Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:2-3

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan. These titles are an exact repetition of Revelation 12:9 (which see). And bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit . The abyss, as we have seen (on Revelation 12:1 ), is the present abode of Satan; the act of binding, therefore, is now over. This fact opposes the interpretation which makes "the thousand years" yet in the future. When, then, did this binding take place? Only one... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 20:1

And I saw an angel come down from heaven - Compare the notes on Revelation 10:1. He does not say whether this angel had appeared to him before, but the impression is rather that it was a different one. The whole character of the composition of the book leads us to suppose that different angels were employed to make these communications to John, and that, in fact, in the progress of things disclosed in the book, he had contact with a considerable number of the heavenly inhabitants. The scene... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 20:2

And he laid hold on - Seized him by violence - ἐκράτησεν ekratēsen. The word denotes “the employment of strength” or “force”; and it implies that he had power superior to that of the dragon. Compare Matthew 14:3; Matthew 18:28; Matthew 21:46; Matthew 22:6; Matthew 26:4. We can at once see the propriety of the use of this word in this connection. The great enemy to be bound has himself mighty power, and can be overcome only by a superior. This may teach us that it is only a power from heaven... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 20:1-3

Revelation 20:1-3. And I saw an angel An especial minister of Providence; come down from heaven With a commission from God; having the key of the bottomless pit Invested with power to open or to shut it; see on Revelation 9:1; and a great chain in his hand Emblematical of his power to perform the work here assigned him. And he laid hold on the dragon Who, after the destruction of the beast and of the false prophet, (to whom he had delegated his power,) still remained; that old... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 20:1-3

19:11-20:15 THE TRIUMPH OF GODUp till now the visions have mainly been concerned with the power of evil and the sufferings of believers. Persecuted Christians have been encouraged to endure their trials by the assurance that God is still in control. He guards his people, allowing the wicked to exercise their power only within the limits that he has set according to his eternal plan. Leaving behind the subject of the power of evil in the world, the visions now move on to their climax. They... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 20:1

saw. App-133 . come = coming. from. App-104 . heaven. See Revelation 3:12 . in = upon. Greek. epi. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 20:2

laid hold on. Greek. krateo. Compare App-172 . on = of. dragon. See Revelation 12:3 . that = the. Satan. The texts add "the". See App-19 . thousand years. i.e. the millennium. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 20:1

SECTION VII(Chapter 20)REV:20The interpretation of this chapter is largely determined by the view already taken of the preceding chapters. After the introductory letters to the seven churches, the vision of the final judgment has already appeared six times in the preceding chapters:In the relation of the seals (Revelation 6:12-17). In the relation of the trumpets, the judgment of the world city (Revelation 11:14-19). In the harvest of the earth (Revelation 14:14-20). At the pouring out of the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 20:2

And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,Dragon ... serpent ... devil ... and Satan ... Note the fourfold name of the evil one. This ties in with the 12th chapter where this quadruple designation first occurs (Revelation 12:9), and where are also mentioned the 1,260 days. Neither the 1,000 years here nor the 1,260 days there should be literalized. Both refer to the same period of time, all the time between the two Advents... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 20:1

Revelation 20:1.— This chapter represents a new state of the church, upon its deliverance from the persecution and corruption of the third period, or during the reign of the two beasts, or 1260 prophetic days or years. That long state of oppression is to be followed by a long continuance of peace, and prosperity. A fourth period is described, which, among other characters, is to last for a thousand years. The two first periods ended in a deliverance of the church; but those deliverances were of... read more

Group of Brands