Revelation 20 1

Revelation 20:1 kjv

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

Revelation 20:1 nkjv

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

Revelation 20:1 niv

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.

Revelation 20:1 esv

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.

Revelation 20:1 nlt

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand.

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 1 Meaning

Revelation 20:1 describes John's prophetic vision of a powerful angel descending from heaven with the authority to restrain Satan. This angel possesses the key to the bottomless pit and a massive chain, symbolizing the absolute power given by God to confine Satan for a thousand years, preventing him from deceiving the nations during Christ's millennial reign. It marks a pivotal moment where the ultimate triumph of God's sovereignty over the forces of evil is visibly manifested.

Revelation 20 1 Context

Revelation 20:1 marks a crucial transition in John's apocalyptic vision, immediately following the definitive defeat of the Beast and the False Prophet, who were cast into the lake of fire in Revelation 19. This verse introduces the next stage of God's redemptive plan: the binding of Satan.

The broader context is the ongoing struggle between God and His kingdom, and Satan and his worldly powers, leading to the ultimate establishment of Christ's reign. Historically, first-century believers endured severe Roman persecution, leading them to question when God's justice would finally prevail and when peace would be established. This verse provides an answer to that longing by depicting the removal of the primary source of deception and evil, preparing the way for a time of peace and righteousness under Christ's direct rule, known as the Millennium (Rev 20:4-6). It is a divine intervention ensuring that Satan, the great deceiver, cannot corrupt the nations during this period of peace before the final judgment.

Revelation 20 1 Word analysis

• Then: Signifies a chronological progression in the prophetic events, directly following the judgment of the Beast and False Prophet, emphasizing the logical sequence of God's plan.
• I saw: John's characteristic visionary language, underscoring that these events are divinely revealed insights rather than earthly observations.
• an angel: (Greek: angelon) A singular, powerful angelic being, divinely commissioned for this specific, momentous task. While some theories consider this to be Christ, the text identifies Him as an "angel" (messenger/emissary), suggesting a distinct being acting as God's agent, performing a function beneath the supreme authority of Christ Himself. This highlights the delegated, authoritative power that God invests in His heavenly hosts.
• coming down from heaven: (Greek: ouranou) Emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the angel's mission. The action is initiated from God's dwelling place, indicating an unassailable and omnipotent power at work. It denotes a tangible manifestation of heaven's direct intervention in earthly affairs.
• holding: Implies active possession and immediate control, suggesting the angel is fully equipped and ready to execute the assigned task.
• the key: (Greek: kleida) A potent symbol of ultimate authority, permission, and the power to unlock or lock. In this context, it signifies the angel's granted dominion over the entrance and exit of the bottomless pit, ensuring no unauthorized access or escape. This "key" represents God's sovereign control over even the places of cosmic imprisonment.
• to the bottomless pit: (Greek: abyssou) Refers to the "abyss" or "deep place." This is not the lake of fire (which is the final, eternal punishment) but a specific temporary prison for certain evil spirits and Satan, mentioned elsewhere as a place of confinement dreaded by demons. It is a deep, desolate realm of chaotic darkness and imprisonment.
• and a great chain: (Greek: halysin megalen) A literal and symbolic instrument of binding. The term "great" signifies its immense strength and unbreakability, illustrating the irresistibility of the power used to restrain Satan. It's not a mere binding, but one that is absolute and divinely enforced, ensuring complete incapacitation for his intended purpose during the Millennium.
• in his hand: Locates the authority and instrument of binding directly within the angel's immediate control and physical execution, signifying that the task is performed with direct, unwavering, and personal power.

Words-group analysis:

• "an angel coming down from heaven, holding...": This phrase collectively conveys the divine sanction and heavenly origin of the action. It's a divine appointment for a precise and powerful task, executed with instruments symbolizing irresistible authority.
• "the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand": These elements together portray the angel's dual instruments of absolute control over Satan's temporary prison. The "key" represents judicial authority to imprison and release, while the "great chain" symbolizes the unbreakable physical restraint, ensuring the secure containment of the enemy.

Revelation 20 1 Bonus section

The identity of the "bottomless pit" is key for understanding this passage. It's consistently presented in Revelation and elsewhere in the Bible (e.g., Lk 8:31, 2 Pet 2:4) as a distinct, temporary place of confinement for specific demonic beings and ultimately Satan, separate from Gehenna (the lake of fire) which is the eternal, final destination of the wicked. This distinction clarifies that Satan's confinement here is preparatory to his ultimate doom, not his final judgment. The fact that an angel is seen doing the binding (rather than Christ directly) highlights the structured and hierarchical nature of God's administration over the cosmos, demonstrating that His will can be executed through His chosen instruments with overwhelming power. The very existence of this chain and key indicates that Satan's power is finite and subject to God's control, even when he seems to operate freely in the world.

Revelation 20 1 Commentary

Revelation 20:1 describes a pivotal and decisive moment in God's plan of judgment and redemption. After the destruction of the Beast and False Prophet, attention shifts to Satan, the ultimate orchestrator of evil. The visual of a powerful angel descending from heaven with the key to the abyss and a massive chain underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all spiritual powers, even the prince of darkness. This binding is not a minor event; it directly precedes and enables the millennial reign of Christ by removing Satan's ability to deceive and stir up nations against God. It emphasizes that no power, angelic or demonic, can thwart God's will. The very place of demonic dread (the abyss) is subject to God's decree, and Satan, who once walked about as a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour, is rendered powerless by God's delegated authority. This verse brings immense comfort and assurance to believers: even the greatest adversary will be definitively dealt with according to God's timing and method. It's a preview of the complete victory that awaits, ensuring a period of peace on Earth when evil's greatest tempter is removed from influence.