Satan Bound
There are three parts to this passage: the...
There are three parts to this passage: the binding of Satan (20:1–3), the reign of God’s holy people (20:4–6), and the release of Satan for his final attempt at a battle (20:7–10). Four themes emerge: (1) Satan’s war is futile—he cannot withstand even an angel; (2) God’s holy people will be vindicated and glorified; (3) God will have the final victory; and (4) even when sinful and depraved human beings experience Christ’s good purposes in the world, they still flock after Satan when he gains even a small amount of freedom to act.
Like the Old Testament “angel of the Lord”...
Like the Old Testament “angel of the Lord” (see Gen 16:7–11; 22:15; Exod 3:2; Num 22:22–34; Judg 2:1–4; 6:11–22), the angel coming down from heaven has God’s authority, symbolized by the key that controls the bottomless pit and the power to put chains on God’s great enemy (cp. Rev 12:7–9) for a thousand years. See “The Thousand Years (The Millennium)” Theme Note.
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.
4Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
John contrasts the first resurrection with the second...
John contrasts the first resurrection with the second death (see 20:12–15; cp. John 5:29).
5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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.
Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire
Satan’s all-out attempt to conquer God’s people is...
Satan’s all-out attempt to conquer God’s people is followed by his fiery demise. This passage has two major purposes: (1) to show God’s absolute justice, because Satan and his followers are worthy of punishment and will never change; and (2) to show the depravity of people who follow Satan. In spite of viewing the nature of Christ’s reign in the world for many years, they still flock to Satan’s standard when he is freed. These factors are the basis for the judgment at the great white throne (20:11–15).
When free to act (20:7), Satan still seeks...
When free to act (20:7), Satan still seeks to deceive. He will gather a mighty army (cp. Ezek 38–39) in a final attempt to overwhelm God’s people (Rev 20:9).
7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.
9And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven† and consumed them. 10And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Judgment before the Great White Throne
This segment portrays a court hearing at which...
This segment portrays a court hearing at which the dead are judged on the basis of their works. God’s response to eternal rebellion is eternal punishment.
11Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.
And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.