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Abaddon (Hebrew אבדון Avaddon, meaning "destruction"). In Biblical poetry (Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11), it comes to mean "place of destruction", or the realm of the dead, and is associated with Sheol. Abaddon is also one of the compartments of Gehenna.^[1] By extension, it can mean an underworld abode of lost souls, or hell.

In Revelation 9:11, it is personified as Abaddon, "Angel of the Abyss",^[1] rendered in Greek as Apollyon; and he is described as king of the locusts which rose at the sounding of the fifth trumpet. In like manner, in Rev. vi. 8, Hades is personified following after death to conquer the fourth part of the earth.

Abaddon is one of the infernal names used in LaVeyan Satanism, and is first in the list—only as it comes first alphabetically—and means "the destroyer."

Many Biblical scholars believe Abaddon to be Satan or the antichrist^[2][3][4][5]Others have stated that he may be one of the lesser demons of hell, or even a dark angel.^[6]One source, The Greater Key of Solomon by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, stated that Abaddon was powerful enough to be used by Moses as a way of invoking the terrible rains of the Plagues of Egypt.^[6]. in many places, Abaddon is pictured as a human sized locust, and is known as the lord of pestilence. Jehovah's Witnesses originally also considered Abaddon a demon, but now identify him with Jesus.^[7]

According to them, there are several proofs in favor of their concepts, including Apocalipsis chapter 20, which reads that "the angel with the key of the abyss and a large prison in his hand seized the dragon (Satan the Devil) and threw him down into the abyss, and closed it on him (Satan)", meaning that the 'angel of the key' had power and authority superior to that of the Devil himself. Therefore, from their standpoint, Abaddon, "the angel with the key of the abyss" (Apoc. chapt. 9) and "the ancient serpent", "the dragon", Satan the Devil, must not be both the same person.

• Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge Abaddon
• From Guildwars - http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Abaddon

1. ^ ^{a b} Metzger & Coogan (1993) Oxford Companion to the Bible, p3.
2. ^ Matthew Henry Commentary on Revelation 9, Accessed 4/15/2007
3. ^ Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary, Accessed 4/15/2007
4. ^ Halley (2000) Halley's Bible Handbook with the New International Version, p936.
5. ^ MacDonald (1995) Believer's Bible Commentary, p2366.
6. ^ ^{a b} Bunson, Matthew. Angels A to Z. New York:Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1996. ISBN 0-517-88537-9.
7. ^ The Watchtower, May 1, 1992 p. 11, “Keep Close in Mind the Day of Jehovah.”

• Metzeger, Bruce M. (ed); Michael D. Coogan (ed) (1993). The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504645-5. 

• Halley, Henry H.; James E. Ruark (ed) (2000). Halley's Bible Handbook. Grand Rapids, MI: ZondervanPublishingHouse. ISBN 0-310-22479-9. 

• MacDonald, William; Art Farstad (ed) (1995). Believer's Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers. ISBN 0-8407-1972-8. 

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Abaddon.

• This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• This article incorporates text from the public-domain Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge 1907