Bullet Point Bible - Revelation 20

Satan Bound for a Thousand Years

¹ Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain.² He seized the dragon-the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan-and tied him up for a thousand years.³ The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.)

An angel, distinct from Christ, is given authority to bind Satan, demonstrating God's ultimate sovereignty over evil.
The "abyss" (Greek: *abyssos*) represents a place of confinement for demonic powers, distinct from the final lake of fire (Revelation 20:10, 14-15).
John explicitly identifies the dragon with multiple Old Testament and intertestamental titles for the adversary: ancient serpent (Genesis 3), devil (accuser), and Satan (adversary).
The binding's purpose is specific: to prevent Satan from deceiving the nations during the thousand-year period.
The "thousand years" (millennium) is a major point of interpretive debate regarding its literal or symbolic nature and its timing relative to Christ's return (premillennialism, postmillennialism, amillennialism).
The binding is comprehensive ("locked and sealed") but temporary ("until the thousand years were finished").
Satan's eventual brief release is foreordained ("must be released"), suggesting a final, decisive confrontation is part of God's plan.
This scene follows the defeat of the beast and false prophet (Revelation 19:20), indicating a sequential progression in judgment.

The Millennial Reign of Christ and the Saints

⁴ Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection.⁶ Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

John sees thrones, symbolizing authority and judgment, occupied by unspecified individuals (possibly the apostles, elders, or all saints).
Specific focus is given to martyrs ("beheaded") and those who remained faithful under persecution ("had not worshiped the beast"). Their faithfulness is highlighted.
These faithful individuals "came to life" in what John terms the "first resurrection," distinct from the general resurrection later.
They reign *with* Christ for the same thousand-year period that Satan is bound, suggesting a time of righteous rule and vindication.
The parenthetical statement in verse 5 clarifies that the resurrection of the unrighteous dead occurs only after the millennium.
Participation in the "first resurrection" brings blessing, holiness, and immunity from the "second death" (the lake of fire, see Revelation 20:14).
Those resurrected serve as "priests of God and of Christ," indicating intimate fellowship and service during the reign.
The nature and location of this millennial reign (earthly or heavenly) are subjects of ongoing theological discussion tied to views on the thousand years.
This passage offers profound hope and vindication for those who suffer for their faith.

Satan's Final Rebellion and Defeat

⁷ Now when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to bring them together for the battle. They are as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea.⁹ They went up on the broad plain of the earth and encircled the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and devoured them completely.¹⁰ And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever.

Satan's release after the thousand years demonstrates the persistent nature of rebellion against God, even after a long period of peace.
He immediately resumes his deceptive work, gathering a vast army symbolized by "Gog and Magog" (drawn from Ezekiel 38-39, but likely representing all rebellious nations).
The scope of the rebellion is global ("four corners of the earth") and immense ("like the sand of the sea").
The target is "the camp of the saints and the beloved city" (likely representing God's people and their dwelling, perhaps Jerusalem or a symbolic representation).
The rebellion is swiftly and decisively crushed by direct divine intervention ("fire came down from heaven"). There is no protracted battle described.
Satan's final judgment is consignment to the "lake of fire and sulfur," the place of eternal punishment.
He joins the beast and the false prophet, who were cast there earlier (Revelation 19:20), indicating the shared fate of God's primary antagonists.
Their torment is described as eternal and unceasing ("day and night forever and ever").
This event marks the ultimate end of Satan's influence and opposition to God's kingdom.

The Great White Throne Judgment

¹¹ Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.¹² And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened-the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds.¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death-the lake of fire.¹⁵ If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.

This section describes the final judgment of the unrighteous dead after the millennium and Satan's final defeat.
The "great white throne" signifies the absolute authority, purity, and majesty of the Judge (God the Father or Jesus Christ, whom the Father has appointed, cf. John 5:22, 27).
The old creation ("earth and the sky") cannot endure the Judge's presence and effectively ceases to exist, paving the way for the new creation (Revelation 21:1).
The judgment is universal for the remaining dead ("great and small"), encompassing everyone not part of the first resurrection.
All realms give up their dead ("sea," "Death," "Hades"), emphasizing the inescapable nature of this judgment. Hades (Greek: *Hadēs*) is the realm of the dead.
Two types of books are opened: "books" containing the record of deeds, and the "book of life" containing the names of the redeemed.
Judgment is rendered "according to their deeds," indicating accountability for actions performed during earthly life.
However, the ultimate basis for avoiding condemnation is whether one's name is found in the "book of life" (cf. Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5, 13:8).
"Death and Hades," personified as enemies conquered by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:26), are finally destroyed by being thrown into the lake of fire.
The "lake of fire" is explicitly defined as the "second death"—eternal separation from God and conscious punishment.
This final judgment scene underscores divine justice, the reality of eternal consequences, and the security found only through inclusion in the book of life.

The Bullet Point Bible

Revelation 20