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Revelation 20:1-6

Revelation 20: 1-6.

In chapter 17-18 we saw the obituary of the beast or the Roman Empire.

But what about Satan?

Rev 20:1-3

And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

Notice what the angel does to Satan.

This is a picture or it is a figurative image to teach us a truth. What is the truth behind all this?

The defeat of Satan relative to Rome was a work of God so that the nations might see through the Old Fraud.

But notice in verse 3 that Satan is bound for 1000 years in the abyss and not immediately thrown into the lake of fire; vs. 10.

The reason he isn’t immediately thrown into the lake of fire is because he has another service to render: “after these things he must be released for a short time.”

When he says for a “short time” this is not talking about a literal time period.

What about the saints?

Rev 20:4

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Notice why they died: “…because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God” and because they did “not worship the beast or his image” and they did “not receive the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand.”

Notice what they do in verse 4: “…they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

In verses 4 the state of those who belong to Christ and who have died for Christ is set forth in a resurrection and reigning picture.

THE REST OF THE DEAD; VS. 5

Rev 20:5

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

The “rest of the dead” refers to those who died in the service of the beast; chapt. 19.

The statement, “This is the first resurrection” refers to the saints of verse 4

Rev 20:6

6 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.

Notice, “the second death has no power” over them and it holds no fear for them…they will reign with Christ forever.

The term “First resurrection” implies that there is a second.

Now verse 7:  And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison

Rev 20:8

8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.

“Gog and Magog” refers to no one in particular.

Rev 20:9

And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.

Rev 20:10

10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Now, in verses 4-10 we saw how the saints came out after the battle with the beast. How about the other side?

Rev 20:11

And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

Rev 20:12

12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

Rev 20:13

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

Rev 20:14

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

Rev 20:15

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