Revelation 20
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.
Following the events of chapter 19, where the great, instant battle of Jesus’ return occurs, and the blindingly instant subjugation of the Beast’s forces, we see an angel descend from heaven. This angel hold the key to the abyss. He seizes the dragon and bounds him. This is important in our understanding of the dragon. He is not God’s equal. He can be subjugated by an angel, one of God’s messengers.
Sometimes the idea we have about Satan is that he is just as powerful as God, just in a dark way whereas God is powerful in a light way. But this isn’t true. Even though satan is strong and has the power to twist us around, he is still controlled by God. God allows satan to operate in this world much in the way explained in the book of Job; to help us come to a greater understanding of ourselves and of who God is.
In the story of Revelation, God could have stopped him at any time, but his evil ultimately serves God purpose. The choice of evil must exist for us to have the power of choice against it. Once Jesus returns, we will see that the power of evil is gone. Satan’s influence ceases. The deception is gone for 1000 years. But is this a literal or figurative number?
The early church believed this was a literal time span. But the church has, over time, drifted away from this idea. It began in c.380 AD when Ticonius, an influential writer, believed this timeline was wholly spiritual. This belief was adopted by Augustine, then the Roman Catholic Church and some reformist theologies.
This also begins the topic of Millennialism. Are we living in the Millennium now, is it right around the corner or far away. There are three major concepts:
Millennialism: This is the concept that we are living in the Millennium now. Since the millennium is spiritual in nature, we are living in the Millennium age, an age prior to the coming of Christ, when He will return, destroy the existing paradigm and begin a new one.
Post-millennialism: This is the belief that the Millennium will happen in the present age, before Jesus’ return- but the church will bring it to pass.
Pre- Millennialism: Jesus will return to the earth before the millennium to establish and govern it.
Each one of these comes out of the idea of the millennium being a solely spiritual existence.
Regardless of the millennium being a literal or spiritual 1000 years, one has to wonder what it will be like. Scripture gives us some tantalizing clues:
Israel centric (Isaiah 2:1-3)
No more war (Isaiah 2:1-5)
Submission to Jesus (Isaiah 2:1-5)
Animal and Human relations changed (Isaiah 2:6-9)
David will have a prominent place (Isaiah 55:3-5)
Blessing and security for Israel (Amos 9:11-15)
Time of purity and devotion to God (Zechariah 13:1-9)
Rebuilt temple (Amos 9:11, Ezek 37:26-28)
Saints in resurrected state will be given responsibility according to their faithfulness (Luke 19:11-17, Rev. 20:4-6,1 Cor 6:2-3)
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
During the 1000 year reign of Christ we see that authority to judge has been given. This is given to the martyrs specifically during the tribulation. This could be the 24 elders (Rev. 4:4) or apostles (Matt 19:28), or the company of saints or judging angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
The main idea behind this passage is to show that persevering through your time on earth is important. We all go through trials, sorrows, deep regret and pain, but it’s how we handle it, how we don’t lose focus, how we plow forward as a follower of Christ. The millennium is reserved for those who overcome (Rev.2:26-28).
First Resurrection: The millennial kingdom is the moment that divides the first and second resurrection. This is the raising of the faithful to Christ (Dan 12:2, Luke 14:14, John 5:29). Jesus paved the way (1 Corinthians 15:20), resurrected the saints (Matt 27:52-53), and is the resurrection at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16). This also involves the resurrection of the martyrs (Revelation 20:4).
The first resurrection involves the resurrection God’s people.
The Second death: This is the judgment of the wicked (John 5:28-29).
The Judgment of Satan
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.
After the 1000 year period, satan will be released to once again bring havoc to the world. This is a puzzling question. Why wouldn’t Jesus simply keep satan locked up forever. In the pristine environment of the millennial kingdom, something becomes glaringly clear: there is a problem with humankind that is not part of its environment. Rebellion is in our nature, and even in the most wonderful place, hearts grow restless.
9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
There is another battle. Satan again deceives the nations. His aim is to destroy God’s people. But God again destroys the uprising. Satan surrounds God’s city, Jerusalem, but God quickly destroys him. Finally, satan is thrown into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet.
The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
The great white throne is a place of power and authority and ultimately judgment. No one can escape it, no matter how far they run. But the question becomes, do Christians escape this?
Authentic Christians (true followers of Christ) will escape God’s judgment throne. But Christians will experience the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10). Christians will be judged on the motive of their works (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). This is not punishment; salvation has already been achieved. Motives that are not Godly will be destroyed. The Christian will be rewarded by what remains.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
This is judgment of all people. They are judged according to their work. Everyone is included. The main measuring stick is this: did you have a relationship with God? If so, what was the relationship? Was it casual? Was it deep? Were you following or just observing? These things matter, and the relationship between you and God matters more than anything.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Lake of Fire: Sheol: (Grk) Place of the Dead (The Grave); It is also referred to as Hades: (Grk) The world beyond (Realm of the dead); and finally Gehenna: (Grk) Valley of Hinnom/ Molech worship & sacrifice/garbage dump. These three concepts typify what The Lake of Fire, Hell, is all about.
But death and Hades are eliminated. The last of sin is destroyed. Death, a result of sin, is gone. Hades, a result of death, is gone. There is a new paradigm, a new order, brought by Jesus to His followers.
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.
