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Revelation
Chapter Twenty
Revelation 20
We now come
evil power having been set aside
to the
exercise of judicial authority in peace; and this is conferred on the saints.
The prophet does not merely see the thrones as set in Daniel 7.
but sitters on
them too. Besides all to whom judgment is given in general
two special classes
are mentioned
because they might seem to be too late
or to have lost their
part: those beheaded (after theassembly was gone
for it is the
Revelation-period we have to do with) for the witness of Jesus; and those who
had not worshiped the beast. (Compare chap. 6:9-11;13:15.) These
as well as
previously departed saints
had their part in living and reigning with Christ a
thousand years. But those who were not Christ's
the rest of the dead did not
live again till the thousand years were over. [1] These were finally delivered from the second
death. The first death they had undergone
the natural wages of sin
but in
faithfulness; in the second death
the final judgment against sin
they would
have no part. It could have no power over them. On the contrary
they had
special relationship with God and Christ
they were priests of God and of
Christ
and would reign with Him a thousand years. They also are priests and
kings. Note how God and Christ are here united in one thought
as continually
in the writings of John. Thus the beast and the false prophet are in the lake
of fire
their armies slain
and Satan bound in the abyss
and the risen saints
are priests to God and Christ
reigning with Christ a thousand years. The
details and effects
mark
are not given here. The object is to give the place
of the saints
and especially of the sufferers
during the time of this book.
The rest come in as a general fact
there were sitters on thrones of judgment;
but the faithful of the prophecy are specially mentioned.
When the thousand years are finished
Satan is let loose again. He
comes up on the earth
but he never gets up to heaven again. But the nations
are tested by his temptation. Not even having seen Christ and enjoyed the
fruits of His glory-no mere means can secure the heart of man
if it is to be
depended upon; and men fall
in number as the sand of the sea
into Satan's
hands as soon as tempted; enjoying blessing
where unfaithfulness would have
been present loss (perhaps cutting off) and there was nothing to tempt them
but unfaithful as soon as they are tempted
as soon as the heart is tried. It was
the last and needed trial of man; needed because they could not have finally
enjoyed God with natural hearts
and the natural heart had not been tested
where present blessing was on the side of owning a present
visible
glorious
Christ. The deceived multitude
not limited now to a third of the earth or a
special prophetic district but taking in the breadth of the earth
went up
against the camp of the saints
and surrounded it and the beloved city
Jerusalem. It is remarkable here
there is no special presence of Christ
amongst them. They are left apparently to be surrounded by their enemies. The
Lord has allowed all this testing separation of personal faithfulness. Had He
appeared of course these hostile crowds could not have come up
nor would the
thorough trial of the heart have proved the faithfulness of the saints
who
would not follow the seductions of Satan. They are pressed upon and surrounded
by the enemy
but faithful. Once this separation and full testing had been
accomplished
God's judgment fell on them from heaven
and destroyed them. The
devil was then cast into the lake of fire
where the beast and the false
prophet were already
where they are tormented for ever and ever.
This closed the exercise of wrath
of the destruction of
hostile power-a wondrous scene-that God should have enemies in this world! Now
judicial power
as such
seated in its own right
comes in. It may be remarked
that the exercise of this on the quick
forms no part of the contents of this
book. The hostile power of the beast was destroyed by Him who judges and makes
war
the heavenly saints having been taken to glory. The crowds of apostates at
the end of the thousand years are destroyed by fire from heaven. But the
judgment of Matthew 25 is not found here
unless there be a possible connection
with the judgment of chapter 20:4.
There now comes the judgment of the dead. There no coming
here. A great white throne is set; judgment is carried on according to the
purity of God's nature. It was no dealing with the earth
or the power of evil
but with souls. Heaven and earth-all mere scenes of judgment-disappear. The
secrets of men's hearts are judged by Him who knows them all. Heaven and earth
flee away before the face of Him that sat on the throne
and the dead
small
and great
stand before the throne. Judgment was according to works
as it was
written in the books of record. Still another element was brought into view.
Sovereign grace alone had saved according to the purpose of God. [2] There was a book of life. Whosoever was not
written there was cast into the lake of fire. But it was the finally closing
and separating scene for the whole race of men and this world. And though they
were judged every man according to his works
yet sovereign grace only had
delivered any; and whoever was not found in grace's book was cast into the lake
of fire. The sea gave up the dead in it; death and hades
the dead in them. And
death and hades were put an end to for ever by the divine judgment. The heaven
and earth passed away
but they were to be revived; but death and hades never.
