The Life of Jesus in Harmony |
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abyss
ABYSS (Gk. heabussos). In classical Gk. the word abussos is always an
adjective meaning "very deep" ("bottomless") or "unfathomable" ("boundless").
In the NT the abyss is the abode of the imprisoned demons (Rev. 9:1-21). Many
of the demons whom
Jesus expelled in His earthly ministry were commanded to return to the abyss (Luke
8:31), but these evil spirits dreaded to go there before their predetermined
time.
Multitudes of demons will be let loose during the Great Tribulation, but will
be shut up again in this prison together with
Satan at the second coming of
Christ (Rev 20:1-3).
The abyss is therefore to be distinguished from sheol (hell) or hades (death)
(Matt. 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; Rev. 1:18; 20:13-14). It is also to be
distinguished from "tartarus," the "prison abode of fallen angels" (2 Pet. 2:4) and
"the lake of fire" (Rev. 19:20; 20:10; 21:8).
The LXX renders Heb. tehom, "the primeval ocean" (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 24:2, etc.) as
"abyss."