The Meaning of Revelation 20:3 Explained

Revelation 20:3

KJV: 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.

YLT: and he cast him to the abyss, and did shut him up, and put a seal upon him, that he may not lead astray the nations any more, till the thousand years may be finished; and after these it behoveth him to be loosed a little time.

Darby: and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should not any more deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be loosed for a little time.

ASV: and cast him into the abyss, and shut it , and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Revelation 20:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The angel will throw Satan into the abyss and then shut and seal the opening to it to guarantee that he will not escape (cf. Daniel 6:17; Matthew 27:66). This action assures his confinement, but it does not specify that he will suffer otherwise. Satan will not have access to the earth but abide in the abyss (bottomless pit, Revelation 9:1-2; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 13:4; Revelation 13:7; Revelation 17:8) throughout the Millennium. His confinement will preclude his deceiving the nations, which he had been doing ( Revelation 13:14; Revelation 16:13-14).
The nations in view will be the descendants of mortal believers who do not die during the Great Tribulation but live on in the Millennium ( Revelation 11:13; Revelation 12:13-17). All unbelievers will evidently perish when Christ returns to the earth ( Revelation 19:19-21). Life spans will be much longer in the Millennium ( Isaiah 65:20), so the earth"s population will increase rapidly, as was the case before the Flood. The children who are born during the Millennium will need to believe on Jesus Christ for salvation, and some of them will not do so. This group will probably constitute the unbelievers whom Satan leads in rebellion at the end of the Millennium ( Revelation 20:8-9). God will release Satan out of divine necessity (Gr. dei) to fulfill His plans after the thousand years. White argued that the epic ideology of victory over the dragon followed by house-building constitutes a fundamental hermeneutical paradigm for the historical-grammatical, yet non-literal interpretation of Revelation 20:1-3. [1] Perspective," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society42:1 (March1999):53-66.]
"The final answer as to why God sees this as a necessity with its fruition in another rebellion is hidden in the counsels of God (cf. Revelation 1:1; Revelation 4:1; Isaiah 55:8; Mark 8:31; Mark 13:7; Luke 24:26; Luke 24:44) ... Yet one purpose may be a partial answer. Through his release the whole universe will see that after the thousand years of his imprisonment and an ideal reign on earth, Satan is incurably wicked and men"s hearts are still perverse enough to allow him to gather an army of such an immense size." [2]

Context Summary

Revelation 20:1-6 - The Millennial Reign
In the preceding chapter the beast and the false prophet are depicted as meeting their punishment in the lake of fire. In this, the devil, death, and Hades are consigned to a similar fate. The imagery is apparently drawn from that fearful tragedy which left so deep an impression on the ancient world. See Genesis 14:10; Genesis 19:24; Judges 1:7. The last reference is especially interesting, because there the fate of the cities of the plain is quoted as an example of eternal fire. May it be ours to participate in the first resurrection!
Let our loins be girded and our lamps trimmed, that we may be found of Christ in peace, at our posts, and prepare to enter with Him into the bridal feast. This is a more solemn and critical consideration than the majority of Christians seem to suppose. In fellowship with their Lord, His people are to exert in a godly direction the same kind of influence over the affairs of men, as the rulers of darkness in an ungodly sense now exercise. Thank God, every morning brings that blessed day nearer. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 20

1  Satan bound for a thousand years
6  The first resurrection;
7  Satan let loose again
8  Gog and Magog
10  The demons cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
11  The last and general resurrection

Greek Commentary for Revelation 20:3

Into the abyss [εις την αβυσσον]
The one in Revelation 9:1. and the one spoken of by the legion of demons in Luke 8:31 under the charge of the angel of the abyss (Apollyon, Revelation 9:11) who is either Satan himself or a kindred power. “Already he has been cast out of Heaven (Revelation 12:9), now he is cast out of the earth, and returns to his own place” (Swete). [source]
Shut it and sealed it [εκλεισεν και εσπραγισεν]
Effective first aorists active indicative of κλειω — kleiō and σπραγιζω — sphragizō he should deceive no more Negative purpose clause with ινα μη — hina mē and the first aorist active subjunctive of πλαναω — planaō Glorious relief after the strain of the previous visions of conflict. Small wonder that Christians today cherish this blessed hope whatever the actual meaning may be.Until should be finished (αχρι τελεστηι — achri telesthēi). Temporal clause of future purpose with αχρι — achri (as a conjunction like εως — heōs) and the first aorist passive subjunctive of τελεω — teleō Repeated in Revelation 20:5 and see αχρι — achri and the subjunctive in Revelation 7:3; Revelation 15:8.He must be loosed Sad necessity, alas, with δει — dei and the first aorist passive infinitive of λυω — luō a little time Accusative of time. Whatever the thousand years means, it is here said plainly that after it is over the devil will again have power on earth “for a little time.” [source]
Until should be finished [αχρι τελεστηι]
Temporal clause of future purpose with αχρι — achri (as a conjunction like εως — heōs) and the first aorist passive subjunctive of τελεω — teleō Repeated in Revelation 20:5 and see αχρι — achri and the subjunctive in Revelation 7:3; Revelation 15:8. [source]
He must be loosed [δει λυτηναι]
Sad necessity, alas, with δει — dei and the first aorist passive infinitive of λυω — luō a little time Accusative of time. Whatever the thousand years means, it is here said plainly that after it is over the devil will again have power on earth “for a little time.” [source]
Sealed []
See on John 3:33. [source]
Must [δεῖ]
According to God's purpose. See on Matthew 16:21; see on Luke 2:49; see on Luke 24:26. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 20:3

