Revelation Chapter 20 Explained: The Millennium, Satan’s Doom, and the Great White Throne

Revelation Chapter 20-Introduction

In Revelation chapter 20, the Apostle John continues to be shown future events. This glorious chapter begins to describe the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ on this earth. When Jesus is reigning, Satan will be banished. Afterwards, he will be set free for a bit. This chapter describes the events which will occur after the 1000 years of Jesus’ reign on the earth including the rebellion of the people and the final end of Satan.

Revelation 20:1-An Angelic Parole Officer

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (KJV)

This messenger of God has authority. This key symbolizes that he alone can open the bottomless pit. It is interesting to note that God, Himself, controls this opening of this place of torment. Also, this angel has a great chain. What material this chain is composed, John does not tell us, but it must be strong enough to restrain an angel as powerful as Satan.

Revelation 20:2-Satan Captured

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (KJV)

This angel has the both the strength and the authority to both capture, bind, and lock away the Devil. Satan is an angel himself. An angel is sent to bring judgment on another angel.

Revelation 20:3-Satan’s 1000 Year Prison Term

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. (KJV)

This angel completes his task by dropping the bound Satan into the bottomless pit. It is in this prison that Satan will reside during the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ. Only after the thousand years are ended will Satan be released.

Revelation 20:4-Millennium Government

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. (KJV)

This is the first verse which gives a glimpse into the governmental structure of Christ’s millennial reign. He will be assisted, according to this verse, by saints who were martyred during the Great Tribulation. Although these brave people lost their physical life for God’s sake during the reign of the antichrist, they will be brought to life again and be part of the governing body of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:5-The First Resurrection

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (KJV)

The structure of this verse is a bit convoluted. The phrase “first resurrection” refers to the Tribulation martyrs, and the phrase “rest of the dead” refers to the unbelievers who have perished during the Tribulation. There will also be a resurrection of the unbelievers who perished during the Tribulation time after the thousand-years have passed.

Revelation 20:6-Reigning Priests of God

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. (KJV)

This verse further clarifies who will be a part of the first resurrection and repeats that those who are resurrected will be both kings and priests who will reign with Jesus Christ during the thousand years. Prior to this time, there were three distinct bodily resurrections:

1. Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He is the firstfruits. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 (KJV)

2. The dead in Christ will be resurrected when Jesus comes to take His people out of the world at the Rapture. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV)

3. The two witnesses who were introduced in Revelation chapter 11, were both martyred and resurrected during the tribulation.

The term “second death” introduced here is defined in verse 14 as “the lake of fire.”

Two Resurrections Vs. Two Deaths Chart

Term	Who It Involves	When It Occurs	Outcome
First Resurrection	Tribulation martyrs and believers who did not worship the beast.	Before the Millennium begins.	They reign with Christ for a thousand years as priests and kings.
Second Resurrection	“The rest of the dead” — all remaining unbelievers throughout history.	After the thousand-year Millennium ends.	Judged at the Great White Throne according to their works.
First Death	Common to all mankind.	The natural end of physical, earthly life.	Separation of body and spirit.
Second Death	Anyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life.	Following the Great White Throne judgment.	Final, eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

Download this chart of the two resurrections referred to in Revelation chapter 20.

Revelation 20:7-Satan Released

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (KJV)

After one thousand years of Christ reigning supreme, He will allow Satan to be freed from the bottomless pit.

Revelation 20:8-Rebellion

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. (KJV)

This mention of Gog and Magog in the book of Revelation is a reference to the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel’s prophecy. Some people living at the end of Christ’s Millennial reign will exhibit the same haughty rebellion against God as those who did over a thousand years earlier, at the Gog and Magog rebellion which Ezekiel saw and recorded in Ezekiel chapter 38. Just as those who participated in the original futile attempt to destroy God’s people at the first Gog and Magog battle, so too will this rebellion at the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ Jesus, be quickly and completely destroyed.

Revelation 20:9-The Result of the Rebellion

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. (KJV)

The multitudes who will follow Satan in this last earthly battle will encircle Jerusalem, called here “the camp of the saints” and “the beloved city.” God will then rain down fire from heaven, immediately and completely destroy all those who followed Satan in his attempt to overthrow Christ Jesus.

Revelation 20:10-Satan’s Final Demise

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. (KJV)

Satan, an angel, is immune to physical fire. After his people are destroyed he will be thrown into the lake of fire, where he will join the beast and the false prophet. Although the beast and the false prophet were cast into the lake of fire a minimum of one thousand years earlier, they are still there, they will not be burned up, but are in constant, never-ending torment.

Revelation 20:11-The Great White Throne

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. (KJV)

Satan will be permanently dispatched into the lake of fire, and his followers at the end of time will be judged by God. The Judge on this great white throne at this final Judgment Day, will be Jesus Christ, according to John 5:22. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (KJV) His majesty and His presence will be so great, heaven and Earth will flee from Him.

Revelation 20:12-Books And What They Contain

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. (KJV)

The “dead” referred to in this verse is “the rest of the dead” mentioned in verse five above. This resurrection will include all those individuals who have not been bodily resurrected in any of the prior resurrections and will include the dead from the beginning of time. This judgment will also include all those who have died during the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ. The words “small and great” means all ranks of people, despite their title, economic conditions. or prestige, will be stripped away when they face God.

