Revelation 20:3

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.

2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.

4 Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

5 The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.
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.
WEB
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 were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short 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.
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.
BLB
And he cast him into the Abyss, and shut and sealed [it] over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years should be completed. After these things, it is necessary for him to be released for a little time.
ÅB
og kastet ham i avgrunnen og lukket til og satte segl over ham, for at han ikke lenger skulle forføre folkene, inntil de tusen år var til ende; og etter den tid skal han løses en kort stund.
OTB
Han kastet ham i avgrunnen, lukket den og forseglet den over ham, for å hindre ham i å bedra nasjonene lenger før de tusen år var fullført. Etter dette må han slippes løs for en kort periode.
B1930
og kastet ham i avgrunnen og lukket til og satte segl over ham, forat han ikke lenger skulde forføre folkene, inntil de tusen år var til ende; og efter den tid skal han løses en kort stund.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Revelation 17:8

    The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 20:1

    Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 6:17

    A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

    Read in context
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9–11

    The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,

    Read in context
  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 20:7–10

    When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,

    Read in context
  • Matthew 27:66

    So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:3

    I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

    Read in context