Following the events of chapter 19, where the great, instant battle of Jesus’ return occurs, and the blindingly instant subjugation of the Beast’s forces, we see an angel descend from heaven. This angel hold the key to the abyss. He seizes the dragon and bounds him. This is important in our understanding of the dragon. He is not God’s equal. He can be subjugated by an angel, one of God’s messengers.
Sometimes the idea we have about Satan is that he is just as powerful as God, just in a dark way whereas God is powerful in a light way. But this isn’t true. Even though satan is strong and has the power to twist us around, he is still controlled by God. God allows satan to operate in this world much in the way explained in the book of Job; to help us come to a greater understanding of ourselves and of who God is.
In the story of Revelation, God could have stopped him at any time, but his evil ultimately serves God purpose. The choice of evil must exist for us to have the power of choice against it. Once Jesus returns, we will see that the power of evil is gone. Satan’s influence ceases. The deception is gone for 1000 years. But is this a literal or figurative number?
The early church believed this was a literal time span. But the church has, over time, drifted away from this idea. It began in c.380 AD when Ticonius, an influential writer, believed this timeline was wholly spiritual. This belief was adopted by Augustine, then the Roman Catholic Church and some reformist theologies.
This also begins the topic of Millennialism. Are we living in the Millennium now, is it right around the corner or far away. There are three major concepts:
Millennialism: This is the concept that we are living in the Millennium now. Since the millennium is spiritual in nature, we are living in the Millennium age, an age prior to the coming of Christ, when He will return, destroy the existing paradigm and begin a new one.
Post-millennialism: This is the belief that the Millennium will happen in the present age, before Jesus’ return- but the church will bring it to pass.
Pre- Millennialism: Jesus will return to the earth before the millennium to establish and govern it.
Each one of these comes out of the idea of the millennium being a solely spiritual existence.
Regardless of the millennium being a literal or spiritual 1000 years, one has to wonder what it will be like. Scripture gives us some tantalizing clues:
Israel centric (Isaiah 2:1-3)
No more war (Isaiah 2:1-5)
Submission to Jesus (Isaiah 2:1-5)
Animal and Human relations changed (Isaiah 2:6-9)
David will have a prominent place (Isaiah 55:3-5)
Blessing and security for Israel (Amos 9:11-15)
Time of purity and devotion to God (Zechariah 13:1-9)
Rebuilt temple (Amos 9:11, Ezek 37:26-28)
Saints in resurrected state will be given responsibility according to their faithfulness (Luke 19:11-17, Rev. 20:4-6,1 Cor 6:2-3)
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
During the 1000 year reign of Christ we see that authority to judge has been given. This is given to the martyrs specifically during the tribulation. This could be the 24 elders (Rev. 4:4) or apostles (Matt 19:28), or the company of saints or judging angels (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
The main idea behind this passage is to show that persevering through your time on earth is important. We all go through trials, sorrows, deep regret and pain, but it’s how we handle it, how we don’t lose focus, how we plow forward as a follower of Christ. The millennium is reserved for those who overcome (Rev.2:26-28).
First Resurrection: The millennial kingdom is the moment that divides the first and second resurrection. This is the raising of the faithful to Christ (Dan 12:2, Luke 14:14, John 5:29). Jesus paved the way (1 Corinthians 15:20), resurrected the saints (Matt 27:52-53), and is the resurrection at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:16). This also involves the resurrection of the martyrs (Revelation 20:4).
The first resurrection involves the resurrection God’s people.
The Second death: This is the judgment of the wicked (John 5:28-29).
The Judgment of Satan
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore.
After the 1000 year period, satan will be released to once again bring havoc to the world. This is a puzzling question. Why wouldn’t Jesus simply keep satan locked up forever. In the pristine environment of the millennial kingdom, something becomes glaringly clear: there is a problem with humankind that is not part of its environment. Rebellion is in our nature, and even in the most wonderful place, hearts grow restless.
9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
There is another battle. Satan again deceives the nations. His aim is to destroy God’s people. But God again destroys the uprising. Satan surrounds God’s city, Jerusalem, but God quickly destroys him. Finally, satan is thrown into the lake of fire with the beast and the false prophet.
The Judgment of the Dead
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
The great white throne is a place of power and authority and ultimately judgment. No one can escape it, no matter how far they run. But the question becomes, do Christians escape this?
Authentic Christians (true followers of Christ) will escape God’s judgment throne. But Christians will experience the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10). Christians will be judged on the motive of their works (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). This is not punishment; salvation has already been achieved. Motives that are not Godly will be destroyed. The Christian will be rewarded by what remains.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
This is judgment of all people. They are judged according to their work. Everyone is included. The main measuring stick is this: did you have a relationship with God? If so, what was the relationship? Was it casual? Was it deep? Were you following or just observing? These things matter, and the relationship between you and God matters more than anything.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Lake of Fire: Sheol: (Grk) Place of the Dead (The Grave); It is also referred to as Hades: (Grk) The world beyond (Realm of the dead); and finally Gehenna: (Grk) Valley of Hinnom/ Molech worship & sacrifice/garbage dump. These three concepts typify what The Lake of Fire, Hell, is all about.
But death and Hades are eliminated. The last of sin is destroyed. Death, a result of sin, is gone. Hades, a result of death, is gone. There is a new paradigm, a new order, brought by Jesus to His followers.