REVELATION 20 - SATAN BOUND 1000 YEARS
Updated: Jan 14
Revelation 19 describes the Second Coming.
Revelation 20 continues the description of events that then occur.
When Christ returns the dead saints will be resurrected (John 14:2-3; Matt 24:30 -31)
This is the first resurrection (v 4-6; John 6:39-40)
The living saints will be translated with the resurrected ones (1Thess 4:16-17)
They will reign for a thousand years.
At the second coming the living wicked will be destroyed.
The earth is empty - devoid of humans.
Revelation 20 describes Earth's millennial REST from Sin which has run its course.
Satan, the tempter, is "bound up" figuratively speaking, by a chain of circumstances.
Satan has no-one to tempt as the earth is empty.
SATAN BOUND A THOUSAND YEARS.
1. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
1* ¶ And I saw an angel come down [literally “coming down”] from heaven , having the key of the bottomless pit This angel is not “the angel of the bottomless pit of Rev 9:11. This angel is seen as "coming down" and not "fallen from heaven". The angel of the bottomless pit of Rev 9:1,11, the one fallen from heaven is Satan (see Rev 12:7-9. This angel of Rev 20 binds Satan.
THE BOTTOMLESS PIT HERE SYMBOLISES THE GRAVE
This is a symbolic vision which suggests that the pit is also a symbol. The shutting up of Satan in the pit (v 2) shows that his activities will be brought to a halt, “that he should deceive the nations no more...” (v 3).
The bottomless pit symbolizes the grave. The grave is a “pit” which cannot be filled, (Isa 38:18; Isa 14:19; Hab 2:5; Prov 30:16) i.e. the grave is a bottomless pit.
The Greek “abussos” is translated “bottomless pit” here in Revelation but it is also translated “deep” in Rom 10:7 where it refers to the grave. The Greek Septuagint Bible uses the word “abussos” to describe the “earth without form and void” in the beginning. Gen 1:2. cf. Jer 4:23-27] and a great chain in his hand [great chain, a symbol of restraint].
SATAN BOUND
2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
The binding of Satan is a restriction of his actions as indicated by the statement, “that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled” (v3)
This is accomplished by the very nature of the conditions:
1. The wicked have been slain at Christ’s return.
2. The saints have ascended to heaven.
3. The righteous reign with Christ in heaven.
There is no-one left on Earth to tempt.
EVENTS WHICH BEGIN THE 1000 YEARS
Chapter 19 describes the Second Coming (Rev 19:11-21)
The narrative continues on without a break into ch. 20 which discusses the 1000 years
Hence the second coming preceeds the 1000 years.
The continuity of the narrative is demonstrated by the interrelation of events:
Three powers gather to battle against Christ at the time of His Second Coming.
These are the dragon, the beast & the false prophet (Rev 16:13).
Rev 19:19: the Beast & false prophet are cast into the lake of Fire at Christ's Coming.
Rev 20, the third member of the trio, the dragon, will be cast into the bottomless pit.
Any definition or description of the millennium must be based on Rev 19 and 20
Rev 19 & 20 are the only passages in Scripture that deal directly with this doctrine.
Christ returns after the tribulation but before the millennium. Matt 24:29-31.
AT CHRIST’S SECOND COMING ALL THE RIGHTEOUS DEAD WILL BE RESURRECTED
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1Thess 4:16-17.
Note: ALL the faithful dead are, “dead in Christ” Those of the Old.Testaent. died with faith in the Messiah to come. Those of the New.Testament. died with faith in the Messiah who has come.
“ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life…” John 5:28-29.
“For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” 1 Cor 15:23.
ALL those that are Christ’s and are still in their graves will rise at Christ’s Second coming.
“...EVERY ONE which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the LAST DAY.” John 6:40.
ALL the dead saints will receive immortality at the last trump:
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [i.e. die], but we shall ALL be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...and this mortal [must] put on immortality.” 1 Cor 15:51-53.
“...they [the faithful dead] without us should not be made perfect.” Heb 11:40. ALL the faithful will be perfected together.
The resurrection will take place on the last Day, not over a long period of time:
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that EVERYONE which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last DAY.” John 6:40.
“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of ALL which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” John 6:39
“This is the first resurrection.” Rev 20:5, “...the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14 in which ALL the “just” rise.
AT CHRIST’S COMING HE TAKES ALL HIS SAINTS TO HEAVEN
Christ does not establish His kingdom on earth at His Second Coming. He does not come to the earth to be received by His people, rather He comes to “receive” His people unto Himself. He resurrects the “dead in Christ” and together with the living saints catches them up from the earth “to meet the Lord in the air” and takes them to the mansions prepared for them:
“In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [i.e. in heaven]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.” John 14:2-3.
