There is a place in Scripture shrouded in darkness and dread—a place called the bottomless pit, or the abyss. When opened, it does not release gas or ash. It releases judgment. Demonic beings, restrained by God until their appointed hour, are loosed upon the earth. Chief among them are creatures the Bible describes as “locusts”—but not the insects we know. These are unlike anything that walks the earth or flies through the sky. They are agents of torment, not harvest.
What Is the Bottomless Pit?
The Greek word used for bottomless pit is ἄβυσσος (abussos)—translated as “abyss” or “bottomless pit.” It appears in Revelation 9:1, Luke 8:31, Revelation 11:7, 17:8, and 20:1-3. It refers to a deep, immeasurable place—beneath the earth or beneath Sheol itself—where certain demonic beings are imprisoned.
In Luke 8:31, when Jesus casts out the legion of demons,
“they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.”
These spirits fear that place. It is a holding cell of restraint and judgment.
The Fifth Trumpet Judgment: The Pit Is Opened
The most vivid description comes in Revelation 9:1–11, during the sounding of the fifth trumpet judgment:
“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.” (Revelation 9:1–2)
This “star” is not a literal star—it is a person, an angelic being, based on the context. The key is given to him—showing God has power over the abyss. The abyss is not opened by accident or by man, but at the divine command.
Once opened, smoke pours out like a furnace—signifying intense heat, darkness, and spiritual oppression.
The Locusts from the Pit
Then the text says:
“Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth…” (Revelation 9:3)
These are not insects. They are called “locusts” only in function—they swarm and destroy—but the description makes it absolutely clear they are demonic entities.
Here’s what Scripture tells us:
“To them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” – They sting, but with torment, not death.
“They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree…” – Real locusts consume vegetation. These attack men.
“But only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” – They are selective, restrained by divine order. They cannot touch God’s people.
“And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months…” – This is prolonged torment. The number aligns with a typical locust season, but the meaning is deeper: this is ordained, timed judgment.
“Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.” – The pain is severe and burning.
“In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.” – Despair reaches its peak. Suicide is desired, but not permitted.
What Do They Look Like?
The physical description confirms their supernatural nature:
“The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails.” (Revelation 9:7–10)
This is not metaphor. John is describing what he saw. These are hybrid, terrifying creatures:
“Like horses prepared for battle” – strength, discipline, and violence.
Crowns of gold – symbol of authority or power.
Faces like men – intellect, personality.
Hair like women – possibly symbolizing seduction or deception.
Teeth like lions – ferocity and destruction.
Breastplates of iron – invulnerability.
Sound of chariots – overwhelming noise, warfare.
Scorpion tails – direct instruments of torment.
Who Leads Them?
“And they had as 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)
Both names—Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek—mean Destroyer (Revelation 9:11). This is a specific being, referred to as “the angel of the bottomless pit.” He is either the one who leads the demonic locusts or possibly the ruling prince over the abyss itself. While some have speculated this could be Satan, that is unlikely. Satan is not yet bound during this time—his imprisonment does not occur until Revelation 20:1-3, at the beginning of the Millennium. Therefore, this is likely a separate being, possibly the same destroying angel mentioned during the Passover in Exodus 12:23, or the one who struck down the Assyrians in 2 Kings 19:35 and Psalm 78:49, which describes the use of “a band of destroying angels.
When Does This Happen?
This occurs during the Great Tribulation, after the first four trumpet judgments, and before the sixth trumpet which unleashes further demonic horsemen (Revelation 9:13–21). The earth at this point has already suffered ecological devastation, and now the spiritual realm unleashes direct torment upon humanity.
Demons once bound are now released.
God’s protection is removed from the unbelieving.
Pain is extended without death.
The visible and invisible realms collide.
These events reveal the true nature of sin’s consequence: torment without relief, and judgment that cannot be escaped. Hell does not begin in the lake of fire—it begins when God gives man over to demons.
My Final Thoughts
The abyss is real. The creatures within it are real. And they are coming—restrained now by the will of God, but one day they will be released to torment a world that rejected Christ. This passage is a warning, not a fantasy. It is not symbolic for political upheaval or figurative social distress. It is the literal unleashing of demonic judgment on unrepentant humanity. The Bible tells the truth—even when the truth is terrifying.
Be sure your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Be sealed with the Holy Spirit. Because when the abyss opens, the time of grace will have passed and those on the earth will be under judgement.
