Verse By Verse Through Revelation

Chapter Twenty

Revelation 20:1 “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.”

• What this angel brings in this part of the vision John is seeing is not so easy to discern. Chapter nineteen concluded with Jesus cleaning house on earth of those who aligned themselves with Satan (Revelation 19:11-21).
• As we study this chapter let’s remember that the kingdom of Christ had come to it’s full state long before John’s Revelation (Isaiah 2:1-5, Daniel 2:31-45, Joel 2:23-32, Mark 9:1, Acts 1:8, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:1-41, Colossians 1:12-13, and Revelation 1:9). Let’s remember that Christ will not lead a battle on earth or set His kingdom upon the earth, for He Himself will never step foot on this earth again (I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Hebrews 4:14, and Hebrews 7:14-8:4; cf. John 18:36).
• It is also clear that Christ is not aware of the time of His final return (Matthew 24:35-36).
• When Christ does come He will not begin a period of reign on earth, He will judge mankind (II Timothy 4:1).
• Don’t confuse the angel here with an angel we have read about previously. We have read about the bottomless pit and the key in the hand of an fallen angel previously (Revelation 9:1-2). That angel of the bottomless pit is a king, a prince, a leader (Revelation 9:11).
• We will see the purpose of the chain in the next verses (Revelation 20:2-3).

• Satan was bound for “a thousand years.” The “thousand years” has to be hyperbole. Just as the earth lasting “for ever” (Deuteronomy 4:40 and Psalms 78:69; cf. Mark 13:31), our knowledge from what we have read in Revelation has to be used in discerning this. This letter is about things that the seven churches of Asia would see happen in their lifetime that would shortly come to pass (Revelation 1:1-4). We know the congregation in Ephesus started in Acts 19:1-7. Satan had not been bound yet. Evil spirits were still at work (Acts 19:13-17). The period of time from then to this letter is not a hundred years and is certainly far less than a thousand.
• Sometime BEFORE the events in Revelation, Satan was bound (II Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6). It is also consistent with the knowledge unclean spirits had about what was to come (Luke 8:30-31). The word “deep” (Strong’s # 12) is the same as the “bottomless pit” in vs. 1; 3 of this context.
• Later in the context we will discuss Satan being loosed (Revelation 20:7-8).
• We have previously discussed Satan being the dragon (Revelation 12:1-9).
• Through verse seven, we will keep reading of a period of a thousand years (Revelation 20:4, Revelation 20:5, Revelation 20:6, and Revelation 20:7).
• Regarding time frames. One thousand years MUST be understood in light of the rest of the letter. The letter keeps speaking of short time periods (Revelation 3:11, Revelation 22:6, Revelation 22:7-12, and Revelation 22:18-20).
• One thousand years, literally, would change all that has been written in this letter. It is not to be understood as literal any more than the five months (Revelation 9:5; 9:10) or forty-two months (Revelation 11:2).
• Time periods to the Lord is not the same as it is for man (Psalms 90:4 and II Peter 3:8).
• So, the figure of a thousand years is to express a longer period of time just as “ten days” was to express a shorter period of time (Revelation 2:10).

• What was happening during the long time Satan was bound? John is seeing things before all these things we have read about in Revelation. He sees the faithful reigning with Christ for a long period of time [1,000 years]. Again, it is figurative. Those on thrones included those who were going to be beheaded, those that did not worship the idol, and those who refused to have the mark of the beast. At the beginning of this letter, saints are called kings (Revelation 1:6).
• In addition to being called kings, those who will overcome what Satan did in his brief period of time are told they will reign with Christ (Revelation 3:21).
• What if someone were dead? Are the dead reigning with Christ? Death is seen as a time wherein the faithful will be with Christ (Philippians 1:23). Those faithful who died, they were not abandoned (Revelation 14:13).
• So, here is it is simply stated. Whether on earth or beyond life in this world, this time wherein Satan was bound seemed long. During that time, the faithful both dead and alive, are figuratively shown to be empowered. With eternal life in Heaven, Jesus will not be reigning (I Corinthians 15:24-28). This is therefore NOT about Heaven.

• In verse four we read about those beheaded or were going to be beheaded. So, this could easily be understood as talking about those who were physically dead. But, it doesn’t fit anything in Revelation and certainly does not line up with other Scriptures. A literal understanding would be that some died for the period of time Satan was bound and then they arose from the dead. If taken literal, they could never physically die again (Revelation 20:6).
• Again, this too is not literal. Jesus was the firstborn from the dead (Acts 26:23, Colossians 1:12-18, and Revelation 1:5). A literal understanding of this does not fit the reality.
• There is not a conscious and unconscious separation of the dead. So, there is not a time period wherein those physically dead are also dead in the spiritual realm (Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:39-43, and I Peter 3:18-4:6).
• Let’s dig in here. Until the first resurrection, the remaining dead are not alive. Here is something that makes sense. Those in need of repentance were not going to do so until Satan was loosed and began wrecking havoc. This is talking about those who were spiritually dead (i.e. Revelation 3:1; cf. Luke 15:11-32 and I Timothy 5:6). Five of the seven congregations addressed in John’s letter had need of repentance (Revelation 2:5, Revelation 2:16, Revelation 2:21-22, Revelation 3:3, and Revelation 3:19).
• When times are “good,” sinners tend to continue in their sinful ways (Deuteronomy 8:7-17). Think about Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).
• Those coming out of the tribulation were washed (Revelation 7:14).
• Think to God’s long lasting pattern. What did He do to His people, when He interacted more directly with them, when they erred (Deuteronomy 4:23-31, Judges 10:9-16, Jeremiah 6:10-19, and Jeremiah 18:8-17)? The goal - Ezekiel 18:30, I Corinthians 5:1-5, and I Timothy 1:19-20. Now, go back and read Revelation 2:21-23 in contrast to Revelation 3:8-10.
• When it comes to the “first resurrection” being a spiritual one, if you think I am reaching here, just go back and read Ezekiel 37:1-28. Such is what God wrote about the spiritual resurrection of Judah from Babylonian captivity and the future from there.
• When we get into chapter twenty-one, the beautiful message is that the church will not be fallen and gone. Think about the language concerning Israel being brought back from the dead and the ultimate message of restoration (Romans 11:11-15).

