The Book of Revelation is full of Biblical Imagery and symbolism. When considering and seeking to interpret the Book of Revelation, we should be sensitive to a probable figurative interpretation of John’s visions, rather than a literal interpretation. Each vision is a spiritual insight of truth providing a deeper understanding beneath the surface trends of world history and a spiritual insight into the unseen and supernatural realm.
At Revelation 12:3, Satan was pictured as “a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns.” Some believe that Revelation 12:3 provides a literal description of Satan, but most do not. If Satan does not literally look like a dragon with seven heads, we should be sensitive to the possibility that Satan will not be literally imprisoned for 1000 years and then inexplicably released as depicted in Revelation, Chapter 20. Further, are there any other passages in the Bible that mention or support a literal 1000-year imprisonment and subsequent release of Satan to once again deceive humanity? I am not aware of any.
Many have concluded (and I agree) that Isaiah, Chapter 14 includes an oblique reference to the downfall of Satan. At Isaiah 14: 12-15, we read:
“How you have fallen from heaven, you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who defeated the nations! But you have said in your heart ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ “Nevertheless, you will be brought down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.”
Isaiah, Chapter 14 teaches us that Satan rebelled against God, but that ultimately, he will lose his status and power. Isaiah, Chapter 14 also implies that Satan will be imprisoned in Sheol for a period of time. Isaiah 14:15 tells us that Satan will be brought down to Sheol, and Isaiah 14:10 informs us that Satan will “become weak.” However, Isaiah does not specifically mention that Satan will be imprisoned for a thousand years and then be released from prison to once again seek to deceive humanity and seek to destroy God’s People. Does it make sense that God will literally take away Satan’s power and status for 1000 years and then restore Satan’s power and status to once again deceive humanity? These ideas are mentioned only figuratively in Revelation, Chapter 20.
At Revelation 20:1-3, we read:
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he [the angel] threw him [Satan] into the abyss and shut it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he [Satan] must be released for a short time.
To me, the mention of a “key” and a “great chain” sounds like figurative language and provides the reader with a hint on how to properly interpret the passage. How big of a chain would be needed to literally restrain Satan, a supernatural creature with great power? John used the Greek verb deō, which means “to bind or fasten.”[1] This is the same word used by Matthew at Matthew 12:28-29. Jesus said,
“But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up [deō] the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”
Jesus bound (or limited) Satan’s ability to distract or deceive humanity by means of the Cross and the ministry of God, the Holy Spirit. For around 2000 years, Satan has been bound (or limited in his power to distract or deceive), and Jesus has been plundering the property of Satan, who is described in Scripture as the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4). The nations have been set free by the work of Jesus. Before the coming of Jesus Christ, the Gentile world was enslaved to false gods and idol worship. Temples to Jupiter, Apollo, Bacchus, Venus, and many more such temples were ubiquitous throughout the Roman Empire. Further, almost every Roman family had a special shrine to their household gods. The nations outside the Roman Empire were similarly enslaved to false gods and idols. The preaching of the Gospel to the world has brought freedom from slavery to false gods and idols.
In the Book of Revelation, “numbers” have a symbolic meaning. The number “1000” should be simply understood as a “long, indefinite period of time.” Nearly 2000 years have passed since Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death. At Revelation 20:7-10, we read:
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; and the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Satan’s primary game plan is the deception and distraction of humanity. In my opinion, modern technology has greatly enhanced Satan’s ability to deceive and distract humanity. When I was in the military, things like technology were called “force multipliers.” In other words, the same number of soldiers can accomplish much more with the use of technology. In fact, technology can help us either to do more good or more evil. For example, technology can help us in spreading truth or lies. Hitler’s use of technological advances to spread lies and dominate his neighbors is an easy example. As another example, the modern cell phone is very effective at capturing the attention of humanity for good or evil.
In my opinion, Revelation 20:7-9 is a warning to us that Satan will continue to deceive humanity and persecute Christianity until God completely strips him of his power. We are the camp of the saints, and we are the Beloved City (or community of God). More and more, we will be surrounded by our enemies. Ultimately, the physical return of Jesus Christ to Planet Earth is our only hope. At a John 15:18, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” Christians and nations where Christians reside will be placed under greater pressure and tribulation. Like the First Century Christians, we should call out to God for relief from our persecutors. Speaking of both unbelievers and apostate believers, Jude wrote,
“It was also about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord has come with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all of the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
(Jude 1:14-15)
Think about the images provided in Matthew, Chapter 25. Jesus Christ will return to Planet Earth in glory, with His angels. He will sit upon His throne. Humanity will be judged. Some will receive their rewards and special blessings. Jesus will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. The sheep will inherit the Kingdom, but the goats will not inherit the Kingdom. In my opinion, a future literal release of Satan from prison to deceive humanity after the return of Christ does not make sense. Also, please note that the numbers of humans deceived will be as numerous as the “sand of the seashore” (Rev. 20:7-9). Does it make sense that there would be such a massive deception of humanity after the return of Christ to Planet Earth. It makes more sense to interpret Revelation 20:1-3 as a figurative imprisonment of Satan, which occurred after the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, His resurrection, and the new ministry of God, the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.
For more information, see the following YouTube Bible Class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohoNYAM7_4w
[1] “G1210 – deō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 23 Sep, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1210/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
