(1) The abyss is the temporary abode and prison of a
portion of the demon hosts where they wait their eternal and
final judgment to the lake of fire.
(2) The descriptions of this place is found in 2 Peter 2:4
where it is called “the abode of the judged,” In Jude 6 it
is described as “eternal bonds under darkness.” In Luke 8:31
and Romans 10:7, it is described simply as “the abyss,” “the
place of unfathomable depth.” In Revelation 9:1-2, it is
described as “the pit or shaft of the abyss”, and as “the
spirits now in prison” in 1 Peter 3:19-20.
(3) A study of the above passages shows us that the abyss is
a place of judgment for demons for specific sin. It is
utterly black and the demons there are in total oblivion to
the rest of the universe. It is also a place of bondage; a
prison from which not even Satan can release them until he
is give the key and authority to do so in keeping with God’s
sovereign purpose for the judgments.
(4) The majority of these bound demons are there because
they left their normal habitation and abode.
In Revelation 9, Satan, the king of the fallen angels or
demons, is given the power and authority by God to open the
abyss and release these demons on earth.
Verse 2 - “And he opened” draws our attention to Satan’s
cruel and vicious character. As soon as the opportunity is
presented, he takes advantage of it. He does not need to be
coaxed. He simply needs the opportunity, the removal of the
restraining hand of God. Remember, as “the adversary,” he is
the one who walks about like a roaring lion always in search
of someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
“And smoke went up out of the pit …; and the sun and the air
were darkened.” The earth’s atmosphere will become polluted
with the smoke pouring out of the abyss. This will block out
the sun and suddenly all will be dark. This is a literal
darkness, but is also symbolical of the spiritual darkness
that will fall on the earth in the system and activities of
Satan and his end time system of the beast.
The demonic activity that will literally fill the atmosphere
will be evident to the eyes of men, even the demon creatures
themselves. Ironically, according to Ephesians 2:2 and other
passages, our atmosphere and the world we live in even now
are full of demonic forces and activity, but they are hidden
to the world. Many do not really believe in a real devil or
in demons. Many may be blind to their existence now, but not
so in the future.
These demonic creatures of the abyss are called locusts with
the stinging power of scorpions. In Scripture locusts are
associated with divine wrath (Exodus 10:12-20). However,
unlike the locusts that attack vegetation, these are
commanded not to hurt the grass, any green thing, or trees.
These demon creatures are told not to do what locusts
normally do, attack vegetation. In Old Testament times and
throughout history the locust is a symbol of destruction and
terror.
Who gives this command to hurt only man but not the
vegetation? In the light of God’s dealings with Satan in the
Book of Job, this is probably God. The only one excluded
from this torment of locust is the 144,000 who have the seal
of God in their foreheads. We might assume, however, that as
far as this plague is concerned, they stand representatively
for all believers and that any believer would be spared this
torment. Why? This is a judgment upon men who have rejected
Christ, not for believers in Jesus Christ, those who had
believed the message of the 144,000.
It is interesting to note that God places specific
limitations on these demonic creatures. They are limited as
to what and who they may strike (v 4), as to how far they
may go in the torment, and as to how long, five months (v
5).
Please notice that these demons are not called scorpions,
nor are we told that they look like scorpions, just that
they have the power (v 3), and torment (v 5) of a scorpion.
This means they have the power to cause tremendous pain,
short of death, but extending for five months.
In verse 6 we see the effect upon men, they try to commit
suicide, but they will be unable to accomplish it. Death
will elude them. This is astounding and clearly a
supernatural restraint of God that stresses and demonstrates
His absolute authority or sovereignty.
