Revelation 20

Revelation 20, part of the Book of Revelation, written around AD 70 by the apostle John while exiled on Patmos, to churches in Asia Minor facing persecution, describes the thousand-year reign (millennium), Satan’s binding and final rebellion, and the final judgment at the Great White Throne. It emphasizes God’s sovereignty over evil, the blessedness of those reigning with Christ, and the ultimate defeat of death and Hades, affirming the eternal consequences of human deeds.
Key Sections
Satan Bound and the Millennium (20:1–3): An angel descends with a key to the abyss and a chain, seizing Satan (the dragon, serpent, devil) and binding him for a thousand years, casting him into the abyss, sealed to prevent deceiving nations until the period ends. Afterward, he’s released briefly.
First Resurrection and Millennial Reign (20:4–6): John sees thrones with those given authority to judge, including martyrs beheaded for Christ’s testimony, who didn’t worship the beast or take its mark. They come to life, reigning with Christ for a thousand years—the first resurrection. The rest of the dead don’t live until the thousand years end. Those in the first resurrection are blessed, priests of God and Christ, immune to the second death, reigning for the millennium.
Satan’s Release and Final Defeat (20:7–10): After the thousand years, Satan is released, deceiving nations (Gog and Magog) to gather for battle, numerous as sand, surrounding the saints’ camp and beloved city. Fire from heaven consumes them; the devil is thrown into the lake of fire, joining the beast and false prophet, tormented day and night forever.
Great White Throne Judgment (20:11–15): John sees a great white throne, with earth and heaven fleeing from the One seated. The dead, great and small, stand before it, judged by books opened according to their deeds. Another book, the book of life, is opened. Death and Hades give up their dead, judged by deeds. Death and Hades, and anyone not in the book of life, are thrown into the lake of fire, the second death.
Cross-References
Satan Bound: 
Luke 10:18: Satan falls like lightning.

John 12:31: Ruler cast out.

Isaiah 24:21–22: Shut in prison.
First Resurrection: 
John 5:28–29: Resurrection of life.

1 Corinthians 15:23: Christ, then His own.

Revelation 2:11: No second death.
Thousand-Year Reign: 
Daniel 7:27: Saints’ kingdom.

Psalm 2:8–9: Rule with Christ.

Revelation 5:10: Priests, kings.
Gog and Magog: 
Ezekiel 38–39: Gog’s invasion.

Revelation 16:14: Armageddon gathering.

Numbers 23:7: Nations assembled.
Lake of Fire: 
Matthew 25:41: Fire for devil, angels.

Revelation 19:20: Beast, prophet cast.

Mark 9:48: Unquenchable fire.
Great White Throne: 
Daniel 7:9–10: Thrones, books opened.

Romans 2:5–6: Day of wrath.

Psalm 69:28: Book of life.
Book of Life: 
Philippians 4:3: Names in book.

Exodus 32:32–33: Blotted out.

Revelation 21:27: City’s entry.
Theological Meaning
Satan’s Limitation: God’s sovereignty binds Satan, restricting his deception temporarily (vv. 2–3; Colossians 2:15).

Blessed Reign: Martyrs and faithful reign with Christ, sharing His victory (vv. 4–6; Romans 8:17).

First Resurrection: Believers’ resurrection ensures immunity from eternal death (v. 6; John 11:25–26).

Evil’s Final Defeat: Satan’s rebellion fails, and he faces eternal torment (vv. 9–10; Romans 16:20).

Universal Judgment: All face God’s impartial judgment by deeds, with eternal life or death (vv. 12–15; Ecclesiastes 12:14).

Eternal Stakes: The book of life determines destiny, emphasizing faith’s outcome (v. 15; John 3:36).
Questions and Answers
Why bind Satan for a thousand years (v. 2)?
To prevent deceiving nations, allowing Christ’s reign to manifest (v. 3; Revelation 12:9).

Who reigns with Christ (v. 4)?
Martyrs and faithful who resisted the beast, given authority (v. 4; Revelation 6:9–11).

What is the first resurrection (v. 5)?
Believers’ resurrection to reign with Christ, distinct from the general resurrection (v. 5; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Who are Gog and Magog (v. 8)?
Nations deceived by Satan for a final rebellion, symbolizing global opposition (v. 8; Ezekiel 38:2).

What is the second death (v. 14)?
Eternal punishment in the lake of fire for those not in the book of life (v. 14; Matthew 10:28).

What are the books opened (v. 12)?
Records of deeds for judgment, alongside the book of life for salvation (v. 12; Psalm 56:8).

How does this apply today?
Trust Christ for the book of life, endure trials, and hope in His ultimate victory (v. 6; 1 Corinthians 15:57–58).
Eschatological Interpretations
Dispensational Premillennial View:
Interpretation: Revelation 20 describes a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth after His second coming, post-tribulation. Satan is literally bound (vv. 1–3), unable to deceive nations, allowing a theocratic kingdom with Israel restored and the church reigning (vv. 4–6). The first resurrection includes church saints (raptured pre-tribulation) and tribulation martyrs, reigning in Jerusalem. Post-millennium, Satan’s release sparks a literal Gog-Magog rebellion, crushed by fire (vv. 7–10). The Great White Throne judges unbelievers after the millennium, with believers already glorified (vv. 11–15). The book of life confirms saved dispensations (church, Israel, tribulation saints).

Timing: Future, after rapture, tribulation, and Christ’s return; literal 1,000-year millennium.

Key Features: Literal millennium; distinct dispensations; pre-trib rapture; Israel’s prominence.

Support: Literal “thousand years” (vv. 2–7); Old Testament kingdom promises (Isaiah 11:6–9).
Historic Premillennial View:
Interpretation: Revelation 20 depicts a literal 1,000-year reign after Christ’s single second coming (post-tribulation, no rapture). Satan is bound, limiting deception, enabling Christ to rule with resurrected martyrs and faithful (vv. 1–6). The first resurrection is for believers, reigning on a renewed earth. Gog-Magog’s rebellion (vv. 7–10) is a literal post-millennial revolt, destroyed by God. The Great White Throne judges all humanity, with the book of life determining eternal life or second death (vv. 11–15). Unlike Dispensationalism, there’s no separate Israel-church distinction; all redeemed reign together.

Timing: Future, after Christ’s return; literal millennium precedes eternal state.

Key Features: Literal reign; unified redeemed; no pre-trib rapture; final rebellion.

Support: Repeated “thousand years” (vv. 4–6); early church chiliasm (Daniel 7:18).
Amillennial View:
Interpretation: The “thousand years” (vv. 1–6) symbolizes the current church age, from Christ’s first coming to His return. Satan’s binding (vv. 1–3) is his restricted influence due to Christ’s victory, limiting global deception (Matthew 12:29). The first resurrection is spiritual—believers’ regeneration or martyrs’ heavenly reign (v. 4). The millennium is Christ’s present rule through the church, not a future earthly kingdom. Gog-Magog (vv. 7–10) symbolizes a final Satanic assault before Christ’s return. The Great White Throne (vv. 11–15) is the universal judgment at Christ’s single return, with the book of life for the redeemed. The chapter is symbolic, not chronological.

Timing: Millennium as present church age; judgment at Christ’s second coming.

Key Features: Symbolic millennium; spiritual reign; single eschatological judgment.

Support: Symbolic numbers (v. 2; Psalm 50:10); binding fulfilled (John 16:11).
Postmillennial View (Including Preterist):
Interpretation: Postmillennial: The “thousand years” (vv. 1–6) is a long period of gospel triumph, where Christianity transforms society, binding Satan’s influence (vv. 1–3) through global conversions. The first resurrection may be spiritual (revival) or martyrs’ heavenly reign, with believers ruling culturally. Gog-Magog (vv. 7–10) is a brief rebellion before Christ’s return, followed by the Great White Throne judgment (vv. 11–15). Preterist: The millennium began post-AD 70, symbolizing the new covenant’s victory over Judaism, with Satan bound by Christ’s work. Gog-Magog and the judgment (vv. 7–15) may reflect AD 70’s fall of Jerusalem or a future final judgment. The book of life signifies covenant inclusion.

Timing: Postmillennial: Future gospel-driven millennium, then judgment. Preterist: Mostly AD 70; judgment future or symbolic.

Key Features: Gospel’s cultural impact; symbolic or partial fulfillment; AD 70 (Preterist).

Support: Gospel’s spread (v. 3; Matthew 28:19); AD 70 judgment (Luke 21:20–24).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written to seven churches in Asia Minor (Rev. 1:4) under Domitian’s persecution (AD 95). John’s Patmos exile shapes the vision’s hope, using Jewish apocalyptic imagery (Ezekiel, Daniel) to assure victory amid trials.

Cultural Questions: “Thousand years” (v. 2) uses Jewish symbolic numbers, debated in synagogues (Psalm 90:4). “Abyss” (v. 1) reflects Jewish cosmology, vivid for readers (Job 38:16). “Martyrs” (v. 4) resonate with persecuted churches (Revelation 6:9). “Gog-Magog” (v. 8) evokes Ezekiel’s prophecy, familiar in diaspora (Ezekiel 38:1–6). “Lake of fire” (v. 10) uses Greco-Roman imagery, bold in Asia Minor (Isaiah 30:33). “Book of life” (v. 12) mirrors Jewish covenant records, central in worship (Daniel 12:1).

Application: Revelation 20 calls believers to endure persecution, trust Christ’s reign, and ensure their names are in the book of life. It challenges fear, compromise, and unbelief, urging hope in God’s final justice (Romans 12:19; 1 Peter 4:19).