Chapter Twenty

Three enemies of God's people have met their fate. The harlot on the scarlet beast, the beast from the land and the beast from the sea have all fallen. The only remaining adversary is the serpent Satan.

Revelation chapter 20 informs us of the fate of the Devil, the power behind the other enemies. The chapter opens with an angel coming down from heaven, carrying a key and a great chain. One more time, the origin of the messenger reveals that God is in control of all that happens.

This angel takes hold of Satan and binds him for a thousand years. How long is a thousand years? Throughout the rest of the book, we have been dealing with figurative numbers. Does everything change all of the sudden in chapter 20 so that John is now writing about literal periods of time? Remember what we have said other times about being consistent and honest with our interpretation of this book.

As we have said before, figurative numbers are multiplied by 10, or by multiples of 10, to make them greater. So 1000 is a big number. We must recall that the language of this book is used to paint a picture and not to fill out a calendar. So 1000 years is not a length of time as much as it is a statement of power. To bind Satan for a 1000 years means that God's power over the Devil is great.

Verse three tells us that the dragon is thrown into the abyss, which is shut and sealed over him. Later (in verse 7) he is released for a short time. This passage tells us two things about God's power over Satan. First of all, the Devil is released only when God allows him to be released. And, secondly, the release is only for a short time. Compare this with the 1000-year binding.

With the elimination of the Roman empire, the Devil's persecution of God's people through that power was destroyed for all time. Thus the thousand year binding. But the serpent would be allowed to use other helpers to combat God's people in the future. Thus the release for a short time. The point of the illustration lies in the comparison of the two periods of time. As we explained at the beginning of the book, the purpose of Revelation is to encourage persecuted Christians by showing them that God is in control.

John's attention now turns to thrones in heaven. Still another time, a scene of judgment is followed by a scene depicting the triumph of God's people.

Reading the whole verse, we come to realize that the thrones are occupied by all Christians. According to this verse, the Christians are allowed to sit in judgment.

Verses such as Romans 3:6 and 14:10 tell us that God will judge the world. Verses such as Romans 2:16 and Acts 17:31 state that God will judge the world through Jesus. Acts 17:31 explains that God has furnished proof of His judgment by raising Jesus from the dead. Jesus claims in John 5:22-27 that God has given to Him the authority to execute judgment.

But Jesus says in John 12:47-50 that He did not come to judge the world, but to save it. How do all of these fit together?

God is the judge of the world. He has given Jesus the authority to judge, partially by sending Him to provide the avenue for escaping punishment. Jesus did not come to condemn. He came to save. Those who accept what He offers are saved. Those who reject it fall under judgment.

Jesus points this out in His discussion in John 12:47-48.

"And if any one hears My sayings and does not keep them," Jesus explains, "I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

"He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day."

We can see how God can be the judge and still give to Jesus the authority to judge, but we still have not seen how Christians play a part in judging.

"Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 6:2. "Do you not know that we shall judge angels?" he questions in the next verse. But we still don't know how this is possible.

Maybe we can find the answer in Hebrews 11:7.

"By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."

According to this verse, Noah's obedience condemned the rest of the world. Would we make a law that is impossible to keep and then punish those who do not obey it? But what if one person is able to obey that law? Is it impossible, anymore?

Would God condemn those who did not obey Him if there was not a single person who did what He commanded? By following God, we show that it is possible. This condemns those who reject God, including angels who rebel against His authority.

Verses four through six of Revelation 20 talk about a first resurrection and a second death. Although this passage never mentions them, this implies a second resurrection and first death.

Verse five is a little confusing, since the first part of it is parenthetical. That is, it is merely stating what happens with the rest of the dead while the Christians are reigning. So the statement at the end of the verse is a continuation of the thought at the close of the previous verse.

Just when is the first resurrection?

"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into His death?" Romans 6:3 asks.

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death," verse four continues, "in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

"Having been buried with Him in baptism," Colossians 2:12-13 explains, "in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. "

And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions."

When, then, is the first resurrection? It is when we come up from being immersed for the remission of our sins. Anyone who has not gone through the first burial might want to give some thought to the first resurrection.

So the thousand-year reign is going on right now. This isn't too surprising in light of passages such as Romans 5:17, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Colossians 1:13-14, Hebrews 12:28 and Revelation 1:6,9. Don't take my word for it. Check these verses and find out when the kingdom began. Read these verses. The kingdom started with Christ. Refute this if you can; believe it if you can't.

Verse two says that the thousand-year reign begins with the binding of Satan. Read Luke 10:18 and John 12:31-32 and see when Satan was bound.

To understand what is happening here we must remember once again the purpose of this book. It is to give courage to Christians. This passage promises for Christians a second resurrection to follow their first resurrection. To those who do not take part in the first resurrection it promises a first death followed by a second one. The second death is explained in verse 14.

Verse eight tells us about an army which is gathered for war against God. This is an old story which we have already seen in Revelation 16:12-21 and 19:19-21. Only this time it is seen with the Devil as the focal point. How much of a battle took place in the other passages? There was no battle, remember? The same is true here. Fire devours the enemy as soon as they gather. There can be no battle against God.

In verse 11 John views a great white throne and a scene of Judgment. Those who stand before the throne are judged according to two things: the things which are written in some books, and their deeds.

What books are these? Remember what Jesus said about His words judging us in the last day? Hopefully, you have these books open before you right now. The second element may throw some people, especially those who say we can do nothing to be saved or lost, We cannot earn our salvation by good deeds. But we must act on what we learn in the books.

The New American Standard translation states it so clearly in John 3:36. "He who believes in the Son has eternal life," it notes, "but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

The message could not be any clearer. Fail to act on the truth and we will die. Obey the truth and it will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."