Revelation Study

Revelation Study — Chapter 20

I have some thoughts that are foreign to what most of the commentators conclude. But I have combined some of their thoughts with mine and have come to a conclusion that is similar to that quoted from Adam Clarke in the beginning of this treatise: "Frankly, I don't know what it (the chapter) means ..." but evidently neither do any of the rest of them. I am saying though that my thoughts, on this chapter, will not violate any scriptural principle that I am aware of. I must be aware of that rule that I have laid down for myself because of the dire pronouncements against those who add to or deduct from the prophecies of this book. I will also admit that there may be some things that may appear to be inconsistencies and that I would be hard pressed to explain, but I find such in the writings of others. I did find one that I would like to correct. I have reread many of the commentators comments on this 20th chapter and I find, almost without exception, that they take the binding of Satan is, at least, to take away his ability to deceive the nations. I mentioned this in my original comments but in restudying these comments I have altered my thinking about this binding. My new thoughts will be incorporated in my comments on that portion.

The primary subject of The Revelation was the destruction of Jerusalem. That has been accomplished and the end of the subject is recorded in chapter eighteen. The celebration of that victory is recorded in the first part of chapter nineteen. The marriage supper of the Lamb and then the victorious King appears ready to do battle with all who rise up against Him. His followers are ready. The Roman Empire with its pagan religious forces are no more and He is ready to meet all newcomers. And with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, He will be victorious until the end. Now we are ready for a kind of resume of the whole gospel dispensation. That's what I think this 20th chapter is all about.

I suggest that you read, once again, carefully, the entire 20th chapter. I will not make this a verse by verse commentary as I have been doing but will try to tie it all together in a sort of story form. Bear with me.

An angel comes down with a key to the bottomless pit, the abyss. There was another angel with a key but these are, symbolically, different kinds of keys. The first key was to release corruption and torment from the abyss to harass and afflict God's people while this second one has a key of restraint. Satan would be bound with a chain and held prisoner in the abyss for a thousand years. Remember, everything is shown to John in symbolic form. A thousand years indicates an indefinite but long period of time. This is in contrast to the limited times which have been used in other places, such as 42 months, three and a half years or even 1260 days. To make this a literal period of time in a figurative setting would certainly be inconsistent. The chain that bound Satan would be a chain of bondage. He would not be destroyed at this time; that would come later. He had been "cast out of heaven," which indicates his high places and much of his power was gone but he still walked the earth. Now his power to "deceive the nations" had been taken from him, also. He had used the concept that world-wide conquest by nations would destroy God's kingdom. He had been able because of his high or heavenly position to maneuver them into doing this. Now that power was taken from him.

Consider with me some thoughts along this line. God had used the deceitful powers of Satan to work with the nations in fulfilling his promise to Abraham, "in thy seed shall all the nations of earth be blessed," and this was to be accomplished through the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and finally Judah. So the lineage must be preserved. Satan's deceit of the nations would be used to this end. Four world-wide kingdoms would arise to accomplish the mission.

It seemed that the 12 tribes were disintegrating. The ten tribes called Israel had gone after idols and had been taken into captivity. Judah, under ungodly kings, seemed to be going in the same direction. So Babylon took them into captivity for 70 years that they might learn their lesson about who was actually their God. But God would not allow them to have a kingdom of their own any more. Well, to make this as short as possible, the Medes and Persians allowed them to return and serve God according to the Old Covenant. The Macedonians allowed this to continue and brought them finally to the great iron kingdom, The Roman Empire. The promised "seed," Jesus, came in the days of that Empire, ministered to the people for three years, was crucified, resurrected from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, took his place on David's throne as King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Mission accomplished and Satan's deceitful hand among these four great kingdoms had actually been the means of preserving them until this purpose was complete. It was all God's plan.

Now, God had no further need of Satan leading the nations through his deceitful ways, so he has this power taken from him. It happened when King Jesus was crowned and began his reign. As is stated in Daniel 2:44-45, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter." He ground into pieces all these world-wide kingdoms on that day and Satan was bound, not just restrained like so many say, but was bound and sealed, in that area that is stated, deceiving the nations, and would not be allowed to use them for his deceitful purposes --- for 1000 years.

