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.
Revelations is picture. Verse 1: Angel with key to the abyss. Taken literally, how does a "key" unlock Hell?
Verse 2: Bound Satan for a thousand years: Taken literally, how is a spirit tied up? Verse 3: Taken literally, how is the abyss locked and sealed?
That is the problem with the interpretation of the thousand year reign. The thousand years is taken literally but nothing else in Revelations is. A dragon, a serpent? The devil is not seen so how can he be a dragon or a serpent?
Because people believe in the rapture does not mean that they do not have faith. However, it can be a stumbling block to those new to Christianity for they may think that they can live as they want now and when Christ comes they can then turn to him and be saved.
UHHHHH, HELLOW? What's so difficult? There's often a continuum from 100% literal to 100% symbolic!
Verse 1. How do we know at this stage what THE KEY is? Perhaps it's merely God's spoken word at the time. Perhaps it's a senior angelic guard ordering the angels guarding 'Hell's gates' to stand aside. The main point clearly for those with eyes to see, is that at one point in future time, HELL IS LOCKED, SEALED, CLOSED OFF, ENCAPSULATED. And then, there's a change. THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST CHRIST'S CHURCH. Gates are defensive.
Kind of sounds to me like CHRIST'S BODY goes in and raids Hell--somewhat akin to Christ's Body doing the same when His fleshly body was in the tomb.
Verse 2: Satan bound for 1,000 years. DO YOU REALLY doubt GOD'S CAPACITY to bind satan for 1,000 years? Amazing. Are you an authentic Christian, for real?
Verse 3: Do you REALLY DOUBT God's capacity to seal the abyss?
Hint: GOD IS THE BOSS. HE IS *WELL ABLE* TO DO EXACTLY AS HE SAYS whether it's 100% literal, slightly symbolic or wholesale symbolic.
Of that, I'm 100% certain regardless of your perspective on boggling at what Scripture says.