Question 29: Revelation 20:2 uses different names; devil and Satan. Why?
Question 29: Revelation 20:2 says, “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” Devil & Satan? Are they 2 separate creatures? Why 2 names?
That's a good question because Revelation 20:2 uses several different names in a single verse. If we are not careful, we might assume John is talking about multiple beings rather than one individual.
Let's begin by looking carefully at the verse itself:
"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:2)
Notice that John does not say, "the Devil and another creature called Satan." Instead, he uses a series of titles to identify the same being. In fact, Revelation 12:9 uses nearly identical language:
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan..."
John is intentionally piling up names so there can be no confusion about who is being judged and bound.
That raises the obvious question: Why does Satan have so many names?
The answer is that the various names describe different aspects of his character and activity.
The name Satan comes from a Hebrew word meaning adversary or opponent. It emphasizes his role as the enemy of God and the enemy of God's people. Throughout Scripture, Satan is presented as one who opposes God's purposes and seeks to resist God's work.
The name Devil comes from a Greek word meaning slanderer or false accuser. This title emphasizes his activity. Satan not only opposes; he accuses. Revelation 12:10 calls him:
"the accuser of our brethren."
He is constantly seeking to condemn, slander, and bring charges against God's people.
Notice how these two names complement one another. Satan describes who he is as God's adversary. Devil describes what he does as a slanderer and accuser.
The verse also includes two additional descriptions.
John calls him the dragon, emphasizing his destructive power, hostility, and rebellion against God. Throughout Revelation, the dragon imagery portrays Satan as the great enemy who seeks to oppose God's kingdom.
He is also called that old serpent, taking us all the way back to Genesis 3. This title reminds us of his role in the deception of Eve and the introduction of sin into human history.
John Phillips noted that Revelation often uses names and titles as theological summaries. Rather than merely identifying Satan, these titles remind the reader of his long history of rebellion, deception, accusation, and opposition to God. By the time we reach Revelation 20, the reader is meant to understand exactly who is being bound and later cast into the lake of fire.
So what conclusion should we draw?
The Devil and Satan are not two separate creatures. They are two names for the same being. In Revelation 20:2, John uses multiple titles to emphasize different aspects of Satan's character and activity. He is the adversary, the accuser, the deceiver of Eden, and the dragon who opposes God. Yet despite all those titles, he is still one created being who will ultimately be judged by God.
One of the encouraging truths found in this verse is that all the names that describe Satan's power and activity do not change his destiny. Whether he is called Satan, Devil, dragon, or serpent, Revelation 20 records the same outcome. The enemy of God is bound, judged, and ultimately defeated by the authority of Jesus Christ.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 3:1-5; Revelation 12:9-10; Revelation 20:2, 10.
Commentary Support:
John Phillips, Exploring Revelation (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1991), observes that the various names assigned to Satan throughout Revelation emphasize different aspects of his character and long history of opposition to God. The titles collectively remind the reader that the one judged in Revelation 20 is the same deceiver who has opposed God's purposes from the beginning.
