SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 20
MEMORY VERSE:
“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
THE THOUSAND YEARS (vs. 1-6)
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
SATAN’S DOOM (vs. 7-10)
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog – to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
THE DEAD ARE JUDGED (vs. 11-15)
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
THOUGHTS: (From Life Application Study Bible)
The 1000 years are often referred to as the Millennium. There are three major positions of this issue:
- Postmillennialism – looks for a literal 1,000 year period of peace on earth ushered in by the church. At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be unleashed once more, but Christ will return to defeat him and reign forever. Christ’s second coming will not occur until after the 1,000 year period. Christ’s second coming will not occur until after the 1,000 year period.
- Premillennialism – views the 1,000 years as a literal time period but holds that Christ’s second coming initiates his 1,000 year reign and that this reign occurs before the final removal of Satan.
- Amillennialism – view the 1,000 year period to be symbolic of the time between Christ’s ascension and his return. This Millennium is the reign of Christ in the hearts of believers and his church; thus, it is another way of referring to the church age. This period will end with the second coming of Christ.
These different views about Millennium should not cause division and controversy in the church because each view acknowledges what is most crucial to Christianity – Christ will return, he will defeat Satan and he will reign forever!.
It is part of God’s plan to judge the world by releasing Satan once again . It is to expose those who rebel against God in their hearts and confirm those who are truly faithful to God. But Satan’s release ultimately results in the final destruction of all evil.
There are two basic view concerning the First & Second Resurrection:
- Some believe that the first resurrection is spiritual (in our heart at salvation) and that the Millennium is our spiritual reign with Christ between his first and second coming. During this time, we are priests of God because Christ reigns in our hearts. The second resurrection is the bodily resurrection of all people for judgement.
- Others believe that the first resurrection occurs after Satan has been set aside. It is a physical resurrection of believers, who then reign with Christ on the earth for a literal 1,000 years. The second resurrection occurs at the end of the Millennium in order to judge unbelievers who have died.
Gog and Magog symbolize all the forces of evil that band together to battle God. Noah’s son Japheth had a son named Magog. Ezekiel presents God as a leader of forces against Israel.
There are two mighty forces of evil – those of the beast and of Satan. They unite to do battle against God. The evil beast and his forces are captured and thrown into the lake of fire, and fire from heaven comes to devour Satan and his attacking armies. If you are with God’s side, you will experience tremendous victory with Christ.
Satan’s power is not eternal. He began his evil work in people at the beginning and continues until today. But he will be destroyed when he is thrown into the lake of fire. The Devil will be released from the bottomless pit, but he will never be released from the lake of fire.
At the judgment, the books are opened. They represent God’s judgment and in them are recorded the deeds of everyone, good or evil. We are not saved by deeds, but deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. The Book of Life contains the names of those who have put their trust in Christ to save them.
The lake of fire is the ultimate destination of everything wicked – Satan, the beast, the false prophet, the demons, death, the grave and all those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life. If you have not been identified with Christ, it is now time for you to confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord before it will be too late to do so. Remember, there will be no hope, no second chance, no other appeal.