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Revelation 20:1
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Oswald J. Smith
Peter Hammond
John F. Walvoord
John Gill
Greg HerrickSummary
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- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
An angel came down from heaven - One of the executors of the Divine justice, who receives criminals, and keeps them in prison, and delivers them up only to be tried and executed. The key of the prison and the chain show who he is; and as the chain was great, it shows that the culprit was impeached of no ordinary crimes.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And I saw an angel come down from heaven,.... All Christ's enemies, and Satan's instruments being removed, the devil is left alone, and only stands in the way of Christ's kingdom; and what will be done to him, and how he will be in the issue disposed of, this vision gives an account: by the "angel" John saw, is not to be understood Constantine the great; for though he is the man child that was taken up to God, and his throne, being advanced to the empire, yet he cannot, with that propriety, be said to come down from heaven; and though he vanquished the Heathen emperors, in which the dragon presided, and cast Paganism out of the empire, by which the devil ruled in it, yet the binding of Satan is another kind of work, and seems too great for him; and besides, did not take place in his time, as will be seen hereafter: nor is an apostle, or a minister of the Gospel intended; such are indeed called angels in this book, and may be said to come down from heaven, because they have their commission from thence; and particularly the apostles had the keys of the kingdom of heaven, but not the key of the bottomless pit; and a chain and system of Gospel truths, which they made good use of for the establishing of Christ's kingdom, and weakening of Satan's, but not such a chain as is here meant; and they had the power of binding and loosing, or of declaring things lawful or unlawful, but not of binding and loosing of Satan; nor was he bound in the apostolic age: nor is one of the ministering spirits, or a deputation of angels designed; for though Christ will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, and will make use of them, both to gather together his elect, and to cast the wicked into the lake of fire, yet not to bind Satan; but the Lord Jesus Christ himself is this angel, who is the angel of God's presence, and of the covenant; and who is in this book called an angel, Rev 7:2 to whom all the characters here well agree, and to whom the work of binding Satan most properly belongs; for who so fit to do it, or so capable of it, as the seed of the woman, that has bruised serpent's head, or as the Son of God, who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, yea, to destroy him himself; and who dispossessed multitudes of devils from the bodies of men, and is the strong man armed that dislodges Satan from the souls of men, and is the same with Michael, who drove him from heaven, and cast him out from thence before, Rev 12:7. And his coming down from heaven is not to be understood of his incarnation, or of his coming from thence by the assumption of human nature; for Satan was not bound by him then, as will be seen hereafter; but of his second coming, which will be from heaven, where he now is, and will be local, visible, and personal: of no other coming of his does this book speak, as seen by John, or as future; nor will the order of this vision, after the ruin of the beast and false prophet, admit of any other. Having the key of the bottomless pit: the abyss or deep, the same out of which the beast ascended, Rev 11:7. And the key of this becomes no hand so well as his who has the keys of hell and death, Rev 1:18 who has all power in heaven and in earth, and has the power of hell, of opening and shutting it at his pleasure, which is signified by this phase; see Rev 9:1. The Ethiopic version reads, "the key of the sun", where some have thought hell to be; and yet the same version renders the word, the deep, in Rev 20:3. And a great chain in his hand; the key in one hand, and the chain in another; by which last is meant, not any material chain, with which spirits cannot be bound, nor indeed sometimes bodies possessed by evil spirits, Mar 5:3 but the almighty power of Christ, which he will now display in binding Satan faster and closer than ever.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
We have here, I. A prophecy of the binding of Satan for a certain term of time, in which he should have much less power and the church much more peace than before. The power of Satan was broken in part by the setting up of the gospel kingdom in the world; it was further reduced by the empire's becoming Christian; it was yet further broken by the downfall of the mystical Babylon; but still this serpent had many heads, and, when one is wounded, another has life remaining in it. Here we have a further limitation and diminution of his power. Observe, 1. To whom this work of binding Satan is committed - to an angel from heaven. It is very probable that this angel is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ; the description of him will hardly agree with any other. He is one who has power to bind the strong man armed, to cast him out, and to spoil his goods; and therefore must be stronger than he. 2. The means he makes use of in this work: he has a chain and a key, a great chain to bind Satan, and the key of the prison in which he was to be confined. Christ never wants proper powers and instruments to break the power of Satan, for he has the powers of heaven and the keys of hell. 3. The execution of this work, Rev 20:2, Rev 20:3. (1.) He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan. Neither the strength of the dragon, nor the subtlety of the serpent, was sufficient to rescue him out of the hands of Christ; he caught hold, and kept his hold. And, (2.) He cast him into the bottomless pit, cast him down with force, and with a just vengeance, to his own place and prison, from which he had been permitted to break out, and disturb the churches, and deceive the nations; now he is brought back to that prison, and there laid in chains. (3.) He is shut up, and a seal set upon him. Christ shuts, and none can open; he shuts by his power, seals by his authority; and his lock and seal even the devils themselves cannot break open. (4.) We have the term of this confinement of Satan - a thousand years, after which he was to be loosed again for a little season. The church should have a considerable time of peace and prosperity, but all her trials were not yet over. II. An account of the reign of the saints for the same space of time in which Satan continued bound (Rev 20:4-6), and here observe, 1. Who those were that received such honour - those who had suffered for Christ, and all who had faithfully adhered to him, not receiving the mark of the beast, nor worshipping his image; all who had kept themselves clear of pagan and papal idolatry. 