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 38-39. 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.
Satan is bound
Revelation 20:1-3:
Revelation twenty provides a look at the final judgment. We
observe that Satan falls and that the people of God enjoy victory. The theme of
the book of Revelation could easily be "the victory of the saints."
We have already observed the fall of the
The first thing
that we observe about Satan is that he is bound a thousand years in order that
he will not deceive the nations. After this time he is given a period of
freedom. Satan is still active during this entire period only a part of his
power is limited. He is unable to deceive the nations. The devil had deceived
the nations with emperor worship. God limited that power of deception for a
period of time. However, we must remember that the devil is not finished and he
will make a final effort to destroy the people of God.
Saints
of God reign Revelation 20:4-6: God gives great comfort to His people
by showing that the departed saints will reign with
Him. "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. But the rest of
the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection. 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." (Revelation 20:4-6)
Some simple
information will help us understand this reign. First, the reign was not on
earth. It is in heaven with Christ. Second, those that reigned had already left
the earth. They had been beheaded. Third, their reign was that of living and
reigning with Christ. This was the first resurrection. Fourth, these that are
reigning are the souls of those that had died faithful. They did not have the
mark of the beast. Over these the second death has no power. The rest of the
dead went to torment to await the final judgment. (Luke 16:19-31) Those that
missed the first resurrection will face the second death.
The thousand years
is a complete period of time. Only Jesus, His death and the word of God bind
the devil. The souls had been under the altar, now they are on the throne. Satan
is bound.
Satan
is loosed Revelation 20:7-10: There is a time when Satan is again
given power to deceive the nations. The figure of Gog and Magog is from Ezekiel
38-39. The lesson was that the strongest forces Satan could throw against God
people would not overcome the faithful. Those who stay faithful can withstand
Satans strongest efforts.
Gog and Magog was a picture of God
being able to sanctify Himself. He used this illustration to teach
Sinners face their
destiny Revelation 20:11-15:
These few verses provide a brief glimpse into
the final state of the wicked. They will stand before the throne of God to be
judged by the things written in the books. The fact that they were not found
written in the book of life caused them to be cast into the lake of fire. "And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire." (Revelation 20:15) The Bible forcefully teaches that
God will punish the wicked for their unbelief and disobedience. It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31) Hell
is terrible because it is a place of torments.
All will stand before
the great white throne to give account to God. Every man will be judged
according to his works. We will be judged as individuals, not as a group. God
will punish the wicked for unbelief and disobedience. "And these will go away
into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
(Matthew 25:46) Hell is a terrible place of outer darkness where there is
weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42) Please do not wait too late to
learn the meaning and the horrors of Hell. "And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night..."
(Revelation 14:11)
The horrible
punishment awaiting the wicked should move us to obey the gospel quickly. To
obey the gospel one must hear God's truth (John