Chapter 20
Verses 1-3 Read the Bible verses.
An angel came from heaven and had the keys to the bottomless pit and a large chain.
The dragon, (serpent) Satan, is bound for 1000 years. He is thrown into the bottomless pit. It is sealed shut.
He would not tempt anyone for 1000 years. Then he would be let go for a short time.
During this 1000 years, God will give back to Israel her land. They will believe in Jesus as their Messiah. They will return to loving God.
(Isaiah 54:11-14, 58:8, Ezekiel 36:33-38, 37:1-28. Zechariah 9:16)
The desert will be changed into a place of growing things (Isaiah 41:19-20; 51:3). Even the animals will be changed (Isaiah 11:6-9)
The “nations” is a word often used for the Gentiles, those who were non-Jews. The nations seem now to follow Jesus and accept him.
Verse 4 Read the Bible verse.
John saw thrones. The people who sat on them were allowed to judge.
The believers who had been killed on earth because they would not worship the beast (Anti-Christ) –came to life.
There are many prophecies that tell about the believers (saints) reigning with Christ. (Psalms 2:8, 24:7-8; Isaiah 9:7, 11:6-10, 35:1-2, 61:3; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 40 to 48; Daniel 2:44;Hosea 1:10;3:5, Amos 9:11-15,Micah 4:1-8, Zechariah 8:1-9, Matthew 19:28; Acts 15:16-18; Rev. 2:25-28; 11:15)
In Rev. 3:21-22 the message is to all the churches that they could be on the throne.
In addition to those who have been faithful to Christ, are those who have been faithful during the tribulation.
We do not know just what the saints will do when they “reign” on earth during these 1000 years. We do know that once believers go to be with Jesus, they will be with him forever.
Verses 5-6 Read the Bible verses.
The rest of the dead (the unbelievers) did not rise from the dead until after the 1000 years is over.
The first resurrection is the resurrection of the believers.
(I Thess.4:16-17) Blessed are those who are in the first resurrection because they have no fear of the second death (hell). They will be priests and reign with him 1000 years.
The first death is the physical body. The second death is of the soul.
Those that die the second death do not go into a state of unknowing or silence. They are separated from God with other evil people forever. They are in a lake of fire and are in great pain forever. It is a living death.
Verses 7- 9 Read the Bible verses.
When the 1000 years are over, Satan is let out of the bottomless pit for a time. He is allowed to go about the earth as before. He deceives the nations and he gets them to gather for a war.
This involves Gog and Magog. This seems to match was is spoken of in Ezekiel 38 and39.
When all these armies are gathered together, God sends fire down on them and they are destroyed.
Verse 10 Read the Bible verse.
The devil is thrown into the Lake of Fire where the beast (Anti-Christ) and his False Prophet are.
They will be there forever.
Verses 11-15 Read the Bible verses.
John saw a great White Throne. Christ sat on it. The earth and heaven disappeared.
Then John saw the dead standing before the throne. The books were opened. One book was called the Book of Life. The dead were judged from the things written in these books as to how they lived and believed.
The dead that were in the sea, and the unbelievers that were in the waiting place connected to hell (Hades), all were standing before the throne to be judged.
They were thrown into the Lake of Fire. Death was thrown into the Lake of Fire also. There would be no more death.
Anyone who did not have their name written in the Book of Life was thrown into the Lake of Fire.