Bible Commentaries
Revelation 20

Verses 1-6

THE MILLENNIUM

And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. Revelation 20:1-2

Now it is Satan's turn to receive God's judgment. This fallen one has always been the source of earth's problems and has now gathered all the nations against God. He is quickly seized by a mighty angel of heaven and bound in the Abyss for a thousand-year period. Earth will now experience a new era and will no longer endure the constant temptations of Satan.

Yes, when the international war against Israel is over and Armageddon is history, we will see some tremendous changes in our world. As we enter the Millennial Age, we will see God's plan for Israel go into effect as has not been the case since ancient times. It is like the quiet after a storm. Indeed it is said in Proverbs 10:25, "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever."

When we look at the Millennium we are looking at a totally new era that is still largely hidden from our eyes. Although we do not fully understand the peculiarities of this age and it leaves us with many questions, we had best believe in its existence until we understand it better. We certainly should not deny it as many Christian thinkers came to do in the church's early history.

We can perceive some things about this age. Because of the absence of the Beast and False Prophet, people will likely not be deceived by false prophecy during this period. Satan himself will be temporarily out of the picture as he is bound for a thousand years, and apparently will not be able to tempt people and nations.

The world will enter an age of peace and tranquility unknown since the Garden of Eden. The Messianic government will be fully established in the earth.^(F1) In Micah 4:3-4 we read of this period, "He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken."

The prophet Zechariah speaks of this day in these words, "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles" (Zechariah 14:16).

The law of God will begin to regulate all affairs on earth. The prophet pictures this law of God as going out from Jerusalem: "Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3).

In reflecting on the Millennial Age, we can view it as a prototype kingdom of God finally established on the earth. It is a natural fulfillment of everything promised to Israel by her prophets (Ezekiel 36-37; Isaiah 2:1-5). It is designed to fulfill all the things for which Israel has long hoped and prayed.

This kingdom is probably also designed to display God's righteousness before angels, principalities, powers and people (Isaiah 26:9b). It is designed to display the glory of the Messianic government before all nations. This is the very government Israel once rejected. This government seems designed to root out the evil influences of earth and establish God's holiness and righteousness. ^(F2)One purpose of this government is surely to elevate fallen people to the position of authority in Christ and with Christ.

The Millennial Age may also be looked upon as a transition period between heaven and earth. While it has heavenly qualities, it also still has earthly ones. For instance, the Lord himself will reign on earth with his victorious saints for the thousand years. These obviously will be resurrected saints. Yet, the Bible makes it sound as if some natural people will still be left on earth. These will still be building houses, planting vineyards and seemingly continuing with natural pursuits (Isaiah 65:20-21).

There are many other perplexing mysteries about this time. In this period there will be great peace in the natural realm. The wolf and the lamb will even feed together (Isaiah 65:25). The young child will safely play over the hole of the viper (Isaiah 11:8).

We see that during this age, thrones will be set up and those who have been given authority will judge. This is a promise that has been made several times to the overcomers in Revelation. Those tribulation martyrs who have not worshipped the Beast or received his image will also come to life and reign with Christ for this thousand years (20:4). The remainder of the dead will not be raised or judged until the thousand years have ended.^(F3) Those who have a part in this first resurrection are called blessed and holy (20:5-6).

The first resurrection will apparently occur in stages. ^(F4) As we see in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, the dead in Christ will arise first. After this the living saints will then be transformed miraculously. ^(F5) Jesus said in John 6:40, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." We can hardly escape the conclusion that during the Millennium resurrected saints will be ruling for Christ on this earth and yet there will still be natural, flesh and blood human beings still present. In fact, this peaceful era ends with a terrible battle where there will be much flesh and blood wasted on the great battlefield.

Verses 7-12

JUDGMENT AND A NEW ERA

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog – and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. Revelation 20:7-8

So we see that at the end of the blissful Millennium, Satan will once more be released in the earth. Although this is incomprehensible to us, it still must be necessary in God's great and perfect plan. The unleashing of the devil after this age may be designed to illustrate Satan's hopelessly evil intent, and the righteousness of God's final judgment against him (20:7). After this event, angels, principalities, powers and man should fully realize just who Satan is (Isaiah 14:16-17).

It may also be designed to truly reveal the innate sinfulness of the human heart as Isaiah 26:10 states, "…even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the LORD." Amazingly, though some people on earth have lived in a heavenly environment they will still turn back to rebellion in the end. ^(F6) We must remember that the Millennium is not yet the final and perfect order. The heavenly city or Bride has not yet completely descended to earth.

Satan will again continue his age-old work of deceiving nations, albeit without the help of the Beast or False Prophet. He will have some successes in bringing the mighty nations of Gog and Magog together for battle against Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). Their people will be vast in number, like sand on the seashore. The object of Satan's wrath will be the same as always. It will be directed toward Israel, Jerusalem and the covenant people (20:9).

This will be one of earth's shortest wars. Fire will immediately fall down from heaven and devour this horde (cf. Psalm 21:9-10). After this incredible and awful defeat, the devil will at last be given his due. He will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where he will be in company with the Beast and False Prophet. They will be tormented there with eternal punishment (20:10). It seems that the Millennium and the great war that follows are designed especially to prove to heavenly beings the unredeemable evil and wickedness of Satan.

Verses 13-14

THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

…and each person was judged according to what he had done. Revelation 20:13

It is now time for the great white throne judgment of all humanity. John says, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" (20:11-12).

It is obvious that the dead are being judged on the basis of whether or not their names are found written in the Lamb's book of life. It is also clear that this judgment is based upon their obedience, their actions and deeds (20:13).^(F7) The ungodly are then thrown into the lake of fire, which is called the second death (20:14). Moody Church pastor, broadcaster and author, Warren Wiersbe, with others, sees this judgment as pertaining only to the unredeemed; and that it will determine only their degrees of punishment in hell (cf. Mt. 11:20-24).^(F8)However, it may be impossible to establish more than one judgment.

In 2 Corinthians 5:10 we read, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." Also in 1 Corinthians 11:31 we read, "But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged ( ESV)." It would seem by these statements that Christians will have the option of escaping any negative aspects of that judgment if they conform their lives to his will while they are living on this earth.