Revelation 20:2

And hee laid hold on the dragon that old serpent, which is the deuill and Satan, and bound him a thousand yeres, Revelation 20:2 (KJV)

Revelation 20:2 is part of the larger “Millennium” passage that speaks of the thousand‑year reign of Christ. To grasp its meaning it helps to view the surrounding context of Revelation 20.

In Revelation the apostle John receives a series of visions that reveal the future and the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. Chapter 19 portrays the victorious return of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who defeats the forces of evil and establishes His reign on earth.

Revelation 20 opens with an angel descending from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. The same angel is also described as holding the key to the abyss and a great chain. He binds Satan—identified as the dragon and the old serpent—and confines him in the bottomless pit (the abyss). This act symbolizes the limitation of Satan’s power and the restraint of his influence during the thousand‑year period.

The phrase “that old serpent” recalls Satan’s role in deceiving Adam and Eve in Genesis. The terms “the Devil” and “Satan” are likewise used to identify the adversary of God and the accuser of the brethren.

The thousand‑year period mentioned in this verse is commonly called the Millennium. Throughout church history three primary interpretations have been offered:

Pre‑millennialism holds that Christ will return before a literal thousand‑year reign on earth. During this time Satan is bound and unable to deceive the nations, after which he is released briefly before the final judgment.

Post‑millennialism views the thousand years as a symbolic golden age of Christian influence and spiritual prosperity, in which the Gospel gradually transforms the world into a period of peace and righteousness, culminating in Christ’s final return.

Amillennialism understands the thousand years figuratively, representing the present Church age between Christ’s first and second comings. The binding of Satan signifies the restriction of his power throughout this era, with Christ’s reign already ongoing and the final judgment occurring at His return.

These interpretations reflect diverse theological perspectives, and believers may hold different views. In summary, Revelation 20:2 describes an angel binding Satan—called the dragon, the old serpent, the Devil, and Satan himself—for a thousand‑year period. This binding limits Satan’s power, leading toward the final judgment and the fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity.