{He laid hold on} (ekrat(8873)en). First aorist active
indicative of krate(935c), to seize. {The dragon} ( on drakonta).
Accusative after ekrat(8873)en instead of the genitive as in 2:1 .
He has been behind the beast and the false prophet from the
start. Now he is seized. {The old serpent} (ho ophis ho
archaios). Precisely the description in 12:9 , only the
nominative is here retained, though in apposition with the
accusative on drakonta, a frequent anacoluthon in the
Apocalypse ( 1:5 , etc.). Swete calls it a parenthesis. {Which
is} (hos estin). The relative here relieves the construction
and takes the place of ho kaloumenos in 12:9 before Diabolos
kai ho Satan(8373). {And bound him} (kai ed(8873)en auton). First
aorist active indicative of de(935c). {For a thousand years}
(chilia et(885c)). Accusative of extent of time. Here we confront
the same problem found in the 1260 days. In this book of symbols
how long is a thousand years? All sorts of theories are proposed,
none of which fully satisfy one. Perhaps Peter has given us the
only solution open to us in 2Pe 3:8 when he argues that "one
day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as
one day." It will help us all to remember that God's clock does
not run by ours and that times and seasons and programs are with
him. This wonderful book was written to comfort the saints in a
time of great trial, not to create strife among them.
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