REVELATION 20 There will be many important events

REVELATION 20 There will be many important events in this Chapter: 1. Satan bound in bottomless pit for 1, 000 years. 2. Jesus to reign as King of kings for 1, 000 years. 3. Those saved in the Tribulation who also die will be resurrected. 4. The Judgment of the Nations will take place before the 1, 000 year Kingdom begins. 5. All saved Jews will dwell safely in Israel around Jerusalem. 6. Satan will be loosed for a little season after 1, 000 years. 7. Jesus will present His victorious Kingdom to the Father. 8. The Great White Throne Judgment will be held.

This Chapter doesn’t give details about the quality of the Kingdom. Those details are found elsewhere. 1. There will be total peace between people and nations. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” Isaiah 2: 4

2. There will be peace in the animal kingdom. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. ” Isaiah 11: 6 -9 “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. ” Isaiah 65: 25

3. The Earth will be restored to Eden like conditions. “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing” Isaiah 35: 1, 2

4. The average life span will be greatly increased, but there will still be death. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ” 1 Corinthain 15: 26 “And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. ” Isaiah 65: 19 -22

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand” Rev. 20: 1 This is the same angel that was given the key earlier and identified as the ‘Angel of the bottomless pit’. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit” Revelation 9: 1 “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. ” Revelation 9: 11

“And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years” Rev. 20: 2 There is no mistaking the identity of the one captured by the angel: 1. He is the dragon. 2. He is that old serpent (as in Garden of Eden) 3. He is the Devil. 4. He is Satan

“And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. ” Rev. 20: 3 He will be ‘sealed’ in the bottomless pit. They tried to seal the tomb of Jesus but it didn’t work. It will work on Satan! “So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. ” Matthew 27: 66 Two important facts are revealed here: 1. He will have no influence on the upcoming Kingdom. Jesus will still have to rule with a rod of iron. 2. He will be loosed for a ‘little season’ after 1, 000 years.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ” Rev. 20: 4 Two important truths are revealed here: 1. The saved will sit on thrones judging with the Lord. “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? ” 1 Corinthians 6: 2, 3

“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ” Matthew 19: 28

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ” Rev. 20: 4 2. Those who were saved and killed in the Tribulation will be resurrected. (Just like the 2 witnesses of Rev. 11) “And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. ” Revelation 11: 11, 12

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ” Rev. 20: 5 The lost will not be resurrected until the 1, 000 years is over, but this is talking about the first resurrection. There is an order to the first resurrection. It will be in 4 parts. “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power” 1 Corinthians 15: 23, 24 1. Jesus is the first fruit 2. The rapture is the second fruit. 3. The revelation (end of Tribulation) is third fruit. 4. The end of the Millenium is the final fruit.

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ” Rev. 20: 5 This verse is interpreted by everyone else as talking only about the resurrection of the lost which will take place at the Great White Throne Judgment. Consider the following translation from The Living Bible and compare it to the KJV above. “This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended)”

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. ” Rev. 20: 6 The fifth ‘Blessing’ is bestowed on those who have part in the first resurrection. 1. They were made priests and kings when they were saved. “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” Revelation 1: 5, 6 2. They expected this when around the throne in Heaven. “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. ” Revelation 5: 10 3. They now know it will last for 1, 000 years.

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. ” Rev. 20: 7 Satan will be loosed out of his prison in the bottomless pit when the 1, 000 years has ended. But, we were told in Rev. 20: 3 it will only be for ‘a little season’.

“And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ” Rev. 20: 8 He is back to his old ways – deceiving people to do his will. He gathers an army from all over the Earth. Gog and Magog were the names used by Ezekiel prior to the Battle of Armageddon. “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” Ezekiel 38: 2, 3 Some believe ‘Meshech and Tubal’ are referring to the two cities ‘Moscow and Tobolsk’ in Russia.

“And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ” Rev. 20: 8 The interesting question is – “Why will people follow Satan after Jesus has given them such a wonderful Earth? ” 1. Jesus had ruled with a rod of iron to prevent them from committing the sins their hearts desired. 2. It reveals the depravity of the human heart. We try to blame Satan for the sins that really begin in our own hearts. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” James 1: 14

“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. ” Rev. 20: 9 They come against Jerusalem in their final effort to overcome Jesus and His saints. Fire falls from Heaven and consumes the army he has with him.

