Revelation 20:2 kjv
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Revelation 20:2 nkjv
He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
Revelation 20:2 niv
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:2 esv
And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
Revelation 20:2 nlt
He seized the dragon ? that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan ? and bound him in chains for a thousand years.
Revelation 20 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:1-15 | The serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field... | Identifies "ancient serpent" as the deceiver. |
| Job 1:6-12 | One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. | Satan as adversary and accuser. |
| Zech 3:1-2 | Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. | Satan as accuser of God's people. |
| 1 Chron 21:1 | Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. | Satan as an inciter to sin. |
| Lk 10:18 | He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." | Pre-existence and fall of Satan. |
| Jn 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth... | Devil as father of lies, murderer. |
| Mt 12:29 | Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? | Principle of binding the enemy. |
| Mk 3:27 | But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man... | Binding a powerful foe before overcoming him. |
| Rom 16:20 | The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. | Future, ultimate crushing of Satan. |
| Heb 2:14 | ...that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil... | Christ's victory over the devil. |
| 2 Cor 11:3 | But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray... | Links serpent to deceit of Eve. |
| Rev 9:11 | They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. | Angel of the abyss/bottomless pit. |
| Rev 12:3-9 | And a great red dragon... that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth... | Direct identification of dragon, serpent, devil, Satan. |
| Rev 12:10 | ...for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. | Satan's role as accuser ceased after his expulsion from heaven. |
| Rev 19:20 | And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet... | Capture of key adversaries before Satan. |
| Isa 24:21-22 | And in that day the Lord will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. They will be gathered together as prisoners... | Imprisonment of cosmic evil. |
| 2 Pet 2:4 | For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness... | Divine judgment and restraint of rebellious spirits. |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness... | Rebellious angels reserved for judgment. |
| Rev 20:1 | Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. | Direct context of the angel's power and tools. |
| Rev 20:3 | and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. | Purpose and duration of the binding. |
| Rev 20:7 | And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison... | Temporary nature of the binding. |
Revelation 20 verses
Revelation 20 2 Meaning
Revelation 20:2 describes a mighty angel's definitive act of seizing and binding the arch-enemy of God and humanity. This entity is identified with a progression of names: "the dragon" (referring to his fearsome power), "that ancient serpent" (linking him to the primal deception in Eden), and explicitly "who is the devil, or Satan" (identifying his character as slanderer and adversary). This multifaceted identification underscores the single identity of the malevolent spiritual being. The angel binds him for a period of a thousand years, rendering him inactive and unable to deceive the nations during this time.
Revelation 20 2 Context
Revelation chapter 20 is situated after the complete destruction of Babylon (Rev 17-18) and the decisive defeat of the Beast and the False Prophet at the battle of Armageddon (Rev 19). The scene shifts from terrestrial conflict to cosmic judgment of the spiritual force behind human evil. Verse 2 specifically describes the commencement of the "thousand years," a unique period in biblical prophecy. It establishes the critical condition for the subsequent events of this millennium: the incapacitation of Satan, preventing him from deceiving the nations. This context is crucial as it portrays God systematically dismantling all powers opposing His rule, starting from political/economic systems, then religious deception, and finally, the mastermind of all evil, Satan himself.
Revelation 20 2 Word analysis
- He seized (ἐκράτησεν - ekratēsen): An aorist active indicative verb, denoting a swift, decisive, and forceful action. It signifies total control and capture, not a partial restraint.
- the dragon (τὸν δράκοντα - ton drakonta): Refers directly to the monstrous, red, seven-headed beast introduced in Rev 12:3, the primary symbol of satanic power and hostility towards God and His people in Revelation.
- that ancient serpent (ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος - ho ophis ho archaios): "Serpent" (ophis) explicitly links this figure back to Gen 3, where the serpent first deceived humanity. "Ancient" (archaios) emphasizes his primordial existence and enduring nature as the primal adversary throughout history.
- who is the devil (ὅς ἐστιν Διάβολος - hos estin Diabolos): "Devil" (Diabolos) is a Greek term meaning "slanderer" or "accuser." This identifies his primary function and character as the one who maligns God's character and God's people.
- or Satan (καὶ ὁ Σατανᾶς - kai ho Satanas): "Satan" (Satanas) is a Hebrew word meaning "adversary" or "opponent." This name further specifies his role as the arch-enemy of God and humanity, acting as the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10). The dual identification leaves no ambiguity as to the identity of the being captured.
- and bound him (καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτόν - kai edēsen auton): "Bound" (edēsen) is also an aorist active indicative, showing a completed and effective action. This indicates a physical or effective restraint that renders him powerless to carry out his prior activities, specifically the deception of the nations mentioned in the next verse.
- for a thousand years (χίλια ἔτη - chilia etē): This specifies the exact duration of Satan's binding. While the interpretation of this period varies among Christian views (literal vs. symbolic, pre-, a-, post-millennial), in this context, it unequivocally signifies a distinct and extended period during which Satan's influence is completely curtailed.
Revelation 20 2 Bonus section
The chaining and sealing of Satan in the "bottomless pit" (Rev 20:3, previously mentioned in Rev 9:11 as the abode of Abaddon/Apollyon) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of his confinement. This isn't just a reduction in power but a complete removal from active influence in the world for the specified period. The angel executing this act is presented with immense authority, indicating divine authorization. The specific aim, stated in the next verse, "so that he might not deceive the nations any longer," underscores that Satan's primary weapon throughout history has been deception, leading humanity astray from God. His binding is thus essential for a period of unparalleled truth and spiritual clarity on Earth.
Revelation 20 2 Commentary
Revelation 20:2 is pivotal for understanding the coming kingdom of Christ on earth, depicting the dramatic incapacitation of the chief architect of evil. The precise and cumulative identification of "the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan" ensures that there is no misunderstanding regarding who is being bound. This is not just a general evil spirit, but the very same entity responsible for the Fall in Eden and for countless deceptions throughout history. The act of "seizing" and "binding" implies absolute divine authority and power over this formidable spiritual foe, highlighting that Satan's activity is never outside of God's sovereign control. His imprisonment for "a thousand years" signifies a definite period during which he will be rendered unable to deceive the nations. This establishes the necessary spiritual conditions for the subsequent establishment of the millennial kingdom, marked by truth and peace without the widespread spiritual deception orchestrated by Satan. The temporary nature of his binding also sets the stage for his final, brief release and ultimate judgment, fulfilling the cosmic battle narrative.