Why the great chain?

[Marty fox]

Revelation 20
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

If this is literal and satan is locked and sealed in the abyss why would there even be a need for a great chain?

What is the purpose of the great chain?

What is the great chain?

 

[Randy Kluth]

Revelation 20
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

If this is literal and satan is locked and sealed in the abyss why would there even be a need for a great chain?

What is the purpose of the great chain?

What is the great chain?

I know your position and where you're likely going with this. But I'll give you my bit anyway. The chain is not intended to be a physical chain, since Satan is a spiritual being. But if this device, whatever it is, imprisons him, then it is quite literally a kind of "chain." It doesn't have to be a metal chain--it is a chain if links are so connected that escape is not allowed. Whatever it is, this is the case for a thousand years.

 

[Truth7t7]

What is the purpose of the great chain?

What is the great chain?

Business for Ace Hardware

 

[TribulationSigns]

Revelation 20
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

If this is literal and satan is locked and sealed in the abyss why would there even be a need for a great chain?

What is the purpose of the great chain?

What is the great chain?

Satan is a spirit—specifically, the spirit of man in rebellion, the spirit of evil. This is where many people go wrong. They assume Satan is a created spiritual being made by God, but that is not true. I won’t revisit that debate here since it has already been addressed elsewhere. Instead, let us focus on the great chain, the key, and the bottomless pit.


Christ—yes, Michael (a name meaning “Who is like God?”)—restrained Satan with a “great chain” so that the Lord’s church could go forth and be built among the nations (same Greek meaning for Gentiles the unsaved people for the purpose to spoiling them). Satan is described as a strong man (Luke 11:20–23). Before Christ could plunder the strong man’s house and free those in bondage, the strong man FIRST had to be bound. The “great chain” symbolizes this restraint placed upon that adversarial spirit. This already took place at the Cross when Christ has established His kingdom through the church with the authority given at Pentecost.

Revelation 20 is not describing literal objects or literal timelines. It uses symbolic language to communicate very real events and realities. The chain is not a physical chain; it represents restraint. The key is not a physical key; it signifies authority and power. Christ did not descend from heaven holding a literal key or carrying an actual chain. Satan, being a spirit, cannot be bound with physical restraints or locked away with a literal lock. He can only be restrained spiritually, by God Himself, so that Christ may spoil his house—that is, save people from spiritual bondage.

If the chain and the key are symbolic, then there is no reason to suddenly insist that the 1,000 years must be literal. Nothing in the text demands that conclusion. The only reason for insisting on literal years comes from church's false tradition and inherited teaching—not from Scripture itself.

The number 1,000 is symbolic, representing completeness and fullness. It signifies the period during which Satan is restrained from deceiving the nations, allowing God’s redemptive work through the church to continue until all the elect are secured (Revelation 7:1–4).

 

[grafted branch]

What is the great chain?

Perhaps we could look at the chain as a chain of events. So the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls might each be links in that great chain.

 

[TribulationSigns]

Perhaps we could look at the chain as a chain of events. So the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls might each be links in that great chain.

No—the “great chain” is not a symbolic sequence of the seals, trumpets, and bowls. Scripture teaches that Christ bound Satan at the Cross, restraining his power to deceive the nations (cf. Rev. 20:1–3). This binding made possible the ingathering of the Church, beginning at Pentecost and continuing until the last of the elect is redeemed. Only after that work is complete is Satan loosed again for a short time.

Therefore, the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls are not links in some chronological chain connected to Satan’s binding. They serve different revelatory and judicial purposes. In particular, the opening of the seals begins with the White Horse—Christ Himself—going forth conquering, delivering His people from the house of bondage. Only after this victorious advance do the red, black, and pale horses follow.

In short, the “great chain” refers to Satan’s restraint by Christ, not to a linear progression of seals, trumpets, and bowls.

Selah!

 

[JustMe]

Revelation 20
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

If this is literal and satan is locked and sealed in the abyss why would there even be a need for a great chain?

What is the purpose of the great chain?

What is the great chain?

The chain to curtail evil's reach and the type of of influence into the world and to men

 

[Marty fox]

Satan is a spirit—specifically, the spirit of man in rebellion, the spirit of evil. This is where many people go wrong. They assume Satan is a created spiritual being made by God, but that is not true. I won’t revisit that debate here since it has already been addressed elsewhere. Instead, let us focus on the great chain, the key, and the bottomless pit.


Christ—yes, Michael (a name meaning “Who is like God?”)—restrained Satan with a “great chain” so that the Lord’s church could go forth and be built among the nations (same Greek meaning for Gentiles the unsaved people for the purpose to spoiling them). Satan is described as a strong man (Luke 11:20–23). Before Christ could plunder the strong man’s house and free those in bondage, the strong man FIRST had to be bound. The “great chain” symbolizes this restraint placed upon that adversarial spirit. This already took place at the Cross when Christ has established His kingdom through the church with the authority given at Pentecost.

Revelation 20 is not describing literal objects or literal timelines. It uses symbolic language to communicate very real events and realities. The chain is not a physical chain; it represents restraint. The key is not a physical key; it signifies authority and power. Christ did not descend from heaven holding a literal key or carrying an actual chain. Satan, being a spirit, cannot be bound with physical restraints or locked away with a literal lock. He can only be restrained spiritually, by God Himself, so that Christ may spoil his house—that is, save people from spiritual bondage.

