Abaddon, Christian Angel of Death
“Abaddon” was originally a term used by the Hebrews to describe something akin to a place of destruction or a bottomless pit (usually mentioned alongside the realm of the dead). As time passed, the notion of Abaddon evolved into a specific entity. By the time the Book of Revelation (last book in the Christian bible) was written in the first century AD, Abaddon was referred to as the “Destroyer” or the “Angel of Death.” He was said to be the king of a plague of mutated locusts, resembling horses with human faces, lion’s teeth, long hair, wings, iron breast-plates, and a scorpion’s tail. A sting from the tail was only effective against individuals that lacked the seal of God on their foreheads.
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Christian and academic scholars continue to debate who Abaddon truly is, with ideas ranging from the Antichrist to Satan himself. There are even people within Christianity that believe Abaddon is an angel of God and, thus, whose destructive acts are the will of God. Some even claim that Jesus took the name “Abaddon” following his resurrection.
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Abaddon’s place in history is even more interesting if one references the Gnostic texts. The manuscript claims that not only was Abaddon present at Christ’s resurrection, but he was integral in the creation of humankind. The texts speak of Abaddon’s role as an angel tasked with both collecting the material from which God made Adam and guarding Earth. His mandate also involved garnering adoration for himself, punishing both humans and spirits, and ushering souls to the Valley of Josaphat during the Last Judgement.
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Though the details of who or what Abaddon is vary by region and time period, the common thread in all of his interpretations is that Abaddon is destruction, whether it is righteous, indifferent, or malevolent.
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