Revelation20

Revelation 20 describes an angel binding Satan for a thousand years, during which time martyrs and faithful saints reign with Christ in the first resurrection. After this millennium, Satan is briefly loosed to deceive nations, leading to a final battle where he and his followers are destroyed by divine fire. The chapter concludes with the Great White Throne Judgment, where all the dead are judged according to their works, and those not found in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.
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Satan Bound for a Thousand Years

1
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. ​
2
And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, ​
3
and cast him into the abyss, and shutit, and sealeditover him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time. ​

The Millennial Reign of the Saints

4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ​
5
The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. ​
6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. ​

Satan's Final Attack and Destruction

7
And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, ​
8
and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ​
9
And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them. ​
10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ​

The Great White Throne Judgment

11
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon 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, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe bookof life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. ​
13
And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ​
14
And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, eventhe lake of fire. ​
15
And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. ​

Study Notes for Revelation 20

Verse 1

The angel holds the 'key of the bottomless pit' (Greek: *abyssos*), symbolizing divine authority and restraint over the realm of imprisoned evil spirits.

Verse 2

Identifying the 'dragon' with the 'old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan' links this figure directly back to Genesis 3 and solidifies his identity as the ultimate adversary.

Verse 3

The purpose of the binding is to prevent the deception of the nations, suggesting that the thousand-year period is marked by a unique reduction of organized evil influence in the world.

Verse 4

This verse describes those who participate in the millennial reign—specifically martyrs and those who resisted the Beast. The nature and timing of this thousand-year period (Millennium) is a primary source of theological debate (Amillennial, Postmillennial, Premillennial views).

Verse 5

The phrase 'This is the first resurrection' clarifies that the reign in v. 4 is tied to a specific resurrection event, distinguishing the saints who reign from the rest of humanity.

Verse 6

Those who participate in the first resurrection are immune to the 'second death,' which is eternal separation from God in the lake of fire (v. 14).

Verse 7

The temporary release highlights that the binding was a restraint, not a permanent destruction, setting the stage for the final cosmic conflict.

Verse 8

'Gog and Magog' are symbolic terms borrowed from Ezekiel 38–39, representing the ultimate, massive, worldwide opposition to God and His people at the end of time.

Verse 9

The 'beloved city' represents the redeemed community or the New Jerusalem. The swift destruction by fire coming directly from God emphasizes divine sovereignty and power over all opposition.

Verse 10

This is the final and eternal fate of the Devil, joining the Beast and the False Prophet (Rev 19:20). The phrase 'tormented day and night for ever and ever' confirms the eternal nature of their punishment.

Verse 11

The 'great white throne' symbolizes God's absolute purity, authority, and impartiality as the final judge. The flight of the earth and heaven signals the complete cessation of the current physical order.

Verse 12

The opening of 'the books' refers to the record of humanity's deeds (works), while the 'book of life' records the names of those who belong to Christ. Judgment is based on both records.

Verse 13

This emphasizes the universal scope of the judgment; every person, regardless of how they died (in the sea, in the grave, or in Hades), is resurrected to account for their life.

Verse 14

The casting of 'death and hell' (Hades, the realm of the dead) into the lake of fire signifies the complete eradication of mortality and the temporary holding place of the dead. This is the definition of the 'second death.'

Verse 15

The ultimate criterion for eternal destiny is inclusion in the Book of Life, underscoring that while works are examined (v. 12), salvation rests on divine grace and faith in Christ.

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