Revelation 20:3
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The binding of Satan for a thousand years and his subsequent 'little time' of release — 'so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended' — is the locus classicus for the millennial debate dividing premillennialist, amillennialist, and postmillennialist readings. The verb 'deceive' (planēsē) identifies Satan's primary activity throughout Revelation (12:9; 13:14; 19:20) as deception of the nations — not merely moral corruption but systematic epistemic subversion of knowledge of God. The 'thousand years' (chilia etē, appearing six times in Revelation 20:1–7) is the most temporally concrete of Revelation's numbers, yet its relationship to historical chronology is disputed by every major interpretive tradition. The 'little time' (chronon mikron) of release in verse 3b anticipates the final Gog-Magog battle (verses 7–9), creating a narrative arc from cosmic binding to final eschatological defeat.
Other Translations
and cast him into the abyss, and shutit, and sealeditover 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.
and he cast him to the abyss, and did shut him up, and put a seal upon him, that he may not lead astray the nations any more, till the thousand years may be finished; and after these it behoveth him to be loosed a little time.
And put him into the great deep, and it was shut and locked over him, so that he might put the nations in error no longer, till the thousand years were ended: after this he will be let loose for a little time.
Cross References
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in …
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his …
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it …
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be …
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall …
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, …