Revelation 20

Revelation 20 describes the 1,000-year reign of Christ and the final judgment of the wicked. Satan is bound in the abyss, unable to deceive the nations, while the righteous reign with Christ in heaven. The first resurrection brings life to the faithful, but the rest of the dead (the wicked) remain in their graves until the thousand years are finished. After this, Satan is released, deceives the nations once more, and leads a final rebellion, but fire from God destroys them. The wicked are resurrected for the great white throne judgment, then cast into the lake of fire, bringing eternal justice.

Revelation 20:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

These verses describe Satan’s binding at the beginning of the 1,000-year period, preventing him from deceiving the nations until the millennium is over. John sees an angel descending from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain, symbolizing divine authority to restrain Satan. The bottomless pit (Greek: "abyssos") represents a desolate, lifeless earth, where Satan is confined with no one to deceive, as the wicked remain dead and the righteous are with Christ in heaven. He is cast into the pit and shut up, ensuring that he cannot deceive the nations until the thousand years are finished. However, he will be released for a short time after the millennium to deceive the resurrected wicked one last time. This final deception proves that neither Satan nor the wicked have changed, even after seeing the consequences of sin, confirming that God’s final judgment is just. Their rebellion leads to their ultimate destruction, ensuring that sin will never rise again and that God’s kingdom will stand forever.

Revelation 20:4 (NKJV)
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

This verse describes the reign of Christ’s faithful during the 1,000 years, where they participate in a judgment process. John sees thrones, and those who sit on them are given authority to judge, indicating that the redeemed will have a role in reviewing God’s justice regarding the fate of the wicked. Among them are those who were beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for refusing the mark of the beast, showing that the faithful who endured persecution will now reign with Christ. These individuals experience the “first resurrection,” the resurrection of the righteous, confirming their victory over sin and death. The phrase “they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” reveals that during this period, God’s people will have a part in understanding His righteous judgments before the final execution of justice upon the wicked. This passage confirms God’s fairness in judgment, allowing the redeemed to see His justice before the final resurrection and destruction of the lost.

Revelation 20:5-6 (NKJV)
5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

These verses contrast the two resurrections, revealing the blessedness of those in the first resurrection and the fate of the rest of the dead. Verse 5 clarifies that “the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished,” meaning the wicked remain in their graves until the second resurrection at the end of the millennium. In contrast, those who take part in the first resurrection are called “blessed and holy,” for they will reign with Christ and are not subject to the second death. The first resurrection is for the righteous, granting them eternal life, while the second resurrection brings the wicked back only for judgment and destruction. Those in the first resurrection are priests of God and Christ, symbolizing their role in reviewing God’s justice during the millennium. Because “over such the second death has no power,” they will never face eternal separation from God, confirming their place in His everlasting kingdom. This passage highlights the certainty of two resurrections—one to eternal life and one to final judgment—showing God’s perfect justice and mercy.

Revelation 20:7-10 (NKJV)
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

This passage describes Satan’s final deception and ultimate destruction at the end of the 1,000 years. When the millennium ends, Satan is released from his prison—not because he has changed, but because the wicked are resurrected, giving him people to deceive once more. He gathers them for one final rebellion against God, leading them to attack the New Jerusalem, but fire from heaven destroys them completely. This final uprising proves that even after seeing God’s justice, the wicked remain unrepentant, confirming that their destruction is necessary. Satan, the deceiver, is then cast into the lake of fire, where the beast and false prophet were already judged, signifying his complete and final destruction. The mention of torment “forever and ever” symbolizes total annihilation, as fire consumes him completely, ensuring that sin will never rise again. This passage confirms that Satan’s rule ends in total defeat, and God’s justice and victory are fully established.

Revelation 20:11-15 (NKJV)
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

This passage describes the great white throne judgment, where God executes final justice upon all the wicked. Heaven and earth flee from His presence, symbolizing the passing away of the old sinful world to make way for the new creation. The dead, both great and small, stand before God as books are opened, revealing their deeds and confirming their judgment. The Book of Life is also opened, showing that only those whose names are written in it will receive eternal life. The sea, Death, and Hades give up their dead, signifying that all the wicked from every place and time are resurrected for judgment. They are judged according to their works, meaning their punishment will vary in duration based on their sins. Fire from heaven devours them as they attack the New Jerusalem, and they are then cast into the lake of fire, where they suffer until fully consumed. This lake of fire is the second death, symbolizing total and irreversible destruction, ensuring they cease to exist forever. Even Death and Hades (the grave) are destroyed, meaning sin, suffering, and mortality are permanently abolished. This final judgment ensures that evil will never rise again, and God’s kingdom will be fully restored in righteousness.