Luke 8:31 Into the abyss [εις την αβυσσον]
Rare old word common in lxx from α — a privative and βατς — bathūs (deep). So bottomless place (supply χωρα — chōra). The deep sea in Genesis 1:2; Genesis 7:11. The common receptacle of the dead in Romans 10:7 and especially the abode of demons as here and Revelation 9:1-11; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:1, Revelation 20:3. [source]
1 John 1:8 We deceive ourselves [ἑαυτοὺς πλανῶμεν]
Lit., we lead ourselves astray. See on Mark 7:24; see on Matthew 27:63, Matthew 27:64; see on Judges 1:13. Not only do we err, we are responsible for it. The phrase only here in the New Testament. For the verb as applied to deceivers of various kinds, see Matthew 24:4; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 13:14; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:3. Compare πλάνοι deceivers(2 John 1:7); πλάνη error(Judges 1:11; 1 John 4:6). [source]
Revelation 22:10 Seal [σφραγίσῃς]
Rev., seal up. This word occurs eighteen times in Revelation and twice in the Gospel, and only five times elsewhere in the New Testament. It means to confirm or attest (John 3:33); to close up for security (Matthew 27:66; Revelation 20:3); to hide or keep secret (Revelation 10:4; Revelation 22:10); to mark a person or thing (Revelation 7:3; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30) [source]
Revelation 2:25 Hold fast [κρατησατε]
First aorist active imperative of κρατεω — krateō either ingressive (get a grip on) or constative (hold on as a single decisive effort). See present imperative κρατει — kratei in Revelation 3:11 (keep on holding).Till I come (αχρι ου αν ηχω — achri hou an hēxō). Indefinite temporal clause with αχρι ου — achri hou (until which time) with modal αν — an and either the future active indicative or the first aorist active subjunctive of ηκω — hēkō (usual idiom with αχρι — achri in Revelation as in Revelation 7:3; Revelation 15:8; Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:5). [source]
Revelation 2:25 Till I come [αχρι ου αν ηχω]
Indefinite temporal clause with αχρι ου — achri hou (until which time) with modal αν — an and either the future active indicative or the first aorist active subjunctive of ηκω — hēkō (usual idiom with αχρι — achri in Revelation as in Revelation 7:3; Revelation 15:8; Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:5). [source]
Revelation 20:7 Shall be loosed [λυτησεται]
Future passive of λυω — luō no longer bound as in Revelation 20:2. He uses the future as a prophet in Revelation 20:7, Revelation 20:8, but in Revelation 20:9, and Revelation 20:10 he uses the aorist as a seer.Out of his prison (εκ της πυλακης αυτου — ek tēs phulakēs autou). For πυλακη — phulakē in this sense see Revelation 2:10. Out of the abyss of Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:3. [source]
Revelation 20:7 Out of his prison [εκ της πυλακης αυτου]
For πυλακη — phulakē in this sense see Revelation 2:10. Out of the abyss of Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:3. [source]
Revelation 20:8 To deceive the nations [πλανησαι τα ετνη]
First aorist active infinitive of purpose of πλαναω — planaō Satan‘s chief task (chapter 12 to chapter 18, in particular Revelation 12:9; Revelation 13:14; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:10). [source]
Revelation 20:10 Was cast [εβλητη]
First aorist (prophetic, affective) passive indicative of βαλλω — ballō (Revelation 20:3). [source]
Revelation 6:11 That they should rest [ινα αναπαυσονται]
Sub-final clause with ινα — hina and the future indicative (as in Revelation 3:9; Revelation 6:4) middle rather than the aorist middle subjunctive αναπαυσωνται — anapausōntai of Aleph C.Yet for a little time (ετι χρονον μικρον — eti chronon mikron). Accusative of extension of time as in Revelation 20:3. Perhaps rest from their cry for vengeance and also rest in peace (Revelation 14:13). For the verb αναπαυω — anapauō see note on Matthew 11:28.Until should be fulfilled Future indefinite temporal clause with εως — heōs and the first aorist passive subjunctive of πληροω — plēroō to fill full (Matthew 23:32; Colossians 2:10), “until be filled full” (the number of), regular Greek idiom.Which should be killed (οι μελλοντες αποκτεννεσται — hoi mellontes apoktennesthai). Regular construction of articular present active participle of μελλω — mellō (about to be, going to be) with the present passive infinitive of αποκτεννω — apoktennō Aeolic and late form for αποκτεινω — apokteinō to kill (also in Mark 12:5). John foresees more persecution coming (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:10). [source]
Revelation 6:11 Yet for a little time [ετι χρονον μικρον]
Accusative of extension of time as in Revelation 20:3. Perhaps rest from their cry for vengeance and also rest in peace (Revelation 14:13). For the verb αναπαυω — anapauō see note on Matthew 11:28. [source]
Revelation 7:3 Till we shall have sealed [αχρι σπραγισωμεν]
Temporal clause of indefinite action for the future with αχρι — achri (sometimes αχρις ου — achris hou or αχρις ου αν — achris hou an) and the aorist subjunctive as in Revelation 15:8; Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:5 or the future indicative (Revelation 17:7), usually with the notion of ascent (up to) rather than extent like μεχρι — mechri (modal) sometimes occurs, but it is not necessary. But there is no futurum exactum idea in the aorist subjunctive, simply “till we seal,” not “till we shall have sealed.”Upon their foreheads (επι των μετωπων — epi tōn metōpōn). From Ezekiel 9:4. Old word (μετα ωπς — metaτους δουλους του τεου — ōps after the eye, above the eye, the space above or between the eyes), in N.T. only in the Apocalypse (Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 13:16; Revelation 14:1, Revelation 14:9; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 22:4). For “the servants of God” (tous doulous tou theou) who are to be thus marked linked with angels in the service of God see Revelation 1:1; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 19:2, Revelation 19:5; Revelation 22:3, Revelation 22:6. [source]
Revelation 9:1 Fallen [πεπτωκοτα]
Perfect active participle of πιπτω — piptō already down. In Luke 10:18 note πεσοντα — pesonta (constative aorist active, like a flash of lightning) after ετεωρουν — etheōroun and in Revelation 7:2 note αναβαινοντα — anabainonta (present active and linear, coming up, picturing the process) after ειδον — eidon the pit of the abyss Αβυσσος — Abussos is an old adjective (alpha privative and βυτος — buthos depth, without depth), but η αβυσσος — hē abussos (supply χωρα — chōra place), the bottomless place. It occurs in Romans 10:7 for the common receptacle of the dead for Hades (Sheol), but in Luke 8:31 a lower depth is sounded (Swete), for the abode of demons, and in this sense it occurs in Revelation 9:1, Revelation 9:2, Revelation 9:11; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:1, Revelation 20:3. Πρεαρ — Phrear is an old word for well or cistern (Luke 14:5; John 4:11.) and it occurs in Revelation 9:1. for the mouth of the abyss which is pictured as a cistern with a narrow orifice at the entrance and this fifth angel holds the key to it. [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 20:3 mean?

