CHAPTER 20

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.
Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Revelation 20:3 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.
At this point in time, the tribulation period is over and a new age called the Millennium (1000 years) begins with the Lord Jesus Christ reigning. An angel comes down to the earth with the key to the bottomless pit. He has a chain in his hand, which is a literal chain but it is not physical. God created the world and all that is in it and has no problem making a chain that would hold Satan. Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years. He will be loosed at the end of that period for a little season to go out and deceive the nations. People born during the 1000 years will be able to reject Satan or follow him. During this period, salvation is not by faith because all will know Jesus Christ as God in the new covenant. Salvation will be by works because all will be able to see him.
2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Satan is bound for 1000 years during the reign of Jesus Christ. This is the seventh day rest spoken of in Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. The curse that was placed on the earth after Adam sin is lifted. Water comes out from under the throne that flows to the sea and heals the land. Ezekiel 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. Ezekiel 47:9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

The Kingdom of God will last forever but God uses this 1000 year period to show that man heart is wicked my nature. After a 1000 years of righteousness man is still deceived by Satan when he is loosed for a little season. Note verse 3 says that Satan “must” be loosed.

Revelation 20:4 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.
These are tribulation saints that were beheaded for the Word of God and their testimony. These people will reign with Christ for 1000 years. Also, we see the 12 apostles that have been resurrected. Jesus Christ promised that they would sit on 12 thrones and judged the 12 tribes of Israel.
Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Matthew 19:28 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.

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:6 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.
There are two distinct resurrections. The first resurrection ends with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. All people that were in paradise, all the saints that were killed during the tribulation period and all the saints that were in the little flock that believed that Jesus was the Christ. The people that are resurrected in the first resurrection are in natural bodies. The body of Christ (the church) have been caught off the earth before the tribulation period starts and are not part of the first resurrection. The Nation of Israel will be a kingdom of priests and will reign with him for a thousand years. Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.  These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. The second death is when all the dead that are lost are judged and cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Revelation 20:8 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.
Revelation 20:9 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.
Revelation 20:10 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.
Even after 1000 years seeing Jesus Christ on the throne and Satan in the bottomless pit, men still follow him when he is loosed. Man is a sinner inherited from Adam. They follow Satan and they go up against God but fire comes down from heaven and devoured them. The devil is cast into the lake of fire and is tormented forever. Also note, the antichrist and false prophets are still there. Their judgment in the lake of fire is forever.

Revelation 20:11 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.
John sees the heavens flea away and the Lord Jesus Christ setting on a white throne. He is like the Jesus John sees in Revelation Chapter one.
Revelation 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Revelation 20:12 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.
The dead are called up out of hell and are judged for their works out of the books. God does keep a Book of Remembrance with all deeds these people have done. Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. If they lived in the grace age, then they are judged out of Paul's Letters. Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. If they lived under God's Law to Israel, then they are judged out of those books, etc. John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. The book of life is open to find the names of those that didn't follow Satan when he was loosed. All people, in all ages that have been found to be righteous are found in the book of life. Also judged at the white thrones will be the prophets who have not received their rewards and the saints that lived during the 1000 years that feared His name.
Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

The following will be at the White Throne Judgment:
1. All the people that are in hell since Adam.
2. All the fallen angels that are in the sea. Jude 6
3. All the people that are saved during the tribulation period.
4. All the people that didn't follow Satan when he is loosed and their name are in the book of life.
5. If the white throne is in the air, then the body of Christ will be there but to see God’s judgment.

Revelation 20:13 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.
The only ones that could be in the sea that are judged are the angels that have been put in outer darkness. The deep is a place of darkness. Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. In fact, Satan has access to the deep. Job 41:31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. Jude 1:6 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. Death is defeated and the dead were delivered up out of hell. They were judged to find out their degree of punishment in the lake of fire.

1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is when there is no more hell, no more death and evil has been defeated. The first death is when a lost man dies and goes to hell. The second death is after that man is judged and then he is cast into the lake of fire.

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