Daily Bible Reading – Revelation 20

Chapter Summary:

  • Verses 1-10 – Satan bound & defeated
    • Satan bound for 1000 years, then loosed for a little season (vv. 1-3)
    • Those martyred for refusing to worship the beast reign with Christ 1000 years (vv. 4-6)
    • The devil’s final doom & eternal end (vv. 7-10) [Gog & Magog are clearly meant to represent, in a general way, the enemies of God & His people.]
    • See notes below re: premillennial falsehoods associated with this text.
  • Verses 11-15 – The final judgment
    • The great white throne (v. 11) – stands superior to other thrones that have been considered (white indicates purity)
    • The judgment includes all (vv. 12-13)
      • “The dead, small & great” (none excluded)
      • Book were not literal, but symbolize the divine record of all who have ever lived
      • The dead judged according to their works
      • The sea (all of humanity) gave up the dead which were in it (v. 13) – righteous & wicked (cf. Eph. 4:8; 1 Cor. 15:52ff.)
    • Consignment to the 2nd death (vv. 14-15)
      • Death (the last enemy, 1 Cor. 15:26) & hades (place of departed spirits) cast into the lake of fire
      • The 2nd death = the lake of fire – those who overcome (Rev. 2:11), who had part in the 1st resurrection (20:6), not affected by the 2nd death
      • Anyone not found in the Book of Life cast into the lake of fire

    Will Jesus Reign for 1000 Years on Earth?

    Note the Things NOT mentioned in Revelation 20:

    1. Christ’s 2nd coming
    2. Christ’s coming to earth
    3. Christ (or anyone else) reigning on earth
    4. David’s throne or Jerusalem
    5. A bodily resurrection (“souls,” v. 4)
    6. A “rapture”
    7. Souls’ being taken up or returned
    8. Tribulation (or 7 years, period)
    9. All Christians (only certain martyrs mentioned, v. 4)

    Revelation 20 is the only passage in the Bible mentioning a millennium.  Is it not strange that the whole premillennial doctrine (which asserts that Christ will reign on earth, on David’s throne, for 1000 years) is built around this single passage, subsequently interpreting other texts in the Bible to conform to the theory?  Nothing is mentioned regarding the beginning or end of Christ’s reign; He was already reigning, & the martyrs lived & reigned with Him for 1000 years (cf. despair of suffering saints in 6:9-11).  After their reign “with” Christ for 1000 years (a long time, vs. the “little season” of 6:11), Christ’s reign will continue until the end, when He delivers the kingdom (the church, Matt. 16:18-19; Mk. 9:1; Col. 1:13; et al) up to the Father (1 Cor. 15:20-26).  For further, in-depth study of this false doctrine of premillennialism, see David R. Pharr’s excellent book, Thy Kingdom Come, available here.