The Greek word abussos

The Greek word “abussos” is found only a handful of times in the New Testament (Lk. 8:31; Rom. 10:7; Rev. 9:1, 2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3) and it means things like “bottomless, abyss, depth, pit underworld.”  In Rom. 10:7 this word describes the realm of the dead.  In the book of Revelation as well as the reference in Lk. 8:31 Brown (Dictionary of New Testament Theology, 2:205) suggested this word denotes “the prison for demons.”  It is “closed, but the smoke of subterranean fires rises from it (Rev. 9:1f.).  It is ruled by a prince – not Satan (Rev. 9:11).  Weird creatures emerge from it (Rev. 9:3ff.), as does the beast.”

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