Not just the 12 disciples but all the faithful such as Abraham and Issac etc. will go to the city God hath prepared.
“...they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Heb 11:16, 10, 35, 40.
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1Thess 4:16-17.
Note: Those “dead in Christ” are resurrected and ascend into the clouds WITH the living saints. No resurrection has yet occurred that was accompanied by the ascension into the clouds of living saints. It is clear therefore that this resurrection of the dead in Christ has not yet occurred. At the time Jesus addressed His disciples His people were a small group, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
However as a result of the gospel going forth John beheld in heaven “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” Rev 7:9.
This “great multitude” are “few” when compared to the lost:
“ ...broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13-14.
“All the Saints of All Ages Will Reign as Judges with Christ” v4.
At Christ’s coming ALL the righteous will be gathered together in one day:
“...Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed...Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? [or] shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” Isa 66:2, 8.
No one living at Christ’s return will have a second chance for the condition of all is fixed eternally prior to Christ’s coming.
“ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:11-12
AT CHRIST’S COMING ALL THE LIVING WICKED WILL BE SLAIN
“ And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man...the flood came, and destroyed them ALL. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot... it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] ALL. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:26-30.
“...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished [ultimatelly] with everlasting destruction...” 2 Thess 1:7-9.
At the time of Christ’s coming “[the beast and the false prophet]...were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” Rev 19:20-21. The beast, the false prophet and the remnant made up ALL the wicked.
“...the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they [i.e. the wicked] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1Thess 5:2-3.
THE EARTH WILL BE EMPTY DURING THE 1000 YEARS
As ALL the saints are caught up at the Second Coming and as ALL the wicked are then slain, the earth will be utterly empty, utterly depopulated. Thus the Scriptures will be fulfilled:
“I will utterly consume all [things] from off the land, saith the LORD. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.” Zeph 1:1-18.
“Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof...The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word...The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones [that are] on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, [as] prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.” Isa 24:1-3, 19-22
The many days refer to the 1000 years: “...lived not again until the 1000 years were finished.” Rev 20:5.
At the seventh plague,“…there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great…And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Rev 16:18-20.
“ I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] by his fierce anger.” Jer 4:23-26
“ And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from [one] end of the earth even unto the [other] end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.” Jer 25:33
No one will be left alive to lament, gather or bury them.
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.
SATAN BOUND TO THE UNIHABITED EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS
The bottomless pit is the grave (See “The Bottomless Pit” verse 1).
The earth will be utterly empty throughout the 1000 years
a mass grave of the slain wicked (See on v 2).
It is here that Satan will spend 1000 years.
Satan’s banishment to this uninhabited world was typified in the Day of Atonement
On that day the earthly sanctuary was cleansed (See Lev 16:7-22).
Two goats were sellected, one was the Lord’s goat, the other the scapegoat, Azazel
The Lord’s goat was sacrificed and atonement made.
The scapegoat was led away “...unto a land not inhabited...” (Lev 16:22) to perish.
This typifies the fact that Christ will finish cleansing the heavenly sanctuary of sin.
He will place the sins of the faithful on Satan, the instigator of all sin.
Satan will be banished into the lifeless earth (1000yrs) where he will ultimately perish.
The scapegoat, Azazel, typified Satan not Christ:
1. The goat was sent away after the priest had made an end of cleansing the sanctuary (Lev 16:20-21).
2. It was sent away alive to an unihabited place. This cannot be applied to Christ who died and ascended to heaven.
3. It received and retained the iniquities but when Christ returns He will be “without sin.” (Heb 9:28).
4. This was one of two goats chosen. As the other goat was called the “Lord’s goat,” it stands to reason that the scapegoat is someone else's.
5. The scapegoat’s proper name, Azazel, is considered evil by the Jews, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him [As Satan had Christ sealed in the grave (Matt 27:63-66) so he will be sealed in the bottomless pit], that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled [Satan’s activities will be brought to a halt by the circumstances. At Christ’s Second Coming ALL the wicked were slain (See on verse 2). The dead saints were raised and ALL the saints were taken to heaven. “The rest of the dead,” i.e. the wicked dead, will not live again until the thousand years are finished. See on verse 5. Thus Satan will be unable to deceive anyone]: and after that [after the 1000 years] he must be loosed a little season [At the end of the 1000 years the wicked dead will be raised to life in the resurrection of damnation. Will the wicked nations still choose rebellion if given a second oppourtunity? After the 1000 years Satan will be permitted to go forth to deceive them. We do not know the length of this period but it is clearly long enough for Satan to deceive them and to organize the assault on the New Jerusalem (verses 7-9)].
