1 Commentary by Ron Thomas. Question by John C. Sewell. The Thousand Years Satan s Doom The Dead Are Judged Revelation 20:1-15.
2 The Thousand Years Satan s Doom The Dead Are Judged Text: Revelation 20:1-15, 1. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3. And cast him into the bottomless pit, 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: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 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. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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. 7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 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. 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.
3 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. 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. 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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. 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Commentary: Revelation 20:1-6, The Thousand Years And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, 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: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 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
4 foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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. I. Satan Bound. A. The limitations to interpreting words literally are obvious even in verse 1. 1. Note key, bottomless pit, and chain ; this is important because if this is to be understood figuratively, then on what basis do we understand the thousand years literally? 2. John R. Rice said, Evidently a literal thousands of years is meant (Bible Lessons on the Book Revelation, p. 35). B. An angel with the key of the bottomless pit represents the authority of heaven. 1. The bottomless pit is not hell because the lake of fire is hell (verse 10). Workman says that the abyss (bottomless pit) is a place of evil confinement, but not final judgment (Spiritual Sword Lectures, p. 525). 2. The authority of heaven seized the ancient serpent. 3. The chain, it appears, is a reference to God s decree (a literal chain cannot bind a spiritual being). C. Bound Satan for a thousand years. 1. What does the word bound entail?
5 a. Does it mean that activity in any and all respects are now zero? Premillennialists often interpret it this way. b. Or, perhaps it can mean limited. Roper paints a very good summary of Satan s progressive loss of control (pp. 304-308). c. Workman (pp. 526-527) does a commendable job in highlighting the nature of this word bound. It certainly conveys a good deal of restraining, but perhaps, not entirely restrained. i. Mark 11:2-4, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. ii. Luke 7:18-22, And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk,
6 the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. iii. Colossians 4:3, Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: iv. Romans 7:2, For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. v. 1 Corinthians 7:39, The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. D. Citing the words of Roper (pp. 307-308), this is what we have: 1. The binding of the devil means that his power has been curtailed. 2. The Lord has limited Satan in a number of ways: a. He cannot destroy the Word. b. He cannot destroy the church. c. He is limited in how he can persecute Christians. d. He can no longer enter and control men against their will, as he did during the days of the apostles. e. He cannot tempt Christians beyond what they can bear. f. If the faithful resist the devil, he will flee from them.
7 g. Because of the cross Satan lost his right to accuse the brethren. 3. Satan received a blow from the Lord (at the crucifixion and resurrection) from which he has not (and will not) recover. a. Revelation 13:3, And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4. The thousand years. a. Gary Workman (p. 531) says the number thousand is symbolic, but the word years is not. He illustrates this with the following. b. Psalm 50:10, For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. c. Deuteronomy 7:9, Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; d. He further insists that if days is a time reference, then so is years. e. Roper illustrates why the number thousand cannot be literal; if so, then God has seven Holy Spirits (1:4). f. In any event what is being conveyed is that the thousand years is a duration of time that is complete. The actual time duration is known only by heaven man cannot figure it out.
8 i. Consider the use of 144,000 in chapters 7 and 14. E. Satan is bound until the thousand years are ended, then released. II. Christ Reigns. 1. A difficult phrase to understand. 2. If the thousand years refers to the Christian dispensation, as many think, then it appears that Satan will be released from his binding for a little while how long we do not know before Judgment Day. 3. Hailey thinks that the thousand years refers to the time between Constantine (when Roman persecution ended) and when the Lord returns (p. 392). After the thousand years time period, Satan will be released for a little while. A. Those on the thrones. 1. Two groups. a. Those seated on the thrones, and b. Those who were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus. i. Revelation 1:9, I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. ii. Revelation 6:9, And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
9 iii. They did not worship the beast. iv. They did not have the mark of the beast upon them. v. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 2. The Scriptures make use of the word throne a lot. Some uses of this word: a. God s throne: Acts 7:49, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? b. Christ s throne: Hebrews 1:8, But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. c. The throne of David: Acts 2:30, Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; d. The elders throne: Revelation 4:4, 11:16, And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, e. The throne of judgment: Revelation 20:11, 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.
