Rev 20:1-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 20:1-10: 20:1-10 There are three parts to this passage: the binding of Satan (20:1-3 ), the reign of God’s holy people (20:4-6 ), and the release of Satan for his final attempt at a battle (20:7-10 ). Four themes emerge: (1) Satan’s war is futile—he cannot withstand even an angel; (2) God’s holy people will be vindicated and glorified; (3) God will have the final victory; and (4) even when sinful and depraved human beings experience Christ’s good purposes in the world, they still flock after Satan when he gains even a small amount of freedom to act. Summary for Rev 20:1-2: 20:1-2 Like the Old Testament “angel of the Lord ” (see Gen 16:7-11 ; 22:15 ; Exod 3:2 ; Num 22:22-34 ; Judg 2:1-4 ; 6:11-22 ), the angel coming down from heaven has God’s authority, symbolized by the key that controls the bottomless pit and the power to put chains on God’s great enemy (cp. Rev 12:7-9 ) for a thousand years. See thematic note for The Thousand Years (The Millennium) at end of chapter.

Summary for Rev 20:1-10: 20:1-10 ^a There are three parts to this passage: the binding of Satan (20:1-3 ^b), the reign of God’s holy people (20:4-6 ^c), and the release of Satan for his final attempt at a battle (20:7-10 ^d). Four themes emerge: (1) Satan’s war is futile—he cannot withstand even an angel; (2) God’s holy people will be vindicated and glorified; (3) God will have the final victory; and (4) even when sinful and depraved human beings experience Christ’s good purposes in the world, they still flock after Satan when he gains even a small amount of freedom to act.
Summary for Rev 20:1-2: 20:1-2 ^e Like the Old Testament “angel of the Lord” (see Gen 16:7-11 ^f; 22:15 ^g; Exod 3:2 ^h; Num 22:22-34 ⁱ; Judg 2:1-4 ^j; 6:11-22 ^k), the angel coming down from heaven has God’s authority, symbolized by the key that controls the bottomless pit and the power to put chains on God’s great enemy (cp. Rev 12:7-9 ^l) for a thousand years. See thematic note for The Thousand Years (The Millennium) at end of chapter.
20:3 ^m This incarceration, portrayed as the bottomless pit, is a preliminary defeat for Satan and the powers of evil. Various New Testament passages describe the effect of Christ’s work on Satan (Luke 10:17-20 ⁿ; Acts 10:38 ^o; 26:18 ^p; Rom 16:20 ^q; Eph 6:11 ^r; Jas 4:7 ^s; see Matt 12:24 ^t; 16:19 ^u; 18:18 ^v; John 12:31 ^w; 1 Jn 3:8 ^x). Christ’s presence with his people binds evil powers (see 2 Thes 2:7 ^y), reminding persecuted Christians that there is a future with God.

• so Satan could not deceive: Deception is the trademark of the devil, who is a liar (see John 8:44 ^z; 1 Jn 3:8 ^aa); no liar will enter heaven (Rev 21:8 ^ab, 27 ^ac; 22:15 ^ad). The faithful believers who experience Christ’s reign will not be deceived.

• The little while might be the equivalent of the symbolic three and a half years (see 11:2-3 ^ae, 9-11 ^af; 12:14 ^ag; 13:5 ^ah)—it is a limited time.
20:4 ^ai thrones ... people sitting on them: This portrayal of a heavenly tribunal includes the elders (4:4 ^aj) on thrones (see Dan 7:9-10 ^ak), the victorious martyrs (see Dan 7:22 ^al), and all God’s people.

• beheaded for ... Jesus: Beheading was a common form of execution for Roman citizens.

• The faithful who resisted receiving the mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-17 ^am) will judge the condemned (see 1 Cor 6:2-3 ^an) on thrones similar to those of the worshiping elders (see Rev 4:10-11 ^ao; 5:8-10 ^ap; 11:16 ^aq).
Summary for Rev 20:5-6: 20:5-6 ^ar John contrasts the first resurrection with the second death (see 20:12-15 ^as; cp. John 5:29 ^at).
20:6 ^au Blessed: This fifth blessing of Revelation (see also 1:3 ^av; 14:13 ^aw; 16:15 ^ax; 19:9 ^ay; 22:7 ^az, 14 ^ba) focuses on the promised reward of life. God’s faithful people (20:4 ^bb) will reign with Christ as priests of God (see also 1:6 ^bc; 5:10 ^bd).