Revelation 20: 1,000 years Millennium and Hell fire
Revelation 20:1-3 (Greek Translation) I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abys and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the serpent of old who is the devil and Satan, the one deceiving the whole inhabited earth, and he bound him for a thousand years, and he threw him into the abyss and closed and sealed it over him so that he should not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. After these things it is necessary for him to be loosed for a small time.
The following are the events that have taken place before the one thousand years.
The Second Coming of Christ:
Rev 19:11-15. Christ on a white horse.
Rev 17:14. These (horns, heads, beast) will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them.
Rev 19:17-21. The Beast and his armies are defeated.
Rev 19:20. The Beast and the False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 19:21. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from his mouth.
2 Thessalonians 2:8. And when the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming.
Rev 16:1-21. The seven plagues fall upon the earth.
Rev 16:12-16. The Battle of Armageddon takes place.
Rev 17:16. And the ten horns (political nations) which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot (the false worldwide church who do not keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ), make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
After these events, dead bodies will lie strewn over the surface of the earth. The abys will be the desolated earth to which Satan will be confined during the one thousand years. It will be like at the beginning when God created the earth, and it was without form. The words without form in the Hebrew are “tohu wabohu” meaning waste and void.
What does the word abyss mean in Revelation 20:1?
Rev 9:1-4. Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. And he opened the bottomless pit (abyss), and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any green tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
The only star which fell from heaven was the one Jesus Christ mentioned in reference to Satan: Luke 11:18. I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. Satan was one of the stars of heaven before he fell and was cast out of heaven. Rev 12:3.4. Rev 1:20. Ezekiel 28:13-19.
When Satan was cast out of heaven, he was cast to this earth. Satan was given the key to the abys referring to this earth because he falsely acquired the authority to rule this earth from Adam in the garden of Eden. Gen 3. The text in Rev 9:1-4 states in detail that the abys refers to this earth. For an explanation of these symbols in this text, see my website www.ayindk.com in Revelation 9:1-12, the fifth Trumpet.
Revelation 20:2. And he seized the dragon, the serpent of old who is the devil and Satan, the deceiving the whole inhabited earth.
Satan was one of the leading angels in heaven before he was cast out of heaven because of sin entering his heart. He wanted to be like God and use the same power as God, using force and deception to achieve his goals. Revelation 12:7-9. Ezekiel 28:13-19. Is 14:12-21.
Revelation 20:2.3. He bound him for a thousand years, and he threw him into the abyss and closed and sealed it over him so that he should not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished.
Satan and his angels should be bound on this uninhabited earth for a thousand years. Why? To meditate on all the wars, disease, catastrophes, and destruction he has caused on this earth for the past 6,000 years. The whole point of Satan´s rulership was to create a better government than God, but instead he ended up destroying humanity which was created in the image of God.
During the one thousand years Satan cannot deceive the nations anymore, because all the nations and peoples that have been on earth have been destroyed around the Second Coming of Christ. Furthermore, Satan had no access to other worlds as he had before. Job 1:6.
“Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Limited to the earth, he will not have access to the other worlds to tempt and annoy those who have never fallen. It is in this sense that he is bound.”
“This whole world of ours is a stage on which the conflict between sin and righteousness, truth and error, is being carried on before an intensely interested audience composed of the inhabitants of the universe.”
1 Corinthians 4:9. For we have been made a spectacle to the world (Greek=kosmos), both to angels and to men. When Paul mentions angels with the word kosmos=world, it would imply the whole universe and not just this world.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones and they that sat on them, judgment was given to them, and the souls of those who had been beheaded on account of the testimony of Jesus and on account of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the Beast nor his image, and they did not receive the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for the thousand years.
Where did those who witnessed for Christ, reign with Christ for a thousand years?
1 Thessalonians 4:16.17. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And then we shall always be with the Lord. (This is the first resurrection).
Revelation 7:9. After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
Where is God´s throne? Rev 4: In heaven.
Rev 20:4. What does it mean that “judgment was given to them”?
1 Corinthians 6:2.3. Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
Investigative judgment
From these texts we can see that there is an investigative judgment taking place during the one thousand years in heaven with Christ and the saints redeemed from the earth. They will be judging and investigating the lives of all the ungodly and unbelievers who did not make it to heaven, so that all will be sure that God´s justice is 100% correct. God is the judge and we the saints will be the witnesses, similar to an ordinary court case.
Revelation 20:4. What does it mean, “the souls of those who had been beheaded on account of the testimony of Jesus and on the account of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the Beast nor his image, and they did not receive the mark on their foreheads and on their hands.”
All these events will occur just before the Second Coming of Christ.
Will these souls be beheaded?
“Revelation 16:2-6. By condemning the people of God to death, they have as truly incurred the guilt of their blood as if it had been shed by their hands. In like manner Christ declared the Jews of his time guilty of all the blood of the holy men which had been shed since the days of Abel.”
“God would not suffer the wicked to destroy those who were expecting translation and who would not bow to the decree of the beast or receive his mark. I saw that if the wicked were permitted to slay the saints, Satan and all his evil host, and all who hate God, would be gratified. – – – But the swords that were raised to kill God´s people broke and fell as powerless as a straw. Angels of God shielded the saints.”
So these souls will not be actually beheaded, however they will be condemned to death and when that happens it is as if they were beheaded.
Revelation 20:5. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
Who are the rest of the dead?
They are all those who did not believe in God or keep his commandments. They are all the unbelievers who died before the Second Coming of Christ or at the Second Coming of Christ. Fx. Rev 19:17-21. The Beast and his armies are defeated. Verse 20. The Beast and the false prophet were cast into the lake of fire. Verse21. And the rest (unbelievers) were killed with the sword which proceeded from his mouth.
2 Thessalonians 2:8. And when the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming.
Rev 17:16. And the ten horns which you saw on the Beast, these will hate the harlot (The false worldwide church), make her desolate and naked. Eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
Revelation 20:6. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Bible Texts to support the first resurrection
John 5:28.29. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Job 14:12. So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep.
Job 19:26. And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.
Daniel 12:2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
1 Thessalonians 4:16.17. For the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And then we shall always be with the Lord.
Revelation 20:6. Over such the second death has no power.
What is the second death?
1. The first death is when we are born, live our lives to a ripe old age, and die. This means both believers and non-believers.
All believers in Christ are raised in the first resurrection and they live and reign with Christ for a thousand years and thereafter live for eternity. E.g., John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2. The second death refers to all non-believers in Christ who take part in the second resurrection. John 5:28.29. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
All those who experience the second resurrection, will also experience the second death. Satan and his angels will also experience the second death though they did not take part in the second resurrection.
Revelation 20.14.15. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Where does this lake of fire come from?
Revelation 20:9. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them (that is all non-believers in Christ).
Revelation 20:6. What does it mean, “they shall be priests of God and Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years?”
1 Peter 2:9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:5. Chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:6. Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. (Who does the preaching? The priesthood of all believers. Mathew 28:18-20).
Revelation 14:8. And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Who does the preaching? The priesthood of all believers. Mathew 28:18-20).
Revelation 14:9. Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God – – -. “(Who does the preaching? The priesthood of all believers. Matthew 28:18-20).
Who is the priesthood of all believers?
Revelation 14:12. Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Mathew 28:19. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you – – -.
Conclusion
The work of a New Testament priesthood of all believers, involves a holy nation, a special people, proclaiming the praises of God to all peoples on earth. Their message is the three angel’s messages outlined in Rev 14:6-12. Who is the priesthood of all believers? They are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Rev 14:12.
Furthermore, a priest´s work in the Old Testament involved the judicial system. When a man was accused of murder, he could run to one of the cities of refuge in Israel, and the priest would investigate the case when all the accuses arrived. Number 35:9-34.
In a like manner, we the saints shall take part in judging the non-believers during the one thousand years in heaven. This will be an investigative judgment.
1 Corinthians 6:3. Do you not know that we shall judge angels?
Rev 20:12. And I saw the dead (non-believers), small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Therefore, during the one thousand years in heaven we shall be involved in investigating peoples and angels lives and judging them according to what is written in the books.
Revelation 20:7.8. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth.
Where did all the nations come from when all the wicked are dead?
Revelation 20:5. (There occurred a second resurrection for all the wicked non-believers). But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
Revelation 20:7.8. States that the thousand years were expired, and Revelation 20:5 states that there occurred a second resurrection for all non-believers, that covered the four corners of the earth.
John 5:29. Those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Daniel 12:2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Revelation 20:8. And will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth — Gog and Magog – to gather them together to battle.
Why are Gog and Magog compared to the nations of the earth?
The word Gog in Hebrew means a high mountain. The word Magog is the land where the mountain lies. We find information about these two words in the book of Ezekiel 38: and 39:
Ezekiel 38:1.2. Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophecy against him.”
Who is Gog or the prince of Gog a symbol of?
Ezekiel 38:14-16. Therefore, son of man, prophecy and say to Gog, “Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel dwell safely, will you know it? Then you will come from your place out of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. You will come against my people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against my land, so that nations may know me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.”
Gog is a symbol of the enemy of non-believers against Gods people and Israel. The latter days refer to the end of time just before the Second Coming of Christ. Israel at that time is a symbol of all believers who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17. 14:12.
