The Millennium - Revelation 20:1-6
INTRODUCTION:
Last Sunday we looked at the first of six objectives that make up the purpose of the second coming of Jesus Christ. These six objectives cannot all be found in the book of Revelation, but as we go through our passage of Scripture this morning I will refer to the other objectives that are not in Revelation and share with you where those can be found. Our Scripture reading this morning gave us a glimpse at one aspect that we can expect in the millennial kingdom, which I will also be talking about this morning.
Last Sunday we looked at the first objective of the purpose of the second coming of Jesus Christ and that objective will be fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ and it is to defeat the Antichrist and his armies who oppose Him at His coming. That was the end of chapter 19, chapter 20 opens with the second objective, let’s pray and then get into our passage for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Revelation 20:1-6 our passage of Scripture for this morning. The millennial kingdom is spoken about extensively in the Old Testament prophets and we will look at some of those passages this morning as well, this is the only passage that informs us that it will be 1000 years long, and in the first 7 verses it says that it is 1000 years long 6 times. Please stand in you are able in honor of the reading of God’s Word and follow along while I read.
Revelation 20:1-6,
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:1–6, NASB95)[1]
THE BINDING OF SATAN (Revelation 20:1-3)
The second objective that is to be fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus Christ is the binding and sealing up of Satan. With his two earthly leaders thrown into the Lake of fire and his earthly army completely destroyed Satan now is doomed.
That this is connected with chapter 19 is made clear in the text when John says, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven…” (Revelation 20:1a, NASB95)[2] The word translated “then” is a chronological connecter that could be translated “and then.” It is used in chapter 19 to connect the events together and it is used here as well. Remember that when John wrote this book there were no chapters or verses. Chapter 19-20 belong together and give the chronology from the second coming onward.
John sees this angel coming from heaven and he is holding the key to the abyss, remember earlier an angel with the key to the abyss had opened it and released the demon horde that was being held there. This angel is one of great power and the fact that the key was given to this angel by God signifies his delegated authority, this angel is also holding in his hand a great chain. This angel has a job to do, he is to seize Satan, bind him and cast him into the abyss and lock it and seal it for 1000 years, for the entire millennium.
Remember that the abyss is a place of temporary incarceration for certain demons, it is not their final place of punishment, Jesus said in Matthew 25:41 that the lake of fire is there final place of punishment.
John tells us that the angel laid hold of dragon, and so that we are not mistaken as to who this dragon is we are given the same four titles that were used of him in chapter 12. First, he is called the dragon, a title used of him 12 times in the book of Revelation and is a reference to his ferociousness and cruelty. Second, the title “the serpent of old” which returns us to the garden of Eden and the first time Satan tempted mankind, when he spoke to Eve. Third, John calls him the devil which means “slanderer” or “malicious gossip” and then finally John calls him “Satan” a name that means “adversary, enemy, opponent.” Satan is the great adversary who opposes God, and the Lord Jesus Christ and all believers.
John tells us that Satan is bound with the great chain for a thousand years. John must have received further information then just what he saw to know that it would be 1000 years. The first of six precise and important references to the length of the millennial kingdom. John says that the angel threw Satan into the abyss, shut it and sealed it over him so that Satan could not deceive the nations any longer. This will be an unprecedented time in the history of the earth, Satan will be bound and incarcerated so that he cannot carry on his work of opposing Christ and deceiving people and nations.
Understand that this does not mean that people who live in the millennium or who are born during the millennium will be incapable of sinning. A vast part of the population that will be born of the believers who alone enter the millennial kingdom, will in that perfect environment love their sin and reject the King of kings.
Satan is bound and sealed in the abyss for 1000 years, then with some further insight given to John he writes that when the 1000 years are complete Satan will be release for a short time. But you must wait for next Sunday to find out why he is released at the end of the millennium.
TO GATHER THE REMNANT (Isaiah 43:5-7; Matthew 24:30-31)
The third objective that makes up the purpose of the second coming is not recorded for us in Revelation. But some of the Old Testament prophets spoke of it and Jesus spoke of it during His first advent. The third objective is to gather the remnant of Jews and restore the land of Israel to them. Remember that Israel had to flee for their lives during the Tribulation but at the second coming Christ will gather back the believing Jews and restore them as His people. Isaiah 43:5-7 says speaking of this time, “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”” (Isaiah 43:5–7, NASB95)[3] Jesus taught this truth to his disciples in Matthew 24:30-31 when He said, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Matthew 24:30–31, NASB95)[4] The elect in this verse refers to the believing remnant of Jews that will be living on the earth at the end of the Tribulation which includes the 144,000 that were sealed in chapter 7. This is the third objective that will be fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
JUDGING THE LIVING (Matthew 25:31-46; Ezekiel 20:33-38)
The fourth objective that will be fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus Christ is the judging of the Gentiles still living on the earth who survived the Tribulation. They will appear before Jesus Christ and He will determine who can enter His kingdom. This is the judgment of the sheep and the goats found in Matthew 25:31-46. For the sake of time I will not read this entire passage, but just the verdict of those who trusted in Jesus Christ and sought to help the Jews during the Tribulation. To the righteous Gentiles who Jesus has gathered together, Matthew writes in chapter 25:34, “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” (Matthew 25:34, NASB95)[5] To the unbelievers gathered to the left, the goats, the King will say, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” (Matthew 25:41, NASB95)[6]
In addition to the judging of the Gentiles, we are also told by the prophet Ezekiel that Jesus Christ will gather all the living Jews that survived the Tribulation in the wilderness to determine who can enter the kingdom. For the sake of time again I will not read you the whole passage which you can read in Ezekiel 20:33-38, but let me read verse 37-38 which give the purpose of this judgment, “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 20:37–38, NASB95)[7] Those who enter into the millennial kingdom will be judged before entering and those who are not righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, the King of kings will not enter.
TO RESURRECT THE DEAD (Revelation 20:4-6; Dan. 12:1-4; Isa. 26:19; Ezek. 37:12-14)
Turn back now to Revelation 20. John says in verse 4 that after Satan was bound and cast into the abyss that he “saw thrones and they sat on them and judgment was given to them.” (Revelation 20:4b, NASB95)[8] With Satan, his demons and the God-rejecting sinners out of the way the millennial kingdom of peace will be established. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the Supreme Ruler and final Authority in the kingdom as He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. He has graciously promised that His saints will reign with Him. They will rule under Him and their authority is delegated to them by Jesus Christ, and they will perfectly carry out His will.
John sees a panorama of God’s people resurrected, rewarded and reigning with Jesus Christ. Remember these were part of the armies that were following the Lord Jesus Christ out of heaven. These are those who have already been glorified and have received their glorified bodies at the rapture and resurrection of the church. They will enforce God’s will and judge disputes.
The fifth objective is partially revealed to us in verses 4-6. The fifth objective is to resurrect the Old Testament saints and the martyred Tribulation believers. John sees the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God. These are those who were executed during the Tribulation because they refused to worship the Antichrist and his image, and they refused to receive the mark of the beast because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Because they were faithful to the death, John saw them come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years. Those martyrs whose souls John had seen under the altar have now received their resurrected glorified bodies so that they might reign with their Savior throughout the millennial kingdom and on throughout eternity.
John does not mention it here, but the Old Testament prophets mention the resurrection of the Old Testament saints at the second coming. Daniel 12:1-4 is the most common passage that speaks of this resurrection of the Old Testament saints, but Isaiah says in Isaiah 26:19, “Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.” (Isaiah 26:19, NASB95)[9] The prophet Ezekiel also speaks of the resurrection of the Old Testament saints when he records these words of God in Ezekiel 37:12-14, “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 37:12–14, NASB95)[10]
John again given further insight writes that the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. The rest of the dead are the unbelieving dead of all the ages, we will read of their resurrection and judgment at the end of this chapter.
John calls the resurrection of all the saints from all ages “the first resurrection.” The first resurrection includes Jesus Christ, the first to be resurrected from the dead, whose resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection, the church those resurrected and raptured before the tribulation began, the martyred saints of the Tribulation and the Old Testament saints are all included in the first resurrection.
John goes on to give us the fifth of the seven beatitudes or blessings from Revelation. John writes, “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6, NASB95)[11] Those who have a part in the first resurrection are blessed because the second death has no power over them. The second death is eternity in the lake of fire. God’s Word gives us some comforting truth for the one who has put their faith in Jesus Christ, who has agreed with God that they are a sinner, but has believed in faith that Jesus Christ died for them, paying the punishment for their sin, was buried and three day later rose from the dead proving sin had been paid for and guaranteeing our resurrection. When we believe this we will take part in the first resurrection and as a true child of God will never have to face God’s eternal wrath. Those who participate in the first resurrection are holy, they are set apart to be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS KING (Revelation 20:6)
This brings to the final objective that rounds out the six objectives which make up the purpose of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Objective number six is for Jesus Christ to establish Himself as King over all the earth. The five objectives before this bring this about and He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords over all the earth.
What will this millennial kingdom be like? The Old Testament prophets spoke of it extensively. The Creator of all things will be the King. The curse will be lifted, and the earth will return to the state it was in at the beginning. This morning’s Scripture reading spoke of animals becoming again like they were at the time of Adam and Eve. Unafraid of man, not at all dangerous, no longer will there be meat-eaters, but as our Scripture reading said the lion will eat straw like and ox. No fear of being hurt or killed by wild animals, we will live in peace with all living things. The wilderness and the deserts will flourish again, and food will be plentiful and with the curse lifted man will enjoy physical health and well-being which also will lead to long life like life was in the beginning. Most importantly the millennial kingdom will be marked by the presence of righteousness and peace because the Lord Jesus Christ will reign. “And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6–7, NASB95)[12]
CONCLUSION:
This morning we have finished looking at the six objectives that make up the purpose of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. As you contemplate His millennial kingdom ask yourself what it will be like to reign with Jesus Christ, then look at your own life right now and ask yourself if you are ready to reign with the Lord Jesus Christ. His reign will be righteous and holy and will not tolerate anything less. How is your obedience to God and His Word? I realize that we are all sinners and that we fail and that God by His Holy Spirit is working in us to conform us to the image of His Son, but are we listening to the Holy Spirit, are we fighting against what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives because we want our own way? At the beginning of our study of Revelation I gave you a bulletin insert entitled “Six Ways Studying Bible Prophecy Should Influence You” and the third way on that list says, “Studying Bible prophecy should influence us to seek to live pure and holy lives in view of Christ’s imminent (anytime) return.” Are you influenced by Bible prophecy in this way? Paul in Romans mentions this influence that should come from prophecy and stir us to purity. He writes in Romans 13:11-14, “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:11–14, ESV)[13]
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[7]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[8]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[9]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[10]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[11]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[12]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. La Habra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[13]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016.