2. The honour bestowed upon them. (1.) They were raised from the dead, and restored to life. This may be taken either literally or figuratively; they were in a civil and political sense dead, and had a political resurrection; their liberties and privileges were revived and restored. (2.) Thrones, and power of judgment, were given to them; they were possessed of great honour, and interest, and authority, I suppose rather of a spiritual than of a secular nature. (3.) They reigned with Christ a thousand years. Those who suffer with Christ shall reign with Christ; they shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in a glorious conformity to him in wisdom, righteousness, and holiness, beyond what had been known before in the world. This is called the first resurrection, which none but those who have served Christ and suffered for him shall be favoured with. As for the wicked, they shall not be raised up and restored to their power again, till Satan be let loose; this may be called a resurrection, as the conversion of the Jews is said to be life from the dead. 3. The happiness of these servants of God is declared. (1.) They are blessed and holy, Rev 20:6. None can be blessed but those that are holy; and all that are holy shall be blessed. These were holy as a sort of first-fruits to God in this spiritual resurrection, and as such blessed by him. (2.) They are secured from the power of the second death. We know something of what the first death is, and it is awful; but we know not what this second death is. It must be much more dreadful; it is the death of the soul, eternal separation from God. The Lord grant we may never know what it is by experience. Those who have had experience of a spiritual resurrection are saved from the power of the second death. III. An account of the return of the church's troubles, and another mighty conflict, very sharp, but short and decisive. Observe, 1. The restraints laid for a long time on Satan are at length taken off. While this world lasts, Satan's power in it will not be wholly destroyed; it may be limited and lessened, but he will have something still to do for the disturbance of the people of God. 2. No sooner is Satan let loose than he falls to his old work, deceiving the nations, and so stirring them up to make a war with the saints and servants of God, which they would never do if he had not first deceived them. They are deceived both as to the cause they engage in (they believe it to be a good cause when it is indeed a very bad one), and as to the issue: they expect to be successful, but are sure to lose the day. 3. His last efforts seem to be the greatest. The power now permitted to him seems to be more unlimited than before. He had now liberty to beat up for his volunteers in all the four quarters of the earth, and he raised a mighty army, the number of which was as the sand of the sea, Rev 20:8. 4. We have the names of the principal commanders in this army under the dragon - Gog and Magog. We need not be too inquisitive as to what particular powers are meant by these names, since the army was gathered from all parts of the world. These names are found in other parts of scripture. Magog we read of in Gen 10:2. He was one of the sons of Japheth, and peopled the country called Syria, from which his descendants spread into many other parts. Of Gog and Magog together we only read in Eze 38:2, a prophecy whence this in Revelation borrows many of its images. 5. We have the march and military disposition of this formidable army (Rev 20:9.): They went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city, that is, the spiritual Jerusalem, in which the most precious interests of the people of God are lodged, and therefore to them a beloved city. The army of the saints is described as drawn forth out of the city, and lying under the walls of it, to defend it; they were encamped about Jerusalem: but the army of the enemy was so much superior to that of the church that they compassed them and their city about. 6. You have an account of the battle, and the issue of this war: Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured the enemy. Thus the ruin of Gog and Magog is foretold (Eze 38:22), I will rain upon him and upon his bands an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, and fire and brimstone. God would, in an extraordinary and more immediate manner, fight this last and decisive battle for his people, that the victory might be complete and the glory redound to himself. 7. The doom and punishment of the grand enemy, the devil: he is now cast into hell, with his two great officers, the beast and the false prophet, tyranny and idolatry, and that not for any term of time, but to be there tormented night and day, for ever and ever.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
20:1-10 There are three parts to this passage: the binding of Satan (20:1-3), the reign of God’s holy people (20:4-6), and the release of Satan for his final attempt at a battle (20:7-10). Four themes emerge: (1) Satan’s war is futile—he cannot withstand even an angel; (2) God’s holy people will be vindicated and glorified; (3) God will have the final victory; and (4) even when sinful and depraved human beings experience Christ’s good purposes in the world, they still flock after Satan when he gains even a small amount of freedom to act. 20:1-2 Like the Old Testament “angel of the Lord” (see Gen 16:7-11; 22:15; Exod 3:2; Num 22:22-34; Judg 2:1-4; 6:11-22), the angel coming down from heaven has God’s authority, symbolized by the key that controls the bottomless pit and the power to put chains on God’s great enemy (cp. Rev 12:7-9) for a thousand years. See “The Thousand Years (The Millennium)” Theme Note.
