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Revelation Chapter Twenty

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Kingdom of A Thousand Years and the Time before and after It

I. Before the kingdom of a thousand years----Satan was imprisoned (v.1-3)

II. During the kingdom of a thousand years----overcomers reigned with Christ for a thousand years (v.4-6)

III. After the kingdom of a thousand years----Satan will be released from his prison, deceive the nations and perish (v.7-10)

IV. The judgment before a great white throne----clearing up everything (v.11-15)

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Rev. 20:1 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

   YLT: “And I saw a messenger coming down out of the heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain over his hand,”

   Meaning of Words: “come down”: descend, fall down; “bottomless pit”: depthless place.

   Literal Meaning: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven,” if this angel is not the Lord Jesus Himself, it should be an archangel with high position who has been authorized by God to perform this task.

“Having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand” “Key” means that He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens (See 3:7). “A great chain” is used to bind so that the bound one cannot move at will.

 

Rev. 20:2 “He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

   YLT: “and he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, who is Devil and Adversary, and did bind him a thousand years,”

   Meaning of Words: “lay hold of”: arrest, use power; “bind”: tie, restrain.

   Literal Meaning: “He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan” “the dragon” stresses on its cruel and ferocious characteristic. “That serpent of old” stresses on its crafty and cunning characteristic. “The Devil” stresses on its characteristic of lying and accusation. “Satan” stresses on its characteristic of being the enemy of God.

  “And bound him for a thousand years;” “A thousand years” refers to the whole period of the kingdom of a thousand years. “Binding him for a thousand years”, God had not cast it into the lake of fire (See 19:20) and there must be the good will of God: 1) God still needs it to accomplish certain purpose. 2) There is a environment not disturbed by Satan during the kingdom of a thousand years to fulfill the prophecy said by God through the prophet of the Old Testament (See Is. 61:6-9).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God works according to His established plan of eternity and He has His good will whether one thing is done or not. Even the thing that Satan was bound but had not been wiped out immediately is according to the timetable of God. It shows that everything that comes upon us believers, favorable circumstance or adverse circumstance, is the good will of God (See Matt. 11:26) and it is for our good (See Rom. 8:28).

2) No matter how furious Satan is, it cannot surpass the bounds God has established for it (See 2Thess. 2:7). And without the permission of God, it can do nothing. And therefore we should not hesitate to committing ourselves unto God and He will be responsible for us completely (See 2Tim. 1:12).

 

Rev. 20:3 “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.

   YLT: “and he cast him to the abyss, and did shut him up, and put a seal upon him, that he may not lead astray the nations any more, till the thousand years may be finished; and after these it behoveth him to be loosed a little time.”

   Meaning of Words: “shut up”: stop up, close; “no more”: lest, perhaps; “release”: untie; “a little while”: a little time, a few days.

   Literal Meaning: “and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him” “the bottomless pit” is the place where evil spirits and demons are temporarily imprisoned before they are cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever and ever (See 9:1-2; Luke.8:31). “Shut…up” refers to being unable to getting away (See Dan. 6:17).

  “So that he should deceive the nations no more” from this sentence, we could know that the nations still exist during the kingdom of a thousand years, however, there won’t be the deceit of the devil and evil spirits.

“Till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” The reasons why “he must be released for a little while” are as follows: 1) it shows that Satan won’t repent forever. 2) God utilizes it for a little while in order to manifest men’s rebellious nature. 3) The sins that have not been cleared up during the kingdom of a thousand years will be cleared away at a blow.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The route of Satan: it was cast out into the earth from heaven (See 12:9), was cast into the bottomless pit from the earth and shall be released for a little while and be cast into the lake of fire (See v.10).

2) Except for a few men who have been bestowed grace, many people (including the world and believers) cannot wake up though they have experienced frustrations, adversities, tribulation, discipline and punishments. How pitiful and sorrowful! May we learn the lessons quickly.

 

Rev. 20:4 “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.

