William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 20:1

This chapter begins with. fresh and glorious vision which St. John had of an angel's descending from heaven, to bind Satan for. thousand years; and herein we have observable,

1. The person binding, the angel of the covenant, Christ Jesus (for he only has the keys of the bottomless pit, of hell, and of death, Revelation 1:18. This angel is here said to come down from heaven, and with. great chain in his hand, denoting his omnipotent power and sovereignty over Satan, and his ability to restrain him.

Observe, 2. The person bound, Satan; where mark, that he is set forth here by five names, he is called the Dragon, the Serpent, the Old Serpent, the Devil, and Satan.

And note, Christ's power is set forth in as many terms as the devil has titles, he is said to lay hold on him, to bind him, to cast him into the bottomless pit, to shut him in, or seal him up for. thousand years, that is, to restrain him and render him incapable of doing such mischief to the world as he had done before.

Observe, 3. What we are to understand by Christ's binding Satan: some thereby do understand Christ's overthrowing the power of the devil in the heathen world; his casting down those strong holds of Satan, to wit, ignorance, superstition, idolatry, and lying oracles, by the light and power of the gospel, preached among the Gentiles; his curbing of Satan, that he should no more cozen the world with heathenish delusions as he had done.

Others understand this binding of Satan to be after the destruction of antichrist; when the Jews shall be converted, and there shall follow. quiet and peaceable state of the church for. long time, styled here. thousand years; during which time Satan shall be bound, and there shall be no molestation from him.

From the whole learn, That be the devil never so devilish, Christ has power to overpower him. Christ has. great chain in his hand to bind Satan: intimating, that how mighty and malicious soever Satan is, Christ has him as. dog in. chain.

But observe. little, how Christ's power meets with and masters Satan's power: the devil carries power in his name, he is called. dragon; in his nature, as being an angel; in his numbers, which are numberless: but Christ overpowereth him, so that he cannot do his own will without him; he bound him in the execution of his malice, though his malice be boundless.

Satan is bound in. double chain, in. chain of justice, and in. chain of providence; he cannot move. foot either to tempt or trouble us, without. permission from Christ.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 20:1

Old Testament

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