There was for them only divine destruction and judgment. They are looked at as
the power of Satan. He has the power of death and the gates of hades; and hence
these are for ever destroyed judicially. They will never have power again. They
are personified; but of course there is no question of tormenting them or of
punishment: when the devil himself is cast in
there is. But death was not then
destroyed; for the wicked dead had not been raised for judgment. Now they had;
and the last enemy is destroyed. The force of the image
I doubt not
is that
all the dead now judged (the whole contents of hades
in whom the power of
death had been) were cast into the lake of fire
so that death and hades
which
had no existence but in their state
were entirely and judicially ended by
their being cast in. The saints had long before passed out of them; but they
subsisted in the wicked. Now these were
consequent on the judgment of the
white throne
cast into the lake of fire-the second death. The limit and
measure of escape was the book of life.
[1] It
may be noted here that
according to the true reading
the living and reigning
is certainly resurrection. "The rest of the dead lived not until
"
& etc.; so that it is clearly used here for resurrection
as the following
words confirm: "This is the first resurrection."
[2] Thus
purpose and man's responsibility are never confounded
but
from the two trees
of the garden on
are in juxtaposition; life brought into connection with
responsibility in the law
responsibility being put first
and thus proof given
that man cannot stand before God; but the question is solved only in Christ
who bore our sins
died for us to sin
and is life. Counsels and promise of
life in Christ come first
then responsibility in the creature on earth
then
grace making good counsels
in righteousness
through the cross.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Revelation》
Revelation 20
Chapter Contents
Satan is bound for a thousand years. (1-3) The first
resurrection; those are blessed that have part therein. (4-6) Satan loosed
Gog
and Magog. (7-10) The last and general resurrection. (11-15)
Commentary on Revelation 20:1-3
(Read Revelation 20:1-3)
Here is a vision
showing by a figure the restraints laid
on Satan himself. Christ
with Almighty power
will keep the devil from
deceiving mankind as he has hitherto done. He never wants power and instruments
to break the power of Satan. Christ shuts by his power
and seals by his
authority. The church shall have a time of peace and prosperity
but all her
trials are not yet over.
Commentary on Revelation 20:4-6
(Read Revelation 20:4-6)
Here is an account of the reign of the saints
for the
same space of time as Satan is bound. Those who suffer with Christ
shall reign
with him in his spiritual and heavenly kingdom
in conformity to him in his
wisdom
righteousness
and holiness: this is called the first resurrection
with which none but those who serve Christ
and suffer for him
shall be
favoured. The happiness of these servants of God is declared. None can be
blessed but those that are holy; and all that are holy shall be blessed. We
know something thing of what the first death is
and it is very 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. May we never know what it is:
those who have been made partakers of a spiritual resurrection
are saved from
the power of the second death. We may expect that a thousand years will follow
the destruction of the antichristian
idolatrous
persecuting powers
during
which pure Christianity
in doctrine
worship
and holiness
will be made known
over all the earth. By the all-powerful working of the Holy Spirit
fallen man
will be new-created; and faith and holiness will as certainly prevail
as
unbelief and unholiness now do. We may easily perceive what a variety of
dreadful pains
diseases
and other calamities would cease
if all men were
true and consistent Christians. All the evils of public and private contests
would be ended
and happiness of every kind largely increased. Every man would
try to lighten suffering
instead of adding to the sorrows around him. It is
our duty to pray for the promised glorious days
and to do every thing in our
public and private stations which can prepare for them.
Commentary on Revelation 20:7-10
(Read Revelation 20:7-10)
While this world lasts
Satan's power in it will not be
wholly destroyed
though it may be limited and lessened. No sooner is Satan let
loose
than he again begins deceiving the nations
and stirring them up to make
war with the saints and servants of God. It would be well if the servants and
ministers of Christ were as active and persevering in doing good
as his
enemies in doing mischief. God will fight this last and decisive battle for his
people
that the victory may be complete
and the glory be to himself.
