Revelation 20
Chapter 19 ends with the Battle of Armageddon cumulnating with the Lord Jesus Christ’s return to Earth to destroy the enemies of Israel and God. Not a lot is said about the actual Millenium in this chapter…known as the ‘Millenium chapter’. It talks a lot about just before and after it, but not much about during it. There are many O.T. prophecies that shed a lot of light on the Millennium: Dan 7:13,14; Isa 9:6,7; Zech 14; and many more. The word Millennium is not found in the Bible; 1000 years is. It would be better called Christ’s 1000 year kingdom on earth.
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.
I assume that this angel descends after the Tribulation is officially over, and most likely, after the Throne of His Glory is finished. There is a supposed 45 day interlude (Daniel 12:11,12) between the ending of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Millennium.
This angel may very well be Michael, the Archangel.
The chain is not a real chain as we know it, for a spiritual being would not be affected by an iron chain; thus it refers to an authoritative binding and keeping of a spiritual being, the Devil, in a specific location (Pit) of which they are not allowed or able to escape from. Amillenialists believe that Satan is bound now (since the cross); well, if this is true, he is on a rubber chain, bouncing all over the place and is still causing lots of woe!
The Bottomless Pit is probably in the center of the Earth and is a pit with no see-able bottom; it may be a circular tubelike pit that truly has no bottom (like the inside of an innertube). Satan will be locked in this rhealm by some system (key).
It is of little doubt that this binding of Satan is for a literal 1000 years. Nothing symbolic about it.
Just think, 1000 years without the Devil deceiving people and governments! Praise the Lord!
What will the myriads of other devils be doing during this time? Are they bound too? Do they just sit and wait for the leader to give them instruction? It appears to me that there will be no devilish influence upon mankind during this 1000 year period. However, mankind will still rebel against God, despite the ‘devil made me do it’ excuse not being valid!
Those that try and ‘bind Satan’ now (Charismatics, etc.) are sadly in error; he, specifically won’t be bound until the Millenium.
There is a ‘little season’ at the end of the Millenium where Satan will be loosed for and will gather up all those mortals that would not submit to King Jesus Christ in their hearts and will attack the Lord and his armies.
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.
I wonder who are those that are sitting on these thrones that will judge and they that will reign with Christ for this Millenium? This is a very important verse to try and figure out. Most Theologians assume that it is all Christians. Well, I believe that it is a select group; the most literal approach is to say it is for sure those that were martyred in the Tribulation period. It might extend to those making up the Bride, also, for there are other passages in the NT that seem to imply that (Mt 25:21, 1Co 6:2,3; Rv 20:4,6). And, there are some of the O.T. saints that may have an important part in reigning in this period: at least the 12 heads of the tribes of Israel. Thus, it may be that those that get to reign with Jesus Christ in the Millenium are select O.T. sainst (including David), those found clean and white that are in the Bride, and those that were martyred in the Tribulation.
Another view is that there are 2 groups here: those that sat upon the thrones, and those that were beheaded. Some think that the 24 elders make up the first group; others believe that this first group represents the NT saints prior to the Tribulation.
The Bride won’t be reigning over Israel, per se. It may be that we are sent out to reign over the Gentile nations.
This kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth will be a total Theocracy…the only theocracy that will really work and be correct. It will not be at all a Democracy or a Republic.
After the 1000 years, Christ’s kingdom becomes made up of only those that are his brethren, the saved, and becomes an everlasting kingdom.
Apparently the 12 disciples shall reign over each tribe of Israel for 1000 years: “In the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of His Glory, ye also shall sit upon Twelve Thrones, Judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel.” Mt 19:28.
David will be reigning over Israel for those 1000 years, and apparently forever beyond that. “My servant David shall be their Prince Forever.” Eze 37:25.
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.
Some say that the ‘rest of the dead’ is referring to the Tribulational martyrd saints. This can’t be true, though; for the previous verses speak of these reigning with Jesus Christ on earth for 1000 years.
The rest of the dead here are at least those that died during this Tribulation and were not saved; they went to Hell. And, it most likely also is referring to all the other dead that would not be part of the first resurrection (i.e. that referred to in 1Th 4:16+). The placement of ‘This is the first resurrection’ seems to contradict the earlier part of verse 5. However, it is actually summarizing what was referred to in verses 1 to 4.
This first resurrection is referring to all those that will have received their new bodies after being dead that are the saved, the saints of God, the righteous. This ‘first’ resurrection encompasses several resurrections: Jesus Christ’s; the saints right after Christ’s; the Rapture (all the righteous otherwise); the 2 Witnesses (a second time for them?); Tribulational martyrs (v. 5,6).
The second resurrection includes all the wicked lost whose bodies come back to them at the Great White Throne Judgement after the Millenium. John 5:28,29 talks about the resurrection unto life and unto damnation; Acts 24:15 speaks of the resurrection of the just and of the unjust.
Now, if these 2 verses are specifically referring to all these resurrections combined, then it would appear that all of the saved would be priests and reign with Christ during the Millenium…and this possibly could be true. However, it may be that specifically these 2 verses are referring to those during the Tribulation. For, if it is all the saved, they will be reigning over a small number (initially) of the saved that are translated into the Millenium in natural bodies; though this still could be true. The context points to it referring to the Tribulational martyred saints specifically. Verse 6 should be taken in light of verses 1 to 4’s context (Tribulational saints).
