Revelation 20:1-15

Revelation 20 reveals that Satan will be imprisoned and Jesus will reign on the earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-6), and afterward will judge the devil (Rev. 20:7-10), as well as all unbelievers (Rev. 20:11-15). The chapter opens with Satan being bound in the abyss—a spiritual prison—where he is confined for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3a), but afterward is released for a short time (Rev. 20:3b). Tribulational saints, who were martyred for their faith, are resurrected and will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Rev. 20:4). Unbelievers will be resurrected at the end of the millennial reign of Christ, and these are not participants in the “first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5). Concerning this, John wrote, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). After the thousand years, Satan is released from his spiritual prison and will immediately gather unbelievers to lead them in revolt against Christ and His saints (Rev. 20:7-8); however, he and is army are quickly defeated (Rev. 20:9). It is assumed that these who revolt against Christ at the end of His millennial reign are among the many children born to those who survived the Tribulation and entered the millennium with earthly bodies. Though these descendants will grow up under the reign of Christ and will outwardly submit to Him, they will harbor resentment and unbelief, and when given the opportunity to revolt, will rise up with Satan at his release and will seek to unseat Christ from His throne. “The Millennium will prove, among other things, that a nearly perfect earthly environment (Isa. 35) and universal knowledge of the Lord (Isa. 11:9) will not change human hearts. This must be done personally and voluntarily, and multitudes will never do that during this long period.”[1] Satan is then thrown alive into the lake of fire, where the antichrist and false prophet have been during the thousand year reign of Christ, and there he remains forever (Rev. 20:10). Finally, John witnesses a great white throne, upon which Jesus sits, and “from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them” (Rev. 20:11). John saw “the dead”—all unbelievers—standing before the throne, and books were opened, and “the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds” (Rev. 20:12). These are all people who have died throughout human history, whether on land or sea, and who have been held captive by “death and Hades” (Rev. 20:13). Then, death and Hades, as well as all unbelievers, are thrown into the lake of fire, where they will remain forever (Rev. 20:14-15). Since those who stand before the throne do not have God’s righteousness within them, they are judged according to their human good works, which are not sufficient to gain them entrance into heaven (Isa. 64:6; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5), and the fact that their names are not written in the book of life will ensure their assignment to the Lake of Fire forever (Rev. 20:14-15). The great white throne judgment, as well as the lake of fire, can be avoided if one will simply trust in Christ as Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9), receive forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14), and the gifts of eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28) and righteousness (Rom. 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9).

 

[1]Charles C. Ryrie, Revelation: Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago, Ill., Moody Press, 1996), 133-134.