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.
And I saw thrones [They reign. cf. verse 6], and they sat upon them [The redeemed of all ages. See on verse 2], and judgment was given unto them
THE SAINTS REIGN AS JUDGES WITH CHRIST
“...ALL be made alive...they that are Christ's at his coming.” 1 Cor 15:23.
“the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1Thess 4:16-17.
Christ catches up from the earth ALL His people at His coming and takes them to the manisons He has prepared for them in heaven (John 14:1-3).
God wants ALL the redeemed to see His justice and to know the reasons for His judgments: The faithful Corinthians will ALL go to heaven at the Second Coming. Paul told them, “judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come...” 1 Cor 4:5.
The Disciples will go to heaven, “...when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel...” Matt 19:28.
The 24 elders will be there (Rev 4:4).
Christ told the faithful in the church of Laodicea, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.” Rev 3:21. Therefore, ALL the overcoming Laodiceans will reign with Christ. Those who do not overcome will be lost.
ALL genuine Christians are overcomers and as such they will reign with Him: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1John 5:1-3.
“ Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer...” 2Tim 3:12
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]...” 2Tim 2:12.
As ALL godly Christians suffer, and as there is no other kind of Christian, ALL Christians will reign with Christ.
Note: All the ungodly will perish: “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous...the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Ps 1:5-6.
ALL men are to be “godly,” “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men, Teaching us that... we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Tit 2:11-12.
ALL the saints will participate in the 1000 year judgment in heaven, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 1Cor 6:2-3.
“...judgment was given to the saints of the most High ...” Daniel 7:22. “To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have ALL his saints. Praise ye the LORD.” Ps 149:9.
Moses is to be a part of the kingdom of God
“But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment [was] white [and] glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:” Luke 9:27-30.
In this they saw the kingdom of God. Moses, one of the faithful of the Old Teatament represented the resurrected “dead in Christ” and Elias represented those which will not see death and be translated.
“...a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne.” Rev 7:9.
“...I heard a great voice of much people in heaven...” Rev 19:1]: and [Attention is drawn to a specific group of the redeemed for whom the role of judging the wicked will be especially significant] [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded [lost their lives] 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 [“came to life”] and reigned with Christ a thousand years [Those whom the wicked judged as worthy of death because they refused to receive the mark of the beast (Rev 13:15-17) will be made the judges of those which condemned them. “
[God] hath made us kings and priests unto God.” Rev 1:6
Note the vesre does not state that the saints will be on earth during this 1000 years reign].
5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
THE WICKED RESURRECTED AT THE END OF 1000 YEARS
The “rest of the dead” refers to the unrighteous dead who did not rise in the first “resurrection of the just” at the beginning of the 1000 years when Christ returns the second time. See on verse 2. The wicked will rise at the end of the 1000 years in “the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29 which is so named because all who come up in this resurrection will perish.
“Lived not” must mean that they are not raised from the dead because “lived” in the first part of the verse applied to those who were dead (beheaded) and were raised from the dead.
Isaiah said of the wicked,
“And they shall be gathered together, [as] prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited” Isa 24:22 . Rev 20 shows that the many days will be 1000 years.
The Millennium is thus bounded at each end with a resurrection. Christ plainly declares that "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28,29. And Paul testifies "that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." Acts 24:15. Here the Revelator shows that these resurrections are one thousand years apart, at each end of the millennium.
As seen, the earth will be utterly emptied at the Second Coming of Christ. See on verse 2.
Some textual evidence may be cited for the ommission of the sentence, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” However the preponderance of evidence is for retaining it. The three oldest Greek manuscripts which contain the Revelation (if one believes oldest is best) retain it as do nearly all translations.
The doctrine of the second resurrection is not however dependent upon this sentence. The term “Second resurrection” is derived from Christ’s teaching of two main resurrections (John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15). The “resurrection of the just” occurs at the second coming (1Thess 4:13-17) and is called “the first resurrection.” (Rev 20:6). The resurrection of the “rest of the dead”, i.e. of the wicked dead, occurs when the 1000 years are finished.
(a) ALL mankind must be resurrected to fulfil the Scriptures:
“ Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29).
“...there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:15.
(b) If the wicked are to die the “SECOND death” (v6) they must live a second period of life which requires them to be resurrected.
(c) Since ALL the wicked are slain at the Second Coming (See on verse 2), and since they attack the New Jerusalem at the end of the 1000 years (Rev 20:5 first part, verses 7-9), it follows that they must be raised from the dead.