If the chain and the key are symbolic, then there is no reason to suddenly insist that the 1,000 years must be literal. Nothing in the text demands that conclusion. The only reason for insisting on literal years comes from church's false tradition and inherited teaching—not from Scripture itself.

The number 1,000 is symbolic, representing completeness and fullness. It signifies the period during which Satan is restrained from deceiving the nations, allowing God’s redemptive work through the church to continue until all the elect are secured (Revelation 7:1–4).

Yes I agree with your view on the great chain and the thousand years that’s my purpose to this thread to get literalist to think about it.

If the great chain and abyss are literal then there is no need for the great chain

I don’t agree with your view on Jesus and Michael but thats a different matter

 

[Marty fox]

The chain to curtail evil's reach and the type of of influence into the world and to men

Why would you need that in a literal sense if he is also locked in a literal abyss?

 

[JustMe]

Yes I agree with your view on the great chain and the thousand years that’s my purpose to this thread to get literalist to think about it.

If the great chain and abyss are literal then there is no need for the great chain

I don’t agree with your view on Jesus and Michael but thats a different matter

Just curious about, what was that last statement all about. You most probably are thinking of someone else..no matter, not important then....lead on...

 

[TribulationSigns]

Yes I agree with your view on the great chain and the thousand years that’s my purpose to this thread to get literalist to think about it.

Good.

If the great chain and abyss are literal then there is no need for the great chain

A literal chain for a spirit? Not likely! :-)

I don’t agree with your view on Jesus and Michael but thats a different matter

I know. :-)

 

[Marty fox]

I know your position and where you're likely going with this. But I'll give you my bit anyway. The chain is not intended to be a physical chain, since Satan is a spiritual being. But if this device, whatever it is, imprisons him, then it is quite literally a kind of "chain." It doesn't have to be a metal chain--it is a chain if links are so connected that escape is not allowed. Whatever it is, this is the case for a thousand years.

But why have one if he is also locked in the abyss?

 

[Marty fox]

Just curious about, what was that last statement all about. You most probably are thinking of someone else..no matter, not important then....lead on...

That was a reply to tribulationsign who mentioned that

 

[Adventageous]

Revelation 20
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

If this is literal and satan is locked and sealed in the abyss why would there even be a need for a great chain?

What is the purpose of the great chain?

What is the great chain?

Please see the following - Revelation 20:1-15 & the 1,000 years (aka Millennium) Bible Study

 

[grafted branch]

No—the “great chain” is not a symbolic sequence of the seals, trumpets, and bowls. Scripture teaches that Christ bound Satan at the Cross, restraining his power to deceive the nations (cf. Rev. 20:1–3). This binding made possible the ingathering of the Church, beginning at Pentecost and continuing until the last of the elect is redeemed. Only after that work is complete is Satan loosed again for a short time.

Therefore, the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls are not links in some chronological chain connected to Satan’s binding. They serve different revelatory and judicial purposes. In particular, the opening of the seals begins with the White Horse—Christ Himself—going forth conquering, delivering His people from the house of bondage. Only after this victorious advance do the red, black, and pale horses follow.

In short, the “great chain” refers to Satan’s restraint by Christ, not to a linear progression of seals, trumpets, and bowls.

Selah!

So if someone can show, for example, that the first four seals take place prior to the cross, then that could be a chain of events that leads to Satan’s binding at the cross. We know Jesus was given work to complete, that work was more than just the cross, so it could be looked at as a chain of events culminating with the cross.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

 

[JustMe]

That was a reply to tribulationsign who mentioned that

Got it..I miscued

 

[TribulationSigns]

So if someone can show, for example, that the first four seals take place prior to the cross,

Disagree. The claim by the Preterists that the first four seals were opened prior to the Cross contradicts the plain order of Revelation itself.

Revelation 5:6-9 is explicit about when the seals can be opened. John sees “a Lamb as it had been slain” take the book. The heavenly song explains why He is worthy: “for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood…”

The Lamb’s worthiness to open the seals is grounded entirely in His completed sacrifice. No slain Lamb= no opening of the book. That places the opening of the seals AFTER the Cross and Resurrection, not before.

This sequence continues immediately:

Revelation 6:1
“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals…”

The same slain Lamb of Revelation 5 opens the first seal in Revelation 6. Scripture never presents a different Lamb, nor a pre-Cross opening of any seal.

Therefore, the idea that the first four seals occurred before Christ’s death requires inserting a timeline that the text itself does not allow. The seals are not opened until after Christ is slain, exalted, and declared worthy in heaven.

In short:

No Cross → no worthiness.
No worthiness → no opened seals.

The first seal, like all seven, follows the finished work of Christ—not events before it.

Selah!

 

[grafted branch]

The Lamb’s worthiness to open the seals is grounded entirely in His completed sacrifice. No slain Lamb= no opening of the book. That places the opening of the seals AFTER the Cross and Resurrection, not before.

Right, the Lamb has to be slain before the seals are opened.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

[TribulationSigns]

Right, the Lamb has to be slain before the seals are opened.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

So? Your point is?

 

[grafted branch]

So? Your point is?

The slain Lamb could open seals prior to the cross, just like Jesus was able to forgive sins prior to the cross.

Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.