1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
In Revelation 1:18, we learned that Christ has the keys to death and hell through His completed redemptive work on Calvary s cross and His Resurrection.
I am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. ~Revelation 1:18
Some scholars believe this angel to be the Angel of the Lord, Christ himself. Others believe that this angel is a ministering spirit that Jesus has given great authority.
This angel has the authority and the key to open the pit of the abyss and a chain in his hand that will be used to bind the villain of the ages.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
As studied in Revelation 12:9, Satan is called by four different names: Dragon symbolizes cruelty. Satan is looking for those he might devour. Serpent signifies guile. Satan is ever seeking those he might deceive, as in the Garden of Eden. Devil denotes the tempter of man and false accuser. Satan is always looking for someone to defame. Satan means the opponent or enemy of Christ. As adversary, Satan is always seeking someone to defeat.
This angel is empowered by heaven to bind Satan with a strong chain and remove him from the earth for 1,000 years.
3a And cast him into the bottomless pit, The bottomless pit is also known as the abyss. This was an ancient prison where certain demon spirits are incarcerated by the Lord. (Jude 6)
In Revelation 9:1-12, the bottomless pit was opened and unleashed terrible demons to torment the people on earth.
3b and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled:
The seal indicates God's authority and guarantees that Satan will be confined to this prison, unable to influence mankind with evil and temptation, until a thousand years have passed.
While Satan is incarcerated in the bottomless pit, the 1000 year reign of Christ with his saints will occur on earth, known as the Millennium.
The word Millennium is not found in the Bible. However, the phrase, a thousand years occurs six times in Revelation 20: Verses 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
The word Millennium comes from the Latin word that means one thousand. The prefix Milli means thousand and annum means years. Thus, the duration of this kingdom with be one millennium, or one thousand years.
During the Millennium period, Christ will set up a government of peace, reigning upon David s throne from Jerusalem in fulfillment of God s promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David.
In the Promised Land, temple worship and sacrifices will resume; and Israel will be made a kingdom of Priests.
The Millennium period will usher in a thousand year period of peace, without war.
All implements of war will be destroyed in favor of implements of productivity. ~Isaiah 2:4 as seen on Isaiah Wall, United Nations, NY City.
Animals will also live in peace with one another. The Bible does not say that the lion shall lie down with the lamb but they could!
~ Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
~ Isaiah 11:6 and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
~ Isaiah 11:6 and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
~ Isaiah 11:6 and a little child shall lead them.
3c and after that he must be loosed a little season.
After that refers to more than the thousand years Satan will spend in prison. It also means: After the destruction of Babylon; After the marriage of the Lamb; After the battle of Armageddon here on earth; After the destruction of the Beast, the false prophet and all who follow them; and, After the binding of Satan and sealing him for one thousand years.
After all these things, he (Satan) must be turned loose for a little season. Remember, only believers will enter into the Millennium, including survivors of the Great Tribulation. These believers will still be in mortal bodies and will be able to have children.
The children born during the Millennium are born with the old Adamic sin nature. At the end of the Millennium there will be millions on earth who have never been tempted.
Therefore, all who are born during the Millennium must be tempted, so like those in the past, they too will have the free will to decide whether to accept or reject Christ.
If God did not allow those born in the Millennium to be tested, He would be a respecter of persons and that he is not!
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God,
and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;
and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
The thrones represent the administration of the messianic kingdom. Christ will rule the government of earth with a rod of iron through three classes of kingdom administrators: 1. Old Testament saints 2. Church Age saints 3. Tribulation saints
These heavenly saints will be given judgment in fulfillment of I Corinthians 6:2 - Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? They will sit with Jesus when He judges the world, and will judge with Him.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
The closing sentence of verse 5, This is the first resurrection, should have been the conclusion of verse 4. The verse would then have read: And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.
The first resurrection referenced in verse 4, is a resurrection to life and occurs in three stages: 1. Christ the Firstfruits 2. Church Age Saints 3. Old Testament and Tribulation Saints
Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection from among the dead. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ~I Corinthians 15:20
All born again believers will be resurrected at Christ s Second Coming when He comes to get His Bride, the Church, before the start of the Tribulation. This is known as the Rapture.
All those who are asleep in Jesus will rise first and then the living will be caught up in the air.
The Old Testament saints, also known as Israel, will be resurrected before Christ s Glorious Appearing. ~Daniel 12: 1-2
The Tribulation saints are raised during or at His Glorious Appearing at the end of the Tribulation. ~ Titus 2:3 These are the martyred saints who refused to take the mark of the beast, whose blood was found under the altar, referenced in verse 4.
