Abaddon

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Apollyon fighting a Christian from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Abaddon ( Hebrew אֲבַדּוֹן, from Hebrew abad "downfall, annihilation, abyss" to Greek abaton "pit") is a mythological figure in the Bible . Already in the Old Testament Abaddon is often mentioned, always in close connection with Sheol (realm of the dead) ( Hi 26.6  EU ; 28.22 EU and Ps 88.11  EU ). Abaddon is used here as a poetic term for the underworld . In Hi 28,22  EU Abaddon and Death already appear as speakers.

In the New Testament Abaddon is used fully personified as a name for the " angel of the abyss" ( Rev 9:11  EU ): The Revelation of John reports that after the fifth angel of the final judgment trumpeted a "star" (ie angel ) fell from heaven, who was given the key to the Well of the Abyss. This opened the abyss and locusts came out of its smoke to earth ( Rev 9: 1-3 EU ): “And they had a king over them, the angel of the abyss, whose  name is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon . “(Rev 9:11) Towards the end of the Apocalypse there is talk of an angel who has the key to the abyss and who throws the devil into it ( Rev 20  EU ).

In Rabbinic Judaism , Abaddon is a place of condemnation and a place of punishment for sinners.

Interpretations

The biblical text of the Revelation of John allows for different interpretations about who Abaddon could be.

If one assumes that Abaddon is meant in both places, then the contradiction arises that he himself comes from the very abyss into which he later closes the devil. Two approaches to resolve it are particularly widespread: Either Abaddon is not the same angel who received the key, or the two passages in the text refer to two different angels (some exegetes are of the opinion that the angel in Chapter 20 is about Michael , the dragon slayer). However, it would also be conclusive that Abaddon punishes both times on behalf of God : first the seduced, then the seducer (cf. the differentiated role of Satan in the Bible). Occultists see Abaddon as a powerful demon or even as Satan himself.

Others associate the word in the Apocalypse of John with a king appointed by demonic powers.

A minority, such as Jehovah's Witnesses , assume that Abaddon represents Jesus because of the statement ( Rev 20 : 1-3  EU ) where the angel of the abyss hurls the devil into them .

Individual evidence

  1. Abaddon , in: Helmut Brunner, Klaus Flessel, Friedrich Hiller (Eds.): Lexikon Alte Kulturen , Meyers Lexikonverlag, Vol. 1, 1990, ISBN 3-411-07301-2 , p. 9.
  2. a b Abaddon , in: Manfred Görg, Bernhard Lang (Ed.): New Bible Lexicon , Volume 1, 1991, Col. 2.
  3. Gerhard J. Bellinger (Ed.): Lexicon of Mythology: 3100 keywords to the myths of all peoples . Bechtermünz Verl., Augsburg 1997, p. 11 .
  4. a b Julia Cresswell (ed.): The angel compendium . Kailash, 2007, p. 21st f .
  5. Demon Lexicon. Retrieved July 22, 2006 .
  6. RAFA: Demons list. 2001, accessed July 22, 2006 .
  7. Student Duden (ed.): A lexicon of all religions in the world . Dudenverlag, Mannheim 1977, ISBN 3-411-01369-9 , pp. 9 .
  8. Who is Abaddon, the angel of the abyss? In: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (Ed.): Insight on the Scriptures . tape 1 , 1990, p. 12 .

Web links

Commons : Abaddon  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Abaddon  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations