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.

REVELATION 20:3KJV
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Revelation 20:3 (KJV)

What does Revelation 20:3 mean?

Revelation 20:3 describes how the devil is thrown into a "bottomless pit," locked away, and sealed so that he cannot deceive the nations for a thousand years, but after that time, he will be released for a short period. This verse shows a temporary restraint on evil, followed by a brief return before a final resolution.

In this part of John's vision, an angel acts on God's authority to imprison Satan, symbolizing a time when his influence is completely stopped. The language of locking and sealing emphasizes that this is a secure, divinely controlled situation, and the mention of "a little season" hints that this is not the final end, but a step in a larger unfolding plan.

The Greek behind Revelation 20:3

  • ἄβυσσος (abussos, "pit"): This word means a deep, bottomless place—often imagined as a prison for evil powers. The use here stresses the total removal of Satan's influence, not just a temporary setback.
  • ἐσφράγισεν (esphragisen, "set a seal"): This means to mark something as closed and protected, often with authority. The seal shows that Satan's imprisonment is official and cannot be broken by anyone except God.
  • πλανήσῃ (planēsē, "deceive"): This word carries the sense of leading astray or causing to wander. The focus is on stopping Satan's ability to mislead people, which is a key part of his role in the book of Revelation.
  • χρονὸν μικρόν (chronon mikron, "little season"): This phrase means a short period of time, emphasizing that Satan's release after the thousand years is brief and limited.

Why Revelation 20:3 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Satan's power is not endless—he is under God's control and can be restrained or released only by divine command.
  • The imagery of locking and sealing highlights the seriousness and completeness of this restraint, countering any idea that evil is always equally active.
  • The mention of a "little season" connects this verse to the larger story in Revelation, preparing readers for a final confrontation and showing that the story of good and evil is not yet finished at this point.

Where else these words appear

“pit” Greek G12 · used in 9 verses

  • Luke 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
  • Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
  • Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

“thousand” Greek G5507 · used in 10 verses

  • 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
  • Revelation 14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
  • Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

“shut” Greek G2808 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
  • Luke 11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
  • 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

“seal” Greek G4972 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
  • Revelation 7:5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.