The second resurrection is a resurrection to damnation. It will include the rest of the dead who are unbelievers, described later in verses 12 and 13.
The rest of the dead are not raised until a thousand years later and cannot be part of the first resurrection, referenced in verse 4.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ~John 5: 28, 29
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Unlike the lost wicked dead, the resurrected believers are blessed! They will never be subject to death again, but will reign on earth with Jesus for 1000 years as priests and will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus.
Christ, the First Fruits First Resurrection Eternal Life Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Church Age Saints Old Testament / Tribulation Saints Second Resurrection Eternal Damnation Second Death All Unbelievers Great White Throne Saints will reign with Christ Church Age Tribulation 7 years Millennium 1000 years Rapture Second Coming
Which resurrection will you be in?
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Immediately upon release, Satan will tempt those born during the Millennium who still possess a sinful human nature. Many will choose to follow him into a final act of rebellion against God, even after living with Christ for a thousand years.
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Events recorded here and in Ezekiel 38-39 have caused much controversy among Bible scholars. Some believe these battles are the same, while others believe they are separate events.
Consider World War I and World War II. Though different wars, they had similar enemies and both were fought globally.
Possibly, there is Gog and Magog I and Gog and Magog II. Regardless of your position taken, both national entities are motivated by the same satanic spirit of rebellion against God in similar geographical locations, to destroy Israel.
These sinful rebels will be numbered like the sand of the seashore, which defines a vast and uncountable multitude, for the last war in history.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
These enemies of God muster their forces against Jesus and the saints in the beloved city of Jerusalem. However, there is no battle!
As the enemies move in to attack, they are swiftly exterminated as fire from God comes down from heaven and devours them.
They will be physically killed and their souls will go into the realm of punishment to await final sentencing to eternal hell in the lake of fire.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever..
After one thousand years of burning the beast and false prophet are still burning... proof of the Lord s words in Mark 9:49: Everyone shall be salted with fire. Salt is a preservative. Here in the lake of fire all those salted with fire, will not be consumed, but preserved in torment throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.
Now Satan, the Dragon, and deceiver of both the beast and false prophet, joins them in the lake of fire. There will not be a moment's peace for them all the rest of eternity.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
John sees an amazing site as a great white throne appears. White is the symbol of purity, justice, and holiness in Scripture. He sees the Judge who is seated on His throne of Judgment, which is none other than Jesus Christ.
~John 5:27 (KJV) And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
12a And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;
This scene pictures the gloomiest hour of history the judgment of the wicked dead as they stand before Christ, the Judge. Every transgressor throughout the ages is present: presidents and paupers; high-society snobs and skid-row derelicts; free and bond; rich and poor. All are unbelievers.
12b and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:
As the unsaved stand before Christ, the books are opened for the unbeliever s judgment day. One of the books contain an accurate record of deeds done during a person s life. Each idle word spoken, secret thoughts and works are not hidden from the judge of the universe.
Another book, the Book of Life, also known as the Lamb s Book of Life, will be opened. This book contains the names of all believers who have accepted Christ.
12c and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
The books will be compared. These sinners, whose names will not be found in the Book of Life, will be measured according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
No one will be able to escape this day of resurrection, even if the bodies have disintegrated into the sea. All unbelievers are present. The bodies come forth from land and sea and the souls will be removed from hell. Body, soul and spirit reunited, all will stand before Christ for the purpose of this judgment.
~ Matthew 12:36-37 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
According to their works, each soul will hear the evidence for their eternal judgment. The final judgment will be rendered with all found guilty. They will be condemned to an eternity of damnation in hell.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Once the final judgment occurs, there is no need for either death or hell (Hades). It does not mean these places are thrown into the lake of fire, it means the inhabitants of these places. An eternal separation is now made between those who have eternal life and those who will experience the second death, eternity in the lake of fire.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The New Testament contains two Greek words Hades and Gehenna both are translated hell in the English Bible. Jesus used both words, which are two different places.
Everyone knows the difference between a jail and a penitentiary. When someone is arrested for a crime, he is placed in jail to await trial. After being found guilty, he is transferred to the penitentiary to serve his sentence.
Jail (Hades) is the place where the sinner is held. On Judgment Day, the sinner is moved from the local jail (Hades) to stand before the judge (the Lord Jesus Himself), is found guilty, and is transferred to the final penitentiary (Gehenna), the lake of fire.
Is your name written in the Lamb s Book of Life? Where do you want to spend eternity?