Revelation 20:1

Translations

Modern

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

Traditional

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

Literal

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

Latin

Et vidi angelum descendentem de cælo, habentem clavem abyssi, et catenam magnam in manu sua.

Original

Greek

English

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

Notes

Revelation 20:1–2

Like the Old Testament angel of the LORD (see Genesis 16:7–11; 22:15; Exodus 3:2; Numbers 22:22–34; Judges 2:1–4; 6:11–22), the angel coming down from heaven has God's authority. This is symbolized by the key that controls the bottomless pit and the power to chain God's great enemy (see Revelation 12:7–9) for a thousand years.

See the "The Thousand Years (The Millennium)" Theme Note.

Revelation 20:1–10

This passage has three parts:

the binding of Satan (Revelation 20:1–3),
the reign of God’s holy people (Revelation 20:4–6), and
Satan's release for a final battle attempt (Revelation 20:7–10).

Four themes emerge:

Satan's war is pointless—he cannot resist even an angel;
God’s holy people will be justified and honored;
God will achieve the final victory; and
even when sinful people experience Christ’s good purposes, they still follow Satan when he gains some freedom to act.

Revelation 19:11–20:15

The drama reaches its peak: God's enemies face defeat and punishment in two episodes (Revelation 19:11–21; 20:7–10). Meanwhile, the faithful enjoy a 1,000-year resurrection (Revelation 20:1–6) followed by the final judgment (20:11–15).

Theme notes and profiles

Adam and Eve Angels God as Holy Warrior God or Satan? God’s Promised Kingdom Jesus and Satan Resurrection in the Old Testament The Day of the Lord The Thousand Years (The Millennium) Visions

Related verses

Revelation 1:18
…the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
Jude 1:6
And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.
Revelation 9:1–2
Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the Abyss.
Revelation 10:1
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.
Revelation 18:1
After this I saw another angel descending from heaven with great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his glory.
Luke 8:31
And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

Glossary

Amillennialism Book of Revelation Bottomless Pit Eschatology Hades Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven Lucifer Magog Millennium Place of the Dead

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Functions of Medium of Revelation to Prophets Chains: Figurative Jesus, the Christ: Prophecies Concerning Universality of the Kingdom of Key: A Symbol of Authority Keys Millennium: General Scriptures Concerning Pit: The Bottomless Pit Satan: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Satan's Fall The Serpent Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: Satan Bound for One-Thousand Years Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Thrones of Judgment

Revelation 20:1

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?