The Abyss in Revelation

It is generally accepted that Revelation’s heavenly scenes were intended to demonstrate that God continued to exercise his control even when the audience’s experience might suggest otherwise. In The Abyss in Revelation, Edward Gudeman argues that even though the scenes of the underworld and its inhabitants are describing reality from the opposite perspective, they declare God’s sovereignty and power in an equally powerful way.

Examining the motif and imagery of the abyss and the sea in Old Testament, New Testament, Greco-Roman, and Second Temple Jewish writings, Gudeman identifies traditions that John appropriates in Revelation in order to create his unique vision of the abyss. Gudeman shows that the abyss and related concepts in Revelation are variously envisioned as the abode of evil creatures, the place from which they exit, and a prison that holds them captive. In all of this, John consistently demonstrates that God is in control of the activity of Satan and demonic beings and that their destruction is both planned and certain.

Original and convincing, this volume sheds light on Revelation’s message about how God responds to evil and advances our understanding of several interpretive problems related to the abyss and its inhabitants. Biblical scholars especially will benefit from Gudeman’s research.

“Edward Gudeman’s The Abyss in Revelation provides a tradition-critical approach to the concept of the abyss in Revelation, exploring its roots in the Hebrew Bible and relevant later Jewish literature before examining the ways that Revelation develops these ideas to its unique end. Gudeman makes a compelling case for the centrality of the abyss in Revelation as it reflects the domain of evil overcome by the victory of Jesus.”—Alexander P. Thompson, Review of Biblical Literature

Edward Gudeman is an independent scholar who divides his time between Englewood, Colorado, and Madrid, Spain.

Preface

List of Abbreviations

Chapter 1. Introduction and Reading Strategy

Chapter 2. The Background of the Abyss in the Old Testament

Chapter 3. The Abyss in Greco-Roman, Second Temple Jewish, New Testament Literature

Chapter 4. The Abyss and Its Interpretive Significance in Revelation

Chapter 5. Traditions That Have Shaped the Description and Function of the Abyss in Revelation

Chapter 6. Similar Concepts to the Abyss in Revelation

Chapter 7. The End of the Abyss

Chapter 8. Revelation’s Contribution to the Understanding of Evil and God’s Response to It

Bibliography

Index of Authors

Index of Scripture

Download a PDF sample chapter here: Chapter One