Revelation 20 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

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and locked and sealed (it) over him, so that he should not lead astray any longer
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(...continued)
That a fallen star is given such a key means that it holds the same power as that of the risen
Lord Jesus (1:18). But in chapter 9, that power is used to punish the earth with the terrible
denizens of the underworld that are let loose from the abyss. It is obvious that such language
must be understood symbolically, and should not be taken literally--since any "star" that fell to
earth would utterly destroy the earth instantaneously, and no meteorite (called a "star") could
grasp a key and unlock a barred entrance!
We must not conclude from such descriptions that deep down beneath the surface of
the earth there are grasshopper-hatcheries, and that there is somewhere on earth a locked
door that leads down into that abyss--a door, which, having been opened, would allow grasshopper
hordes to come up with their smoke to devastate the earth. Such language is obviously
meant symbolically, and only makes nonsense when taken literally.
And if this is true in chapter 9, it is also true in chapter 20. John's language is of the
nature of surrealism, of fantastic imagery--which is meant seriously, but which is not meant
literally! See the passages quoted in footnote 2261, including 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6, where
Tartarus is mentioned, and which was a mythological location thought of by the Greeks as a
subterranean place lower than hades, where divine punishment was administered. It is mentioned
in Jewish apocalyptic literature in passages such as 1 Enoch 21-22; Sibylline Oracles
2:252-312; 4:171-193 and in Josephus, Against Apion 2:240.
It is obvious from 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 that biblical authors sometimes shared in the
current mythological views of their times. The overall message contained in both these passages
is the same--the people of God cannot presume that God will forgive them, and overlook
their failures to do His will. They will suffer the same kind of punishment that has been
inflicted on the disobedient (heavenly) messengers / angels–who, according to both these
passages are being held captive, “kept,” at the time of their writing.
Such statements are greatly abused when they are made the basis for drawing roadmaps
of the after-world, such as has been done so graphically by Dante and Milton, as well as
by Christian dogmatists, who use such symbolical language as the basis for drawing all manner
of doctrinal teachings! But these passages do teach that the disobedient heavenly messengers
/ angels (such as “the satan”!) are “bound in prison,” already, by God.
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The verb used here, êëåéóåí, ekleisen, ‘he shut,” or “he locked,” is changed to the
earlier verb in this context, ev ,dhsen, edesen, “he bound,” by the “Majority Text” (A). This variant
reading does change the meaning of Revelation, but not in a significant way. There is
very little difference between being “bound” and being “locked in” or “shut in.”
In Revelation 3:7, the risen Lord is described as the One Who "...holds the key of
David, the One Who opens and no one locks; and locks, and no one opens." Jesus is the
One with absolute authority; when He "locks" or “shuts,” it is impossible to open; when He
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