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ” Rev. 20: 10 Hades is the temporary place that holds the souls of the lost. At the Great White Throne Judgment it will give up its dead when they will be cast in to the lake of fire (GEHENNA). The Beast and false prophet were cast into the lake of fire while still alive. They are still there 1, 000 years later! The lake of fire was prepared originally for the devil and his angels, but will be inhabited by lost people now. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” Matthew 25: 41

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ” Rev. 20: 11 John suddenly sees a new scene: 1. A Great White Throne – large and very pure. 2. The One who was sitting on the throne. 3. The heaven and the earth fled away to be found no more. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ” 2 Peter 3: 10

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ” Rev. 20: 12 He saw all the dead stand before God. He saw the books (plural) opened. He saw the Book of Life opened. “And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life” Philippians 4: 3 He saw the dead being judged out of the books, which contained the record of their works.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ” Rev. 20: 13 This verse explains where the dead came from that stood before God in the previous verse. The sea gave up some of the dead. What was the sea? Death and hell (HADES) delivered up the dead in them. Death had the bodies while hell had the souls and spirits “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ” John 5: 28, 29 They were all (each one) judged out of the books

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ” Rev. 20: 14 Death and hell were cast in to the lake of fire (GEHENNA). HADES is the place of departed spirits and is a temporary place waiting for the Great White Throne Judgment. There will be no more need for it since GEHENNA is for eternity. Being cast into GEHENNA is the ‘second death’ and is total separation from God for eternity. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ” Revelation 21: 8

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. ” Rev. 20: 15 The dead are all judged out of the Book of Life. Those found without their names in that Book will be cast into the lake of fire. Could some of the names of those facing this judgment have their names in the Book of Life? The Beast and false prophet were the first cast in this lake of fire. They were joined by the goats at the Judgment of the Nations. Then Satan was cast in. His angels were probably also cast in at this same time. “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ” Jude 6

IDENTIFYING THE ‘SEA’ The sea gave up the dead which were in it. Death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. Why are we not told what happened to the sea?

IDENTIFYING THE ‘SEA’ Immediately after the Rapture, John was in Heaven and saw a ‘sea of glass’ that was ‘clear as crystal’. “And before throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind” Revelation 4: 6 If he had seen that ‘sea of glass’ before the Rapture took place, he may have seen all the souls and spirits of those in Heaven standing on that ‘sea of glass’. But, Jesus had taken them with Him when He came back in the air to claim His own. They went with Him to receive their glorified bodies. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” 1 Thessalonians 4: 14

IDENTIFYING THE ‘SEA’ Later in the Tribulation, the souls who had been saved after the Rapture and were killed were seen standing on the ‘sea of glass’ when John saw it again. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. ” Revelation 15: 2 If John had been able to see the ‘sea of glass’ a short time after the resurrection at the end of the Tribulation, it would have probably been ‘clear as crystal’ again since all those souls had been resurrected.

There will be death in the Millenium Kingdom. All the saved in their natural bodies who enter the Kingdom (the sheep from the Judgment of the Nations) will surely die within the 1, 000 years. Some who are born and saved in the early part of the Millenium will also die. What will happen to their souls and spirits? Is it possible that they will populate the ‘sea of glass’ until the 1, 000 years has ended? If so, when will they come back to receive a glorified body? Could it be at the Great White Throne Judgment when the ‘sea gives up its dead’? If that is true, then they will be the final fourth part of the first resurrection who ‘live not again until the 1, 000 years have ended’. Their names will be in the Book of Life so they won’t go to the lake of fire.

Look at the description of New Jerusalem on the new earth. “the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass” Revelation 21: 18 “and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. ” Revelation 21: 21

NOW WE HAVE ONE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION What will happen to those who are still living in their natural human bodies when the 1, 000 years have ended?

NOW WE HAVE ONE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION Will their bodies be glorified like the living saints will be at the Rapture? Will they be taken up in their natural bodies while the old earth and heaven are destroyed to be brought back to live in the new heaven and earth in natural bodies?