Revelation 20: The Messianic Kingdom and the Final Judgment

Revelation 20 documents the binding of Satan for 1,000 years and the resurrected reign of the saints with Christ on earth. It concludes with the final rebellion of mankind, the eternal casting of Satan into the Lake of Fire, and the definitive 'Great White Throne' judgment of all the unsaved dead.

  1. v1-3: The Binding of Satan
  2. v4-6: The Millennial Reign and the First Resurrection
  3. v7-10: The Final Rebellion and Satan's Doom
  4. v11-15: The Great White Throne Judgment

Revelation chapter 20

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Explore the 1,000-year era of peace on earth followed by the final, sobering audit of every human life before God. Begin your study with revelation 20 summary.

The 'Books' opened at the judgment represent the record of human deeds, but the 'Book of Life' is the only one that determines one's eternal destination. The 'Word Secret' is Chilioi, the Greek word for 'thousand,' from which we get the term 'Millennium,' representing a literal period of Sabbath rest for the earth. Discover the riches with revelation 20 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.

Unlock the hidden revelation 20 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.

Have a question about this chapter or a revelation to share? Connect with the Body of Christ to express your heart and find biblical answers within the Revelation 20 fellowship.

Explore revelation 20 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines

3 min read (477 words)