David Davidovich
Well-Known Member
I have a question about Tartarus in the Bible and the dwelling place of demons throughout most of human history. 2 Peter 2:4 uses the Greek word "Tartarus." And here's one explanation for it:
quotation from this link: Tartarus — 2 Peter 2:4 – Grace Evangelical Society (faithalone.org)
I know that some religions believe that Tartus represents a mental state of fallen angels being in deep darkness concerning spiritual matters. However, that seems to contradict Luke 8:31 where the demons are expressing that they were aware of their future destination in God's plan, the abyss. Also, they were supposed to have known about God's plan of salvation through Jesus and were supposed to have attempted to thwart God's plan. Therefore, what I would like to ask is: If the demons were supposed to have been in Tartarus for most of human history, then why does Revelation 12:8-9 (which is supposed to be about future events) describe Satan and his demons as being in heaven until they were kicked out?
quotation from this link: Revelation 12:8-9 NIV - But he was not strong enough, and they - Bible Gateway
For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but threw them down into Tartarus and delivered them to be kept in chains of darkness until judgment (2 Pet 2:4 HCSB).
Tartarus is not a place for men, but for the angels who rebelled against God. Their crime was especially heinous, because they should have known better, having been in God’s own presence. So they were thrown down into Tartarus, chained, and kept in darkness until the final judgment.
Jude also referred to this place:
And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day (Jude 1:6).
Do you notice how similar this is to Peter’s description? Is there any doubt Jude is referring to the same place—Tartarus? Here again, the angels left their domain and were cast down and kept in another. Notice the “eternal bonds” which is surely the chains that Peter referred to. See how they are confined to darkness and that it lasts until the day of judgment?
As I understand it, Tartarus is a separate compartment in the underworld—the special abode of fallen angels (see Clarence Larkin, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, pp. 21-22, 280; R. B. Thieme, The Angelic Conflict, pp. 55-56).
quotation from this link: Tartarus — 2 Peter 2:4 – Grace Evangelical Society (faithalone.org)
I know that some religions believe that Tartus represents a mental state of fallen angels being in deep darkness concerning spiritual matters. However, that seems to contradict Luke 8:31 where the demons are expressing that they were aware of their future destination in God's plan, the abyss. Also, they were supposed to have known about God's plan of salvation through Jesus and were supposed to have attempted to thwart God's plan. Therefore, what I would like to ask is: If the demons were supposed to have been in Tartarus for most of human history, then why does Revelation 12:8-9 (which is supposed to be about future events) describe Satan and his demons as being in heaven until they were kicked out?
8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
quotation from this link: Revelation 12:8-9 NIV - But he was not strong enough, and they - Bible Gateway
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