Commentary on Revelation 20:11-15
(Read Revelation 20:11-15)
After the events just foretold
the end will speedily
come; and there is no mention of any thing else
before the appearing of Christ
to judge the world. This will be the great day: the Judge
the Lord Jesus
Christ
will then put on majesty and terror. The persons to be judged are the
dead
small and great; young and old
low and high
poor and rich. None are so
mean
but they have some talents to account for; and none so great
as to avoid
having to account for them. Not only those alive at the coming of Christ
but
all the dead. There is a book of remembrance both for good and bad: and the
book of the sinner's conscience
though formerly secret
will then be opened.
Every man will recollect all his past actions
though he had long forgotten
many of them. Another book shall be opened
the book of the Scriptures
the
rule of life; it represents the Lord's knowledge of his people
and his
declaring their repentance
faith
and good works; showing the blessings of the
new covenant. By their works men shall be justified or condemned; he will try
their principles by their practices. Those justified and acquitted by the
gospel
shall be justified and acquitted by the Judge
and shall enter into
eternal life
having nothing more to fear from death
or hell
or wicked men;
for these are all destroyed together. This is the second death; it is the final
separation of sinners from God. Let it be our great concern to see whether our
Bibles justify or condemn us now; for Christ will judge the secrets of all men
according to the gospel. Who shall dwell with devouring flames?
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Revelation》
Revelation 20
Verse 2
[2] And
he laid hold on the dragon
that old serpent
which is the Devil
and Satan
and bound him a thousand years
And he laid hold on the dragon — With whom undoubtedly his angels were now cast into the bottomless pit
as well as finally "into everlasting fire
" Matthew 25:41.
And bound him a thousand years — That these thousand do not precede
or run parallel with
but wholly
follow
the times of the beast
may manifestly appear
1. From the series of
the whole book
representing one continued chain of events. 2. From the
circumstances which precede. The woman's bringing forth is followed by the
casting of the dragon out of heaven to the earth. With this is connected the
third woe
whereby the dragon through
and with
the beast
rages horribly. At
the conclusion of the third woe the beast is overthrown and cast into "the
lake of fire." At the same time the other grand enemy
the dragon
shall
be bound and shut up. 3. These thousand years bring a new
full
and lasting
immunity from all outward and inward evils
the authors of which are now
removed
and an affluence of all blessings. But such time the church has never
yet seen. Therefore it is still to come. 4. These thousand years are followed
by the last times of the world
the letting loose of Satan
who gathers
together Gog and Magog
and is thrown to the beast and false prophet "in
the lake of fire." Now Satan's accusing the saints in heaven
his rage on
earth
his imprisonment in the abyss
his seducing Gog and Magog
and being
cast into the lake of fire
evidently succeed each other. 5. What occurs from Revelation 20:11
manifestly follows the things
related in the nineteenth chapter. The thousand years came between; whereas if
they were past
neither the beginning nor the end of them would fall within
this period. In a short time those who assert that they are now at hand will
appear to have spoken the truth. Meantime let every man consider what kind of
happiness he expects therein. The danger does not lie in maintaining that the
thousand years are yet to come; but in interpreting them
whether past or to
come
in a gross and carnal sense. The doctrine of the Son of God is a mystery.
So is his cross; and so is his glory. In all these he is a sign that is spoken
against. Happy they who believe and confess him in all!
Verse 3
[3] And cast him into the bottomless pit
and shut him up
and set a seal upon
him
that he should deceive the nations no more
till the thousand years should
be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
And set a seal upon him — How far these expressions are to be taken literally
how far
figuratively only
who can tell? That he might deceive the nations no more -
One benefit only is here expressed
as resulting from the confinement of Satan.
But how many and great blessings are implied! For the grand enemy being
removed
the kingdom of God holds on its uninterrupted course among the
nations; and the great mystery of God
so long foretold
is at length
fulfilled; namely
when the beast is destroyed and Satan bound. This fulfilment
approaches nearer and nearer; and contains things of the utmost importance
the
knowledge of which becomes every day more distinct and easy. In the mean time
it is highly necessary to guard against the present rage and subtilty of the
devil. Quickly he will be bound: when he is loosed again
the martyrs will live
and reign with Christ. Then follow his coming in glory
the new heaven
new
earth
and new Jerusalem. The bottomless pit is properly the devil's prison;
afterwards he is cast into the lake of fire. He can deceive the nations no more
till the "thousand years
" mentioned before
verse 2
Revelation 20:2 are fulfilled.
Then he must be loosed — So does the mysterious wisdom of God permit.
