Revelation 20:2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

We have here, I. A prophecy of the binding of Satan for a certain term of time, in which he should have much less power and the church much more peace than before. The power of Satan was broken in part by the setting up of the gospel kingdom in the world; it was further reduced by the empire's becoming Christian; it was yet further broken by the downfall of the mystical Babylon; but still this serpent had many heads, and, when one is wounded, another has life remaining in it. Here we have a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 20:1-15

Since the great importance of this chapter is that it is what might be called the foundation document of Millennarianism or Chiliasm, it will be better to read it as a whole before we deal with it in detail. 20:1-15 1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss, and with a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a 3 thousand years, and cast him into the abyss, and locked him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 20:2

By whom is meant not Paganism, for that was destroyed in the Roman empire under the sixth seal, and was the consequence of the war between Michael and his angels, and the dragon and his; and before this time it will be destroyed in other parts under the sixth and seventh vials, when the kings of the earth, being gathered together at Armageddon, will be slain, and the cities of the nations will fall, not only Papal, but Pagan, and Mahometan; and what will not will be converted, for before this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 20:2

The dragon - See the notes on Revelation 12:9 . That old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan - He who is called the old serpent is the Devil - the calumniator, and Satan - the opposer. He who supposes that the term old serpent here plainly proves that the creature that tempted our first parents was actually a snake, must enjoy his opinion; and those who can receive such a saying, why let them receive it. Selah. A thousand years - In what this binding of Satan consists, who can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-2

The first scene in the moral history of redeemed humanity: the scene of moral struggle. "And I saw an angel come down from heaven," etc. No inspired book presents a greater scope for visionary and idle speculation than this Apocalypse. Here every imagination has the widest sweep for its wildest evolutions. Hence we have almost as many interpretations of its contents as we have expositors. One can scarcely pursue a more easy or certain path to popularity than by propounding some ingenious... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-3

Satan bound for a thousand years. God sees the end from the beginning. If he pleases, he can disclose the future to others, although even then, by reason of the limitation of creature faculties, the unfolding of the future must be limited too. There is, moreover, one feature of that limit which cannot be too clearly recognized, viz. that inasmuch as man has no strictly creative power, and can only weave new patterns by putting together in different forms the materials ready to his hand, so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

The restraint upon evil. Following most appropriately upon the foregoing description of a conflict, and the conquest by the truth and the power of righteousness, is a representation, in most significant imagery, of the restraint that is put upon evil by the prevalence of righteousness—the chaining back the clouds of night by the rising sun. The spirit of evil, "the dragon, the old serpent," "the devil and Satan," is "laid hold" by "an angel coming down out of heaven," and bound with "a... read more

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 20:2

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 20:1-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 20:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 20:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 20:2-3

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

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

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