Revelation 20

CHAPTER 20

The Thousand Years (20:1-6)

1 After Satan’s two helpers—the beast and the false prophet—were thrown into the fiery lake (Revelation 19:20), John saw an angel with the key to the Abyss (Revelation 9:1; 11:7). The Abyss is a huge cavern deep within the earth, where fallen angels and the spirits of the disobedient are imprisoned until the day of judgment (Jude 6).

2-3 Then the angel bound Satan with a chain and threw him into the Abyss, where he was to remain for one thousand years. After the thousand years were finished, he was to be released for a short time (see verses 7-10).

4 Then John saw some thrones, on which were sitting some who had been given authority to judge. It is not known who John is referring to here. Some think those on the thrones are the twelve apostles (Matthew 19:28). Others think that they are saints (believers) who have stood firm and overcome Satan’s temptations (1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 3:21). Whoever they are, they will in some way assist Christ in the work of judging.

In addition to those sitting on the thrones, John saw the souls of martyrs who had been beheaded, that is, killed. They had been killed because of their faith in Christ. They had not worshiped the beast; neither had they received its mark (Revelation 13:15-17). These included not only the martyrs mentioned in Revelation 6:9, but also all those who had died after them for the sake of Christ (Revelation 6:11). In John’s vision these martyrs were only souls, because the resurrection of their bodies had not yet taken place.

Then John saw these souls come to life; that is, he saw the resurrection of their bodies take place. They then reigned with Christ for one thousand years. This is called the thousand-year reign of Christ and His martyred saints. For further discussion of the thousand-year reign of Christ, see General Article: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We know that this reign—when it actually takes place—will take place on earth; because, according to verses 7-9, after the thousand-year period is up Satan will again gather the nations of the earth and attack Christ and His saints one last time. But while the thousand-year reign is going on, Satan will be kept bound in the Abyss.⁴⁵

5 Then, according to John, after the thousand-year reign of Christ and His martyrs is over, the rest of the dead—that is, those who have not been killed for Christ’s sake—will come to life (be resurrected). Here the rest of the dead includes two groups: first, those believers in Christ from former generations who have not been actually killed for Christ’s sake; and second, all non-believers.

The first RESURRECTION is the resurrection of the martyrs at the beginning of the thousand-year reign (verse 4). The “second resurrection” is the resurrection of all the rest of the dead mentioned here in verse 5.

6 Those who have a part in the first resurrection—that is, the martyrs—are blessed and holy. As priests of God, they will reign with Christ for one thousand years. They will not be touched by the second death⁴⁶ (see verse 14 and comment).

Satan’s Release and Final Destruction (20:7-10)

7-8 Even after being bound in the Abyss for a thousand years, there still was no improvement in Satan’s character! One last time, Satan gathered together the nations of the earth that had not already been destroyed by Christ (Revelation 19:19-21). Gog and Magog are the symbolic names for these nations (Ezekiel 38:16).

9 Here the community of martyrs which reigned for a thousand years is called the camp of God’s people. It is called a “camp,” because it was not permanent; it only lasted a thousand years. The camp was known as the city God loves. In John’s vision, the armies of the nations marched against the city (or camp); but before they could attack it, they were destroyed by fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:10; Ezekiel 38:2122; 39:6).

10 Then Satan received his final punishment: He was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where he will be tormented forever (see Revelation 19:20 and comment).

Thus we have to come to a great climax in John’s revelation: the defeat of Satan and the final victory over all the evil in the universe. But there are still two great climaxes yet to come: first, John’s vision of the last judgment (verses 11-15); and finally, his vision of heaven itself (Revelation Chapters 21-22).

The Resurrection and the Last Judgment (20:11-15)

11 Here John describes for us his vision of the last judgment. John saw a great white throne. There was one sitting on the throne, either God or Christ—John doesn’t say which. The New Testament teaches that God has given all work of judgment to Christ (see John 5:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1). Yet Paul has also said that we will all stand before God’s judgment seat (Romans 14:10). In the book of Revelation, the one sitting on the throne is usually God Himself (Revelation 5:13; 7:10; 19:4). But whether it is God or Christ sitting on the throne makes no difference, because God and Christ are one (John 10:30).

John then saw the earth and sky flee from God’s presence. The only thing remaining was the great white throne and the One sitting on it; all else had vanished. The new heaven and new earth were about to come (Revelation 21:1); but before the new could come, the old had to pass away (Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 24:35; 1 John 2:17).

12-13 Then John saw all the dead from every generation standing before the throne. Those who had drowned in the sea were also there. All those who had not believed in Christ and whose spirits had gone to Hades were there (see Revelation 1:18 and comment). And, except for the Christian martyrs⁴⁷ (verse 4), all other believers were also there. What John was seeing, therefore, was a vision of the “second resurrection,” in which all the dead—both unbelievers and believers (except martyrs)—will take part (see verse 5).

As soon as the second resurrection had taken place, God’s last judgment began. The books containing the records of each person’s life on earth were opened. John writes in verse 12 that the dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books (see Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 2:6; 1 Peter 1:17). There was another book, too, the book of life. In this book were written the names of all those who were to be saved (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 3:5; 17:8). The names of all those who were true believers as recorded in the “record books” were written in the book of life. Thus the names in the book of life corresponded exactly to the information in the record books. Those who had not repented and believed in Christ and done the works of faith did not have their names written in the book of life. Men are not saved by their good works; they are saved only through faith. But the proof of true faith is good works. Those without good works are without true faith. Thus the faith of each person can be determined by what he or she has done on earth—as recorded in the books (see Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:17,2024,26 and comments).

14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (see Revelation 19:20). In a way, death and Hades are partners. Hades is the place where death sends its victims. Hades is like the “stomach” of death; it is where those “eaten” by death end up. But at the last judgment, both death and its “stomach” will be destroyed (see Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 and comment).

And so in John’s vision, death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire,⁴⁸ just as had happened to Satan and to the beast and the false prophet earlier (Revelation 19:20; 20:10). Furthermore, allthosewhose names were not written in the book of life were also thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is called the second death; it lasts forever.

As it was in John’s vision, so it will happen at the end of the world. John gives us a preview of what the last judgment of God will be like. After the final judgment, there will be no chance for appeal. All whose names are not written in the book of life will be given everlasting punishment. Therefore, there is no more important question a person can ask in this life than this: Is my name written in the book of life, or not?