When is the battle of Armageddon?
The battle of Armageddon in Rev 16:12-16. 17:12-16.
After the one thousand years and the second resurrection Rev 20:7-11.
When are the “latter days” written in Ezekiel 38:16?
Job 19:25. For I know that my Redeemer lives, and shall stand at the last (latter day) on the earth.
Daniel 2:28. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. (Dream of the statue in Dan 2:29-35 revealing a prophecy of the history of Europe and Asia from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to Christ´s Second Coming).
Daniel 10:14. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days to come. (The latter days refer to the vision in Dan 7:8.9. revealing a timespan from 457 B.C to A.D. 1844).
1 Timothy 4:1. Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter days some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons Fx: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. The great shaking and apostacy.
Conclusion
Gog and Magog refer to events just after the one thousand years in heaven and the second resurrection Rev 20:7-11.
Gog and Magog are a symbol of all non-believers who are raised up during the second resurrection and lead by Satan to attack Christ and all believers in the city of the New Jerusalem.
Rev 20:9. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city.
Where did the city thenew Jerusalem come from? Rev 21:10. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
The following quotes from the book Confrontation cannot be made clearer by my exegesis. Therefore, I have added them.
“Now Satan prepares for a last mighty struggle for the supremacy. While deprived of his power and cut off from his work of deception, the prince of evil was miserable and dejected; but the wicked dead are raised and he sees the vast multitude upon his side, his hopes revive, and he determines not to yield the great controversy. He will marshal all the armies of the lost under his banner and through them endeavor to execute his plans. The wicked are Satan´s captives.
The presence of Christ has been removed; Satan works wonders to support his claims. He makes the weak strong and inspires all with his own spirit and energy. He proposes to lead them against the camp of the saints and to take possession of the City of God.”
“In that vast throng are multitudes of the long-lived race that existed before the flood; men of lofty stature and giant intellect, who yielding to the control of fallen angels, devoted all their skill and knowledge to the exaltation of themselves – – -.
There are kings and generals who conquered nations, valiant men who never lost a battle, proud, ambitious warriors whose approach made kingdoms tremble – – -.
Satan consults with his angels, and then with these kings and conquerors and mighty men. They look upon the strength and numbers on their side and declare that the army within the city is small in comparison with theirs, and that it can be overcome. They lay their plans to take possession of the riches and glory of the New Jerusalem. All immediately begin to prepare for battle. Skilful artisans construct implements of war. Military leaders, famed for their success, marshal the throngs of warlike men into companies and divisions.
At last, the order is given to advance and the countless host move on – an army such as never summoned by earthly conquerors, such as the combined forces of all ages since war began on earth could never equal. Satan, the mightiest of warriors, lead the van, and his angels unite their forces for the final struggle. Kings and warriors are in his train, and the multitudes follow in vast companies, each under its appointed leader. With military precision the serried ranks advance over the earth´s broken and uneven surface to the city og God. By command of Jesus, the gates of the New Jerusalem are closed, and the armies of Satan surround the city and make ready for the onset.”
Revelation 20:11.12. Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
“Now Christ again appears to the view of his enemies. Far above the city, upon a foundation of burnished gold, is a throne, high and lifted up. Upon this throne sits the Son of God, and around him are the subjects of his kingdom.”
“In the presence of the assembled inhabitants of earth and heaven the final coronation of the Son of God takes place. And now, invested with supreme majesty and power, the king of kings pronounces sentence upon the rebels against his government and executes justice upon those who have transgressed his law oppressed his people.
As the books of record are opened, and the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have committed. They see just where their feet diverged from the path of purity and holiness, just how far pride and rebellion have carried them in the violation of the law of God. The seductive temptations which have encouraged by indulgence in sin, the blessings perverted, the messengers of God despised, the warnings rejected, the waves of mercy beaten back by the stubborn, unrepentant heart – all appears as if written in letters of fire.
Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam´s temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption.”
“All see that their exclusion from heaven is just. By their lives they have declared: `We will not have this man (Jesus) to reign over us.` ”
“And now Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence.
Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge God´s justice and to bow to the supremacy of Christ, his character remains unchanged. The spirit of rebellion, like a mighty torrent, again bursts forth. Filled with frenzy, he determines not to yield the great controversy. The time has come for a last desperate struggle against the King of heaven. He rushes into the midst of his subjects and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury and arouse them to instant battle. But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end.
The wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see that their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage is kindled against Satan and those who have been agents in deception, and with the fury of demons they turn upon them.”
Revelation 20:9.10. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Psalm 11:6. Upon the wicked he will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.
2 Peter 3:10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.