Revelation 20:1
Satan Bound
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
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- Sermons
- Commentary
The Wonders of the Millennium
By Oswald J. Smith3.2K38:20MillenniumREV 20:1In this sermon, the preacher discusses the characteristics of the millennial reign of Christ. He mentions thirteen specific characteristics that will become realities during this time. First, Satan will be bound for a thousand years. Second, justice will prevail throughout the world. Third, the earth will be fruitful and free of weeds. Fourth, animal instincts will be changed miraculously. Fifth, there will be perfect safety everywhere. Additionally, people will live long lives, there will be no more war, and the entire world will be evangelized. The preacher emphasizes the future glory and power of Jesus Christ as he rules during the millennial reign.
Using Discernment to Deal With Deceit
By Peter Hammond20441:50DeceitREV 20:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the Rodney King incident and how the media portrayed it in a biased manner. He argues that the whole video was not shown, which depicted King as a criminal who attacked the police officers. The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering the context and not being swayed by propaganda. He urges listeners to seek the truth, stand for it, and expose lies, as the truth sets people free according to the Bible.
The Saints Victorious 1,000 Year Reign and Satan's Defeat
By Mike Bickle271:03:54Millennial KingdomVictory of the SaintsREV 20:1Mike Bickle emphasizes the victorious reign of the saints during the 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom as described in Revelation 20, where the saints replace the Antichrist's empire and govern the earth. He highlights the total defeat of Satan, who is bound and imprisoned for a thousand years, demonstrating God's ultimate authority and justice. Bickle warns against the confusion surrounding the interpretation of this chapter, particularly the dangers of amillennialism, and encourages believers to understand the literal meaning of the text. The sermon serves as a call to recognize the significance of this chapter for the end-time church, equipping them for confidence and victory in Christ. Ultimately, the message is one of hope, as the saints are assured of their triumph over evil.
The Millennium: The Saints' Victory and Satan's Defeat
By Mike Bickle2454:03The Millennial KingdomVictory of SaintsREV 20:1Mike Bickle emphasizes the significance of Revelation 20, portraying it as a literal and dynamic depiction of the Millennial Kingdom where saints reign with Christ for a thousand years while Satan is imprisoned. He explains that this period will be marked by peace and divine governance, contrasting the ultimate defeat of Satan and his forces at the end of the millennium. Bickle highlights the importance of understanding the chronological flow of events from Revelation 19 to 21, illustrating the victory of God's people and the final judgment of evil. He encourages believers to grasp the hope and assurance found in this prophetic vision, affirming that God's justice will ultimately prevail.
The Rise of Posttribulational Interpretation
By John F. Walvoord0DAN 9:27MAT 24:21ROM 11:251CO 15:521TH 4:161TI 4:162TI 3:162PE 3:10REV 20:1John F. Walvoord discusses the development of systematic theology in the history of the church, focusing on the controversies and major divisions that have shaped theological understanding. He highlights the early theological controversies related to the Scriptures, the doctrine of the Trinity, the Protestant Reformation's impact on soteriology and ecclesiology, and the ongoing debate surrounding eschatology. Walvoord delves into the different interpretations of eschatology throughout history, from premillennialism to postmillennialism, and the varying views on the millennium and the second coming of Christ.
