In Revelation 1 John has a vision of Jesus and writes a description of what he saw. John is in exile on the island of Patmos for being a faithful witness for Jesus. In Revelation 2 and 3 Jesus has John send letters to 7 churches in Asia Minor. Each church was an existing church in Asia Minor at the time of John’s exile around 95AD. But each letter has applications in our modern day lives and churches.
In Revelation 4 we saw John’s vision or visit to God’s throne. In Revelation 5 we saw the scroll with 7 seals. And that the Lamb, Jesus, was the only One worthy to receive and open the scroll. The scroll represents God’s will and the deed or title of the universe.
Only Jesus is worthy to receive and open the scroll. And to bring on God’s wrath and punishment for Satan, his demons, and for sinners that refuse to repent and believe in Jesus.
Then in Revelation 6 we saw the Lamb, Jesus, open the first 6 of 7 seals of the scroll. Revelation 6 is the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation, and shows a progression through the first half of the Tribulation and into the 2nd half, known as the Great Tribulation period. And of God’s judgement and punishment of Satan, his demons, and anyone who rebels against God and refuses to repent and bow down to Jesus.
In Revelation 7 we saw a continuation of John’s vision of heaven and God’s throne. Revelation 7 is a break between the opening of the first 6 seals in Revelation 6 and the 7th and final seal in Revelation 8. And we saw 4 angels and the 4 winds of the earth, 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel, and a great multitude.
In Revelation 8 we saw Jesus open the 7th seal of the scroll, which is the start of the 7 trumpet judgements of God. This takes place in the 2nd half of the 7 year tribulation, which is known as the Great Tribulation.
Then in Revelation 9 we saw the terrifying 5th and 6th trumpet judgements that God pours out on His enemies. The people that still refused to repent and bow down to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
And in Revelation 10 we saw John’s vision of a mighty angel with an opened scroll with a voice of 7 thunders. This takes place in the break between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgements.
Then in Revelation 11 we saw a continuation of John’s vision of the break between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgements in the final 3 1/2 years of the tribulation, known as the Great tribulation. We studied the 2 witnesses from God in Jerusalem, and the 7th trumpet judgement.
In Revelation 12 we saw a woman, a dragon, and a baby. The break between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgement continued in John’s vision. And John introduced 3 more main characters in the tribulation, and in the war between Satan and God.
Then in Revelation 13 John introduced 2 more of the main characters or players in the tribulation, and in the war between Satan and God. The beast of the sea or the antichrist, and the best from the earth, the false prophet.
In Revelation 14 we studied John’s vision of the 144,000 witness in the tribulation. And 3 angels flying high in the sky with 3 different messages. And more details about the day of the Lord and God’s wrath.
Next in Revelation 15 we study how John the 7 angels with 7 bowl judgements or plagues getting ready to pour them out on the world.
In Revelation 16 we studied the final 7 bowl judgements or plagues of God’s wrath. These will be the ending of God’s wrath and judgements being poured out onto the world and on those that will refuse to repent and turn to Christ.
Then in Revelation 17 we looked at John’s vision of a prostitute and the beast. The world’s false religion that deceives many people into turning away for God, and worshiping and following the antichrist.
Next in Revelation 18 we studied about the antichrist’s world kingdom and Babylon. Specifically the antichrist’s global government and economic system of commerce.
In our last study in Revelation 19 we finally saw Jesus return to earth as He promised He would. And the much anticipated battle of Armageddon.
Now in Revelation 20 we will study the 1000 year kingdom of Jesus on earth. And who will be with Him in the kingdom. And then we will see the ultimate destiny of Satan. And those that choose to refuse to repent and follow and worship Jesus.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
An Angel With The Key To The Bottomless Pit
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” – Revelation 20:1-3
The last thing John saw at the end of Revelation 19 was the antichrist and the false prophet being thrown into the lake of fire. And then all of the unrepentant rebellious people that chose to reject Christ and follow and worship the antichrist and Satan were physically executed.
Now in Revelation 20 John sees an angel coming down from heaven. And the angel has a key to the bottomless pit. Or the abyss as it is called in some versions of the Bible.
The Bottomless Pit or Abyss
We first saw the bottomless pit or abyss in Revelation 9. Revelation 9:1-11 describes the 5th trumpet judgement.