But he still roamed the earth in all other areas. (1 Peter 5:8-9) "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world," and he still had his ministers and his angels. We read where certain men would garb themselves as "ministers of light," but instead they would be workers for Satan. "False prophets," "false apostles," "false teachers," are all mentioned as warring against God's people. The word "false" comes from the Greek "pseudo," which indicates lying, deceitful people. Paul, John and Peter all warned the saints about them. Satan still had his organization thus when we read of Satan doing a thing, he may be doing it through his emissaries. The chain was applied when the fullness of the gospel was preached. The only thing that God has given that can in any way restrain Satan is the word of God. But even his representatives would have a restraint and that restraint would also be the word of God. Some use the illustration of a junk yard dog who is tied with a long rope or chain. He can reach only so far but woe unto you if you get into his territory. This, I believe, is a poor illustration. We are constantly in his territory, (1 Peter 5:8-9) the world, but the weapon against he and his cohorts will work. It must work. "The word of God is living and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12). With it Jesus fought off every temptation Satan used to overcome him. Just a simple, "it is written" was enough to defeat Satan. That resistance weapon came into full force as the apostles went forth preaching and teaching the "good news" to both Jew and Gentile. Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." People today can overcome all temptation by taking up "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" and using it like it supposed to be used.

So, the everlasting warfare continues but with the coming of the "good news," Satan's forces have been weakened or restrained. God's people have an offensive weapon that can defeat Satan. John has been shown the conflict between righteousness and unrighteousness under several figures. Down through the ages unrighteousness had prevailed. Go back to Eden. Satan was successful. There remained not one righteous soul on earth. In the days of Noah "GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). We saw what the world was like in the days of Lot. But there was as least one faithful man and that one was Abraham. So he was chosen to bring forth a seed that would at last give man hope. His chosen people came forth out of the loins of Abraham and thus we have the nation of Israel. But Satan was at work and soon, very soon, unrighteousness prevailed. They went astray under the Judges and under Kings. God punished them often and severely but to no avail so at an appropriate time God called John the Immerser to come and bring his people back to God through repentance. He was doing too well so Satan had him killed. But the call of repentance was carried on by Jesus. Seemingly things were still going well but the people were looking in the wrong direction. They wanted an earthly king and a kingdom restored. Jesus told the people plainly in John 6:63-66 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." Satan was winning again. It seemed like every one was deserting so he turned to the twelve and asked, "Will ye also go away?" But he was making some headway so Satan, when he still had the power to deceive nations, used that power to influence the Jewish nation and Roman nation, and had him killed. But he overcame death and ascended into heaven and took his place at the right hand of the Father, on David's throne, and sent forth the apostles with the message that would finally overcome Satan, the "good news," the word of God.

Some would have us think that there is something in the Bible that speaks in regard to the "thousand year reign of Christ on earth." This, of course, is a fabricated story. First we hear the report of Satan being bound for a thousand years. Then we see "the souls" of certain ones taking their place with Christ and "reigning" with him. But this reign began in 33 A.D. and it will continue until the end of time. The thousand years period had altogether to do with the binding of Satan and had nothing to do with the reigning time of Christ and his saints. They were reigning when Satan was bound and will be reigning when he is loosed, during the thousand years and beyond. The sovereignty of Christ didn't end. The "thousand year reign of Christ" is a figment of man's imagination. Yes, they lived and reigned with Christ throughout the thousand year binding of Satan. Notice 1 Corinthians 15:21: "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." The reign of Christ didn't end at a thousand years.

Who are the souls reigning with Christ? Well, at least, those who were under the altar in the 6th chapter; the old Testament worthies and then the martyred saints of the New Testament. I am persuaded that this reign is an anachronism, i.e., it is not in chronological order. First it looks backward and then forward. Others will join those who are reigning when John views the scene. I believe that all those who "die in the Lord" will join this group who are presently reigning. Proof? Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." And then, in 2 Timothy 2:12 he says, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." These latter ones who suffer but didn't die, but would, if necessary, die for him, joins Jesus and the other saints. These are not negligent and unfaithful Christians. They are the ones "who die in the Lord from henceforth." From henceforth means from now on. "In the Lord" doesn't mean those who were just baptized into Christ; it goes beyond that and means those who are faithfully serving in harmony with his will when they die. They are not what we call the universal church because it is made up of both the living and the dead. I use these terms in the common language of people. So, it's not the universal church reigning with Christ but those members of the body of Christ who suffer and finally overcome and die in that condition. They are the ones who sit on thrones and reign with Christ. That group of people have their names engraved in the "book of life" and the second death will have no power over them. Living saints have their names in this "book of life" also, but they can still have their names blotted out. (See Revelation 22:19). If they die "in the Lord," they will join in the reign.

