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Chapter 20 covers the 1,000 years and Great White Throne.
Chapter 19 concluded the 7 year Tribulation Period and Christ's coming with
power and great glory at Armageddon. There he slew the armies of the
Antichrist and cast into the Lake of Fire both the Antichrist and the false
prophet.
Verse 1-3 (Judgements)
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the
dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him
for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and
shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the
nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these
things he must be released for a little while.
That on the command of G-d one angel can imprison Satan shows the power
of G-d and of His angels. We know little of the physics concerning that which
is able to imprison a mighty spirit such as Satan. However the result is
perfectly clear, Satan is absolutely confined and able to deceive no one.
During the millennium Satan will be absolutely out of the picture and will not
be able to deceive the nations upon the earth. Those born during the
millennium will still have a sinful nature. Satan will be bound for 1000 years
then he will be released according to G-d's sovereign will. God desires to
show us the true sinful nature of man. God will show us that even with 1000
years of peace when Christ is ruling when given an opportunity some will
rebel.
Verse 4 (Promise)
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was
committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had
not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark
on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years.
Here we are given a glimpse into the position and privileges which will be
enjoyed by the redeemed in the millennial kingdom. They will be granted
authority to judge and likewise the thrones would indicate that they will also
have some authority under Christ to rule.
Verse 5 (Judgement)
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Here we are clearly shown there are to be 2 resurrections separated by the
1000 years. The first will be the resurrection unto life and it includes all of
those dead in Christ who were raised at the rapture. The tribulation saints
who died at the rapture, all the Old Testament saints. The nonbelievers are
not raised for 1000 years. They are kept in hades to await the resurrection
unto death where they are cast into the lake of fire and the Great White
Throne Judgement. What will the Millennium be like? Jesus will rule. There
will be peace no wars (Isaiah 11:6-9) happiness (Isaiah 12:3) Long life
(Isaiah 65:20) sickness will virtually be removed. Prosperity (Isaiah 35:1-2)
Joy in labor (Isaiah 65:21-22). Sexual reproduction will still exist in the
millennium. Those saints who live through the Tribulation in their natural
bodies will be able to have children. Isaiah 11:6 and 8 speak of the little
children living during the Millennial Age.
Verse 6 (Promise)
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over
such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God
and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
We were lost in sin and deserving of the second death, eternal separation
from G-d. But G-d in His love, turned our hearts around and called us unto
Christ for forgiveness of sin and everlasting life. Now the second death no
longer has power to destroy us. They shall be priest. All believers are priest
in that they may pray directly to G-d with any human mediator. Christ is the
one mediator between man and G-d. I Tim. 2:5.
Verse 7 & 8 (Judgements)
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released
from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in
the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together
to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
We would not have expected what we read here. Although Christ will rule the
nations during the millennium sin will yet be present upon the earth. Those
born during the 1000 years will be born with sinful natures which need
regeneration just like us today. Those children must individually decide either
to accept or reject Christ. Some will reject Him. Imagine living with all need
supplied, all sorrows erased, lasting joy, virtually no sickness, abundant
harvest and yet there will be still some who will not be content. They will be
like the pharisees who saw miracles but refused to accept Jesus as their
Lord. Gog and Magog represent any large assembly of people who wickedly
war against G-d and who are suddenly destroyed by Him.
Verse 9 (Judgement)
They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of
the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of
heaven and devoured them.
At the end of the 1000 years Satan will somehow lure huge numbers into
rebellion against Christ. G-d destroys them suddenly and miraculously.
Verse 10 (Judgement)
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever.
Now, G-d's purposes having been achieved, Satan is rewarded according to
his iniquity. He is cast into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and false
prophet are. They will be tormented forever.
Verse 11 (Judgement)
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place
for them.
Now finally all who offend, the unrepentant sinners will be forever put out of
the picture by G-d. This will make way for the making of the New Heavens
and Earth which have never nor will ever be tainted by sin.
Verse 12-13 (Judgement)
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books
were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of
Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things
which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who
were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in
them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Here all the lost are raised unto the judgement all the lost dead are raised.
The sea is specifically mentioned showing that those whose bodies were
devoured by fish will still be raised, G-d is able. The dead are judged out of
the Book of Life according to their works.
Verse 14 (Judgement)
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death.
The Bible clearly teaches that the fate of the wicked will be a horrible one.
The Lake of Fire is a terrible doom. This is the second death. Spiritual
death is separation from G-d as physical death is the separation of the soul
from the body. Now in the scene before us the lost who have both previously
been spiritually dead and physically dead are made alive at the second
Resurrection. They are given resurrected bodies and brought into the
presence of G-d for this judgement. Then because of their sinfulness they
are cast forever into the Lake of Fire. They have made an irrevocable life
decision to cling to their sinful estate despite all of G-d's warnings and
pleadings.
Verse 15 (Judgement)
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the
lake of fire.
It is interesting to note that Revelation 3:5 says of the believer that his name
will not be blotted out of the Book of Life for the believers sins have been
blotted out. Remember it does not require a new decision to go to Hell but it
does require a decision to go to Heaven.
Chapter 19 concluded the 7 year Tribulation Period and Christ's coming with
power and great glory at Armageddon. There he slew the armies of the
Antichrist and cast into the Lake of Fire both the Antichrist and the false
prophet.
Verse 1-3 (Judgements)
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the
dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him
for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and
shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the
nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these
things he must be released for a little while.
That on the command of G-d one angel can imprison Satan shows the power
of G-d and of His angels. We know little of the physics concerning that which
is able to imprison a mighty spirit such as Satan. However the result is
perfectly clear, Satan is absolutely confined and able to deceive no one.
During the millennium Satan will be absolutely out of the picture and will not
be able to deceive the nations upon the earth. Those born during the
millennium will still have a sinful nature. Satan will be bound for 1000 years
then he will be released according to G-d's sovereign will. God desires to
show us the true sinful nature of man. God will show us that even with 1000
years of peace when Christ is ruling when given an opportunity some will
rebel.
Verse 4 (Promise)
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was
committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had
not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark
on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years.
Here we are given a glimpse into the position and privileges which will be
enjoyed by the redeemed in the millennial kingdom. They will be granted
authority to judge and likewise the thrones would indicate that they will also
have some authority under Christ to rule.
Verse 5 (Judgement)
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Here we are clearly shown there are to be 2 resurrections separated by the
1000 years. The first will be the resurrection unto life and it includes all of
those dead in Christ who were raised at the rapture. The tribulation saints
who died at the rapture, all the Old Testament saints. The nonbelievers are
not raised for 1000 years. They are kept in hades to await the resurrection
unto death where they are cast into the lake of fire and the Great White
Throne Judgement. What will the Millennium be like? Jesus will rule. There
will be peace no wars (Isaiah 11:6-9) happiness (Isaiah 12:3) Long life
(Isaiah 65:20) sickness will virtually be removed. Prosperity (Isaiah 35:1-2)
Joy in labor (Isaiah 65:21-22). Sexual reproduction will still exist in the
millennium. Those saints who live through the Tribulation in their natural
bodies will be able to have children. Isaiah 11:6 and 8 speak of the little
children living during the Millennial Age.
Verse 6 (Promise)
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over
such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God
and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
We were lost in sin and deserving of the second death, eternal separation
from G-d. But G-d in His love, turned our hearts around and called us unto
Christ for forgiveness of sin and everlasting life. Now the second death no
longer has power to destroy us. They shall be priest. All believers are priest
in that they may pray directly to G-d with any human mediator. Christ is the
one mediator between man and G-d. I Tim. 2:5.
Verse 7 & 8 (Judgements)
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released
from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in
the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together
to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
We would not have expected what we read here. Although Christ will rule the
nations during the millennium sin will yet be present upon the earth. Those
born during the 1000 years will be born with sinful natures which need
regeneration just like us today. Those children must individually decide either
to accept or reject Christ. Some will reject Him. Imagine living with all need
supplied, all sorrows erased, lasting joy, virtually no sickness, abundant
harvest and yet there will be still some who will not be content. They will be
like the pharisees who saw miracles but refused to accept Jesus as their
Lord. Gog and Magog represent any large assembly of people who wickedly
war against G-d and who are suddenly destroyed by Him.
Verse 9 (Judgement)
They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of
the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of
heaven and devoured them.
At the end of the 1000 years Satan will somehow lure huge numbers into
rebellion against Christ. G-d destroys them suddenly and miraculously.
Verse 10 (Judgement)
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be
tormented day and night forever and ever.
Now, G-d's purposes having been achieved, Satan is rewarded according to
his iniquity. He is cast into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and false
prophet are. They will be tormented forever.
Verse 11 (Judgement)
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place
for them.
Now finally all who offend, the unrepentant sinners will be forever put out of
the picture by G-d. This will make way for the making of the New Heavens
and Earth which have never nor will ever be tainted by sin.
Verse 12-13 (Judgement)
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books
were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of
Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things
which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who
were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in
them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Here all the lost are raised unto the judgement all the lost dead are raised.
The sea is specifically mentioned showing that those whose bodies were
devoured by fish will still be raised, G-d is able. The dead are judged out of
the Book of Life according to their works.
Verse 14 (Judgement)
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death.
The Bible clearly teaches that the fate of the wicked will be a horrible one.
The Lake of Fire is a terrible doom. This is the second death. Spiritual
death is separation from G-d as physical death is the separation of the soul
from the body. Now in the scene before us the lost who have both previously
been spiritually dead and physically dead are made alive at the second
Resurrection. They are given resurrected bodies and brought into the
presence of G-d for this judgement. Then because of their sinfulness they
are cast forever into the Lake of Fire. They have made an irrevocable life
decision to cling to their sinful estate despite all of G-d's warnings and
pleadings.
Verse 15 (Judgement)
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the
lake of fire.
It is interesting to note that Revelation 3:5 says of the believer that his name
will not be blotted out of the Book of Life for the believers sins have been
blotted out. Remember it does not require a new decision to go to Hell but it
does require a decision to go to Heaven.
| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Chapter 20 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007/2008