   YLT: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them, and the souls of those who have been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God, and who did not bow before the beast, nor his image, and did not receive the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand, and they did live and reign with Christ the thousand years;”

   Meaning of Words: “souls”: life; “live”: be alive.

   Literal Meaning: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.” The plural word “thrones” should indicate that “there are quite a lot of (many) thrones”. “They sat on them” refers to overcomers. “Judgment” refers to the ability to discern right and wrong and the period of the kingdom is the environment and chance for overcomers to exercise the ability of judgment.

Then I saw for their witness to Jesus” there are three kinds of men who can sit on thrones and the first kind is men in believers who have confessed the good confession when they are alive (See 1Tim. 6:12).

“The souls of those who had been beheaded for the word of God” the second kind is men who were martyred for the word of God from ages and from generations (See 6:9).

“Who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.” The third kind is men who have not bent their knees or comprised with antichrist during the great tribulation (See 15:2).

And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” “Lived” they include overcomers who are raised after death and those who are raptured alive. “With Christ” means that: 1) sharing with Christ; 2) Christ is with them.

  “Reigned for a thousand years” refers to reigning in the kingdom of a thousand years.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers’ every circumstance and time today are the chances to judge. The issue of life is according to the judgment. If one judges well, he will take a step closer to victory; if one does not judge well, he falls back a step.

2) Whether believers partake in the judgments of the kingdom in future is according to our accumulations of judgments today. If we judge well, we will have testimony in behavior and our faith will be firm.

 

Rev. 20:5 “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

   YLT: “and the rest of the dead did not live again till the thousand years may be finished; this [is] the first rising again.”

   Meaning of Words: “until”: till, wait till; “first”: firstly, at the beginning.

   Literal Meaning: This is the first resurrection.” In the broad sense, it refers to the resurrection of all believers, though every man shall be made alive in his own order (See 1Cor. 15:23), they are all counted in the first resurrection. And all the dead world shall live and be judged after a thousands years (See the former half of this verse) and it is counted as the second resurrection.

    In the narrow sense, it refers to the “good, special, excellent and outstanding” resurrection (See Phil. 3:11) and only those who are regarded as firstfruits (See 14:4) and overcomers from all ages and all generations shall be made alive the earliest. And it is also the resurrection of recompense (See Luke. 14:14) that they will reign with Christ for a thousand years (See v.4, 6). Please note that not all believers will reign in the kingdom of a thousand years.

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. “The rest of the dead” refers to all the dead world. “Until the thousand years are finished” they will be still detained in the hell during the kingdom of a thousand years to wait for the judgment in the last day (See v.12).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) All the dead saints shall partake in the first resurrection when the Lord comes again, however, we shall all be judged before the judgment seat of Christ (See 2Cor. 5:10). The overcomers shall reign and the failures shall be punished.

2) At a minimum, even if believers have failed, they have everlasting life in them (See John. 3:16) and therefore they can live during the kingdom of a thousand years. However, they may be shut out of the door of the marriage supper (See Matt. 25:11, 30) and cannot enjoy the joy lasting for a thousand years. They will prepare themselves regretfully. Until all believers have achieved the standard, the bride will be adorned (See 21:2).

3) The kingdom of a thousand years is not only the line of demarcation between those who have been saved and those who have not been saved but also the borderline between overcomers and failures: those who have been saved will be raised and those who have not been saved won’t be raised; the overcomers shall reign and the failures shall be governed.

 

Rev. 20:6 “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.

   YLT: “Happy and holy [is] he who is having part in the first rising again; over these the second death hath not authority, but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

   Meaning of Words: “has part”: having one’s own portion; “but”: contrarily.

   Literal Meaning: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.” “Blessed” means “happy” in the original because they will enjoy the joy that last for a thousand years. “Holy” means “being separated to God” in the original and they are a group of men separated to God.

Over such the second death has no power,” “the second death” refers to being tormented in the lake of fire forever and ever (See v.14). “Over such…has no power” indicates that they shall never perish. It is the first blessing.

“But they shall be priests of God and of Christ” “priests” refers to men who draw near to God and serve Him. It is the second blessing.