• The first resurrection did not occur till the 1,000 years were over (Revelation 20:5). Now you have those that hath part [a piece; portion] in the first resurrection reigning with Christ a thousand years. If literal, that is two thousand years. That would be yet future even now. Remember, the events were to “shortly come to pass” and were “at hand” as written to seven congregations in Asia (Revelation 1:1-4 and Revelation 22:6-10). With that reminder, consider the points of this verse.
• The blessed (Revelation 16:15).
• The holy (I Peter 1:13-16).
• Those that would repent were not going to fall again. They will endure. Those restored, are coming back for good. They have made their calling and election sure (II Peter 1:3-11). They will reign with Christ a long time too.
• Remember the promise (Revelation 2:11).
• The second death (Revelation 20:14-15 and Revelation 21:8).
• The priests (I Peter 2:5-9 and Revelation 1:6).
• When we see the church restored in her glory, those who endured reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:5). A thousand years is not the thousand years that had past (Revelation 20:5). Again, it is just language indicating a long time.
• Remember, the reigning is not just a heavenly reign (Revelation 2:26-27 and Revelation 5:10).

• Here, we go back to Revelation 20:1-3
• Satan had a short period of time. The events of this verse are all about what we have already studied in Revelation that is now past (Revelation 12:12).
• Consider the first judgment of the earth as a thinking point on this verse wherein God determined to punish the wickedness of man, gave a time for Noah to prepare the ark, wickedness increased, and God flooded the earth (Genesis 6:5-8, Matthew 24:36-39, Hebrews 11:7, and II Peter 2:5).
• Gog was the king of the land of Magog who stood against Israel (Ezekiel 38-39). That was not an end of the world time just as this is not. Thus, symbolically, we see that Satan calling together a vast people who are opposed to God and the people of God for his battle. This was not a physical battle (II Corinthians 10:3-5 and Ephesians 6:10-18).

• They were Satan and his large number of allies. This last surge before Satan is forever dealt with. The language of the breadth of the earth is like when the Chaldeans invaded (Habakkuk 1:1-8).
• God’s message to the saints who are reigning with Christ at this time is simple. Satan and those with him will be devoured with fire from above just as Gog faced of old (Ezekiel 38:22).
• The figurative war is over before it began. We discussed this in chapter 19. It is already passed.
• The beloved city (Revelation 11:1-2; cf. Hebrews 12:22-23).
• We read of the fourth vial which was poured out giving an angel the power to scorch men with fire (Revelation 16:8).

• Satan had been out deceiving (Revelation 20:7-8) for a short time that he had been let loose (Revelation 12:12 and Revelation 20:3).
• He is now cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are to be tormented (cf. Revelation 19:20). The context going forward tells us this is a far future look into eternal Hell.
• Hell was created for a reason (Matthew 25:41).
• Until the final end, the angels that sinned are kept in store for judgment to come in an area of Hades called “ταρταρόω” (II Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6). See Strong’s # 5020.

• John does not specify this vision to be of the Father or the Son. We know God sits upon the throne (Psalms 47:8). We know the Father, Son, and Spirit are one (I John 5:7) and are all referred to as God (I Peter 1:2, Romans 9:1-5, and Acts 5:1-4); though they are separate in being (John 14:26).
• We know the final judgment will belong to Jesus (Acts 17:30-31, Romans 14:10-12, and II Corinthians 5:10).
• The idea of the heaven and the earth being fled away with no place for them brings about imagery wherein we must think carefully. What makes the most sense because of what we will read in the next few verses is John seeing a vision far ahead of the final judgment AT THIS POINT (Matthew 24:35-36 and II Peter 3:9-14). This is further evidence that all preceding this was not about the end of the world.

• This is resurrection language (John 5:28-29 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18). John is now seeing far into the future. That makes this all confusing to a point.
• The book of life is in reference to those faithful (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5, and Revelation 22:18-19).
• The other books are not specified. Could it be the old law and the Gospel (Romans 2:12-16)?
• Judgment will be according to one’s works (Matthew 16:27 and Matthew 25:31-46).

• Hell here is hades (Strong’s # 86). Death and hades are cast into the lake of fire. The last enemy destroyed in THE END (I Corinthians 15:26).
• References to the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20 and Revelation 20:10).
• The lake of fire and the second death (Revelation 21:8).
• The Lamb’s book of life refers to the faithful (Revelation 21:27).

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