Satan Bound for a Thousand Years
Study note
An angel descends from heaven with a key and chain, seizes the dragon, and binds him in the bottomless pit for a thousand years so he can no longer deceive the nations. Those who were martyred for their faith come to life and reign with Christ during this period, called the first resurrection. A blessing is pronounced on participants in this resurrection, over whom the second death has no power; they serve as priests of God and Christ.
1 Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit and a massive chain. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 He grabbed the dragon -- that ancient serpent, the Devil, Satan himself -- and locked him up in chains for a thousand years. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, locked it, and sealed it shut so the dragon could not fool the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that, he has to be let loose for a brief time. 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.
4 Then I saw thrones, and people were seated on them with the authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because they told people about Jesus and shared God's word. They had refused to worship the beast or its statue and had not accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came back to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 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.
5 The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy are those who take part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. 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.
Satan's Final Rebellion and Defeat
Study note
After the thousand years, Satan is released and immediately goes out to deceive the nations, gathering Gog and Magog for a final assault against the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Despite their vast numbers, fire from heaven devours them. The devil is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet already are, to be tormented forever.
7 When the thousand years end, Satan will be released from his prison. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 He will go out to deceive nations from every corner of the earth -- Gog and Magog -- and gather them for war. Their army will be as countless as the sand on the seashore. 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.
9 They marched across the whole earth and surrounded the camp of God's people and the city he loves. But fire rained down from heaven and burned them all up. 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.
10 The devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. They will be tormented there day and night, forever and ever. 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.
The Great White Throne Judgment
Study note
A great white throne appears, and earth and heaven flee from the presence of the one seated on it. The dead, great and small, stand before God. Books are opened, including the book of life, and the dead are judged according to their works. The sea, death, and Hades give up their dead. Then death and Hades themselves are thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Anyone whose name is not found in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire.
11 Then I saw an enormous white throne and the one who sat on it. Earth and sky ran away from his presence and completely vanished. 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.
12 I saw the dead -- all of them, great and small -- standing before the throne. Books were opened. Then another book was opened: the book of life. The dead were judged based on what was recorded in the books, according to what they had done. 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.
13 The sea handed over its dead. Death and the grave handed over their dead. Each person was judged based on what they had done. 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.
14 Then death and the grave were both thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.