“And shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Reigning with Christ a thousand years is the third blessing.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The common Christian traditional idea is according to the broad interpretation that all believers are included in men who “have part in the first resurrection”. Basing on this idea, all believers will have part in the three blessings mentioned in this verse voluntarily----all believers shall reign. And it disobeys God’s just principle of rewards and punishments. 

2) Believers will never have “the second death”, however, we may “be hurt by the second death” (See 2:11). The failed believers will not be cast into the lake of fire, however, they may suffer loss as by fire (See 1Cor. 3:15).

3) If we suffer with Christ today and endure, we will reign with Christ in future (See Rom. 8:17; 2Tim. 2:12).

 

Rev. 20:7 “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

   YLT: “And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary shall be loosed out of his prison,”

   Meaning of Words: “release”: loose; “prison”: jail.

   Literal Meaning: “Now when the thousand years have expired” it refers to the end of the kingdom of a thousand years.

Satan will be released from his prison” it is of the will of God and please see the reasons in the note of v.3.

 

Rev. 20:8 “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.

   YLT: “and he shall go forth to lead the nations astray, that are in the four corners of the earth -- Gog and Magog -- to gather them together to war, of whom the number [is] as the sand of the sea;”

   Meaning of Words: “deceive”: cheat, seduce; “four corner”: four angles.

   Literal Meaning: “and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth” “the nations which are in the four corners of the earth” refers to the worldwide countries in different corners.

Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle” “Gog and Magog” some Bible exegetes held that they referred to Soviet Russia from the north parts (See Ezek. 39:2). However, the former sentence refers to “the nations which are in the four corners of the earth” and therefore it should be interpreted as the groups that are against the true God and His chosen among the nations of the earth according to the spiritual meaning.

“Whose number is as the sand of the sea.” It describes that the number of men is uncountable.

 

Rev. 20:9They 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.

   YLT: “and they did go up over the breadth of the land, and did surround the camp of the saints, and the beloved city, and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them;”

   Meaning of Words: “breadth”: width, length; “the earth”: the land; “devour”: eat down.

   Literal Meaning: They went up on the breadth of the earth” “the earth” refers to the holy land resided by the Jews.

“And surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city.” “The camp of the saints” refers to the place where those who are separated from the world camp. “The beloved city” refers to the city of Jerusalem.

And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” This sentence shows that not only the enemy troops will be burned down by fire but also the earth and the works that are therein, the elements shall melt with fervent heat in the last day (See 2Pet. 3:10-12).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The history of opposing God’s chosen repeats again and again: Egypt is the first and then the Roman Empire and the European Union. Gog and Magog are the last. However, they are all dealt with by God one after another and all of them do not have good endings.

2) We, as Christians, should neither look down upon the people of Israel nor envy them because they are beloved and the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (See Rom. 11:28-29).

 

Rev. 20:10 “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.

  YLT: “and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night -- to the ages of the ages.”

   Meaning of Words: “devil”: slanderer; “be tormented”: be afflicted.

   Literal Meaning: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone” “the lake of fire” was prepared for the devil and its angels (See Matt. 25:41) where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched (See Mark. 9:48).

“Where the beast and the false prophet are” “The beast” refers to antichrist. He and the false prophet were captured and cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone (See 19:20)

And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Considering the degree, the punishment of the lake of fire is “being tormented day and night” and it is the extreme torment. Considering the time, it lasts forever and ever and is an endless torment.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Today there is one wrong doctrine of so-called “the universal salvation” in Christianity which only stresses on the great love of God and ignores the righteousness of God. They hold that all the world will be saved in eternity and even Satan will repent and be saved. They only seize few scriptures and explain them into the doctrines that are not interpreted in the Bible. It is very dangerous.

2) Anyway, it is said clearly in these scriptures that Satan, antichrist and the false prophet will be tormented in the lake of fire forever and ever. The lake of fire was prepared for the devil, however, he whoever does not deal kindly with a little brother (he refers to a Jew) of the Lord Jesus according to the flesh will be cast into the everlasting fire (See Matt. 25:41).

