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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.
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 for Jesus and because of the word of God. They
had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his
mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned
with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-4
Explanation:
The angel and the Abyss are explained in the notes on 9:1 and 19:20.
The dragon (Satan) is not bound as punishment, but so that he cannot
deceive the nations. The 1,000 years are often referred to as the
Millennium (Latin for 1,000). Just how and when this 1,000 years
takes place is understood differently among Christian scholars.
The three major positions on this issue are called postmillennialism,
premillennialism, and amillennialism.
(1) Postmillennialism looks for a literal 1,000 year period of peace
on earth ushered in by the church. At the end of the 1,000 years,
Satan will be unleashed once more, but then Christ will return to
defeat him and reign forever. Christ's second coming will not occur
until after the 1,000 year period.
(2) Premillennialism also views the 1,000 years as a literal time
period, but holds that Christ's second coming initiates his 1,000
year reign and that this reign occurs before the final removal of
Satan.
(3) Amillennialism understands the 1,000 year period to be symbolic
of the time between Christ's ascension and his return. This Millennium
is the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers and in his church;
thus it is another way of referring to the church age. This period
will end with the second coming of Christ.
These different views about the Millennium need not cause division
and controversy in the church, because each view acknowledges what
is most crucial to Christianity--Christ will return, defeat Satan,
and reign forever! Whatever and whenever the Millennium is, Jesus
Christ will unite all believers; therefore we should not let this
issue divide us. John doesn't say why God once again sets Satan
free, but it is part of God's plan for judging the world. Perhaps
it is to expose those who rebel against God in their hearts and
confirm those who are truly faithful to God. Whatever the reason,
Satan's release results in the final destruction of all evil. The
beast's mark is explained in the note on 13:16-18
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 have part 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.
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--to gather them for battle. In number they
are like the sand on the seashore.
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.
Revelation 20:5-9
Explanation:
Christians hold two basic views concerning the first resurrection.
(1) Some believe that the first resurrection is spiritual (in our
hearts at salvation), and that the Millennium is our spiritual reign
with Christ between his first and second comings. During this time,
we are priests of God because Christ reigns in our hearts. In this
view, the second resurrection is the bodily resurrection of all
people for judgment. (2) Others believe that the first resurrection
occurs after Satan has been set aside. It is a physical resurrection
of believers who then reign with Christ on the earth for a literal
1,000 years. The second resurrection occurs at the end of this Millennium
in order to judge unbelievers who have died. The second death is
spiritual death--everlasting separation from God. Gog and Magog
symbolize all the forces of evil that band together to battle God.
Noah's son, Japheth, had a son named Magog (Genesis 10:2). Ezekiel
presents Gog as a leader of forces against Israel (Ezekiel 38;39).
This is not a typical battle where the outcome is in doubt during
the heat of the conflict. Here there is no contest. Two mighty forces
of evil--those of the beast (19:19) and of Satan (20:8)--unite to
do battle against God. The Bible uses just two verses to describe
each battle--the evil beast and his forces are captured and thrown
into the fiery lake, and fire from heaven devours Satan and his
attacking armies. For God, it is as easy as that. There will be
no doubt, no worry, no second thoughts for believers about whether
they have chosen the right side. If you are with God, you will experience
this tremendous victory with Christ.
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.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.
Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for
them.
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 he had done.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake
of fire is the second death.
15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he
was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:10-15
Explanation:
Satan's power is not eternal--he will meet his doom. He began his
evil work in mankind at the beginning (Genesis 3:1-6) and continues
it today, but he will be destroyed when he is thrown into the lake
of burning sulfur. The devil will be released from the Abyss, but
he will never be released from the fiery lake. He will never be
a threat to anyone again. At the judgment, the books are opened.
They represent God's judgment, and in them are recorded the deeds
of everyone, good or evil. We are not saved by deeds, but deeds
are seen as clear evidence of a person's actual relationship with
God. The book of life contains the names of those who have put their
trust in Christ to save them. Death and Hades are thrown into the
lake of fire. God's judgment is finished. The lake of fire is the
ultimate destination of everything wicked--Satan, the beast, the
false prophet. the demons, death, Hades, and all those whose names
are not recorded in the book of life because they did not place
their faith in Jesus Christ. John's vision does not permit any gray
areas in God's judgment. If by faith we have not identified with
Christ, confessing him as Lord, there will be no hope, no second
chance, no other appeal.