2 Peter 3:13
By John Gill0Righteousness and RenewalHope in God's PromisesISA 65:17JER 33:16MAT 5:5ROM 8:182PE 3:13REV 20:1John Gill expounds on 2 Peter 3:13, emphasizing the promise of new heavens and a new earth as a literal transformation rather than a figurative one. He explains that this renewal will involve the purification of the current heavens and earth, making way for a realm where only the righteous will dwell, free from wickedness. Gill reassures believers that their hope is grounded in God's promises, including the resurrection and eternal life, and that they should not fear the destruction of the present world. He highlights that the righteous, made so by Christ, will be the only inhabitants of this new creation, fulfilling the prophetic visions of both Peter and the Old Testament. Ultimately, Gill encourages the faithful to look forward to this glorious future with expectation and joy.
Our Brilliant Future: "Where’s It All Leading?"
By Greg Herrick0ISA 46:10MAT 24:21MAT 25:46JHN 5:28ACT 1:11ROM 11:26PHP 3:20REV 20:1Greg Herrick preaches on the study of the end times, emphasizing the differences and agreements among Bible-believing Christians. The sermon delves into crucial areas of agreement such as the second coming of Christ, the response to His coming, the resurrection of all peoples, and the final state of the wicked and the righteous. Points of disagreement include the rapture, the millennial kingdom, the tribulation period, and the role of national Israel in the end times.
The Consummation of the Redeemer's Return
By A.W. Pink0The Millennial ReignThe Second Coming of ChristZEC 14:9REV 20:1A.W. Pink discusses the two distinct stages of Christ's Second Coming, emphasizing the importance of His return to establish His Kingdom on earth, known as the Millennium. He explains that during this time, Christ will reign in righteousness, removing Satan and restoring peace and order, fulfilling the long-awaited promises made to Israel and the Church. Pink highlights the transformative effects of the Millennium on creation, the world, and humanity, while also acknowledging that sin will still exist in some form. Ultimately, he calls for believers to anticipate and pray for the coming of God's Kingdom, where Christ will be King over all the earth.
Faith, Works & the Holy Spirit
By Dave Hunt0ISA 42:8MAT 22:21MRK 16:15ROM 1:161CO 2:1EPH 2:9REV 20:1Dave Hunt addresses the spiritual climate in various countries, highlighting the challenges faced by Christians in Eastern Europe with the temptation of materialism and the rise of false doctrines like the New Age movement and cults. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to biblical fundamentals and sound doctrine amidst a crisis of faith within the church, where experiences are valued above truth and a false 'faith' is promoted. Hunt warns against the dangers of compromising the gospel for political and social action, urging a return to God's truth without compromise.
The Glorious Restoration of Israel
By John F. Walvoord0PSA 2:6ISA 2:1ISA 26:14ISA 35:1JER 31:33EZK 20:34DAN 7:13DAN 12:2REV 20:1REV 20:7John F. Walvoord preaches about the remarkable event of the partial restoration of the nation Israel to their ancient land in the twentieth century, signaling the fulfillment of God's Word concerning the future of His chosen people. The return of Israel and the establishment of the state of Israel are seen as the initial steps leading to Christ's millennial kingdom on earth, following a period of great tribulation. The sermon delves into the final judgment of Israel, the resurrection of the righteous, the rule of Christ over Israel, and the general characteristics of the millennial kingdom, emphasizing the spiritual, social, economic, and physical aspects of Israel during this period.
Part 6: Amillennialism as a System of Theology
By John F. Walvoord0MAT 25:31JHN 3:16ACT 5:3ROM 3:24ROM 8:381CO 7:51CO 12:271CO 15:522CO 4:32CO 11:142CO 12:7GAL 3:28EPH 1:7EPH 2:191TH 2:181TH 4:162TH 2:91TI 1:201PE 5:81JN 3:81JN 3:10REV 20:1REV 20:4John F. Walvoord preaches on 'The Growing Importance of Millennialism,' highlighting how millennialism now plays a crucial role in shaping theology as a whole, influencing systems like premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism. The controversy between amillennialism and premillennialism has intensified, revealing significant theological implications. Amillennialism's impact on bibliology is explored, showcasing its figurative interpretation of Scripture and its potential dangers in undermining the inspiration of the Bible. The sermon delves into amillennial theology's influence on soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology, emphasizing the differences between amillennial and premillennial views in these areas.
