Revelation Chapter Twenty

Chapter Overview

Revelation chapter twenty opens with an angel binding Satan for a thousand years, removing his influence from the earth during what is known as the Millennial Reign. Believers who were faithful through the tribulation come to life and rule with the Messiah during this period, while the rest of the dead remain in the grave. At the end of the thousand years, Satan is released for a brief time and deceives the nations one final time, gathering them for battle against Jerusalem, only to be defeated instantly by fire from heaven and thrown into the lake of fire. The chapter closes with the great white throne judgment, where all whose names are not found written in the Book of Life are judged according to their deeds and cast into the lake of fire — the second death.

Revelation 20:1 & 2

Next I saw an angel coming down from heaven, who had the key to the Abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan [the Adversary], and chained him up for a thousand years.

In chapter 19, we saw the other two parts of this unholy trio cast into the fiery lake which is hell. Here we see an angel from heaven seizing the leader of this trio who is Satan himself. Satan is bound for this thousand years and has no influence during the Millennial Reign.

Revelation 20:3

He threw him into the Abyss, locked it and sealed it over him; so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that, he has to be set free for a little while.

Unlike the other two, the devil is not sent to hell but is imprisoned in the Abyss which is a never ending hole or bottomless pit. We may ask why Satan is set free for a short time after the Millennial Reign and to understand this we must understand that there are four groups of people that are present during this one thousand years. The first group consists of those who came to faith before what is known as the rapture of the church, which happened when the abomination that causes desolation was set up in the Temple in Jerusalem. We see in scripture that these believers are given a glorified (kingdom) body. The second group includes Jewish people who accept Yeshua Messiah between the time of the rapture and the establishment of the Millennial Reign. The third group has those Gentiles who come to Christ between the rapture and the 1000 years. Both the second and third groups are not given a glorified body and, because they have normal fleshly bodies, they have the ability to produce children. The fourth group present during this time are the children that are born during the Millennial Reign, and they, in fact, become the largest group present.

Revelation 20:4 & 5

Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them received authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the Word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first resurrection.

With Satan removed, the saints of God are going to reign and judge. Those that were killed during the tribulation for their faith will join with his church. Once again, we see that this period will last one thousand years. There are those who do not take this to mean one thousand earthly years but we have to take God at his word. We also see that those who died without faith in Yeshua Messiah remain in the grave for the time being.

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is anyone who has a part in the first resurrection; over him the second death has no power. On the contrary, they will be cohanim of God and of the Messiah, and they will rule with him for the thousand years.

Those who have accepted Yeshua Messiah as their Lord and Savior are saved from the second death which is hell and complete separation from God. They are saved for a purpose and that is to be a kingdom of priests and that is why Jesus said that he hated the "practices of the Nicolaitans." These practices were to get believers to go back to a religious system of following men instead of being led by the Spirit of God. As we see here, we were created to be priests and to rule with him not to follow priests.

Revelation 20:7 & 8

When the thousand years are over, the Adversary will be set free from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for the battle. Their number is countless as the sand on the seashore;

This is one of the most baffling passages in the entire Bible as I wonder why, and the answer goes back to the fourth group present during the Millennial Reign. These people had the opportunity to see Yeshua and what it was like to live in his kingdom. We must remember that the definition of faith is hope in something not yet seen. These people have never had to live by faith because they were always able to see Yeshua and his ways. They did not have any choice of whether to accept Yeshua or not as his rule was absolute. The people (nations) that are going to be deceived are those that do not have a covenant relationship with Yeshua (they never made the choice to accept and follow him). Instead, they are going to follow Satan as he has convinced them to leave the kingdom and join him so that they can live the way that they want to. We see that he was "released from his prison" as he did not have the power to get out on his own and, yet, he will convince many people to follow him in hopes of overthrowing the kingdom of God.

Revelation 20:9

and they came up over the breadth of the Land and surrounded the camp of God's people and the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.

The shortest battle in history is the result of this deception as this great number of people come against the city of Jerusalem. The people that were following Satan were devoured but this is not the end for them as they wait for eternal punishment.

Revelation 20:10

The Adversary who had deceived them was hurled 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.

The devil was cast into hell with the other two parts of their unholy trinity. Their fate was sealed from the time they rebelled in heaven and now their judgment and punishment is carried out.

Revelation 20:11

Next I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.

Now, Yeshua is set to judge these people as well as those that did not take part in the first resurrection based on their own work instead of his work on the cross. Nothing can stand up to this judgement as even the earth and sky flee from his presence.

Revelation 20:12 & 13

And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it; and Death and Sh'ol gave up the dead in them; and they were judged, each according to what he had done.

This judgment is for salvation and all who appear at this time are destined to eternal punishment. They wanted to be judged on the merits of their lives instead of on the basis of their relationship with Yeshua Messiah. So, the books that are opened contain all of their words and deeds. Nobody can stand up to that standard and so, without their name being written in the Lamb's book of life, they are found guilty. It is important to note that those who have trusted in Jesus Christ are not a part of this judgement as they have already been found not guilty and granted their rewards based on what was contained in those books.

Revelation 20:14 & 15

Then Death and Sh'ol were hurled into the lake of fire. This is the second death - the lake of fire. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was hurled into the lake of fire.

The final destination for anyone who does not trust in Jesus is hell. This death is separation from God forever and eternal punishment. The last things to be sent to this place are death and the grave itself as they no longer have a place in creation.