Rev 20:2-3 | TNotes

20:3 ^a 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 ^b; Acts 10:38 ^c; 26:18 ^d; Rom 16:20 ^e; Eph 6:11 ^f; Jas 4:7 ^g; see Matt 12:24 ^h; 16:19 ⁱ; 18:18 ^j; John 12:31 ^k; 1 Jn 3:8 ^l). Christ’s presence with his people binds evil powers (see 2 Thes 2:7 ^m), 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 ⁿ; 1 Jn 3:8 ^o); no liar will enter heaven (Rev 21:8 ^p, 27 ^q; 22:15 ^r). 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 ^s, 9-11 ^t; 12:14 ^u; 13:5 ^v)—it is a limited time.