10 f. The throne of grace: Hebrews 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. g. Satan s throne: Revelation 2:13, I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. h. The throne of the Dragon: Revelation 13:2, And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3. Hailey is correct when he says that what we have here is the judgment rendered against Satan on behalf of the saints. B. Those who had been martyred for the testimony of Jesus came to life and reigned with Christ. 1. The rest of the dead did not come to life until after the thousand years. This seems to refer to those who died outside the Lord. 2. This is the first resurrection. Not likely a bodily resurrection. 3. The phrase they came to life is literally they lived. a. In other words, they passed from life unto life they did not die (spiritually). b. Romans 6:3-7, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his
11 C. Beatitude. death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. c. Ephesians 2:4-6, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 1. Blessed is the one who shares in the first resurrection. Most certainly conversion is in view. 2. The second death will have no power over him a. He had died to himself and lives unto the Lord. b. Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. c. 1 Peter 2:5-9, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I
12 lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 3. They (he) will reign with Christ a thousand years. a. Roper thinks this refers to the end of the age. IN other words, Christians are reigning right now and will do so until the end of the age. b. Workman thinks verse 6 is a fulfillment of Paul s words in 2 Timothy 2:11-12, It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: The Thousand Years Ended Revelation 20:7-10, And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 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. 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. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
13 brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. I. Satan Released from his prison. A. This will be for a little while. (v3) 1. The important question as to why Satan will be released is, simply, that we do not know. 2. All that we know is that God is in control and no matter the perception on man s part it is the Lord that is victorious. B. Deceive the nations. 1. At the four corners of the earth. This indicates from all the world. (Roper) 2. Gog and Magog. a. Gog (a name of a son of Joel 1 Chronicles 5:4, The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,) b. Magog (a name of one of the sons of Japheth Genesis 10:2, The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.) c. In the rabbinical writings Gog and Magog appear as the enemies of the Messiah (RWP, E-Sword). 3. Gather them for battle. a. Revelation 16:14, For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
14 b. Revelation 19:19, And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. C. Surrounded the camp of the saints. II. Satan Consumed. 1. Satan s one last attempt to overcome God. 2. The camp and the beloved city, refers to the same entity. 3. It is not physical Jerusalem, but the heavenly Jerusalem. a. Hebrews 12:22, But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, A. The imagery is before us, but has this already occurred? Perhaps not. B. As quickly as the battle is set in array the victory is the Lord s. There is no doubt as to the outcome of the conflict. C. Fire from heaven. D. Thrown into the lake of fire. 1. Hailey and Roper noted a progression with respect to Satan: 2. Thrown to the earth, Revelation 12:9, And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
15 a. Revelation 20:3, And cast him into the bottomless pit, 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: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 3. Thrown to hell! Revelation 20:10, 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. A Great White Throne Revelation 20:11-15, 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. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 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. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. I. Him who sat on the throne. Who sat on this throne? Compare the following: A. Romans 14:10, But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. B. 2 Corinthians 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
16 C. Acts 17:31, Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. D. Since both are one in purpose it is God (the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) that Judges sitting on the throne. E. Earth and sky fled away. 1. Matthew 5:18, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 2. 2 Peter 3:10, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. F. All who ever lived stand before the throne. Nobody will have an excused or unexcused absence! G. The Books were opened. 1. Daniel 7:10, A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 2. Multiple books of which only one was identified: the Book of Life. 3. The dead were judged by what they had done. II. The Second Death. External separation from God.
17 A. Isaiah 59:1, 2, Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
18 Questions Revelation 20:1-15 1. John saw an coming down out of, having the to the and holding in his hand a. (NIV) 2. He seized the, that, who is the, or, and him for a. (NIV) 3. He threw him into the, and and it over him, to keep him from the anymore until the were ended. After that, he must be for a. (NIV). 4. I saw on which were seated those who had been given to. And I saw the of those who had been because of their for and because of the of. They had not the or his and had not received his on their or their. They came to and with a. (NIV) 5. (The rest of the did not come to until the were ended.) This is the.) (NIV)
19 6. and are those who have part in the. The has no over them, but they will be of and of and will with him for a. (NIV) 7. When the are over, will be from his and will go out to the in the of the - and - to gather them for. In number they are like the on the. (NIV) 8. They across the of the and the of s, the he. But came down from and them. (NIV) 9. And the, who deceived them, was thrown into the of, where the and the had been thrown. They will be and for ever and ever. (NIV) 10. Then I saw a and him who was on it. and fled from his, and there was no for them. (NIV)
20 11. And I saw the and, standing before the, and were opened. Another was opened, which is the of. The were according to what they had done as in the. (NIV) 12. The gave up the that were in it, and and gave up the that were in them, and each was according to what he had done. (NIV) 13. Then and were thrown into the of. The of is the. (NIV) 14. If s was not found in the of, he was thrown into the of. (NIV) 15. What is represented by bottomless pit? 16. How is the word bound used, what does it mean in Revelation 20?
21 17. In what ways has the devil s power been restricted? 18. To what does the thousand years refer? To what does the little while refer? 19. Describe those who reigned with Christ according to Revelation 20:4. 20 What are some uses of the word throne in the New Testament? 21. To what do the first and second resurrection refer?
22 22. Explain what is meant by Gog and Magog. 23. At the judgment day what books will be opened? 24. What will happen to the devil, his angels, followers, death and hades? 25. What will happen to you?