(d) As the “first resurrection” is for the “blessed and holy” (verse 6), the wicked must come up in a second resurrection, the resurrection of “damnation” (John 5:29).
(e) “For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, EVERY knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Rom 14:11; Isa 45:23). To be fulfilled this requires the resurrection of ALL who have ever lived for as yet not every knee has bowed.
Note: “An hour is not always a literal 60min. (e.g. Rev 3:10; John 4:23; John 12:27).
There is also to be a special resurrection. See on Dan 12:1-2.
WHY HAVE A SECOND RESURRECTION?
The reasons the wicked are raised rather than simply leaving them in death are as follows:
1. The wicked resurrected will once again turn against God (See v 7-9) proving that given another chance the wicked still chose to sin.
2. Many who do not appear outwardy bad will reveal the sinfulness lurking within when they rally with Satan to attack God’s saints (See on v 9). The truth of Christ’s words will be seen, “He that is not with me is against me...” Matt 12:30.
3. Justice demands that the wicked be rewarded according to their works. In the lake of fire some will burn long while others will be devoured in short order but all will eventually die.
4. The Scripture must be fulfilled, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.” Luke 13:28. For this to be fulfilled the wicked must rise to see Abraham etc.
5 “...every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Rom 13:10. In order for ALL to do this ALL must be raised. The confession will remove from the minds of the righteous any question as to God’s wisdom, justice and mercy. This confession is not a change of heart just an admission of guilt. The wicked are irrevocably lost and could not enjoy heaven.
NO SECOND CHANCE, DESTINY DECIDED IN THIS LIFE
(a) “...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Heb 9:27; cf. Eze 18:24. Judgment is based upon this one life.
(b) Our reward will be based upon this life for when Christ is revealed He “...will render to every man according to his deeds:” Rom 2:6. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt 16:27.
(c) The parable of the rich man & Lazarus shows that there is no second chance (Luke 16:26-31)
No second oppourtunity is given. The wicked will suffer the second death (Rev 20:6, 14)]. This [is] the first resurrection [The last sentence of verse 5 has caused confusion because it appears to read that the resurrection of the rest of the dead at the end of the 1000 years is the first resurrection. The passage is clarified in the following translations:
“They came to life and reigned along with Christ for a thousand years, (as for the rest of the dead, they did not come to life till the thousand years were completed.) This is the first resurrection.” Moffat.
“They were restored to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years, (The rest of the dead were not restored to life till the thousand years were ended.) This is the First Resurrection.” Twentieth Century N.T.
See also the Good news and the Fenton Bible which likewise place the sentence in parenthesis ( ), indicating that “the first resurrection” concerns those who come to life at the beginning of the 1000 years and reign with Christ (v4).
A first resurrection implies a second. The “rest of the dead” rise in the “Second Resurrection” at the end of the 1000 years. See first part of v5
The 1000 years thus have resurrections at either end.
The first death is as a result of inheriting a mortal body from Adam after his fall.
The second death will be as a result of the choices we make in this life.
Obedience to God and live or transgression of His law and die.
The first resurrection is of the righteous and occurs at Christ’s Second Coming - v 2.
The second resurrection is of the wicked and occurs at the end of the 1000 years - v 5
The second death occurs after the wicked are resurrected at the end of the 1000yrs.
Fire will come down from God and devour them.
The surface of the earth will become a lake of fire
When all sinners are perished God will make a new heavens and a new earth.
The reign of the saints with Christ is not dependent upon there being anyone alive on earth. Though the wicked will be dead, the saints will still reign with Christ as judges. 1Cor 6:2,3
7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
The wicked of all ages come alive in the second resurrection at the end of the 1000 years (verse 5). Satan is now able to once more go forth and deceive them. He will present himself as their Saviour and lead them to attack the Holy city of the saints. cf. Eze 38.
Gog and Magog
The text shows these two names encompass the entire planet. They represent the wicked of all ages, cf. Eze 38-39. Rev. A. Jones, in the List of the Proper Names in the Old & New Testaments, at the back of Crudens Concordance states Gog means “roof, covering, expansion.” “Magog” means “place of Gog or expansion, i.e. increase of family.” It suggests the house of the father of rebellion and those who follow him, his children. Satan has always sought to “cover” his real intentions. Satan’s system has “expanded” to cover the whole world.
to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea
“...broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat” Matt 7:13.
At this time ALL who have ever lived will be upon the earth and the stage will be set for the last great act in the drama of the ages.