For a small time —
Small comparatively: though upon the whole it cannot be very short
because the
things to be transacted therein
verses 8
9
Revelation 20:8
9 must take up a considerable
space. We are very shortly to expect
one after another
the calamities
occasioned by the second beast
the harvest and the vintage
the pouring out of
the phials
the judgment of Babylon
the last raging of the beast and his
destruction
the imprisonment of Satan. How great things these! and how short
the time! What is needful for us? Wisdom
patience
faithfulness
watchfulness.
It is no time to settle upon our lees. This is not
if it be rightly
understood
an acceptable message to the wise
the mighty
the honourable
of
this world. Yet that which is to be done
shall be done: there is no counsel
against the Lord.
Verse 4
[4] And
I saw thrones
and they sat upon them
and judgment was given unto them: and I
saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus
and for the
word of God
and which had not worshipped the beast
neither his image
neither
had received his mark upon their foreheads
or in their hands; and they lived
and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
And I saw thrones —
Such as are promised the apostles
Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30.
And they —
Namely
the saints
whom St. John saw at the same time
Daniel 7:22
sat upon them; and Judgment was
given to them. 1 Corinthians 6:2. Who
and how many
these are
is not said. But they are distinguished from the souls
or persons
mentioned
immediately after; and from the saints already raised.
And I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded — With the axe: so the original word
signifies. One kind of death
which was particularly inflicted at Rome
is
mentioned for all.
For the testimony of Jesus
and for the word
of God — The martyrs were sometimes killed for the
word of God in general; sometimes particularly for the testimony of Jesus: the
one
while they refused to worship idols; the other
while they confessed the
name of Christ.
And those who had not worshipped the wild
beast
nor his image — These seem to be a company distinct from
those who appeared
Revelation 15:2. Those overcame
probably
in
such contests as these had not. Before the number of the beast was expired
the
people were compelled to worship him
by the most dreadful violence. But when
the beast "was not
" they were only seduced into it by the craft of
the false prophet.
And they lived —
Their souls and bodies being re-united.
And reigned with Christ — Not on earth
but in heaven. The "reigning on earth"
mentioned
Revelation 11:15
is quite different from this.
A thousand years — It
must be observed
that two distinct thousand years are mentioned throughout
this whole passage. Each is mentioned thrice; the thousand wherein Satan is
bound
verses 2
3
7; Revelation 20:2; 3
7
the thousand wherein the saints shall
reign
verses 4-6. Revelation 20:4-6 The former end before the end
of the world; the latter reach to the general resurrection. So that the
beginning and end of the former thousand is before the beginning and end of the
latter. Therefore as in the second verse
Revelation 20:2 at the first mention of the
former; so in the fourth verse
Revelation 20:2 at the first mention of the
latter
it is only said
a thousand years; in the other places
"the
thousand
" verses 3
5
7
Revelation 20:3
5
7 that is
the thousand
mentioned before. During the former
the promises concerning the flourishing
state of the church
Revelation 10:7
shall be fulfilled; during the
latter
while the saints reign with Christ in heaven
men on earth will be
careless and secure.
Verse 5
[5] But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
The rest of the dead lived not till the
thousand years — Mentioned
verse 4.
Were ended —
The thousand years during which Satan is bound both begin and end much sooner.
The small time
and the second thousand years
begin at the same point
immediately
after the first thousand. But neither the beginning of the first nor of the
second thousand will be known to the men upon earth
as both the imprisonment
of Satan and his loosing are transacted in the invisible world. By observing
these two distinct thousand years
many difficulties are avoided. There is room
enough for the fulfilling of all the prophecies
and those which before seemed
to clash are reconciled; particularly those which speak
on the one hand
of a
most flourishing state of the church as yet to come; and
on the other
of the
fatal security of men in the last days of the world.
Verse 6
[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such
the second death hath no power
but they shall be priests of God and of Christ
and shall reign with him a thousand years.
They shall be priests of God and of Christ — Therefore Christ is God.
And shall reign with him — With Christ
a thousand years.
Verse 7
[7] And
when the thousand years are expired
Satan shall be loosed out of his prison
And when the former thousand years are
fulfilled
Satan shall be loosed out of his prison - At the same time that the
first resurrection begins. There is a great resemblance between this passage
and Revelation 12:12. At the casting out of the
dragon
there was joy in heaven
but there was woe upon earth: so at the
loosing of Satan
the saints begin to reign with Christ; but the nations on
earth are deceived.
Verse 8
[8] And
shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the
earth
Gog and Magog
to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is
as the sand of the sea.
And shall go forth to deceive the nations in
the four corners of the earth — (That is
in all the earth)-the more
diligently
as he hath been so long restrained
and knoweth he hath but a small
time.
Gog and Magog —
Magog
the second son of Japhet
is the father of the innumerable northern
nations toward the east. The prince of these nations
of which the bulk of that
army will consist
is termed Gog by Ezekiel also
Ezekiel 38:2. Both Gog and Magog signify high or
lifted up; a name well suiting both the prince and people. When that fierce
leader of many nations shall appear
then will his own name be known.
To gather them —
Both Gog and his armies. Of Gog
little more is said
as being soon mingled
with the rest in the common slaughter. The Revelation speaks of this the more
briefly
because it had been so particularly described by Ezekiel.
Whose number is as the sand of the sea — Immensely numerous: a proverbial expression.
Verse 9
[9] And
they went up on the breadth of the earth
and compassed the camp of the saints
about
and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven
and
devoured them.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth
or the land — Filling the whole breadth of it.
And surrounded the camp of the saints — Perhaps the gentile church
dwelling round about Jerusalem.
And the beloved city — So termed
likewise
Ecclesiasticus xxiv. 11.
Verse 10
[10] And
the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
where the beast and the false prophet are
and shall be tormented day and night
for ever and ever.
And they —
All these.
Shall be tormented day and night — That is
without any intermission. Strictly speaking
there is only
night there: no day
no sun
no hope!
Verse 11
[11] And
I saw a great white throne
and him that sat on it
from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw — A
representation of that great day of the Lord.
A great white throne — How great
who can say? White with the glory of God
of him that sat
upon it
-Jesus Christ. The apostle does not attempt to describe him here; only
adds that circumstance
far above all description
From whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away - Probably both the aerial and the starry heaven;
which "shall pass away with a great noise." And there was found no
place for them - But they were wholly dissolved
the very "elements
melting with fervent heat." It is not said
they were thrown into great
commotions
but they fled entirely away; not
they started from their
foundations
but they " fell into dissolution;" not
they removed to
a distant place
but there was found no place for them; they ceased to exist;
they were no more. And all this
not at the strict command of the Lord Jesus;
not at his awful presence
or before his fiery indignation; but at the bare
presence of his Majesty
sitting with severe but adorable dignity on his
throne.
Verse 12
[12] 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 out of those things which were written in the books
according to their
works.
And I saw the dead
great and small — Of every age and condition. This includes
also
those who undergo a
change equivalent to death
1 Corinthians 15:51.
And the books —
Human judges have their books written with pen and ink: how different is the
nature of these books! Were opened - O how many hidden things will then come to
light; and how many will have quite another appearance than they had before in
the sight of men! With the book of God's omniscience
that of conscience will
then exactly tally. The book of natural law
as well as of revealed
will then
also be displayed. It is not said
The books will be read: the light of that
day will make them visible to all. Then
particularly
shall every man know
himself
and that with the last exactness This will be the first true
full
impartial
universal history.
And another book —
Wherein are enrolled all that are accepted through the Beloved; all who lived
and died in the faith that worketh by love.
Which is the book of life
was opened — What manner of expectation will then be
with regard to the issue of the
whole! Malachi 3:16
etc.
Verse 13
[13] And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the
dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their
works.
Death and hades gave up the dead that were in
them — Death gave up all the bodies of men; and
hades
the receptacle of separate souls
gave them up
to be re-united to their
bodies.
Verse 14
[14] And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And death and hades were cast into the lake
of fire — That is
were abolished for ever; for
neither the righteous nor the wicked were to die any more: their souls and
bodies were no more to be separated. Consequently
neither death nor hades
could any more have a being.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Revelation》
Chapter 20. Judgment at Resurrection
The Camp of
God's People
The City God Loves
I. Satan Bound
for a Thousand Years
II. The First
Resurrection
III. The Great
White Throne
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
Chapter Twenty General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To consider the binding
future release and ultimate defeat of Satan 2) To examine the "thousand year reign" described in this chapter
and those who will reign with Christ during this time 3) To note the criteria of the final judgment
and the importance of the Book of Life SUMMARY
Previous chapters have illustrated the defeat of agents used by Satanto persecute God's people. One by one we have seen the fall of