Revelaton 20:1-15 (July 31, 2025)

The Thousand Years

20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit[a] and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the 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 their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

The Defeat of Satan

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven[b] and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Footnotes

Revelation 20:1 Greek the abyss; also verse 3

Revelation 20:9 Some manuscripts from God, out of heaven, or out of heaven from God

Revelation 20

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Summary

Revelation 20 records John’s vision of three things: “thousand years,” the final judgment, and the ultimate defeat of Satan.

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Verses 1–3 describe an angel descending from heaven, seizing the dragon (Satan), and binding him for a "thousand" years. This “binding” symbolizes the restriction of Satan’s power to deceive the nations in the same way as before Christ’s coming. As G.K. Beale explains, this period represents the current church age, in which the gospel goes forth to all nations, even as Satan remains active but restrained.

Verses 4–6 portray the saints reigning with Christ during this symbolic millennium. Those who were faithful unto death are said to have part in “the first resurrection.” This is not a bodily resurrection yet but a spiritual reality—believers who die are immediately present with Christ, reigning with Him in heaven.

After the thousand years, Satan is released for a short time (vv. 7–10). He gathers the nations for a final rebellion, but fire comes down from heaven, and Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, where he will be tormented forever.

Finally, John sees a great white throne (vv. 11–15). The dead, great and small, stand before God as books are opened, including the book of life. Those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire—“the second death.” This scene emphasizes the reality of final judgment and the ultimate vindication of God’s justice.

Who is God

God is the sovereign ruler of history who binds Satan and limits his power according to His will (vv. 1–3).

It's important to emphasize that God and Satan are not in a cosmic struggle of equals. Satan is a created being under God’s authority. Only God is the righteous Judge who will bring every deed into account in due time (vv. 11–13). God's justice is holy and perfect. No one will escape His judgment.

At the same time, God is the Redeemer and King who vindicates His saints. The “first resurrection” is a sign of His saving power. There are those who die in Christ, but it's important to note that they are not defeated.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the 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 their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The irony is that they actually reign with the Risen Christ. God is the one who ensures that evil is finally and eternally defeated (vv. 7–10) and that His people are secure in His presence forever.

What is our Guilt

Our guilt lies in underestimating both the seriousness of sin and the reality of judgment. We often live as though this life is ultimate, ignoring that every person will stand before the great white throne (vv. 11–12). We presume upon God’s patience, neglecting to prepare for eternity.

We are also guilty of fearing Satan or worldly powers more than trusting God. Revelation 20 shows that Satan’s power is temporary and permitted only under God’s sovereignty. Yet we often compromise faithfulness out of fear, seeking security in worldly systems rather than in Christ.

How does Grace Shine

Grace shines in the certainty of Christ’s victory. Even as Satan is bound for a symbolic "thousand years" (vv. 1–3), Christ reigns, and His saints share in that reign (vv. 4–6). The irony of the "reign" is that we bear the Cross with the Christ. We get confused because we don't truly realize what an honor it is that we should be invited to participate in the suffering of the Christ. Overcoming death is the Gospel-reign, and this is uniquely Christian.

Believers who have died in the Lord are already safe with Him, and those on earth who belong to Christ are spiritually secure. God’s people need not fear because their names are written in the book of life (v. 12).

Grace also shines in the reminder that even the final rebellion of Satan (vv. 7–10) is short-lived and fully under God’s control. Scripture warns of a final outbreak of evil. It will be a time marked by deception, rebellion, and persecution. However, we can rest assured that it will not last. Even today, we see hints of such rebellion. We see a persistent rejection of God’s truth, false ideologies promising salvation apart from Christ, and hostility toward biblical faith. Yet the Bible assures us that these events unfold only within the limits God sets. Fire comes down from heaven, and the devil is thrown into the lake of fire forever (v. 10). Evil’s final act is brief, and its defeat is certain.

Finally, grace shines in the hope of God’s final judgment (vv. 11–15). For believers, this judgment is not something to fear. It is the moment when all wrongs are made right, when justice is perfectly administered, and when death and hell are destroyed forever. Those who belong to Christ can look forward to this day, not with dread, but with hope, knowing that their salvation is secure in the One who conquered death on their behalf.

Prayer

Righteous and Sovereign Lord,

We praise You for Your justice and Your power over all things. You are the King who binds Satan, rules history, and will bring all things to their appointed end.

Forgive us for living as if this world is all there is, for fearing earthly powers more than trusting You, and for neglecting the reality of final judgment. We confess that our hearts are often divided, seeking comfort in the present rather than holiness for eternity.

Thank You that in Christ we are part of the first resurrection, already made alive in Him. Thank You that our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, and that we are secure in Your hands.

Strengthen us to persevere in faith and holiness. Help us to live as those who already belong to Your kingdom, awaiting the day when You will make all things new and evil will be no more.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.