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Revelation 20

World English Bible

WEB

1I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2He seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 3and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. 4I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has 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 one thousand years. 7And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison 8and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up over the width of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them. 10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the sky fled away. There was found no place for them. 12I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Revelation Chapter 20 presents a powerful vision of the final events in God's redemptive plan, focusing on the binding of #Satan, the reign of Christ, and the final judgment. The chapter begins with an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the Abyss and a great chain. This angel seizes #Satan, binding him for a thousand years, preventing him from deceiving the nations during this period. This binding signifies a time of peace and righteousness, where Christ reigns with His saints, fulfilling the promise of #Revelation 5:10 that they will reign on the earth. The chapter emphasizes the importance of the first resurrection, where those who have been martyred for their faith are blessed and will reign with Christ, highlighting the hope of eternal life for believers.

After the thousand years, #Satan is released for a short time, leading to a final rebellion against God. However, this rebellion is swiftly crushed, and Satan is ultimately thrown into the lake of fire, where he will be tormented forever. The chapter concludes with the great white throne judgment, where all the dead are resurrected and judged according to their deeds. Those whose names are not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire, emphasizing the seriousness of faith and the eternal consequences of rejecting God. This chapter serves as a reminder of God's ultimate victory over evil and the hope of eternal life for those who remain faithful to Him.

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Referenced by

  1. Psalms 1:5v12Psalm 1:5 speaks of the wicked not standing in the judgment, which is further illustrated in Revelation 20:12-15 where the final judgment is described, and the wicked are cast into the lake of fire.
  2. Psalms 9:19v12Psalm 9:19 calls for God to arise and judge the nations, which is reflected in Revelation 20:12 where the dead are judged according to their deeds.
  3. Isaiah 24:21-22v1Isaiah 24:21-22 speaks of the Lord punishing the host of the high ones and kings of the earth, similar to Revelation 20:1-3 where Satan and his followers are bound and judged.
  4. Isaiah 27:1v2Isaiah 27:1 speaks of the Lord punishing Leviathan, the fleeing serpent, which is echoed in Revelation 20:2 where the dragon, identified as Satan, is bound for a thousand years. Both passages depict God's ultimate victory over evil.
  5. Ezekiel 38:2v8Ezekiel 38:2 introduces Gog of the land of Magog, a figure who leads a coalition against Israel. Revelation 20:8 refers to Gog and Magog in a symbolic sense, representing the nations that rise against God's people in the end times.
  6. Matthew 25:31-46v11Matthew 25:31-46 describes the final judgment where the Son of Man separates the sheep from the goats, which is echoed in Revelation 20:11-15 with the great white throne judgment, highlighting the criteria of judgment based on deeds and the eternal destinies of the righteous and the wicked.
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:26v141 Corinthians 15:26 speaks of the last enemy, death, being destroyed, which is depicted in Revelation 20:14 where death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire.

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