This is called "the first resurrection." Some want to make this prefigured by our obedience to the gospel since Paul uses a similar expression in Romans 6:3-5: "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." I can't accept that idea inasmuch as these souls that are reigning with Christ have been tried, have lived faithful lives, have died and are now in a situation of complete safety. John says, "that the second death hath no power over them." In our vernacular it would be said, "They have it made." This is not so for the man in Romans 6:4. He is still exhorted by Paul that he must dedicate himself fully in the Lord's service and he is further warned about certain occasions when he may sin and lose his soul. For instance Romans 14:23, Galatians 5:21 and many other places.

Some say the word "resurrection" means to arise from the dead. They forget that we are dealing in figurative speech. And, besides that, these are souls we see; literal resurrection has to do with bringing together of soul and body. As Jesus says in John 6:28-29, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." I believe the word "resurrection" is being used in this instance in a figurative sense to indicate that these souls, not bodies, had been "resurrected" or raised up or exalted to this high estate that they now occupy.

Now, the thousand years has ended and Satan is loosed from his chains and comes out of his prison and once again goes about doing what he was forbidden to do for a thousand years, deceiving the nations once again. Does the kingship of Christ come to an end? No, he continues to reign with his saints. How and why Satan is released is a matter of much speculation. "He is loosed." The future kingdom advocates and some others, think of the thousand year reign of Christ, which, we have pointed out is a misconception, as a time of complete peace and harmony. They quote from Isaiah where he says "the lamb will lie down with the lion" and Red Foley sings of "peace in the valley." In spite of his being bound in one area he and his emissaries have been busy and now they have a majority of converts to their cause. Satan with his renewed deceptions, calls the nations of the earth together, Gog, the figurative leader of Magog, the territory, and they surround or overcome the camp of the saints, the living saints who make up the remnant of the church on earth.

The battle has continued to rage for, lo, these thousand years and, as before, unrighteousness rules over righteousness. Paul tells of a falling away in 1 Timothy 4:1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." He gives further warning in 2 Timothy 3:1: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." He is not optimistic. (2 Timothy 3:13) "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." He continues his warnings in 2 Thessalonians 2:3: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first ..." and he continues in 2 Thessalonians 2:7: "the mystery of iniquity doth already work ..." This all comes about because the world in general has less and less knowledge and respect for that restraining power, the word of God. That was the only weapon against Satan and now it is not being used. It will become, and in many instances has become, as it was in the days of Jeremiah as he speaks to the people in Jeremiah 6:15-16: "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." People today are not afraid to sin. They do not even blush about their ungodly affairs. They have no awe of God. Perhaps this is the fault of the saints.

Perhaps we have been negligent in our use of the weapon, "the sword of the Spirit." Perhaps it is the natural consequence of the attitude that "... men love darkness rather than light ...." But it is summed up in a rhetorical question posed by the Lord in Luke 18:7-8: "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Even though God's people had been given the weapon to overcome Satan, they had not used it. They had no confidence in it. Many or most were looking for carnal weapons to fight Satan: government, ballots, protest marches and other carnal means. I believe that the "loosing of Satan" will come about because God sees this development of people having less and less respect for His Word until finally it will be as it was in the days of Noah, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5) and there will be no need to continue.

Now Satan was on the loose and he was jubilant because it looked like he was ready to destroy God's people. But now the time had come for God to step in. Nearly every one who was going to serve him had done so. "And they (Satan and his forces) 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 20:9 ). This moment of time is spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 1:4: "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed ) in that day."

The Devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet were. The literal resurrection occurs and now the dead stand before God to hear their sentence pronounced. Death and hades were destroyed in the lake of fire which is labeled the second death. Those whose names were not written in the book of life in like manner suffered the results of the second death and were cast into the lake of fire. But the second death had no power over those who had "died in the Lord."

Death, the last enemy, had been destroyed, therefore the reign of Christ now ends as he delivers up the kingdom to the Father.