The abyss mentioned in Revelation chapter 9 is a spiritual lock-up meant to imprison demons and fallen angels deemed by God to be too destructive and vicious to be released on the earth at this time. This abyss or bottomless pit (Gr. phrear abussos) is described for our physical senses as a hellhole spewing smoke and heat like a furnace that is deep enough to be called bottomless. Unfortunately for mankind, there is a time coming in the near future when this lock-up will be opened and the demons released.
The fifth trumpet when announcing the fifth vial of judgment poured out from God describes it thus: “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 from the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power.” (Revelation 9:1-3) Reading on, the power given to them was to inflict pain like a scorpion’s sting on all mankind not “sealed” by God for a five- month period to the point where they will seek death for relief. The “star” given the key to the abyss is none other than satan himself when he is kicked out of heaven.
Of further significance: “And they had as a king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.” (Revelation 9:11) These names, Abaddon and Apollyon mean “destroyer”. Recall the “destroyer” that God released to kill all the firstborn of Egypt just prior to the exodus. It’s this angel that inhabits(possesses) the antichrist mid Daniels’ seventieth week (Revelation 17:8) This timing is important. It’s the key to know when the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will begin and end their ministry. “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.” (Revelation 11:7) Proper translation of “that ascends” should be “ascending” as it is a present participle. Coupled with “when” this indicates the two witnesses will be killed at the time the destroyer ascends from the bottomless pit. Based on this, we can reasonably assume that the two witnesses will begin their ministry at the beginning of the seventieth week and will be killed 3 and1/2 years later at the start of the great tribulation. Oh, and by the way, this abyss is where Satan himself will remain locked up for 1000 years during the millennial reign of Jesus. (Revelation 20:1-3)
Maranatha, Jim