And he cast him into the Abyss shut sealed [it] over him so that not he should deceive any longer the nations until were completed the thousand years After these things it is necessary for to be released for a little time
καὶ ἔβαλεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἔκλεισεν ἐσφράγισεν ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ ἵνα μὴ πλανήσῃ ἔτι τὰ ἔθνη ἄχρι τελεσθῇ τὰ χίλια ἔτη μετὰ ταῦτα δεῖ λυθῆναι μικρὸν χρόνον

ἔβαλεν  he  cast 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: βάλλω 
Sense: to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἄβυσσον  Abyss 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἄβυσσος  
Sense: bottomless.
ἔκλεισεν  shut 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κλείω  
Sense: to shut, shut up.
ἐσφράγισεν  sealed  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: σφραγίζω  
Sense: to set a seal upon, mark with a seal, to seal.
ἐπάνω  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπάνω  
Sense: above.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
πλανήσῃ  he  should  deceive 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πλανάω  
Sense: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.
ἔτι  any  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
ἔθνη  nations 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
ἄχρι  until 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἄχρι  
Sense: until, unto, etc.
τελεσθῇ  were  completed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: τελέω  
Sense: to bring to a close, to finish, to end.
χίλια  thousand 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: χίλιοι  
Sense: a thousand.
ἔτη  years 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔτος  
Sense: year.
μετὰ  After  these 
Parse: Preposition
Root: μετά  
Sense: with, after, behind.
ταῦτα  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
δεῖ  it  is  necessary  for 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δεῖ  
Sense: it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper.
λυθῆναι  to  be  released 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Passive
Root: λύω  
Sense: to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened.
μικρὸν  for  a  little 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: μικρός  
Sense: small, little.
χρόνον  time 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: χρόνος  
Sense: time either long or short.