THE BATTLE FOR THE TREE OF LIFE
The wicked will compass the New Jerusalem intending to take the city. "When raised, not one of the resurrected wicked will choose righteousness. Satan will be successful in once again deceiving the nations. He will lead an assault on New Jerusalem in a vain attempt to gain access to the tree of life contained therein (Rev 21:2) He knows that even a sinner who eats from it will live forever. (Gen 3:22-24)." GC, p664-665. The wicked are devoured in the flames.
CHRIST’S THIRD COMING WITH HIS PEOPLE
Verse 9 before us shows that by this time the beloved city, the New Jerusalem , and the saints, will have descended to the earth prior to the resurrection of the wicked at the end of the 1000 years because if this is not so then how could the wicked host encompass it about?
At His Second Coming Christ came FOR His people who were caught up from the earth and taken to His Father’s house (1Thess 4:16-17; John 14:2-3). After spending 1000 years in heaven judging the wicked Christ will return to the earth WITH His people and the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2).
“...Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 1:14-15]: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them
THE JUDGMENT EXECUTED
The city is clearly on the earth for the wicked which compass it are on the earth, and the “fires comes down from God out of heaven” upon them.This is Hell-fire, the destiny of the damned. See “The Lake of Fire” verse 15.
Just before their destruction, as they surround the New Jerusalem, other events occur. See on verse 11.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
Satan is not to be in charge of Hell-fire, he will is to be destroyed in it (Heb 2:14; Isa 14:12-17). In the person of the King of Tyre God addressed Satan:
“...I will destroy thee, O covering cherub...I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never [shalt] thou [be] any more.” Eze 28:12-19.
See “Lake of Fire” v 15. The fires from God will burn up the elements of the earth cleansing it from every trace of sin. As Noah’s ark rode the waters so the New Jerusalem will ride the flames (cf. 2 Pet 3:6-7) and as the 3 worthies passed safetly through the fire so will the saints (cf. Dan 3)
where the beast and the false prophet [are]
the word “are” is not in the Greek. “Went” might be a better choice for Rev 20:10 shows that at Christs Coming these powers went into the lake of fire
and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever
Literally “unto the end of the age.”
FOREVER
Gr. Aion - “For ever” does not necessarily mean without end.
The Greek word “aion” here translated “forever” means “A space or period of time, especially a life time, life,...A long period of time, eternity...Later, a space of time clearly defined and marked out, an era, age,...this present world.” Liddel & Scott’s Greek Lexicon.
“In general, the word depicts that of which the horizon is not in view, whether the horizon be at an infinite distance,...whether it lies no farther than the span of Caesar’s life.” J.H Moulton & George Milligan, Vocabulary of the New Testament.
Christ spoke of, “ the end of the world [Gr. aion].” (Matt 13:39). How could there be an end of the “aion” if “aion” is always endless?
Christ is called “a priest for ever [aion]” (Heb 5:6), yet after sin is dealt with Christ’s work as priest will end.
The Hebrew equivalent of “aion” is “olam.” We read in Exo 12:24 that the Passover was to be observed “forever” [olam] yet its observance has ended.
Jonah 2:6 “The earth with her bars was about me for ever [olam].” but this “for ever” was just “three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17.
Samuel was to abide in God’s house “forever” [olam] but this time was plainly limited to “as long as he liveth” (verse 28).
Thus we see that by the Scriptures own definition aion, & olam, translated “for ever” does not necessarily mean everlasting. These words in Rev 14:11 are borrowed from Isa 34:6-15 where “for ever,” clearly refers to a period of limited duration.
Ps 37:10, 20 says that “the wicked shall perish...they shall consume; into smoke they shall consume away.”
The wicked will suffer as long as they continue to live in the fire. Then as the Bible states; “The wicked...shall be destroyed for ever” (Ps 92:7; Mal 4:1-3).
Rev 20:9 states that the fire“devoured” the wicked completely consuming them, as the fowls did the seed by the wayside, this same word being used in Matt 13:4.
The word soul is found 873 times in Scripture and is never called immortal or deathless, etc.
On the contrary the Bible uses words that show that the wicked will be totally destroyed. Words like, “chaff”, “stubble,” “wax”, “fat,” etc. (See Mal 3:12; Mal 4:1; Ps 68:2; 37:20). “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) not eternal life in hell fire.
Having brought us to the end of the wicked the following verse takes us back to the time before they are destroyed.
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
And I saw the dead, small and great
none will be exempt. At this time ALL who have ever lived will be alive at one time upon the earth
stand before God; and the books
Containing the record of each man’s life, both good deeds and bad 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
THE BOOKS
Life<