The Career of Satan
By Lewis Sperry Chafer0ISA 14:12EZK 28:12LUK 10:18REV 12:7REV 20:1Lewis Sperry Chafer delves into the past, present, and future of Satan, starting from his creation and perfect state to his rebellion and ultimate defeat. The Scriptures reveal Satan's early career as the anointed cherub who fell due to pride and sought to exalt himself above God. Despite his defeat by the Second Adam, Christ, Satan continues to rule as a usurper until his final banishment to the lake of fire. This sermon emphasizes Satan's influence on the world and the importance of understanding his tactics in the ongoing spiritual battle.
A Great Gap
By C.H. Mackintosh0DAN 9:24REV 19:11REV 20:1REV 21:1C.H. Mackintosh delves into the profound prophecy in Daniel 9:20-27, highlighting the significance of the 'unnoticed interval' or break in God's dealings with Israel and the earth. He emphasizes the 490-year period revealed by the angel Gabriel, pointing to the precise fulfillment of God's Word despite the rejection of the Messiah. Mackintosh explains the suspension of God's dispensational dealings with Israel and the earth, leading to an interval where Christ is hidden in the heavens and the Church, the heavenly bride, is formed on earth by the Holy Spirit. He concludes with a vivid depiction of the future events, including the Church's heavenly glory, Israel's restoration, the millennial reign of Christ, and the eternal defeat of Satan.
The Seven Dooms
By W.J. Erdman0REV 17:1REV 18:24REV 19:11REV 20:1W.J. Erdman preaches on the visions of Babylon and the Beast in Revelation 17, highlighting the judgment of the great harlot and the beast with seven heads and ten horns. The woman symbolizes a corrupt religious system drunk with the blood of saints, leading to her ultimate destruction. The distinction between 'Babylon' as a system and a city is made, emphasizing the need for God's people to come out of her before her final judgment. The sermon delves into the fall of Babylon, the dooms of the Beast, false prophet, and the Dragon, culminating in the final victory of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Fellowship in the World or in Church
By Paris Reidhead0JHN 8:44JHN 14:30ACT 12:12TI 4:2HEB 12:11REV 20:1Paris Reidhead preaches on the contrast between the principles of the world and the fellowship it offers versus the principles of the church and the fellowship it offers, as seen in Acts 12. The sermon highlights how the world operates on self-will and self-seeking, using any means to achieve its ends, while the church is committed to God's will, love for all, working ill to no one, enduring evil patiently, and helping and comforting others. The church's fellowship is demonstrated through prayer, unity in suffering, and a common burden for one another.
Amillennialism
By Anthony Hoekema0MAT 12:29LUK 10:17JHN 12:31REV 20:1REV 20:4Anthony Hoekema delves into the amillennial understanding of the millennium, focusing on the interpretation of the book of Revelation, Revelation 20:1-6, Old Testament passages, amillennial eschatology, and the implications of this view. He explains the concept of realized millennialism, emphasizing that the millennium of Revelation 20 is currently in process of realization, not exclusively a future event. Hoekema presents a system of interpretation called progressive parallelism, detailing the seven sections of Revelation that run parallel to each other, depicting the church and the world from Christ's first coming to His second.
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
An angel came down from heaven - One of the executors of the Divine justice, who receives criminals, and keeps them in prison, and delivers them up only to be tried and executed. The key of the prison and the chain show who he is; and as the chain was great, it shows that the culprit was impeached of no ordinary crimes.
John Gill Bible Commentary
And I saw an angel come down from heaven,.... All Christ's enemies, and Satan's instruments being removed, the devil is left alone, and only stands in the way of Christ's kingdom; and what will be done to him, and how he will be in the issue disposed of, this vision gives an account: by the "angel" John saw, is not to be understood Constantine the great; for though he is the man child that was taken up to God, and his throne, being advanced to the empire, yet he cannot, with that propriety, be said to come down from heaven; and though he vanquished the Heathen emperors, in which the dragon presided, and cast Paganism out of the empire, by which the devil ruled in it, yet the binding of Satan is another kind of work, and seems too great for him; and besides, did not take place in his time, as will be seen hereafter: nor is an apostle, or a minister of the Gospel intended; such are indeed called angels in this book, and may be said to come down from heaven, because they have their commission from thence; and particularly the apostles had the keys of the kingdom of heaven, but not the key of the bottomless pit; and a chain and system of Gospel truths, which they made good use of for the establishing of Christ's kingdom, and weakening of Satan's, but not such a chain as is here meant; and they had the power of binding and loosing, or of declaring things lawful or unlawful, but not of binding and loosing of Satan; nor was he bound in the apostolic age: nor is one of the ministering spirits, or a deputation of angels designed; for though Christ will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, and will make use of them, both to gather together his elect, and to cast the wicked into the lake of fire, yet not to bind Satan; but the Lord Jesus Christ himself is this angel, who is the angel of God's presence, and of the covenant; and who is in this book called an angel, Rev 7:2 to whom all the characters here well agree, and to whom the work of binding Satan most properly belongs; for who so fit to do it, or so capable of it, as the seed of the woman, that has bruised serpent's head, or as the Son of God, who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, yea, to destroy him himself; and who dispossessed multitudes of devils from the bodies of men, and is the strong man armed that dislodges Satan from the souls of men, and is the same with Michael, who drove him from heaven, and cast him out from thence before, Rev 12:7. And his coming down from heaven is not to be understood of his incarnation, or of his coming from thence by the assumption of human nature; for Satan was not bound by him then, as will be seen hereafter; but of his second coming, which will be from heaven, where he now is, and will be local, visible, and personal: of no other coming of his does this book speak, as seen by John, or as future; nor will the order of this vision, after the ruin of the beast and false prophet, admit of any other. Having the key of the bottomless pit: the abyss or deep, the same out of which the beast ascended, Rev 11:7. And the key of this becomes no hand so well as his who has the keys of hell and death, Rev 1:18 who has all power in heaven and in earth, and has the power of hell, of opening and shutting it at his pleasure, which is signified by this phase; see Rev 9:1. The Ethiopic version reads, "the key of the sun", where some have thought hell to be; and yet the same version renders the word, the deep, in Rev 20:3. And a great chain in his hand; the key in one hand, and the chain in another; by which last is meant, not any material chain, with which spirits cannot be bound, nor indeed sometimes bodies possessed by evil spirits, Mar 5:3 but the almighty power of Christ, which he will now display in binding Satan faster and closer than ever.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
We have here, I. A prophecy of the binding of Satan for a certain term of time, in which he should have much less power and the church much more peace than before. The power of Satan was broken in part by the setting up of the gospel kingdom in the world; it was further reduced by the empire's becoming Christian; it was yet further broken by the downfall of the mystical Babylon; but still this serpent had many heads, and, when one is wounded, another has life remaining in it. Here we have a further limitation and diminution of his power. Observe, 1. To whom this work of binding Satan is committed - to an angel from heaven. It is very probable that this angel is no other than the Lord Jesus Christ; the description of him will hardly agree with any other. He is one who has power to bind the strong man armed, to cast him out, and to spoil his goods; and therefore must be stronger than he. 2. The means he makes use of in this work: he has a chain and a key, a great chain to bind Satan, and the key of the prison in which he was to be confined. Christ never wants proper powers and instruments to break the power of Satan, for he has the powers of heaven and the keys of hell. 3. The execution of this work, Rev 20:2, Rev 20:3. (1.) He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan. Neither the strength of the dragon, nor the subtlety of the serpent, was sufficient to rescue him out of the hands of Christ; he caught hold, and kept his hold. And, (2.) He cast him into the bottomless pit, cast him down with force, and with a just vengeance, to his own place and prison, from which he had been permitted to break out, and disturb the churches, and deceive the nations; now he is brought back to that prison, and there laid in chains. (3.) He is shut up, and a seal set upon him. Christ shuts, and none can open; he shuts by his power, seals by his authority; and his lock and seal even the devils themselves cannot break open. (4.) We have the term of this confinement of Satan - a thousand years, after which he was to be loosed again for a little season. The church should have a considerable time of peace and prosperity, but all her trials were not yet over. II. An account of the reign of the saints for the same space of time in which Satan continued bound (Rev 20:4-6), and here observe, 1. Who those were that received such honour - those who had suffered for Christ, and all who had faithfully adhered to him, not receiving the mark of the beast, nor worshipping his image; all who had kept themselves clear of pagan and papal idolatry. 2. The honour bestowed upon them. (1.) They were raised from the dead, and restored to life. This may be taken either literally or figuratively; they were in a civil and political sense dead, and had a political resurrection; their liberties and privileges were revived and restored. (2.) Thrones, and power of judgment, were given to them; they were possessed of great honour, and interest, and authority, I suppose rather of a spiritual than of a secular nature. (3.) They reigned with Christ a thousand years. Those who suffer with Christ shall reign with Christ; they shall reign with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom, in a glorious conformity to him in wisdom, righteousness, and holiness, beyond what had been known before in the world. This is called the first resurrection, which none but those who have served Christ and suffered for him shall be favoured with. As for the wicked, they shall not be raised up and restored to their power again, till Satan be let loose; this may be called a resurrection, as the conversion of the Jews is said to be life from the dead. 3. The happiness of these servants of God is declared. (1.) They are blessed and holy, Rev 20:6. None can be blessed but those that are holy; and all that are holy shall be blessed. These were holy as a sort of first-fruits to God in this spiritual resurrection, and as such blessed by him. (2.) They are secured from the power of the second death. We know something of what the first death is, and it is awful; but we know not what this second death is. It must be much more dreadful; it is the death of the soul, eternal separation from God. The Lord grant we may never know what it is by experience. Those who have had experience of a spiritual resurrection are saved from the power of the second death. III. An account of the return of the church's troubles, and another mighty conflict, very sharp, but short and decisive. Observe, 1. The restraints laid for a long time on Satan are at length taken off. While this world lasts, Satan's power in it will not be wholly destroyed; it may be limited and lessened, but he will have something still to do for the disturbance of the people of God. 2. No sooner is Satan let loose than he falls to his old work, deceiving the nations, and so stirring them up to make a war with the saints and servants of God, which they would never do if he had not first deceived them. They are deceived both as to the cause they engage in (they believe it to be a good cause when it is indeed a very bad one), and as to the issue: they expect to be successful, but are sure to lose the day. 3. His last efforts seem to be the greatest. The power now permitted to him seems to be more unlimited than before. He had now liberty to beat up for his volunteers in all the four quarters of the earth, and he raised a mighty army, the number of which was as the sand of the sea, Rev 20:8. 4. We have the names of the principal commanders in this army under the dragon - Gog and Magog. We need not be too inquisitive as to what particular powers are meant by these names, since the army was gathered from all parts of the world. These names are found in other parts of scripture. Magog we read of in Gen 10:2. He was one of the sons of Japheth, and peopled the country called Syria, from which his descendants spread into many other parts. Of Gog and Magog together we only read in Eze 38:2, a prophecy whence this in Revelation borrows many of its images. 5. We have the march and military disposition of this formidable army (Rev 20:9.): They went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city, that is, the spiritual Jerusalem, in which the most precious interests of the people of God are lodged, and therefore to them a beloved city. The army of the saints is described as drawn forth out of the city, and lying under the walls of it, to defend it; they were encamped about Jerusalem: but the army of the enemy was so much superior to that of the church that they compassed them and their city about. 6. You have an account of the battle, and the issue of this war: Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured the enemy. Thus the ruin of Gog and Magog is foretold (Eze 38:22), I will rain upon him and upon his bands an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, and fire and brimstone. God would, in an extraordinary and more immediate manner, fight this last and decisive battle for his people, that the victory might be complete and the glory redound to himself. 7. The doom and punishment of the grand enemy, the devil: he is now cast into hell, with his two great officers, the beast and the false prophet, tyranny and idolatry, and that not for any term of time, but to be there tormented night and day, for ever and ever.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
20:1-10 There are three parts to this passage: the binding of Satan (20:1-3), the reign of God’s holy people (20:4-6), and the release of Satan for his final attempt at a battle (20:7-10). Four themes emerge: (1) Satan’s war is futile—he cannot withstand even an angel; (2) God’s holy people will be vindicated and glorified; (3) God will have the final victory; and (4) even when sinful and depraved human beings experience Christ’s good purposes in the world, they still flock after Satan when he gains even a small amount of freedom to act. 20:1-2 Like the Old Testament “angel of the Lord” (see Gen 16:7-11; 22:15; Exod 3:2; Num 22:22-34; Judg 2:1-4; 6:11-22), the angel coming down from heaven has God’s authority, symbolized by the key that controls the bottomless pit and the power to put chains on God’s great enemy (cp. Rev 12:7-9) for a thousand years. See “The Thousand Years (The Millennium)” Theme Note.