“The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.” – Revelation 9:1
Revelation 9:1 tells us that Satan, when he and his demons are cast down to earth from heaven in the 5th trumpet judgement, is given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. And he opens the bottomless pit. This is sometimes known as Hades in the Bible, or hell.
2 Peter 2 tells us that some of Satan’s angels, or demons, after they rebelled against God and were cast out from heaven the first time, were sent by God to be imprisoned in the bottomless pit or hell.
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment…” – 2 Peter 2:4
These demons that were imprisoned by God in the bottomless pit or hell were apparently so bad and evil that God did not allow them to roam the earth like Satan and other demons could.
We also hear about the abyss in Luke 8 when Jesus met a man possessed with many demons. When Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man, the demons begged Jesus to not send them to the abyss.
“Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.” – Luke 8:30-33
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Satan Thrown Into The Bottomless Pit
“And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” – Revelation 20:2-3
Next John sees the angel seize and throw the dragon into the bottomless pit, or hell.
Isaiah prophesied about the event we are seeing in Revelation 20. In Isaiah 24 he mentions that the “host of heaven” “will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished”
“On that day the Lord will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. 22 They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders.” – Isaiah 24:21-23
Isaiah is talking about Satan and his fallen angels, or demons, when he says “host of heaven”. He is talking about what John is seeing in Revelation 20.
Remember from Revelation 9 there were many demonic creatures or demons released onto the earth from the abyss, to torment the people for 5 months.
“And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2 He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. 3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.” – Revelation 9:1-3
And then next in Revelation 9 a huge army of 200 million demons were released onto the earth, to kill a third of the people.
“Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number.” – Revelation 9:13-16
Now in Revelation 20 Satan and all of his fallen angels, or demons, will be captured and thrown into the bottomless pit. And they will be imprisoned for 1000 years. And then they will be punished and sent into the lake of fire forever near the end of Revelation 20.
The Various Names or Descriptions of Satan In The Bible
In Revelation Satan is described as a dragon. In Revelation 12 for example, Satan is seen in John’s vision as a red dragon.
“Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” – Revelation 12:3-4
Satan is also described in God’s word as a serpent, like in Genesis.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1
In the book of Job, Zechariah, and other places he is called by the name Satan.
“The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” – Job 1:7
“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.” – Zechariah 3:1
Satan is also known as the evil one, the devil, the tempter, and other names or descriptions.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” – Matthew 4:1-3
“We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” – 1 John 3:12
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Satan And His Demons Imprisoned For 1000 Years
“and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” – Revelation 20:2-3
John tells us that the angel throws Satan into the bottomless pit, to be imprisoned for 1000 years. And we know from other parts of the Bible and prophecies like in Isaiah 24 that Satan’s demons will be captured and thrown into the bottomless pit also.
The 1000 years is the length of Jesus’ kingdom on earth. As we will see in the next parts of John’s vision in Revelation 20.
John also mentions that Satan will be released for a little while, near the end of the 1000 years.
John Sees Thrones
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4
After Satan and his fallen angels are imprisoned in the bottomless pit by the angel, John next sees thrones. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, so He will be the Supreme Leader of the 1000 year kingdom on earth.
But John sees other thrones. And he sees many sitting on the thrones. He describes this as “seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.”
They will sit on thrones. The throne a judge would sit on. To help Jesus judge, and to help him administer His will on earth during the kingdom.
There are people that God has promised the right to judge and reign with Jesus in His kingdom. Who are “those to whom the authority to judge was committed”?
Who Are Those Sitting On The Thrones?
In Daniel 7 he describes a prophetic vision that God had given him.
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” – Daniel 7:13-14
“And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’ – Daniel 7:27
Daniel says that God, the “Ancient of Days” will give glory and dominion and the kingdom to the Son of Man, Jesus. And that people, the true followers of Jesus from all nations and languages will serve Him.
Daniel also said that the dominion of the kingdom “shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” So Jesus will give the right and privilege to serve and help Him administer and run the kingdom to the “saints of the Most High”.
Or to His true followers. These include Old Testament and New Testament saints, or true followers of God and the Messiah Jesus.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
True Followers of Jesus Killed In The Tribulation
And from Revelation 20:4 it is clear that this also includes the believers or faithful followers of Jesus that come to faith in Him during the tribulation and are killed by the antichrist.
“Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4
These are the great multitude of people we saw in Revelation 6 that will come to faith in Christ during the tribulation.
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” – Revelation 6:9-11
Jesus And Paul Taught About How The Saints Will Reign With Jesus
Jesus in Matthew 19 taught about this also.
“Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world (the regeneration or the new Kingdom), when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” – Matthew 19:29-29
Paul also teaches about this in 1 Corinthians 6.
“Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels?” – 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
And again in 2 Timothy 2 Paul says this:
“The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;” – 2 Timothy 2:11-12
It is clear from God’s word that the saints, the true and faithful followers of God, will be the ones sitting on the thrones in Revelation 20. Serving King Jesus and helping him to judge and administer His will in His kingdom on earth.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Believers Will Be Priests Of God In The Kingdom
Revelation 20:6 also mentions that anyone who repents and believes in Jesus will be “priests of God and of Christ”.
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:6
So not only will the believers and true followers of Jesus help Him to reign in the kingdom, they will also be priests of His. Meaning that we will help Jesus to minister to and shepherd and care for those in the kingdom.
The First Resurrection
“The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:5-6
John mentions in verse 5 that the rest of the dead will not come to life until the thousand years of Jesus’ kingdom on earth ends. He is talking about all people that are not the saints that he saw on the thrones in Revelation 20:4.
Or in other words all people in the history of the world that refused to repent and bow down and follow and worship God. After Jesus came and died on the cross, it means all people that refuse to repent and follow Jesus.
All of these non believers in Christ are dead. Either they died before the tribulation. Or they died during the tribulation. Or they died at the very end of the tribulation at the time of the battle of Armageddon at the end of Revelation 19. All of these unrepentant dead people will have to come back and face the final judgement and eternal punishment that we will see at the end of Revelation 20.
The first resurrection John is talking about is for the faithful saints John saw on the thrones in Revelation 20:4. All of the faithful followers of God and Jesus will come back to life at the beginning of Jesus’ 1000 year kingdom on earth, and help him to judge and administer the kingdom.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
The Second Death
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power” – Revelation 20:6
John says that those who share in the first resurrection are holy and blessed. And then he says something very curious and interesting.
He mentions the “second death”. What is John talking about when he says the second death?
Jesus mentions the second death in His letter to the church in Smyrna.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” – Revelation 2:11
Later in Revelation 20 we find the answer to the question “what is the second death?”
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” – Revelation 20:12-15
Explanation Of The Second Death
The first death is when a person dies physically. Or when your physical body dies. Everyone will experience the first or physical death at some point.
The second death is an eternal spiritual death. Sometimes the Bible calls it by the word “perish”.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9
God does not want anyone to perish, or to go through the second death and die a spiritual eternal death. And the result is to spend eternity in the lake of fire, forever suffering the excruciating penalty for your sins.
How To Avoid The Second Death
There is a way to avoid the second death, and the excruciating pain and suffering of the lake of fire. John 3:16 has the first thing a person needs to do to avoid the second death and lake of fire.
John 3:16 says that whoever believes in him, Jesus, should not perish but have eternal life. Eternal life in heaven, in Jesus’ 1000 year kingdom on earth. And then in His forever eternal kingdom in the new heaven and earth we will see in Revelation 21.
So the first thing a person needs to do to have a restored relationship with God through Jesus, and have eternal life in heaven also, is to believe in the Son Jesus. That means to place all of your faith, and confidence, and hope in Jesus. We don’t put our faith and hope in a church. Or in a religion. Or in a pastor. Or in our good works. But 100% in Jesus.
2 Peter 3:9 has the next thing a person needs to do to avoid the second death in the lake of fire. It says “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” It mentions that a person needs to repent. That simply means a person needs to turn away from living for self and in sin. And turn back to God in your heart, and live to please and honor Him.
Jesus also mentioned these 2 things so a person can avoid the second death in the lake of fire and have eternal life in heaven. Repent and believe.
“Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:15
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Jesus’ Earthly Kingdom Will Last 1000 Years
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:6
We know that when Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation, He will establish His kingdom on the regenerated earth for 1000 years. And that all saints and true followers of God and Jesus, from the Old and New Testaments, will help Jesus to reign and shepherd in the kingdom.
And we also know that the saints and true followers of Jesus that are killed during the tribulation will also be in the 1000 year kingdom. All of these saints will have new glorified bodies in the kingdom.
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” – Philippians 3:20-21
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling” – 2 Corinthians 5:1-2
“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
All People That Enter The 1000 Year Kingdom Will Be True Followers of Jesus
All people that enter into the kingdom will be saints and true followers of Jesus. Whether they are Old and New Testament resurrected saints. Or raptured saints that will be alive when God raptures His people, before the start of the tribulation. Or saints that will be killed by the antichrist in the tribulation.
All of these will have some type of glorified body given to them by God.
More Details About The 1000 Year Kingdom Of Jesus
Isaiah gives us more details about Jesus’ kingdom on earth in his prophecy in Isaiah 11.
“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” – Isaiah 11:1-9
Isaiah and others in the Bible show how righteousness, truth, justice, peace, and joy will be prevalent in Jesus’ kingdom.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
The Survivors Of The Tribulation
What will be interesting will be that there will be faithful followers and witnesses of Jesus that make it alive through the tribulation and the battle of Armageddon. They too will judge and reign with the other resurrected saints in Jesus’ kingdom.
The 144,000 Jewish witnesses that God raised up in the tribulation that we saw in Revelation 7 will be “sealed by God”. They will be sealed and protected by God during the tribulation, and will not be killed by the antichrist like so many others will be.
And there will be others that will survive the tribulation and enter into the 1000 year kingdom alive.
Jewish Believers From Israel Will Also Survive
We know from Revelation 12 that God will protect the Jewish people from Israel in the wilderness. When they flee after the antichrist takes over the temple in Jerusalem and declares that he is God. This is the desolation of abomination that Jesus and Daniel spoke of. It takes place in the middle of the tribulation.
And Revelation 12:6 tells us that they are nourished and protected for the remaining 3 1/2 years of the tribulation. The woman in Revelation 12, as we previously studied, represents Israel.
“And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.” – Revelation 12:1-6
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Many Will Be Born During The 1000 Years
Throughout the course of the long kingdom of 1000 years people will have children. And there will be many generations of people born throughout the 1000 years. The earth will essentially be repopulated. Maybe not to the fullest population at the beginning of the tribulation, but it will be repopulated.
And though the kingdom starts out with all believers, over the course of 1000 years some of the people born during this time will choose to not repent and believe in and follow Jesus. How can we possibly know this?
As we read on in Revelation 20 John gives us more details about what happens near the end of the 1000 years.
Satan Will Be Released From The Bottomless Pit
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” – Revelation 20:7-8
At the end of the 1000 years John sees in his vision that Satan will be released from the bottomless pit. Surely God knows that Satan is evil. And that he is “the deceiver” and the “father of all lies”.
Why would God let him be released into the world?
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Satan Will Deceive The Nations Once Again
Sure enough the “dragon”, the “serpent”, and “the deceiver” and the “father of all lies” will do his thing on the earth again. John says that he will deceive the nations.
When John says “nations” he means the unrepentant, unbelieving, rebellious people, born during the 1000 year kingdom. They will refuse to repent and turn in faith to Jesus and follow Him.
There will be people from all nations and many generations that will be born during the 1000 years that will be unbelievers and lost. These are the ones who Satan will deceive.
And according to John there sadly will be a great number of lost people by the end of the 1000 years. Despite Jesus Himself in all His glory being present. And despite righteousness and justice and joy and peace being prevalent in the kingdom. A great number of people will refuse to repent and worship and follow Jesus.
“their number is like the sand of the sea.” – Revelation 20:8
Satan Will Deceive And Get Unbelievers To War Against God (Again)
“And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city” – Revelation 20:7-9
Satan, since his fall from heaven, has always tried to war against God and take His place. And he has always deceived lost and unbelieving people to turn away from and against God and Jesus.
And John says that he will do it again at the end of the 1000 year kingdom. And there will be a great number of people that will be lost, and Satan will deceive them.
And Satan will once again convince the huge number of unrepentant and rebellious people from all nations to try to make war against Jesus the King and all of His followers and armies of angels. It happened in Revelation 19 and the battle of Armageddon. And it will happen again, for the last time ever, at the end of Jesus’ 1000 year earthly kingdom.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Why Would People War Against God And Jesus?
Why would sinful unrepentant lost people be stirred up by Satan to try to war against and defeat God and Jesus? It is the nature of sinful people.
John describes very well this sinful nature and rebellion in John 3.
“Whoever believes in him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” – John 3:18-20
What is interesting is that during the 1000 years of the kingdom on earth, Satan (and all his demons) will be bound and imprisoned in the bottomless pit. He or his demons will not be around to tempt people.
And Jesus and the saints will judge and reign in righteousness and justice. And yet people will rebel against God and refuse to repent and follow Jesus. It is the sinful nature of many to love sin and darkness, and to refuse to come to the Light of the world.
Gog And Magog
“and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” – Revelation 20:8
John in his vision mentions that Satan will deceive the nations around the world (the meaning of “the nations that are at the four corners of the earth”). Then he gives all these deceived people and nations the name “Gog and Magog”.
Who or what is Gog and Magog?
Gog And Magog In The Bible
The name of Magog is first introduced in the Bible in Genesis 9 and 10.
“The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” – Genesis 9:18
“The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.” – Genesis 10:2
So Magog is the grandson of Noah and son of Japheth.
Ezekiel’s Prophecy About Gog And Magog
Next Gog and Magog are mentioned in Ezekiel’s prophecy of the end times in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Gog is mentioned as of the land of Magog, and the “chief prince” of Meshech and Tubal.
“The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 5 Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.” – Ezekiel 38:1-6
“After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them. 9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.” – Ezekiel 38:8-9
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. 16 You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.” – Ezekiel 38:14-16
So Gog is the apparent leader of the kingdom or region of Magog. And also the “chief prince” of Meshech and Tubal.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Meshech And Tubal
Ezekiel’s prophecy is for the “latter days” per Ezekiel 38:16. There has been no historical record of Israel being attacked by a nation from the north called Magog. Or by nations or kingdoms called Meshech and Tubal.
Meshech, also spelled Meshek, and Tubal were sons of Japheth. Thus they were great grandsons of Noah. They were the founders and leaders of kingdoms called Meshech and Tubal.
The kingdom and region of Meshech is often identified as being north of the Black Sea. Modern day Russia, Ukraine, and possibly the Republic of Georgia. Tubal is now an area in central Turkey.
The Nations Gathered Against God
So the nations of the world, meaning the unrepentant rebellious people of all nations, will gather together to war against God and Jesus. They will be deceived by Satan.
And apparently led by “Gog” from a nation or nations from the north. Probably Russia, Turkey, and perhaps even China. And they will be joined by Persia (most likely Iran), and many others.
There apparently will be a great repopulation of the earth. And a great number of people born in the 1000 year kingdom that will refuse to repent and turn to Jesus. Because John says that the number of unrepentant sinful people Satan will deceive is a very large number.
“to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.” – Revelation 20:8
The Battle At The End Of The 1000 Years
“And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city…” ‘ Revelation 20:9
So Satan will deceive the unrepentant rebellious people born during the 1000 year reign on earth of Jesus. And John says that he gets them to march to “the camp of the saints” and the “beloved city”.
The idea of Satan is to once again try to defeat God and Jesus and His followers. The deception is that somehow he will convince the huge number of unrepentant sinful people that they can somehow defeat King Jesus.
The beloved city is Jerusalem. In Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning Jesus’ kingdom he said this:
“At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem” – Jeremiah 3:17
So many of the saints during the 1000 year kingdom will go to and live in Israel and close to Jerusalem. Because Jesus will reign from there.
The army of unrepentant sinful and deceived people will march across the earth, and gather for battle and surround the saints and Jerusalem.
Not Much Of A Battle
So the stage is set for the ultimate final battle forever between Satan and God and Jesus and His followers. What does John sees next?
“And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city… but fire came down from heaven and consumed them” – Revelation 20:9
There won’t be much of a battle. In an instant God will send fire down from heaven to consume and destroy them. All of them will be destroyed by God’s last display of wrath.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
The Ultimate Destiny Of Satan
After God sends down fire from heaven and destroys the large number of unrepentant sinful people, He deals with Satan.
There will be no more deception by Satan. No more battles. What will be Satan’s eternal destiny?
“and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” – Revelation 20:10
In Revelation 19, after the battle of Armageddon at the very end of the tribulation, we saw how God dealt with the antichrist and his false prophet.
“And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” – Revelation 19:20
Now in Revelation 20, at the end of Jesus’ 1000 year kingdom on earth, we see Satan’s ultimate destiny. He too is thrown into the lake of fire. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Jesus And Others Warned About The Lake Of Fire
Jesus, and others in the Bible, taught and warned people about the ultimate destiny and eternal punishment for people that refuse to repent and follow Jesus.
“Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 13:40-42
In Matthew 25 Jesus taught and warned about the end of times, and the final judgement of people. And He talked about the lake of fire.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world… Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” – Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 45
Now in the final part of Revelation 20 we will see the final destiny of people that refuse to repent and follow Jesus. We will see the final judgment that Jesus talked about in Matthew 25.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
The Great White Throne Judgement
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” – Revelation 20:11-15
After John sees Satan thrown into the lake of fire, he sees a great white throne. And he sees “him” sitting on it. He sees Jesus sitting on the great white throne.
In John’s 5 Jesus told His disciples that God gave Him the right to judge.
“For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” – John 5:22-23
And in Matthew 25 Jesus said that He will be on the throne at the final judgement.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” – Matthew 25:31-32
So it is clearly Jesus that is sitting on the great white throne.
The Final Judgement And Destiny
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.” – Revelation 20:12-13
John sees that all of the people that had died were standing before Jesus’ throne. Who were the great number of people that had died and were standing before the throne?
Being that they were dead, it shows that they were unrepentant sinful people. Why so?
Because all of the people throughout the history of mankind that had repented and faithfully followed and worshiped God and Jesus were brought into Jesus’ 1000 year kingdom to reign with Him. They either had died previously and were a part of the “first resurrection” and in glorious bodies for Jesus’ kingdom. Or they survived the tribulation and entered Jesus’ kingdom alive.
All the people who repented and faithfully followed God and Jesus were previously judged and declared righteous. And thus were worthy to reign with Jesus in His 1000 year kingdom. These are the ones that are written in the book of life.
Now we see the final judgment of all those that chose to not repent and reject Christ. All of their sinful acts of rebellion are written in the “books” John saw.
The books are the official record of everything everyone that refused to repent and turn to Jesus has ever done. And according to John, they will be judged according to their deeds.
Revelation 20 – 1000 Year Kingdom On Earth & The Final Judgement
Eternal Punishment In The Lake Of Fire
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” – Revelation 20:14-15
The final thing John sees in Revelation 20 is Death and Hades being thrown into the lake of fire. After the great white throne judgement there is no more physical death. There is only the “second death”. The eternal spiritual death, and separation from God and Jesus, and torment and suffering.
And Hades will also be thrown into the lake of fire. Hades in the Greek language, is also known as Sheol in Hebrew. They both are the same place; the “place for the dead”, or the “place for departed souls”. There is no longer a need for it either.
And John finally sees the eternal destiny for all those that refused to repent and turn from sinful and rebellious lives to Christ. These are all of those who are not found in the book of life. They too are thrown into the lake of fire. The final and eternal place of torment and suffering.
Pursuing Intimacy With God is committed to helping you with the most important thing in your life… your intimacy with God , your fellowship with Him, and your partnership with God in His Kingdom work & mission.
There are hundreds of Bible verses and great truths & promises in the Pursuing Intimacy With God studies.
** New Expanded Edition of Pursuing Intimacy With God Bible Studies Book – 40% more material
Ebook version of Pursuing Intimacy With God on Google Books
Pursuing Intimacy With God ebook Kindle version
Book of Revelation Bible Study Series
Other Links
Religion vs Relationship With God
Why Should You Pray & Spend Time With God ?
Is Jesus Your First Love ? Part 2
Prayer Is Passion To Seek & Know God
God’s Purpose & Mission For You And Your Church
Spiritual Gifts: All Christians Have Gifts
Jesus Wants To Heal You & Set You Free
Kevin Bart has been a Jesus follower for over 40 years. Kevin has taught Bible study classes, small groups, and discipleship classes for many years. He developed Pursuing Intimacy With God after many years of seeking God and studying His word.
Kevin is a former business owner, and current international missions ministry leader with more than four decades of combined business and ministry experience. After building and running a successful business for 23 years, with God’s guidance and blessings, he sold his company to dedicate himself to full-time global missions.
For over 20 years, Kevin and his wife Nancy have led an international missions ministry. Utilizing learned business and financial management skills, as well as knowledge and experience in travel points and miles, to date they have had 51 mission trips to 36 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
