"1. Satan’s imprisonment, followed by the surprising release, contributes to filling out his character and demonstrates that he holds a central role in the development the plot of Revelation. This role is drawn from the wider range of the Old Testament. John’s description of Satan as “that ancient serpent” (20:2) refers the reader back to Genesis 3. This is also on display in Revelation 12, where the key elements of the Genesis story are brought to view. The serpent of old, the woman, and the child all direct the reader to the broad allusion to the Fall and entrance of sin into a perfect world.
Thus the agent and cause of the primordial questions about God’s justice and character is on center stage at the final end of the battle. In this way, John places the spotlight on Satan, not in an admirable way, but to highlight his significance to the narrative as a whole.
2. Satan’s solo appearance demonstrates his uniqueness in the unfolding human drama. Beginning with Revelation 13, Satan unites with the sea-beast (vs. 1) and the land-beast (vs. 11) to facilitate his war against God’s rule. This unholy trio continue their work through to chapter 19, where the final battle is initiated. ...The battle continues after the one thousand years, when it is finally completed (20:8). During the ultimate battle, Satan at first has the stage to himself. His earthly allies have been destroyed. At this point in the prophecy, the second resurrection has not occurred, and thus he alone continues the fight. This position gives Satan significance that will not be overlooked by the careful reader.
3. Satan’s persistent role as deceiver is integral to the ongoing story, and this characteristic is founded upon the larger biblical narrative. Satan is bound in order to prohibit him from carrying on this work of deception (Rev. 20:3), which is what he proceeds to do immediately upon gaining freedom (vs. 8). The last mention of the devil, before he is thrown into the lake of fire, refers to his deceptive traits (vs. 10). This should be seen in the light of the backdrop of the Genesis narrative as well. There, the ancient serpent fomented a deception that led the woman to distrust God’s provisions. Her response to God’s query as to what she had done is that “‘the serpent deceived me, and I ate’” (Gen. 3:13, NIV). Satan’s words and innuendos act as a destabilizing force in the Edenic world. John picks up this larger theme and incorporates it into his storyline.
2. Satan’s solo appearance demonstrates his uniqueness in the unfolding human drama. Beginning with Revelation 13, Satan unites with the sea-beast (vs. 1) and the land-beast (vs. 11) to facilitate his war against God’s rule. This unholy trio continue their work through to chapter 19, where the final battle is initiated. ...The battle continues after the one thousand years, when it is finally completed (20:8). During the ultimate battle, Satan at first has the stage to himself. His earthly allies have been destroyed. At this point in the prophecy, the second resurrection has not occurred, and thus he alone continues the fight. This position gives Satan significance that will not be overlooked by the careful reader.
3. Satan’s persistent role as deceiver is integral to the ongoing story, and this characteristic is founded upon the larger biblical narrative. Satan is bound in order to prohibit him from carrying on this work of deception (Rev. 20:3), which is what he proceeds to do immediately upon gaining freedom (vs. 8). The last mention of the devil, before he is thrown into the lake of fire, refers to his deceptive traits (vs. 10). This should be seen in the light of the backdrop of the Genesis narrative as well. There, the ancient serpent fomented a deception that led the woman to distrust God’s provisions. Her response to God’s query as to what she had done is that “‘the serpent deceived me, and I ate’” (Gen. 3:13, NIV). Satan’s words and innuendos act as a destabilizing force in the Edenic world. John picks up this larger theme and incorporates it into his storyline.
These three strands weave a picture that demonstrates the force of Satan’s character in the storyline. He is at work to deceive humanity about the nature of the truth of God."
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