Rev 20:2-3 | KingComments | STEP | . The great henchmen of satan – the beast and the false prophet – are seized and thrown into hell. Their leader, satan, still roams freely, but he is laid hold on. This happens by an angel coming down from heaven. Because satan has been cast to the earth since Revelation 12 ( ), it is necessary that an angel “comes down from heaven” to bind him. This angel holds “the key of the abyss” to shut the abyss. In Revelation 9 ( ) the key is used to open abyss to release the demons from there. Then the beast also comes up out of the abyss ( ). The angel has also “a great chain in his hand”. What he will do with that chain is told in the next verse. . This is an historic moment. There have been several historic moments, but this one is indeed a specially memorable event. The angel lays hold on him who is the cause of all misery of people because he has brought sin into the world. Then he binds him with the chain that he brought with him, so that satan will not be able to move for a thousand years. Every opportunity to deceive men with his craftiness and to drag them into destruction will be taken away from him. He will no longer be the prince of the world and the god of this age ( ; ). His rule over man is over. That he as a person with his fourfold expression – “the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan” – will be bound and shut up, indicates that he in all his variations of wickedness will be shut up and cannot manifest himself in any way. With the judgment on satan the judgments that introduced the kingdom of peace of Christ are finished. Now Christ can exercise His beneficial kingdom of peace and righteousness for man and creation. The number ‘thousand’, which appears six times in and is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture, indicates the duration of the Messianic empire. Otherwise we would not have known the duration of this empire. That’s why the expression ‘millennial’ kingdom is used. Here, for the second time, the four names for the great deceiver and enemy of God are used ( ). He is called “the dragon” because of his horribly violent and relentless performance. He is also called “the serpent of old”. That indicates the deadly cunning nature of this monster that winds itself around its prey to suffocate it and devour it. As the “devil” he is the tempter, the deceiver of men. As “Satan” he is the adversary of God. Both these characteristics – violence and lie – are the main characteristics of sin. . Satan is mighty, but not almighty. Nor is he mightier than the angel that approaches him with the authority of God, seizes him and throws him into the abyss. There is no mention of a fight, as it was the case when he was thrown out of heaven ( ). The angel works in a thorough way. After he has thrown satan into the abyss, he shuts it over him. There is no connection for satan anymore with the world above him. As an extra security the angel seals the abyss over satan. Satan will in no way be able to exercise any destructive influence on people. “The nations” here are the citizens, for the armies of these nations are killed in Har-Magedon. The sheep from these nations will enter the millennial kingdom of peace ( ). It will be a time of unprecedented peace and safety, although the heart of man will not be changed, as will become apparent when satan is released for a short time. Righteousness then reigns on earth, but does not yet dwell there. That will only be so in the eternal state ( ), when sin has been taken away of the world ( ). Men can and will still sin in the kingdom of peace, but at that time it will immediately be judged ( ; ; ). Those who will be born in the kingdom of peace and will not be born again at the end of it, will rebel against God. The wickedness of their heart will be exposed at the release of satan. To that end, this release “must” happen. This ‘must’ shows a Divine necessity. This happens “after these things”, which is after the thousand years have come to an end and not one day earlier. It is also “for a short time”, which means that he is allowed to operate as long as God determines it. It is incomprehensible that people can think that satan is now already bound and doesn’t deceive the nations any longer. There are indeed angels now already bound with chains ( ; ), but that is a totally different category. Now read Revelation 20:1-3 again. Reflection: Why will satan be bound for a thousand years?

‏ Revelation of John 20:2-3

Satan Thrown Into the Abyss

Rev 20:1. The great henchmen of satan – the beast and the false prophet – are seized and thrown into hell. Their leader, satan, still roams freely, but he is laid hold on. This happens by an angel coming down from heaven. Because satan has been cast to the earth since Revelation 12 (Rev 12:9), it is necessary that an angel “comes down from heaven” to bind him. This angel holds “the key of the abyss” to shut the abyss. In Revelation 9 (Rev 9:1) the key is used to open abyss to release the demons from there. Then the beast also comes up out of the abyss (Rev 11:7 ; Rev 17:8). The angel has also “a great chain in his hand”. What he will do with that chain is told in the next verse.

Rev 20:2. This is an historic moment. There have been several historic moments, but this one is indeed a specially memorable event. The angel lays hold on him who is the cause of all misery of people because he has brought sin into the world. Then he binds him with the chain that he brought with him, so that satan will not be able to move for a thousand years. Every opportunity to deceive men with his craftiness and to drag them into destruction will be taken away from him. He will no longer be the prince of the world and the god of this age (Jn 12:31; 2Cor 4:4). His rule over man is over.

That he as a person with his fourfold expression – “the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan” – will be bound and shut up, indicates that he in all his variations of wickedness will be shut up and cannot manifest himself in any way. With the judgment on satan the judgments that introduced the kingdom of peace of Christ are finished. Now Christ can exercise His beneficial kingdom of peace and righteousness for man and creation. The number ‘thousand’, which appears six times in Rev 20:2-7 and is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture, indicates the duration of the Messianic empire. Otherwise we would not have known the duration of this empire. That’s why the expression ‘millennial’ kingdom is used.

Here, for the second time, the four names for the great deceiver and enemy of God are used (Rev 12:9). He is called “the dragon” because of his horribly violent and relentless performance. He is also called “the serpent of old”. That indicates the deadly cunning nature of this monster that winds itself around its prey to suffocate it and devour it. As the “devil” he is the tempter, the deceiver of men. As “Satan” he is the adversary of God. Both these characteristics – violence and lie – are the main characteristics of sin.

Rev 20:3. Satan is mighty, but not almighty. Nor is he mightier than the angel that approaches him with the authority of God, seizes him and throws him into the abyss. There is no mention of a fight, as it was the case when he was thrown out of heaven (Rev 12:7).

The angel works in a thorough way. After he has thrown satan into the abyss, he shuts it over him. There is no connection for satan anymore with the world above him. As an extra security the angel seals the abyss over satan. Satan will in no way be able to exercise any destructive influence on people.

“The nations” here are the citizens, for the armies of these nations are killed in Har-Magedon. The sheep from these nations will enter the millennial kingdom of peace (Mt 25:32-34).

It will be a time of unprecedented peace and safety, although the heart of man will not be changed, as will become apparent when satan is released for a short time. Righteousness then reigns on earth, but does not yet dwell there. That will only be so in the eternal state (2Pet 3:13), when sin has been taken away of the world (Jn 1:29). Men can and will still sin in the kingdom of peace, but at that time it will immediately be judged (Psa 101:8; Isa 65:11 ; 20; Zep 3:5).

Those who will be born in the kingdom of peace and will not be born again at the end of it, will rebel against God. The wickedness of their heart will be exposed at the release of satan. To that end, this release “must” happen. This ‘must’ shows a Divine necessity. This happens “after these things”, which is after the thousand years have come to an end and not one day earlier. It is also “for a short time”, which means that he is allowed to operate as long as God determines it.

It is incomprehensible that people can think that satan is now already bound and doesn’t deceive the nations any longer. There are indeed angels now already bound with chains (2Pet 2:4; Jude 1:6), but that is a totally different category.

Now read Revelation 20:1-3 again.

Reflection: Why will satan be bound for a thousand years?