Revelation 20:1

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

And {G2532} I saw {G1492} an angel {G32} come down {G2597} from {G1537} heaven {G3772}, having {G2192} the key {G2807} of the bottomless pit {G12} and {G2532} a great {G3173} chain {G254} in {G1909} his {G846} hand {G5495}.

Next I saw an angel coming down from heaven, who had the key to the Abyss and a great chain in his hand.

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

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

Commentary

Revelation 20:1 opens a significant new phase in the prophetic narrative, describing a powerful angel descending from heaven to restrain Satan, setting the stage for the thousand-year reign of Christ.

Context of Revelation 20:1

This verse immediately follows the climactic battle and the decisive defeat of the beast and the false prophet, as detailed in Revelation 19. With the primary human and demonic agents of evil removed from the scene, the focus shifts to the ultimate source of spiritual rebellion: Satan himself. Revelation 20:1 initiates the process of binding him, which is a prerequisite for the millennial kingdom, a period of peace and righteousness on earth.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Authority Over Evil: The angel's possession of the "key of the bottomless pit" and a "great chain" powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty and control over all spiritual forces. This imagery assures believers that even the most formidable adversary, Satan, is entirely subject to divine will and can be bound at God's command.
  • The Binding of Satan: This act is crucial for understanding the subsequent events of the Millennium. It signifies a complete, albeit temporary, cessation of Satan's ability to deceive and incite rebellion among the nations. This binding is a direct divine intervention, preventing the widespread evil and deception that have characterized human history, fulfilling the promise of a time when the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4) will be removed from influence.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bottomless pit" is translated from the Greek word abyssos (ἄβυσσος), meaning "abyss" or "boundless." In the New Testament, this term often refers to a deep, dark, and immeasurable chasm, frequently associated with the temporary prison for demonic spirits or the place of restraint for Satan. The "key" (Greek kleis, κλεῖς) symbolizes authority to open or close, emphasizing the angel's delegated power from God. The "great chain" (Greek halysis megale, ἅλυσις μεγάλη) underscores the substantial and effective nature of the restraint placed upon Satan, ensuring his inability to escape or operate during his confinement.

Practical Application and Significance

Revelation 20:1 provides immense hope and comfort for believers. It reinforces the truth that God is ultimately in control of all things, even the darkest forces of evil. While Satan currently "walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8), his power is limited and his end is certain. This verse anticipates a future era of peace and righteousness, demonstrating that God's plan for redemption includes not only salvation for humanity but also the decisive defeat and removal of evil's primary instigator. It reminds us that every act of divine judgment and restraint serves to bring about God's perfect will and the ultimate establishment of His eternal kingdom.

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Cross-References

  • Revelation 1:18 (9 votes)

    [I am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

  • 2 Peter 2:4 (6 votes)

    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

  • Jude 1:6 (4 votes)

    And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

  • Revelation 9:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

  • Revelation 9:2 (4 votes)

    And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

  • Revelation 10:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

  • Revelation 18:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.