 

Rev. 20:11 “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.

   YLT: “And I saw a great white throne, and Him who is sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven did flee away, and place was not found for them;”

   Meaning of Words: “flee away”: run away, escape.

Literal Meaning: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it,” “a great white throne” is the judgment-seat concluding all the old creatures and bringing in the new heaven and the new earth, however, the objects of the judgment are men. “Him who sat on it” is God.

“From whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.” “The earth and the heaven fled away” because the old heaven and the old heaven will melt with fervent fire. “And there was found no place for them” refers to without a trace (See 21:1; 2Pet. 3:7, 10-12).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The heaven and the earth will perish, but the Lord remains. The heaven and the earth will be changed. But the Lord is the same (See Heb. 1:11-12). And therefore we should hold fast to the Lord and never rely on the heaven and the earth.

2) All the creatures shall be removed in future, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Heb. 12:27-28).

 

Rev. 20:12 “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.

   YLT: “and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is that of the life, and the dead were judged out of the things written in the scrolls -- according to their works;”

   Meaning of Words: “book”: scroll, roll; “opened”: open up, reveal; “judge”: condemn, discern; “work”: labor, deed; “write”: record, carve.

   Literal Meaning: “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God” “the dead” refers to all the dead ones----mainly men who do not believe and die, however, it may also include men who believe and die during the kingdom of a thousand years. “Small and great” refers to smallness and greatness of their status and positions. “Standing before God” the dead can “stand”, showing that at that time they have been risen, however, their resurrection is the resurrection for judgment (See John. 5:28-29).

“And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.” “Books” refers to the books in which everyone’s words and deeds are recorded. “The Book of Life” refers to the name list of believers (See 13:8; 17:8; Luke. 10:20). It has two purposes: 1) anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (See v.15); 2) anyone found written in the Book of Life shall be judged according to the works and deeds recorded in the books.

And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” “According to their works” indicates that judgments are according to everyone’s works and the degree of punishment differs according to their conditions.

  This sentence also deals with the following doubtful points: 1) how about babies who are unable to be responsible for their deeds and die? 2) how about men who have not heard the glad tidings during their life? We believe that everyone’s conditions are recorded in the books and the righteous God will have the reasonable appropriate ways. We do not need to go beyond our duties and think hard over the things which have not been clearly written in the Bible.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Generally, men hold that the white great throne aims at the world that have not believed and died. If so, the following three kinds of men have not been made clear: a) how to deal with men who have been saved during the kingdom; b) how to deal with men who are not qualified to reign in the kingdom and have been prepared during the kingdom; c) how to deal with the Jews who have not believed in the Lord and died.

2) Small or great, everyone shall be judged according to his works and this truth denies the two wrong opinions: a) every believer shall be raptured regardless of whether he overcomes or fails. And the only difference is whether he has the reward; b) today some heretical and extreme teachings tell the followers that they will become overcomers voluntarily as long as they enter their church group.

 

Rev. 20:13 “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.

   YLT: “and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works;”

   Meaning of Words: “give up”: grant, deliver up; “Hades”: hell, the nether world.

   Literal Meaning: “The sea gave up the dead who were in it” this sentence has the following two different interpretations: 1) the sea is the place where the unclean spirits dwell (See Matt. 8:31-32; 12:43) and therefore the dead that had been given up probably refer to a kind of creature similar to the present men among various creatures before the dawn of history. They betrayed God because of the devil and followed the devil. Later God judged the whole land by flood and the earth became waste and empty and darkness was on the face of the deep (See Gen. 1:2). The creature became ghosts without bodies after death and they dwelled in the sea; 2) men buried in the sea. Considering the two interpretations, the first was reasonable because the souls after death are imprisoned in Hades regardless of the place they were died. And where their bodies were buried is indifferent.

“And Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.” “Death and Hades” the two words are mentioned together, showing that they are the two aspects of one. Death refers to the power of reigning death (See 1Cor. 15:55-56) and it was held in the hand of the devil (See Heb. 2:14). However, the key to open and shut it up was in the hand of the Lord Jesus (See Rev. 1:18). Hades refers to the place that takes in and imprisons men’s souls after their death (See Luke. 16:23; Acts. 2:27).

