Revelation 20
Rev 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.
Rev 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. Rev 12:7-9. Ezekiel 28:13-19. Is 14:12-21.
Rev 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.
Rev 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).
Rev 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?
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.
Rev 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?
“Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 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?
Rev 20:9. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them (that is all non-believers in Christ).
Rev 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 marvellous 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.
Rev 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).
Rev 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).
Rev 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. Mathew 28:18-20).
Who is the priesthood of all believers?
Rev 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.
Rev 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?
Rev 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.
Rev 20:7.8. States that the thousand years were expired, and Rev 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.
Rev 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 will this happen?
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 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.”
Rev 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.”
Rev 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.
What shall we do with the sentence, “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever?” It sounds like the eternal burning hell doctrine, from what the Roman Catholic and Pentecostal church teach and believe.
Words from the Bible like “everlasting” or “eternal” have three different meanings. Fx:
John 3:16. In this verse the word eternal, has a start, but no ending. The believer starts his belief, and it continues for eternity.
Jude verse 7. Sodom and Gomorrah have experienced eternal fire. This eternal fire has a start, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah lasts for about 14 days. Then they were reduced to ashes. This eternal fire has a start and an ending. 2 Peter 2:6. Says that Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes. The word eternal in this context means total destruction.
Psalm 90:2. Even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. This word everlasting means there is no beginning and no ending.
So the word eternal related to eternal fire, is the number 2 definition we are interested in. Some examples of eternal fire from God in the Bible:
Leviticus 10:1.2.9. Fire came from God and killed Aarons two sons because they drank alcohol while serving in the tabernacle. This eternal fire from God lasted only a few seconds.’
1 Kings 18:20-24. 30-38. This Bible text tells of the story of Elijah and the competition between his God and the god of the Baal prophets. Elijah had water poured all over the altar and then fire fell from God in the heavens and consumed the altar. This eternal fire last only a few seconds.
Revelation 14:10.11. 20:7-10. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. This eternal fire falls down from God upon all the wicked after the one-thousand-year millennium and destroys them in a short time. 2 Thessalonians 1:9
Eternal fire from God lasts a short time and means total destruction in these texts.
What does Malachi 4:1 say about the wicked and total destruction?
For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day, which is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts.
What does Isaiah 47:10.14. say about the wicked and total destruction?
For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, `No one sees me`; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, `I am, and there is no one else besides me. `
Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; it shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!
There is a problem text and that is Luke 16:19-31.
This is a parable which Jesus used to teach the Pharisees that being rich, is not a sign of God´s blessing or guarantees a place in heaven. Jesus further explains this to the Pharisees in the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16:1-13.
What did the Pharisees love?
Luke 16:14. Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money.
Christ is explaining in the parable Luke 16:19-31 that richness does not guarantee a place in heaven. Furthermore, a parable cannot determine a doctrine from the Bible about eternal hell. You have to have more than six to ten texts from the Bible to determine a doctrine like the Second Coming of Christ etc.
Conclusion
Whenever fire or eternal fire comes from God in the Bible it always has a short duration and never a long period of time. Eternal fire from God has one purpose and that is to totally destroy the object or person guided by sin.
Therefore, the fire from God in Rev 20:9.10.14. 19:20. 14:10.11. involves total destruction for a short period of time for the wicked, and never eternal fire that burns for eternity in a place called hell.
Rev 20:10. 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.
The fire that came down from God, devoured all the wicked, demon angels and Lucifer or Satan. The fire also envelopes the whole of the earth and destroys everything related to sin. Sin is eradicated and will never arise again in the universe. All things will be made new. Rev 21:1.
The beast which is a symbol of the papacy in the Roman Catholic Church system will be thrown into the eternal fire. The false prophet which is a symbol of all false protestant churches worldwide, will be thrown into the lake of fire. All false religions will be thrown into the lake of fire because they did not obey the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.
Rev 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.
This judgment scene is going back to before the wicked and Satan are thrown into the lake of fire. The book of Revelation often explains in a chapter what is happening and then explains in more detail’s certain points of the chapter. So this judgment scene goes back to before the fire is sent down from God to devour the wicked. This scene would take place in Rev 20:9. When Satan and all the wicked inhabitants of the earth surround the Holy City the New Jerusalem ready to attack it. Then suddenly a white throne appears above the city and all the wicked gaze upon God seated on the throne.
They stop what they are doing and gaze upon God, and a panoramic film movie is shown to all the wicked inhabitants of the earth, showing the history of the plan of salvation. They see how Satan and his demon angels where amongst the priests and Pharisees condemning and crucifying Jesus Christ to the cross.
All the wicked are convinced by the film movie that God´s judgment was correct and that they all had been deceived by Satan and his demon angels. They are all convinced that they have sinned and rebelled against God and deserve eternal death.
The one sitting on the throne is Jesus Christ. After his coronation he pronounces judgment on all the wicked.
Romans 14:10. For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
It says in the text Rev 20:12 that the books were opened. Which books?
Rev 20:12 mentions the Book of Life. This book has all the names written on it who will inherit eternal life. They have given their hearts to Jesus Christ by believing in Christ. John 3:16. They have repented of their sins. Acts 3:19. They have confessed their sins to God. 1 John 1:9. They have experienced the new birth in Christ Jesus. John 3: 5. They have experienced that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1.
Malachi 3:16. Mentions the Book of Remembrance. This book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on his name. They are like jewels who belong to the Lord. The book reveals those who are righteous and those who are not; those who serve the Lord and those who do not.
Psalm 139:13-16. Mentions a book for individual persons. For you formed my inward parts – I will praise you for I am wonderfully made – My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret – Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed – And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned (planned) for me, when as yet there were none of them. Proverbs 16:9. (NLT) We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Psalm 32:8. (NLT) The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.” Psalm 31:14. (NLT) You are my God! My future is in your hands. Psalm 39:4. (Hebrew) Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know the transient of my life. Psalm 87:4.6. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know me: Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: “This one was born there.” The Lord will record when he registers the peoples: “This one was born there.”
Rev 20:13. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.
This is not talking about the literal sea, but the symbolic sea as mentioned in Isaiah 57:20.21. The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
What is the Biblical meaning of the words Death and Hades combined together? (Or Death and Hell).
Hades or Hell in the Greek is γεεννα (in English ge-ena) and refers to the valley of Hinnom outside the city of Jerusalem. This is where they burnt the city´s refuse and rubbish and the fires here continued day and night. This fire became a symbol of eternal fire that will totally destroy the wicked and cleanse the earth when God sends fire down from heaven. Rev 20:9.
Matthew 25:41. Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 13:40-42. Therefore, as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Therefore, Death representing the second death and Hades representing the punishment of the wicked in eternal fire, will be cast into the lake of fire and totally destroyed.
Rev 20:14. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
This second death involved the death of all the wicked non-believers.
Rev 6:8. So I looked and behold a pale horse. And the name who sat on it was Death and Hades followed him.
Rev 1:18. I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Conclusion
The Death that is mentioned in these texts is the second death for all wicked non-believers.
Hades refers to the fire for burning refuse and rubbish outside the city of Jerusalem in biblical times. This fire became a symbol of eternal fire which will destroy the wicked non-believers after the one thousand years.
Death and Hades will both be destroyed and thrown into the lake of fire surrounding the earth. They will never again occur in the universe.
Rev 20:15. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.