The reference to “books” here indicates that God has a record, a book for each and every individual. He has recorded all their works and their intentions behind their works. Since most of the dead who will be at this judgment will be unbelievers, their judgment be based on their works as to the severity of their punishment.

At this judgment, it seems that God will double check each person to see if their names are in the book of life. There will be believing individuals who lived and died during Christ’s thousand-year reign who will have their names recorded in the book of life.

Revelation 20:13-Global Resurrection

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. (KJV)

Even those who centuries ago perished in the sea will be alive and will be given some sort of body so they can appear at this judgment. This judgement is also for those people who were in hell to receive their punishment in the lake of fire. They will not be granted entrance into heaven, but are cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:14-The Second Death

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (KJV)

Finally, even death and hell itself, at the end of time, are permanently banished into the lake of fire. This second death is the permanent elimination of death and hell. The very fact that death itself will be punished eternally is a victory to be celebrated.

Revelation 20:15-Heaven Or Hell

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)

This small verse succinctly sums up who will be in heaven and who will not. With all the books in heaven, the main book, the most important book, will be the book of life. If a person’s name is not written in this particular book, they will not have eternal life, only everlasting death.

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Revelation Chapter 20-Study and Review Questions

Revelation Chapter 20-Personal Reflection Question

How does this chapter reinforce the fact that God is a God of life?

Revelation Chapter 20-Behind the Scenes Stuff

The mention of “Gog and Magog here in Revelation, which refers back to the prophecy from the Old Testament prophet of Ezekiel, there have been controversy between Bible scholars with some saying there are two epic battles, both named Gog and Magog. Personally, I don’t believe that. I believe the reference here in Revelation is simply a refence to the one and only battle of Gog and Magog which will be at the end of time as we know it.

The Complete Revelation Bible Study Series

Chapter	Summary
Revelation Chapter 1: John’s Vision of Jesus Christ	John’s vision of the risen Christ standing among seven golden candlesticks on the island of Patmos; Christ identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega.
Revelation Chapter 2: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos & Thyatira	Christ’s messages to four of the seven churches of Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira.
Revelation Chapter 3: Sardis, Philadelphia & Laodicea	Christ’s messages to the remaining three churches: Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
Revelation Chapter 4: John’s Vision of God’s Throne in Heaven	John is caught up to heaven and sees God’s throne room, the twenty-four elders, and the four living creatures.
Revelation Chapter 5: The Lion of Judah and the Lamb Who Was Slain	God holds a seven sealed book; but only Jesus Christ, Who is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb Who was slain, is worthy to open it.
Revelation Chapter 6: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse	The Lamb opens six of the seven seals, releasing the Four Horsemen, the cry of martyrs, and cosmic disturbances.
Revelation Chapter 7: The 144,000 and the Great Multitude	An interlude: 144,000 are sealed from the twelve tribes of Israel, and a great multitude in white robes stands before God’s throne.
Revelation Chapter 8: Meaning of the Seven Trumpets	The seventh seal is opened, bringing silence in heaven, followed by the first four trumpet judgments.
Revelation Chapter 9: The Locusts of Abaddon and the 200 Million	The fifth and sixth trumpets release demonic locusts led by Abaddon and an army of 200 million horsemen.
Revelation Chapter 10: The Little Book and the Seven Thunders	A mighty angel gives John a little book; the words of seven thunders are sealed; the book is sweet, then bitter.
Revelation Chapter 11: Who Are the Two Witnesses of the Apocalypse?	The ministry, death, and resurrection of the two witnesses; the seventh trumpet sounds.
Revelation Chapter 12: The Woman, the Dragon, the Angel Michael and War in Heaven	A woman, a great red dragon, and a man child; war breaks out in heaven as Michael defeats Satan.
Revelation Chapter 13: The Mark of the Beast and 666 Explained	Two beasts rise — one from the sea, one from the land — introducing the mark of the beast, 666.
Revelation Chapter 14: The 144,000, the Three Angels, and the Harvest of Wrath	The 144,000 stand victorious on Mount Zion; three angels proclaim their messages; the wheat and grape harvests.
Revelation Chapter 15: The Sea of Glass and Song of Moses	Seven angels prepare the seven last plagues; the redeemed sing the song of Moses and the Lamb beside a sea of glass.
Revelation Chapter 16: The Seven Vial Judgments and the Battle of Armageddon	The seven vial (bowl) judgments are poured out; the Euphrates dries up, gathering the nations to Armageddon.
Revelation Chapter 17: The Woman on the Beast	A vision of “Mystery, Babylon the Great,” a woman riding a scarlet, seven-headed beast.
Revelation Chapter 18: The Fall of Babylon the Great	The sudden fall of Babylon the Great; kings and merchants mourn her destruction while heaven rejoices.
Revelation Chapter 19: The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and Christ’s Return	The Marriage Supper of the Lamb; Christ returns as King of Kings and defeats the beast and false prophet.
Revelation Chapter 20: The Millennium, Satan’s Doom, and the Great White Throne	Satan is bound for a thousand years; the Millennium; Satan’s final rebellion; the Great White Throne judgment.
Revelation Chapter 21: The New Jerusalem Described	A new heaven and a new earth; the heavenly city of New Jerusalem descends from God, adorned like a bride.
Revelation Chapter 22: The River of Life and the Bible’s Final Invitation	The river and tree of life; the Bible’s final invitation and the promise and warning; “Surely I come quickly.”

Download a printer-friendly PDF of this Revelation Bible Study summary chart here.

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