Read & explore together
Satan Bound
In this vision, John sees Satan restrained, the nations no longer deceived for a time, and faithful people sharing in life and rule with Christ. The passage speaks in the imagery of apocalypse and highlights God’s authority over evil and death.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Revelation 20:1–6 presents what John saw: an angel with authority over the abyss, the binding of the devil for a thousand years, and thrones for those linked with Jesus’ testimony. The passage itself explains key names for the dragon and contrasts the first resurrection with the second death.
Revelation 20:1–6Main takeaway
This vision shows that the devil’s power to deceive is limited by God, and those who share in the first resurrection are blessed, holy, and secure from the second death.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01An angel restrains the deceiverJohn first sees an angel coming from heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain. The dragon is then identified with several names: the old serpent, the devil, and Satan.
Explanation
John first sees an angel coming from heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain. The dragon is then identified with several names: the old serpent, the devil, and Satan. The passage also states his work clearly: he deceives the whole inhabited earth.
02The abyss is shut and sealedThe angel throws Satan into the abyss, shuts it, and seals it over him. The purpose is stated directly: he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years are finished.
Explanation
The angel throws Satan into the abyss, shuts it, and seals it over him. The purpose is stated directly: he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years are finished. After that, the passage says he must be freed for a short time, without explaining further here.
03Thrones and faithful witnessesJohn then sees thrones and people seated on them, with judgement given to them. He also sees the souls of those killed for the testimony of Jesus and the word of God, together with those who did not worship the beast, its image, or receive its mark.
Explanation
John then sees thrones and people seated on them, with judgement given to them. He also sees the souls of those killed for the testimony of Jesus and the word of God, together with those who did not worship the beast, its image, or receive its mark. They live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
04The first resurrection and the second deathThe passage distinguishes between those who live in the first resurrection and the rest of the dead, who do not live until the thousand years are finished.
Explanation
The passage distinguishes between those who live in the first resurrection and the rest of the dead, who do not live until the thousand years are finished. Those who share in the first resurrection are called blessed and holy. Over them, the second death has no power, and they are priests of God and of Christ.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to the vision, why is Satan shut and sealed in the abyss?
Look for the purpose statement in the verse: it says what he is prevented from doing during the thousand years.
02Which people are described as living and reigning with Christ for a thousand years?
Gather the details John gives about them, including their testimony, their refusal to worship the beast, and their refusal to receive its mark.
03What does the passage say about those who have part in the first resurrection?
Notice the four descriptions in the verse: their character, the second death’s lack of power over them, their priestly role, and their reign with Christ.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Revelation 20:1–6
1I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
2He seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years,
3and 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 were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time.
4I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.