1. Listing of all Revelation scriptures containing "bottomless pit."
2. Common denominators.

The purpose of this little study is not to come to a complete understanding and interpretation of the various passages that use this term. Rather it is intended to note those things that are found to be in common with the various usages of "the bottomless pit."

By doing so, we may see the limits of interpretation which the Lord Himself has placed upon these passages. This should help to remove some of the 'mystery' surrounding this topic.

These observations are simple and allow us to reach some simple conclusions, even before we make any attempt to decipher the various symbols associated with "the bottomless pit."

(Rev 9:1, 2) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. [2] And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

(Rev 9:11) And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

(Rev 11:7) And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

(Rev 17:8) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

(Rev 20:1-3) And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Common Denominators

There are clearly some common denominators with respect to the bottomless pit.

1.	It can be opened.
	9:1,2; 20:1,3

2.	It seems to require a key to open or close it.
	9:1,2; 20:1,3

3.	Once opened, things come out of it - thus it is not a place of permanent or final confinement nor of destruction.
	9:2; 11:7; 17:8; 20:3 ("he must be loosed")

Who or What is Found There?

1.	Smoke (locust - the locust come out of the smoke)
	9:2, 3
2.	The Beast
	11:7; 17:8
3.	The dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan
	20:2, 3