The Bottomless Pit

The subject of the bottomless pit is one that demands careful, unhurried consideration, for it is neither casually mentioned nor lightly described in Scripture. This study is the result of prolonged reflection and deliberate biblical examination, not speculation. The Bible references the bottomless pit explicitly only seven times, and every occurrence is found in the book of Revelation. Such concentration alone signals that this is a matter tied directly to God’s final dealings with the created order. In this document, we will begin by examining the first two references, found in Revelation 9:1–2, allowing the text itself to establish the boundaries of our understanding.

Correctly Applying Pronoun Distinctions

I have never read anything or seen anyone teach on pronoun clarifications and distinctions as a remedy for the widespread misunderstandings concerning the local assembly versus the universal church. Both Independent Baptists and universalists have perverted the Scriptures by reading their own presuppositions into the text.

My aim is to clarify these truths using the perfect and infallible words of the King James Bible, demonstrating the critical importance of understanding who is being addressed, when, and for what purpose. By observing the distinctions Paul makes, we can discern what the Holy Ghost and God Himself are teaching concerning the body of Christ, and how these truths apply both universally and locally.

The False Premise of Blessing Israel

  I know what I am about to write might offend some, but the Bible says, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165). I write this for your learning and admonition (Romans 15:4). You need to seriously consider these matters, for most Christians today blindly follow the traditions of men, pragmatic ideas like Easter and Christmas, that have no biblical foundation (Colossians 2:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:15). There is no biblical justification for the support of the Israel of today. It is under judgment, not blessing.

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16)

The Four Winds of Heaven

Scripture reveals that there are four principal winds from which all known and unknown wind patterns upon the earth proceed. These are not merely atmospheric forces, but divinely ordered movements that originate from what the Bible calls “the four quarters of heaven.” Jeremiah declares, “And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven” (Jeremiah 49:36), while John records in Revelation, “I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth” (Revelation 7:1). The consistent testimony of Scripture is that these winds are heavenly in origin, earthly in effect, and entirely under God’s command.

Distinction Without Difference

Throughout Scripture, God has chosen to reveal truth through a rich variety of words and names. Often, these different terms describe the same object or person, yet each one highlights a unique aspect of their character, purpose, or relationship to God. At times, the change in wording is simply another way of expressing the same reality, a distinction without a difference. At other times, the Spirit of God uses different names or descriptions to draw out deeper truths that are revealed only when we consider the context. In this way, the Bible unfolds layer upon layer of meaning, guiding us to see the fullness of God’s wisdom and purpose in His Word.

For instance, the titles “the Lord Jesus” and “Christ Jesus” both refer to the same person. On their own, this would be a distinction without a difference. However, when viewed in context, one title may emphasize His Lordship while the other highlights His Messiahship making it a contextual distinction. The difference, then, is not in His person but in the aspect of truth being emphasized.

Theology of Reciprocity

God's dealings with man concerning His love, grace, mercy, and blessings are never described in Scripture as "unconditional." Rather, they are extended or withheld based on man's response to God's revealed character. The biblical model of reciprocity shows that as man yields to God in love, obedience, and self-denial, God is pleased to bless, and sustain him, even unto death. Those who claim God's favor without faithful living, invite judgment rather than blessing.

Before addressing reciprocity, it must be understood that salvation through Jesus Christ is one of two exception. It is a free gift (Romans 5:15–18), requiring no payment, no works, and no reciprocation to receive. When we accept this gift, we are not “returning the favor” to the Giver, for we have nothing of equal worth to offer. Genuine reciprocation would demand an equal exchange, but for finite man receiving infinite grace, such an exchange is utterly impossible.

This principle of salvation by faith which is the second exception, extends throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, the free gift was received by those who "had faith in God" (Mark 11:22), as confirmed by the prophet Habakkuk: "The just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). Whether Old Testament or New Testament, salvation has always been God's gracious gift received through faith, not earned through works.

The Image of God

There has been much said concerning the image of God, which is used by almost every false denomination to teach that though mankind has been tarnished by sin, there remains in man a foundation to human identity and worth.  The supposed biblical truth presupposes that humanity apart from Christ is spiritually dead and under God’s condemnation, yet the intrinsic value of human beings is rooted in their creation in the image of God, not in their moral condition or spiritual state. The teaching is that though humanity bears the fallen image of Adam, scripture suggests that the image of God in man has not been entirely erased, though it is deeply marred.

As it has been suggested, “Adam still looked like God. He has hands, feet, etc. He is capable of rational thoughts and feelings, just like the model he was based on. I believe that the distinction shows that we inherit genes from our ancestors. You have the appearance of your parents and the general image of God. Both of those exist in complete harmony”.

The issue with the quote above is that the image of God has nothing to do with mankind’s physical attributes, his ability to reason, have feelings, relational capacity, creative ability, his ability to have dominion, or even his desire to worship. Everyone of those aspects of mankind is flawed, including his conscience, deceitful heart, having a mind corrupted by the world, without God and without hope!

The Lies of Slavery

One of the greatest perversions of Scripture in the modern age arises from a false understanding of biblical servanthood. Modern readers who are conditioned by the horrors of trans-Atlantic slavery, race-based chattel bondage, kidnapping, forced breeding, and lifelong chains impose that wicked system upon the pages of the Bible. This is not only historically wrong; it is a satanic distortion that directly attacks the righteousness of God’s laws and the integrity of Scripture.

The King James Bible guards the reader from this deception by faithfully using the word “servant”, a term that reflects the biblical system of regulated servitude, which included:

·  Voluntary servanthood

·  Debt restitution

·  Protective servanthood for the poor

·  Household servants with rights, dignity, and legal recognition

·  The possibility of freedom and inheritance

The KJV’s translators understood the biblical context and deliberately avoided the word “slave”, because that term did not accurately represent the biblical concepts, nor the moral character of God’s instructions.

But almost every modern translation, rejecting both the context of Scripture and the moral framework of God’s law, forces the word “slave” into dozens of passages where it does not belong. This is not translation; it is ideological tampering.