Revelation 20 - Introduction

Satan Is Bound A Thousand Years Revelation Twenty

Revelation Twenty provides the picture that we have waited for. Satan is bound. A strong angel is able to bind Satan for a thousand years, and lock him in a bottomless pit. "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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." (Revelation 20:1-3)

In Revelation nineteen the enemies of God were defeated. Now we see the defeat of Satan himself. He is defeated by the word of God. The Christians that had been killed for the cause of Christ were still living and reigning with the Lord. They are called priests of God and of Christ, and they reign with Him a thousand years. This thousand-year reign with Christ is in heaven, not on the earth.

Satan is allowed a period of freedom to deceive the nations. The figure is that of Gog and Magog from Ezekiel 38:1-23; Ezekiel 39:1-29. God and Magog represent forces of evil thrown against the Israel of God. These "compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

The last verses of Revelation chapter twenty consider the final judgment of the wicked. Both the righteous and the wicked will be present at this judgment but only the wicked are considered in this section. At Judgment all that are not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire.