1. Revelation 20:10 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why is Satan now called “the devil”?

Revelation 20:10 (ESV)

10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:2 had used four related terms in relation to the devil: dragon, serpent, devil, and Satan. Upon his release in Revelation 20:7, he is called Satan (adversary, opponent). In the present verse he is called “devil,” a term that alludes to confusion. He had deceived the nations so as to assemble them for battle against the church, the offspring of the woman (Revelation 12:17). But, as God had promised in Genesis 3:15, the nations were badly misled, confused, deceived. The Seed of the woman has already defeated the serpent (Revelation 12:7–9) and soon will crush its head.