Chapter 20
-Now an angel comes down from Heaven with a key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain. He seized the dragon, which is Satan, that
ancient serpent who is the devil, and bound him for a thousand years by
throwing him into a bottomless pit, shutting it and sealing it over him, so
that he cannot deceive the nations any longer during the millennial reign of
Jesus Christ on the earth. However, after the thousand years, he is released
again for a little while (Revelation 20:1-3).
-Then John saw thrones, and seated on them were those to
whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, there were the souls of those
who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God, and
those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its
mark on their foreheads or hands. These came to life and reigned with Christ
for the thousand years, and the rest of the dead did not come back to life
until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection of the martyred
saints, which is blessed and holy. Over these the second death has no power,
and they will be priests of God and of Christ Jesus in their reign (Revelation
20:4-6).
-When the 1,000 years ended, the devil is released from his
prison and comes out to deceive the nations once again all over the four
corners of the earth, Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:1-39:29), to gather them for
battle. They outnumber the sand of the sea and march over a broad plain
surrounding the camp of the saints and the beloved city (Jerusalem), but the
Lord sends down fire from Heaven and they are consumed. It is at this point
that Satan joins the beast and the false prophet in the eternal lake of fire
and sulfur that burns forever and ever and they are tormented day and night.
This is the ultimate defeat of Lucifer (Revelation 20:7-10).
-Now Christ is presented on His Great White Throne in all
His glory. From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found
for them. All the dead came before Him, great and small, and books were opened.
Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged by
what was written in the books, according to what they have done with their
lives. The sea presented its dead, and Death and Hades presented their dead and
they were all judged, each of them, according to what they had done. Death and
Hades were thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. “And if
anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the
lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).”
-*Application* Knowing the end from the present time is of
great benefit is we will pay attention to it (Remember Revelation 1:3?). Our
responsibility is to take heed to the power and glory of God and accept His
plan for salvation and deliverance. Also, if we have already trusted our souls
to Christ, we must take heed to the missionary task that is before us to make
disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Realizing the reality of hell
in the lake of fire and the torment that it entails, we must DO everything we
can to snatch those away from the path of destruction and compel them to be
reconciled to Christ (Luke 14:23, Jude 1:3, 23). This is love. Take courage and
witness! Don’t fear the rejection of man! Wise is he who wins souls (Proverbs
11:30)!
Verses to Memorize:
Revelation 20:2-3, 15
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