What is the meaning of Revelation 20:3? And he threw him into the Abyss • “He” points back to the angel from Revelation 20:1—sent by God, invested with “the key to the Abyss and a great chain.” • The Abyss is the same bottomless pit mentioned in Luke 8:31 and Revelation 9:1–2; 17:8—a real, God-prepared place for demonic confinement. • Satan’s being “thrown” is swift, decisive judgment; no struggle, no negotiation. God’s authority prevails instantly, just as Jesus’ word expelled demons in Mark 1:25–26. shut it • The door to this prison is closed. Finality echoes Genesis 7:16, where “the LORD shut him in” Noah’s ark—God Himself secures what He wants protected. • Once that door shuts, there is no self-release for the devil; his power is neutralized by a stronger hand (Matthew 12:29). and sealed it over him • A seal makes the confinement legally binding and tamper-proof, like Daniel 6:17 or the tomb in Matthew 27:66. • God’s seal guarantees that Satan cannot alter his sentence; Revelation 22:11 reminds us God’s decrees stand unchangeable. so that he could not deceive the nations • Deception is Satan’s signature (Revelation 12:9; John 8:44). • With the deceiver removed, truth flourishes worldwide—fulfilling Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14. • The Millennium begins with unprecedented clarity: no false religions, no counterfeit miracles, no cultural lies (2 Corinthians 4:4). until the thousand years were complete • Six times in Revelation 20 the Spirit specifies “a thousand years,” underscoring a literal span. • During this period Christ reigns on earth with resurrected saints (Revelation 20:4–6), fulfilling prophecies like Isaiah 2:3–4; Zechariah 14:9. • Creation experiences the long-promised restoration (Acts 3:19–21; Romans 8:19–22). After that, he must be released for a brief period of time • “Must” reveals divine necessity; God’s plan includes one final test (Revelation 20:7–10). • Even after a perfect thousand-year environment, some human hearts will still choose rebellion—proving sin is rooted in will, not circumstances (Jeremiah 17:9). • The brief parole also vindicates God’s justice: every soul decides whom to follow, and the last uprising ends with Satan’s eternal doom in the lake of fire. summary Revelation 20:3 promises a literal future moment when God confines Satan in the Abyss, locking and sealing that prison to end his global deception throughout Christ’s thousand-year reign. The devil’s temporary release afterward is part of God’s sovereign plan, exposing lingering human rebellion and leading to final judgment. The verse showcases God’s absolute authority, the certainty of Christ’s millennial kingdom, and the ultimate defeat of evil. |
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