  Some Bible exegetes held that “sea and Hades” refer to the place of burying men’s bodies when they died respectively. “Death” is the aggregation that controls the souls of the dead. When the dead rise in the last day and receive judgment, souls will put on bodies and receive judgment and therefore the sea, Hades and Death must give up the dead. However, it is the guess of men without any basis in the Bible. And it has loopholes: 1) will men still put on their former bodies after they have risen? 2) some people were greatly damaged when they died or burned up and how to diver them up?

And they were judged, each one according to his works.” Please see the note in v.12.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men who are not judged before the judgment seat of Christ (See 2Cor. 5:10) or the throne of Christ’s glory (See Matt. 25:31-32), without exception, will be judged before the white great throne (See v.11) in the last day. And everyone shall be judged according to their works and deeds, without the exception of one thing or one sentence (See Matt. 12:36).

2) If we want to avoid the judgment on that day, there are two practical ways: a) we admit all our sins before we have believed in the Lord and repent and receive the judgment of the cross with Christ; 2) after we have believed in the Lord, we admit our sins in the light of God and appropriate the precious blood of the Lord Jesus constantly.

 

Rev. 20:14 “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

   YLT: “and the death and the hades were cast to the lake of the fire -- this [is] the second death;”

   Meaning of Words: “second”: afterward, next.

   Literal Meaning: “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.” At that time, “Death and Hades” had accomplished their task and their existence was no longer essential. And therefore they were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.” “The second death” does not refer to dying again but the “living death”----being tormented in the lake of fire forever and ever.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Today many people want to free themselves through death and hold that everything ends after death. Actually it is not so and judgment comes after death (See Heb. 9:27). The torment in future is more serious than that in this life and therefore we should never have the thought of suicide.

2) Christ must reign till God has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death (See 1Cor. 15:25-26).

 

Rev. 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

   YLT: “and if any one was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire.”

   Literal Meaning: “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life” refers to men who do not believe in the Lord.

“Was cast into the lake of fire” it is the most serious crime of men that one does not believe in the Lord Jesus (See John. 16:9) and their endings are perdition (See 21:8).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The punishment of the everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and its angels (See Matt. 25:41). Since the unbelieving world would rather choose the way of the devil, their certainly choose the ending of the devil, that they will be cast into the lake of fire and be tormented forever and ever like the devil (See v.10).

2) The lake of fire is the place of clearing up all the negative things. Satan, antichrist, the false prophet, the evil spirits, the unclean spirits, Death and Hades, and men not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. In the New Jerusalem, there are no longer unclean and abominable men or things (See 21:27; 22:15).

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Two Differences

I. The two endings of Satan:

  A. before the kingdom of a thousand years----being shut up in the bottomless pit (v.1-3): God still uses it.

  B. after the kingdom of a thousand years----being cast into the lake of fire (v.10): God no longer uses it.

II. The two resurrections:

  A. the first resurrection----living and reigning (v.4-6): blessed and holy

  B. the later resurrection----being risen and judged (v.12-13): being tormented day and night forever and ever

III. Believers’ two positions:

  A. reigning with Christ for a thousand years (v.4, 6): being rewarded

  B. those who cannot reign: suffering loss

IV. The two hostile camps:

  A. Gog and Magog (v.8)----being deceived and devoured by fire from heaven (v.8-9)

  B. the camp of the saints and the beloved city (v.9)----be kept

V. The two deaths:

  A. the first death----being risen and judged (v.12-13)

  B. the second death----being cast into the lake of fire (v.14-15)

VI. The two kinds of scrolls:

  A. the Book of Life (v.12, 15)----only the names of believers are recorded

  B. books (v.12)----the works of everyone are written

VII. The two kinds of dead ones:

  A. the dead given up by the sea (v.13)----the unclean spirits

  B. the dead given up by Death and Hades (v.13)----the souls of the dead

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren