Read Revelation 20:1–10
Questions from the Scripture text: Whom did John see (v1)? Coming down from where? What two things did He have in His hand? Of whom did He lay hold (v2)? Who is this dragon (cf. 12:9)? What did He do to him? For how long? Into what did He cast him (v3)? And do what two other things to him? So that he would no longer do what? Until when? What must happen then? What else did John see (v4)? And whom else? What was committed to them? What part of whom did John also see? What had happened to them? What two things had they not worshiped? What had they not received? But what two things do these souls now do with Christ? for how long? But what happens to whom else (v5)? Until when? What does v5 call the “coming to life” of v4? What two things does v6 call the one who has part in this resurrection? What has no power over them? What shall they be unto Whom, and what shall they do with Christ (cf. 5:10)? When will what happen in v7? What will Satan go out to do to whom, where (v8)? What name does v8 use for these attacking enemies (cf. Ezk 38–39). How many will this army be? Whom will they surround (v9)? What came from Whom and did what? And what happened to whom else (v10)? Who else was there already? What will happen with all of them?
What is the millennium? Revelation 20:1–10 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the millennium is Christ’s reign in the age of the gospel, looking forward to the fuller and forever reign when He destroys His and our enemies.
Satan bound. Jesus has had this key, and used this chain, ever since His resurrection, ascension, and enthronement. Certainly, Satan is still very active in the earth, but he is no longer given free reign to deceive the nations as a whole (v3). v2 ties us back to 12:9, indicating that all of Satan’s raging is the fury of a defeated devil. He cannot stop the advance of the gospel. He cannot defeat the church. He cannot defeat a single believer (cf. 12:11). We must be encouraged and confident about the progress of the gospel, despite all that the church currently suffers. The remnant that is being saved out of every nation amounts to an innumerable multitude of a glorious assembly.
Saints reigning. We know that the beheaded saints (v4) overcome by this (cf. 12:11), and now we learn that their souls, which lived and conquered on earth, proceed to live and reign with Christ in heaven (v4). The new birth (cf. Jn 3:3) is called, here, “the first resurrection” (v5). Just as the day that God set apart to Himself was blessed and holy (cf. Gen 2:3), so also, those who have part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy (v6a). The language describing them as kings and priests unto God identifies them as the same group as sing to God during their reign in heaven (v6b, cf. 5:10), looking forward to the time when this reign will be on the earth. Taken together with that passage, it is plain that the “millennium” is referring to the same period of time as covered by the other vision cycles in Revelation: namely the entire time between the two comings of Christ.
If you are a Christian, you have already been resurrected once! Either you have two resurrections and only one death; or else, when you die, you will be resurrected unto a second death. But being alive is just the beginning of the happiness and holiness of the saints. For, they are priests unto God. They have the nearest fellowship with Him, and the leading role in all the creatures’ bringing Him glory. And, they are kings unto God. Kings with Christ, who reign with Him already in His heavenly reign in glory and spiritual reign on earth—and will reign with Him, physically and entirely, in the new heavens and the new earth. The “thousand years” of the current reign is, of course, a literary number of great length (long is the age of the gospel!). But it is not the duration of the reign of the saints on the earth from 5:10b. No! They, with Christ, shall reign on earth forever, and ever, and ever!
Enemies crushed. How long does the heavenly enthronement of Christ last, until His coming again? One Scripture answer, from 1Cor 15 and Heb 1–2, among others, follows Ps 110 in saying that this reign is “until all His enemies are put under His feet.” This is what is happening during the “thousand years.” But the end of this is not the end of the reign of Christ. Rather, it marks the arrival of the fuller and climactic and eternal reign of Christ! The release of the devil for a little while (v3) is only for the purpose of gathering the nations against the church (v7–9a).
Ezek 36–39 provides very important background to this passage. Ezek 36–37 describe a spiritual resurrection of God’s Israel into an army. And then Ezek 38–39 describe a war by the nations, led by “Gog and Magog,” against the army of God’s people. Just as the army in Ezek 37 is a spiritual army, what v9 is describing is a spiritual war. This is not something that happens outside of the thousand years, but during the end of it, bringing it to a fulfillment. It implies a time when Satan is given more leash for persecution. But it is a very brief time, and it is anticlimactically concluded when God devours with fire the enemies of the church (v10). And, just as with the rest of the time of the thousand years, even while the church is being persecuted, it continues to be victorious!
The conclusion of this battle describes (from another perspective) the same event as described in 19:19–21, under the image of the casting of the beast and false prophet, and the unleashing of the sword from Christ’s mouth. Here, the fire from God is described as sending the dragon into the same location as the other two members of the false trinity. Christians always win, though they die, for Christ’s victory is complete and instantaneous!
How are you encouraged by all that Satan is now no longer permitted to do? How are you reigning with Christ on earth? How are you reigning with Him in heaven? What is the explanation for your already having spiritual life? How does participation in the first resurrection encourage and help you? Why shouldn’t you be afraid of persecution, or even the much intensified persecution that comes at the end?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for being intimidated by a chained devil. Give us to rejoice at Christ’s reign, both in our hearts and on the throne of heaven! And forgive us for fearing persecution, whether now, or more intensely when the current part of Christ’s reign is fulfilled. Grant that we would rejoice in the fuller, forever reign that the end brings, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage?” or TPH389 “Great God, What Do I See and Hear”
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