Revelation 20

Revelation 20:1

The Lord has come back. The final, climactic battle of Armageddon is over. The Millennial kingdom has begun… Satan is bound not by the Lord, not by a host of angels, not even by Michael the archangelbut by a single, unnamed angel. We often imagine a huge cosmic struggle going on constantly between God and Satan. Oh, we know God will win ultimatelybut for now, we assume it’s touch and go. Not true. Satan is not the evil counterpart of God. God is God. There is none like Him, none who can even begin to challenge Him (Deu_4:39). Satan, previously known as the archangel Lucifer, has always been a created being. Thus, if there is a counterpart to Satan, it would be an archangel like Michael or Gabrielbut not God. That is why when we see Satan from a heavenly perspective, we will say, “Is this the one who troubled the whole world?” (Isa_14:16) Holding a chain in his other hand, it only takes one hand of a single angel to detain Satan. Binding Satan A Topical Study of Rev_20:1-2 Said one third-grader to another: “Do you really think there is a devil?” “No,” answered his friend. “The devil’s just like Santa Claus. He’s really your dad.” Lots of people think of the devil as an “anti-Santa.” Whereas Santa stands for kindness and good cheer, Satan stands for evilbut, like Santa, he’s not a real person. Jesus would disagree, for He identifies Satan as the prince of this world (Joh_12:31). So would the apostle Paul, calling him the “god of this world” (2Co_4:4). The terminology employed by both Jesus and Paul indicates that not only is Satan very real, but that he is actually the reason for some of what happens in the world today. You see, when famine, war, earthquake, or ecological disasters erupt, people are prone to say, “Why did God do this?” But the Bible indicates very clearly that they are the acts not of God, but of “the prince of this world.” Thus, Satan is very real. He is, however, not very powerful. In the passage before us, we see a single angel binding him. And since we are to rule over angels, this gives us definite authority over Satan. Maybe there’s a hellish quality in your marriage or family, on the job site or in your emotionsa persistent, painful problem over which you think you have no control. “There’s nothing I can do about this,” you sigh. “I just have to live with this pull toward pornography, the depression that plagues me night and day, or the problem in my marriage that won’t go away until I get to heaven.” Not true! Our text suggests otherwise. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Mat_16:16-18 That the gates of hell “shall not prevail” doesn’t mean that the gates of hell will dog us all our days on earth until we eventually outrun them and barely make it to heaven. Folks, when was the last time you were walking down a street and you were attacked by a gate? Gates are inanimate objects. Thus, in Matthew 16, Jesus is not talking about the inability of the gates of hell to track you down, but about their inability to keep you out. In other words, we can storm territory that seems to be controlled by hell. In Matthew 12, Jesus further illuminates this matter by saying, Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.Mat_12:29 Breaking into a house to steal a TV does no good unless you first tie up whoever’s inside. So, too, Satan being the “strong man,” if you’re going to take that which is in his control presently, you’ll first have to bind him. “I’m just not getting the goods,” you say. “I go to church; I sing; I praybut it seems as if I’m getting nowhere.” Jesus said unless the strong man is bound, we’re unable to get the goods. Has the strong man been bound in your life, in your family, in your emotions? How is the strong man bound? The Example of Elisha In 2 Kings 6, we find the New Testament principle for this Old Testament picture… Led by their king, Ben-Hadad, Syria did battle with Israel. “Ben-Hadad” meaning “shouter,” he is a fitting picture of Satan, the one who shouts accusations at the brethren day and night (Rev_12:10). “I’m going to ambush God’s people,” declared Ben-Hadad, much the same way Satan taunts us. Knowing this, Elisha warned the king of Israel of the ambush, and Ben-Hadad was thwarted in his attempt to destroy Israel. After this happened two more times, Ben-Hadad was determined to root out the traitor from his ranks. When it was told him that an Israelite prophet named Elisha was the reason for his failed attempts, Ben-Hadad deployed troops to the city of Dothaneither to destroy or employ Elisha. When Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, awoke to find the city encompassed by the enemy, he was understandably fearful. Maybe you know the feeling when Satan seemingly does the same to you. “Don’t worry,” said Elisha, “for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.” What? Gehazi must have thought. It’s just you and me, Elishaand you’re old. This isn’t a good situation. No doubt knowing the same thing David knew when he wrote, “The Lord encamps his angel around them who fear him” (Psa_34:7), Elisha prayed that the Lord would open Gehazi’s eyes. The Lord didand Gehazi saw that the Syrians were themselves surrounded with horses and chariots of fire. Unaware that they were surrounded, the Syrians moved toward Elisha. As they did, Elisha prayed they would be blinded. Then, in their blinded state, they heard Elisha say, “This isn’t where you want to be. I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” Who were they seeking? Before Elisha blew the whistle on their ambushes, the original intent of the Syrians was victory over Israel. Thus, they were seeking Israel’s king. When the Lord opened the eyes of the blinded Syrian army, they couldn’t believe that Elisha had, indeed, led them into Samariathe city of the king of Israel. Seeing his enemy delivered into his hand, the king of Israel said, “shall I smite them?” “No,” answered Elisha and ordered, instead, that a meal be set before them. When they had eaten and drunk, the Syrian army was set freeand they never bothered the king of Israel again (2Ki_6:8-23). Gang, that’s how Satan is bound. Elisha didn’t pace the floor, shake his fist, and say, “In the name of Jesus, I bind you, Ben-Hadad.” No, Elisha bound Satan in an entirely different way when he fed rather than fought his enemies. The Pen of Paul Paul summed up Elisha’s methodology when he wrote Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.Rom_12:20 In Bible days, before the advent of matches or propane, if the fire went out in their homes, rather than reigniting it with flint and spark, women would get live coals from their neighbors that they could carry back in earthen pots on their heads in order to rekindle their own fire. Thus, “heaping coals on his head” is a display of generosity and kindness. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.Rom_12:21 Overcoming evil, binding Satan is not a phrase we sayit’s a deed we do. The Joy of Jesus Directly preceding His discourse on binding the strong man, Jesus gave opportunity to see the practicality of this premise… Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.Mat_12:22 Jesus didn’t grill the demonized man about unconfessed sin or lack of faith. He didn’t accuse the demonized man of being into ouija boards, crystals, or drugs. He didn’t march around the demonized man shouting, “I bind you, Satan.” What did Jesus do? He did good to the demonized man. He healed him. Jesus models aggressive goodness, for that’s how Satan is bound. And we must do the same. Bring candy to the boss who’s stingy. Make dinner for the wife who’s cranky. Buy a shirt for the husband who’s moody. The Enemy is bound whenever we do good things, kind things, generous things. The Enemy is bound when we stop criticizing, backbiting, and judging. The Enemy is bound when we start praying, giving, blessing. May each of us have ears to hear what the Spirit would say to us today.

Revelation 20:3

The bottomless pit, or abussos into which Satan is tossed is the place wherein the worst demons are presently incarcerateda place so horrific that the demons of Matthew 8 begged to be cast into a herd of swine rather than be sent there. What did Satan try to do to Jesus? He tried to seal Him in a tomb (Mat_27:66). But Jesus didn’t stay there. Now the tables are turned. Satan will be in the abussos for one thousand years. This explains how the wolf can lie down by the lamb, how the lion and bullock shall graze together, how snakes shall eat only dusthow peace will reign (Isa_65:25). It explains how every man will abide under his own vine (Mic_4:4), how no one will have to work for anyone else (Isa_65:23)how prosperity will abound. The Millennium will be a fantastic time of unparalleled peace and total prosperity because Satan will not be on the scene. Rather than being cast into outer darkness, or Gehenna, Satan is held in the abussos, the bottomless pit, for one thousand years because God will still have a job for him to doas we will see in verse Rev_20:7…

Revelation 20:4

The “sheep” of Matthew 25 are the remaining one-third of the nation of Israel who don’t die in the Tribulation, along with those who stand by her during the Tribulation. When Jesus returns at His Second Coming, this remnant of Israel will ask Him, “Where did You get those wounds?” “In the house of My friends,” He will answer, (Zec_13:6). And at this moment, Israel will at last acknowledge Him as her Messiahand all of the remaining house of Israel will be saved (Zec_13:9). These are they whom we, the bride of Christ, will judge (Luk_19:15-19). You see, even though those living in the Millennium won’t be influenced by Satan, they still will have their human nature to deal with. So when they think of ripping off a Butterfinger, we will be those who enforce Christ’s righteousness. That is, before the guy can even develop the plan to steal the Butterfinger, we’ll say, “Don’t even think about it.” It will be an enforced righteousness that governs the Millennial kingdom and that allows a glorious time of peace on earth. “I don’t like this idea of ruling or of judging,” you might be saying. But let me tell you something: Jesus would not have taught us to be seizing opportunities to use our time and treasure wisely here on earth if He thought we wouldn’t like the reward for doing so. And Paul would not have told us to run so that we might win the prize (1Co_9:24) if the prize was not something to be greatly desired. The first resurrection is not a single point in time. Rather, the first resurrection begins with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the firstfruits (1Co_15:20, 1Co_15:23). It continues on to include those who believe in Jesus but died before the Rapture (1Th_4:14), believers who are alive at the time of the Rapture (1Th_4:17), those who are martyred in the Tribulation for their refusal to take the mark of the beast (Rev_20:4), and the Old Testament saints who believed in Yahweh but did not have opportunity to be a part of the church because they died before Jesus came. Thus, the first resurrection speaks of all those who are included in the grand plan of salvation.

Revelation 20:6

Gang, even if nothing else in your life goes right, you are so blessed because you are part of the first resurrection. You are going to heaven. The first death is physical. The second death is eternal. Yes, we will die physically unless the Lord raptures us first. But the second death is for those who are damned eternally. Glory be to God, over us this second death has no power.

Revelation 20:7

Who will Satan try to deceive? Those born in the Millenniumthose living in enforced righteousness and peace because there’s no other choice, those who never had an opportunity to decide whether or not they would follow the Lord. You and I have made such a choice. We have “chosen to be chosen.” We have “selected to be elected.” Here, those born during the Millennium are also given this choice. I am blown away by the fact that somehow Satan will be able to persuade a great number of people to rebel against the One who will have done nothing but good for them and who will have given them a perfect environment wherein plenty, prosperity, peace, and perfection prevail. But I am only blown away until I stop to realize how good the Lord has been to me; how He gave His life for me; how He provides for me, walks with me, blesses meand how often I turn my back on Him, fail to learn of Him, refuse to talk to Him. And then I understand how Satan will be able to get a number of those living in the Millennium to echo the cry of Jerusalem: “We will not have this Man to reign over us” (Luk_19:14). Why will the Lord allow this to happen? Because God is love, and love requires a choice. If my wife, Tammy, agreed to marry me simply because I was the only man on earth or only because I held a gun to her headour relationship wouldn’t be based on love, but on the absence of any other choice. So, too, God lets Satan loose for a short season in order to give people a choice. At this point, Russia already having been destroyed on the hills of Israel (Ezekiel 38-39), I believe the usage of “Gog and Magog” in this passage is similar to our usage of “Waterloo.” Because Napoleon was defeated by Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo, the term “Waterloo” has come to signify a decisive battle or turning point. So, too, I believe the reference to Gog and Magog in this passage speaks of a cataclysmic, monumental battle in which Satan attempts a final rebellion.

Revelation 20:9

The rebellious group led by Satan encircles the city of Jerusalem in a futile attempt to wrest power from the One who reigns within. Satan’s purpose in God’s plan having been accomplished, he is cast into the lake of fire to join the Beast and the false prophet. The cartoons are wrong, and Hollywood is terribly mistaken in portraying hell as a hot place where people play poker and talk to one another amidst flickering flames and an occasional jab by Satan’s pitchfork. You see, in addition to being called a lake of fire, hell is called a place of outer darkness (Mat_8:12). Consequently, the torment in a place so dark even the flames of the lake of fire don’t shed any light is exceeded only by the inner torment people feel throughout eternity as they recall the sermons they heard and the invitations to salvation they ignored. Jesus said specifically that hell was not created for people, but for the devil and demons (Mat_25:41). Peter said God is not willing that any should perish (2Pe_3:9). Yet, God, being Light, if man says, “I don’t want God,” he will be consigned to darkness. God, being health, if man says, “I don’t want God,” he will be relinquished to a place of pain. God, being a Father, if man says, “I don’t want God,” he will spend eternity in isolation. God, on the other hand, says, “I would rather die than live without you.” And He did just that when He died on the Cross in order that, forgiven of our sins, we might live with Him forever.

Revelation 20:11

Will believers stand before God at this White Throne Judgment? No. If you’re a Christian, this judgment doesn’t apply to you, for you were judged when Christ was on another thronenot a white one, but a wooden one; when He wore a crown not of gold, but of thorns as He died to cleanse you from every sin you ever have or ever will commit. If you’re a Christian, your name is written in the Book of Life. The names of those who said, “I didn’t buy into that Christian stuff they were always trying to cram down my throat,” or, “I needed my space,” or, “I had to explore various aspects of spirituality,” aren’t. “But I lived a pretty good life,” they’ll protest. Yet the books wherein are recorded the reasons for everything they ever did will prove otherwise… “I was an outstanding member of Rotary.” Yesbut the books indicate it was to make some business contacts. “Oh, but I gave blood.” Perhapsbut the books indicate you were paid twenty-five dollars in return. “But I saved the whales, marched for peace, built homes for the homeless.” All well and goodbut you did so to hear the applause of men. You see, God made us in such a way that we are spared from remembering the sins we have committed. He let us remember enough sin to make us aware of our need for salvationbut not every motive, every word of gossip, every cutting comment, every angry feeling. When the books are opened, the utter weight of all one’s sin will come to light. God sends no one to hell. By the time Volume 167 of one’s sins is opened, it’s as if he will cry, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man,” and will send himself to the lake of fire. That’s why I am so glad I’m saved. The Bible says the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us"all of our mistakes, sins, and failureswere blotted out by the blood of Jesus Christ (Col_2:14). In other words, the pages and pages containing my sin are all illegible because they’re covered with the red blood of Jesus.

Revelation 20:14

Maybe you’re saying, “What will happen at the end of the world is all very interesting, but the bottom line is that I’m a believer, and I know I’m going to heaven. I’m far more concerned about the problems facing me right now.” So was John. The Book of Revelation was written specifically to a group of people facing far greater problems than you’ll ever face. And the message it contains is as vital for us as it was to them: It’s not over yet. Satan and death itself will be cast into the lake of fire. They lose. And all who embrace what Jesus did on the Cross when He plunged into hell on their behalfall whose names are written in the Book of Lifewin.