss will be opened and these demons will pour forth and they are given the power to torment mankind for five months.
“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.” (Book of Romans 3:25)
“Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” (Book of Revelation 9:1-3)