The second death refers to eternal separation from God. If you are born once then you die twice; if you are born twice then you will die only once.!!
It is clear from verse 6 that there will be a literally reigning with Christ 1000 years; this firmly supports a Pre-millenialist stance.
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. 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.
So, a full 1000 years expire and then Satan is loosed. Just think how agitated, full of anger, full of passion he will be to hurt God’s people! Why did God loose him out of his prison?! Why let him come back to hurt mankind?! Why?! You will see in a moment.
There will be natural mortal man that will be translated on into the Millennium at the close of the Tribulation; these are saints of God that had not been martyred; probably, mostly made up of the many in Israel who get saved right near the end of the Tribulation. These mortals will still live like we do today; they will marry and raise families; their children will not be saved, and will hopefully eventually get saved. But, some, even many, will not get saved. Over 1000 years, a lot of generations will be produced; Maybe even 40 different generations! If there were 1 million men and 1 million women at the start of the Millennium, and if each married and had children every 5 years, that would be 1 million x (1000 divided by 5 = 200) 200, and each of their children did about the same, then thru a logorhythmic advanced math equation you might get a ‘whole bunch’; you are at 200 million just with the existing saved parents; it might be well into the 10’s or 100’s of billions that will be born in this era…for none will die. What percentage will be saved? 90%? Well that still leaves probably billions to rebel and follow Satan at his return.
Why would they rebel? They have a perfect eutopia. They have all they could want. Well, what they really want is to be able to choose to do what they want, what pleases their flesh, and not have to follow a bunch of rules, guidelines, and principles, which King Jesus will be decreeing. Sad isn’t it; Jesus Christ reigning and millions, even billions, will rebel, and will follow Satan at the end! He will deceive them to fight against that holy nation that King Jesus is overseeing, along with Prince David. God the Father apparently enters in on this and sends fire to destroy them all…so much for their great plan to destroy Jerusalem!
Satan had a few days, a few weeks, maybe a month or so, in deceiving them and now he is right back in prison again, but this time there is no hope of escape. The Lake of Fire is his doom! The beast and the false prophet have already been there for 1000 years! No comes their best buddy! The annhilation theory is severely annhilated here due to there being 2 mortal humans being in Hell for 1000 years, and now go on to further punishment.
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.
Great White Throne: Weigh each word. Great,—it is the Infinite before whom the finite must stand; White,—it is the unveiled, undimmed blaze of the divine holiness and purity and justice; Throne,—it is majesty unlimited, in which inheres utter right to dispose of the destiny of creatures. Before such a throne, creatures cannot stand; but they shall stand—even the lost! (Newell)
Fled away: This marks the end of the “Day of the Lord”. It ends with the destruction of the created Heavens and Earth, and the casting away of all the lost into the Lake of Fire (i.e. The Great White Throne)!
All that this sinful world needs to have happen to it, is for Jesus Christ’s unveiled face to come into it’s presence and then all of its trillions of stars, planets, suns, and the whole earth all blast away into utter nothingness…they cease to exist! I believe that God can actually cause something to cease to exist. If not, then He hides it all somewhere…maybe in the Lake of Fire. But, there was no ‘place’ for them…so, I believe they are caused to become nothing. The Lord giveth…the Lord taketh away.
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.
The dead: Who will be at the Great White Throne judgment? The dead, small and great! Who are these ‘dead’? All people who have died? Hardly! It is referring to all those who have been separated from God…in Hell. It is death and Hell. It is for the ‘wicked’ dead; the unsaved dead; the dead dead! Most of the 1.1 billion that are part of the RCC, the 1.3 billion Muslims, the half a billion Hindus, probably over 98% of all people ever living past the age of 20 will be at the Great White Throne Judgement; and then they are cast into the lake of fire!….Billions and Billions cast away forever and ever!…
Books were opened: These ‘books’ that ‘were opened’ probably are referring to God’s keeping track of every ‘work’ that we do; He most likely has at least 2 separate books: one recording the works of the righteous, and one recording the works of the wicked. The works of the righteous will be judged to see if they be gold, silver, precious stone, or wood, hay, or stubble; and thus what level of reward to give. The works of the wicked will be judged to see what level of punishment to give.
Ps 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
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.
It appears that these will be cast alive, bodies and all, fully conscious into this Lake of Fire and Brimstone! A Lake is a large body of fluid-like substance. These 2, fire and brimstone make up the basic properties of the “lake”. Fire needs something to burn and thus there must be an eternal source of material to burn which when burned turns into a molten lake with brimstone: basically what we see with erupting volcanoes. Volcanic fumes contain hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and glass particles. Maybe this is what you breathe in Hell and the Lake of Fire!
However, the term ‘lake’ might be referring to the size of the area, and not so much the quality of it (i.e. fluid).
How does one get written in the Book of Life? I believe this happens when they become spiritually alive…born again. Some say that everyone’s name is penciled in at the beginning of their physical life, and then written over in blood upon their spiritual birth.
This casting into the Lake of Fire is known as the second death. There is a first death…that is the physical death, and now this second one…eternal spiritual separation from God…forever! They will never forget seeing the Saviour at the Great White Throne… their Saviour’s face will be forever etched in their guilt-ridden minds! They will exist in eternal regret, eternal physical torments, eternal separation from their Creator!