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Hey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. In today’s video, we’re going to discuss Abaddon, the abyss of absolute destruction in the Old Testament and the angel of the bottomless pit in the New Testament.. The term “Abaddon“ originates from the Hebrew word “אֲבַדּוֹן“ (Avaddon), stemming from the root “אבד“ (avad), which signifies “to be lost“ or “to perish.“ Generally, “Abaddon“ is understood as a great annihilating abyss; though less commonly, it is also the name of the angel who presides over this abyss, as we’ll see. In the context of the Old Testament, Abaddon serves as a descriptor for a realm of destruction, frequently linked with Sheol—another Hebrew term, indicative of the underworld or the realm of the dead. However, the New Testament presents an evolution in the conception of Abaddon. No longer a place of doom and destruction, it becomes personified as a sentient entity with authority over the abyss. We’re going to begin with three books from the Old Testament (the Books of Job, Proverbs, and Psalms), using them to consider Abaddon as conceptualized inanimately, meaning as a physical place or as an abstraction. Following that, we’re going to dive into the book of Revelation, which is where Abaddon is personified, becoming a sentient entity, given the ominous honourific ‘the angel of the abyss’ and presented as the king of a pestilent swarm, as can be seen from this passage: “They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.“ Alright, let’s get into it. The Book of Job explores profound questions about human suffering, the nature of God, and the relationship between God and humanity. The story begins with Job, a man from the land of Uz who is described as “blameless“ and “upright,“ who “feared God and shunned evil“. Job is prosperous, with a large family and extensive flocks. In the heavenly realm, God praises Job's righteousness to 'the Adversary', Ha-Satan in Hebrew. The Adversary challenges Job's piety, arguing that Job is only righteous because he has been blessed with prosperity. The Adversary suggests that if Job were to suffer, he would surely curse God. Watch the video for the rest!
