Revelation 20:1-15: The Millennial Kingdom

Introduction

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira

Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis

Revelation 3:7-13 - The Letter to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:14-22 - The Letter to Laodicea

Revelation 4-5 - The Throne Room

Revelation 4:1-11 - A Vision of the Throne Room

Revelation 5:1-14 - The Lamb is Worthy

Revelation 6-8:5 - The Seven Seals

Revelation 6:1-8 - The First Four Seals

Revelation 6:9-17 - The Fifth and Sixth Seals

Revelation 7:1-17 - Who can Stand on the Day of the Lord?

Revelation 8:1-5 - Anticipation of Further Judgment

Revelation 8:6-11:19 - The Seven Trumpets

Revelation 8:6-13 - The First Four Trumpets

Revelation 9:1-21 - The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

Revelation 10:1-11 - The End is Near

Revelation 11:1-14 - The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:15-19 - The Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 12:1-15:4 - The Seven Visions

Revelation 12:1-17 - The Woman, Child, and Heavenly Hosts Versus the Great Dragon

Revelation 13:1-10 - The Beast out of the Sea

Revelation 13:11-18 - The Beast from the Earth

Revelation 14:1-5 - The 144,000

Revelation 14:6-13 - The Proclamations of the Three Angels

Revelation 14:14-20 - The Harvest and Judgment

Revelation 15:1-4 - The Glory of God fills the Heavenly Sanctuary

Revelation 15:1-4 - The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb

Revelation 15:5-16:21 - The Seven Bowls

Revelation 15:5-8 - The Glory of God fills the Heavenly Sanctuary

Revelation 15:5-8 - The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Revelation 16:1-21 - Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

Revelation 17-19 - Judgment

Revelation 17:1-18 - The Great Prostitute is Judged

Revelation 18:1-24 - Babylon Falls

Revelation 19:1-10 - The Marriage Feast

Revelation 19:11-21 - Christ Returns!

Revelation 20 - Millennial Reign

Revelation 20:1-15 - The Millennial Kingdom

Revelation 20:1-3 - Satan Bound

Revelation 20:4-6 - Millennial Reign

Revelation 20:7-10 - Satan Defeated

Revelation 20:11-15 - Destination of the Dead

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

The dragon and the enemy human forces of God are finally dealt with. Their destination is Hell, while those in Christ reign with Him first in the millennial kingdom and then with Him forever.

Millennial Kingdom Views

Historic Premillennialism

Future (literal or symbolic) reign on earth

Christ returns before the millennium with His saints

His saints reign on a sin infected earth for 1,000 years

After the millennial kingdom a second great battle takes place where Satan deceives humanity again leading to the second death for unbelievers and New Jerusalem for Christ-followers

Dispensational Premillennialism

Future literal 1,000 year reign on earth

Christ will first come and take believers away in a “secret rapture”

At this time a great tribulation period of 7 years occurs - the nation of Israel comes back

After the 7 years, Christ will return and set up His kingdom on earth

Postmillennialism

Christ will return after the 1,000 years - symbolic

The Millennial Kingdom is a future event that occurs after the gospel has transformed society - then Christ returns

After the “millennium” God will release Satan and destroy him and all evil

Amillennialism

Currently living in the Millennial Kingdom - 1,000 years is symbolic

Satan is bound from gathering the nations to go to battle against God - Binding took place at the cross

Believe that Revelation 19:17-21 and Revelation 20:9-10 is the same battle

New Creation Millennialism

Christ returns at the end of Revelation 19 with His army (all glorified saints and angels) and defeats the beast, the false prophet who are thrown into the lake of fire and their human army is slain - physically killed and sent to the realm of the dead

Satan is thrown in the abyss and the millennial kingdom is initiated

Christ-followers begin to reign with Christ in the millennial kingdom and are forever with their God and the Lamb (New Jerusalem)

Satan and the unregenerate are released from their 1,000 year prison and Satan deceives them a second time to go to battle against God and His people. They lose and Satan is sent to Hell while the unrepentant go to the judgment seat and are found guilty ultimately leading to annihilation

Influential OT Passages

Ezekiel 38-39 - Battle of Gog/Magog

Daniel 7 - Ancient of Days/Son of Man

Isaiah 24-27 - The End of History

Isaiah 24 - The Lord Destroys the Present Age and Worldwide Worship Takes Place

Isaiah 25 - God’s Covenant People Rejoice Their Liberation in Mount Zion

Isaiah 26 - God Wins the Final Victory

Isaiah 27 - Evil is Destroyed and God’s People Dwell with Him

Revelation 20:1-3 - Satan Bound

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven

An unidentified angel is seen by John coming from heaven, although it could be the same from Revelation 9

Revelation 9:1 ESV

1 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.

Holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.

Revelation 12:7–9 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

There is a difference between these passages - Michael throws Satan to earth in Revelation 12, but here Satan is throw to the abyss

Jude 6 ESV

6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended.

2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan

Satan here is arrested and bound which is frequent in Jewish literature

Dragon

Revelation 12:7–8 ESV

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

Serpent

Genesis 3:1 ESV

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Revelation 12:15 ESV

15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.

The serpent constantly trying to attack and destroy the covenant people of God

Devil

Revelation 12:12 ESV

12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Satan

And bound him for a thousand years

1,000 years does not have to be literal, it can be symbolic given the apocalyptic genre

3 And threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him

Satan’s actions are not curbed

He is completely imprisoned and unable to escape

In Revelation 12 Satan is thrown out of heaven and now he is thrown out of the earth

So that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended.

The reason for his imprisonment is given - He’s no longer able to deceive the nations

Why would he deceive the nations? We will find out a little later in the text

After that he must be released for a little while.

After the 1,000 year time period both Satan and unrepentant people will once again seek to attack God and His people

Isaiah 24:21–23 ESV

21 On that day the Lord will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. 22 They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders.

Revelation 20:4-6 - Millennial Reign

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.

4 Then I saw thrones

Where are the thrones located? There is nothing specific mentioned as to the location

And seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.

Who is seated on the thrones? Nothing is specifically mentioned

Daniel 7:9–10 ESV

9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.

Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God

John, beyond seeing those on the thrones, also sees all those who have been martyred for Christ Jesus

And those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.

He also sees all those in Christ who persevered to the very end

They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

They came to life

A physical-bodily resurrection

And reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Those who have come back from the dead reign with Christ for 1,000 years

Where? Earth? Heaven?

5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.

The rest of the dead then are those who have been slain when Christ returned

Revelation 19:21 ESV

21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

Those in Christ are ALIVE, those who were killed are DEAD

This is the first resurrection.

The first resurrection is the bodily resurrection of the saints - both martyred and those who have persevered

6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!

Those who partake in this first resurrection are two things:

Blessed - 5th time

Holy - not unholy

Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Over such the second death has no power

Why are they blessed and holy - First, hell has no power over them

But they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Secondly, they will be priests of God and of Christ

Thirdly, they will reign with him during the millennium

Both are future and are promised

Revelation 20:7-10 - Satan Defeated

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison

The anticipation of Satan’s release becomes a reality

Revelation 20:3 ESV

3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

The wording is passive revealing that Satan does not escape prison, but God lets him out

8 And will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth

Satan once again deceives those who were in the abyss

Revelation 20:5 ESV

5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.

Gog and Magog

Ezekiel 38:2 ESV

2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him

Gog leads Meshech and Tubal against Israel

Both of these areas are from the East Anatolian groups - modern day Turkey

Satan is the leader

Magog was a territory of the far north

The territory he leads them from is the abyss

To gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

Satan’s released goal is to gather all those who have been resurrected and go against God

9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city

Satan and his forces march up against the saints for battle

The language here regarding the camp draws us back to the Israelites wandering in the wilderness - we are foreigners and exiles

But fire came down from heaven and consumed them

This judgment is further elaborated on in Revelation 20:11-15

Isaiah 26:20–21 ESV

20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. 21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain.

10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were

Satan then is thrown into Hell where the beast and the false prophet are

Isaiah 27:1 ESV

1 In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The fate of Satan, the beast, and the false prophet? Eternal torment - just like Babylon

Revelation 19:3 ESV

3 Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

Revelation 20:11-15 - Destination of the Dead

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.

A Theophany is at hand - The Lord sits upon His throne

From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

The earth and sky fade away as the dead are ushered into the throne room of God

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne

All “the dead” stand before the throne, not the living

There is no hint of Christ-followers in this passage

And books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Daniel 7:10 ESV

10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

A contrast is made between the books - the books containing the works of the dead and the book of life

13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it

Sea is symbolic for destruction and rebellion - remember where the beast came from - the sea

Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them

Death and Hades is the realm of the dead

And they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

Each one of these individuals are judged, not according to Jesus’ righteousness, but their own doings

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.

The realm of the dead is destroyed - death will no longer be an enemy of God and His people

1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

This is the second death, the lake of fire.

15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life

Their works are found in the other book, but not the book of life

He was thrown into the lake of fire.

The end of their history is to be thrown into Hell

Main Point

The dragon and the enemy human forces of God are finally dealt with. Their destination is Hell, while those in Christ reign with Him first in the millennial kingdom and then with Him forever.

How Should we Live in Light of Revelation 20:1-15?

Let us Rejoice!