Revelation 20:3
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's striking here is the thoroughness of Satan's confinement. It's not just that he's thrown into a pit, but it's shut and sealed over him. This isn't a temporary measure of containment, but an act of complete security, indicating a significant, divinely-ordained silencing of his deceptive influence.
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. After that he must be released for a little while.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the defeat of the beast and the false prophet, an angel binds Satan and throws him into the abyss, sealing it to prevent him from deceiving the nations. This confinement will last for a thousand years, a period of peace and righteousness on earth. However, after this millennium, Satan will be released for a short time before his final judgment.
Imagine the ultimate deceiver, bound and silenced. What does this 'sealing' truly signify?
The verse describes Satan being cast into the abyss, locked and sealed. This imagery isn't just about physical confinement, but about a drastic reduction of his ability to operate.
A Restrained Influence
This binding signifies a period where Satan's power to deceive the nations is significantly curtailed. It's not that evil completely vanishes from the earth, but his primary weapon – deception – is rendered largely ineffective on a global scale. Think of it as a divine lockdown on his manipulative schemes.
Divine Authority and Security
The locking and sealing are acts of divine authority, ensuring that his influence is completely neutralized for a specific period. This sealing serves as a guarantee, preventing any unauthorized release or continued deceit. It emphasizes God's sovereign control, even over the ultimate adversary.
Why would God allow the deceiver to be 'loosed' again, even for a short time?
The prophecy clearly states that after the thousand years, Satan 'must be released for a little while.' This isn't an oversight or a failure of God's plan, but a deliberate step within it.
A Final, Fierce Rebellion
This temporary release serves as a final, desperate act of rebellion by Satan. It's his last stand, a concentrated effort to rally forces against God's people and purposes before his ultimate and eternal defeat.
Ask a follow-up
Testing and Vindication
This period also acts as a test for those who have lived through the preceding era of peace and righteousness. It demonstrates that human hearts can still turn away from God, even after experiencing His reign. The subsequent defeat of Satan during this brief period serves to further vindicate God's justice and power, leaving no doubt about the final outcome.
Understand the original words
planaō · Greek Verb
The act of leading people into error, specifically regarding spiritual truth, often involving trickery or false appearances to turn people away from the Gospel.
This passage describes a stone being sealed over a den where Daniel was placed, similar to how Satan is sealed in the pit to prevent further action.
Matthew 27:66The Jewish authorities sealed the tomb of Jesus, just as Satan's prison is sealed, to prevent deception and ensure the status quo.
Luke 24:26This verse speaks of the suffering of the Christ as a necessary step before his glory, paralleling the temporary release of Satan after a period of peace.
Ephesians 2:2This passage refers to Satan as the 'prince of the power of the air,' highlighting his deceptive influence over the nations, which is curtailed during the thousand years.
Revelation 12:9Revelation 12:9 states that Satan, the deceiver, is cast down to earth and his angels with him, which is a picture of his power being diminished and ultimately contained.
ellicottRevelation 20:3: "And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
(3) And cast him into the bottomless pit . . . —Rather, and cast him into the abyss (same word as in Revelation 20:1 ), and locked and sealed ( the door or mouth ) above him, that he may not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years shall have been…
barnesRevelation 20:3: "And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
And cast him into the bottomless pit - See the notes on Revelation 9:1 . A state of peace and prosperity would exist as if Satan, the great disturber, were confined in the nether world as a prisoner. And shut him up - Closed the massive doors of the dark prison…
What's striking here is the thoroughness of Satan's confinement. It's not just that he's thrown into a pit, but it's shut and sealed over him. This isn't a temporary measure of containment, but an act of complete security, indicating a significant, divinely-ordained silencing of his deceptive influence.
Following the defeat of the beast and the false prophet, an angel binds Satan and throws him into the abyss, sealing it to prevent him from deceiving the nations. This confinement will last for a thousand years, a period of peace and righteousness on earth. However, after this millennium, Satan will be released for a short time before his final judgment.
Following the defeat of the beast and the false prophet, an angel binds Satan and throws him into the abyss, sealing it to prevent him from deceiving the nations. This confinement will last for a thousand years, a period of peace and righteousness on earth. However, after this millennium, Satan will be released for a short time before his final judgment.
"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. After that he must be released for a little while." — What's striking here is the thoroughness of Satan's confinement. It's not just that he's thrown into a pit, but it's shut and sealed over him. This isn't a temporary measure of containment, but an…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
