Revelation Chapter 20:1-5

If the sequence of events in John’s vision is chronological, the next logical scenes would be the final judgment and descriptions of the eternal peace of God’s kingdom. Instead, there seems to be a pause, and John is shown a marvelous panorama depicting a thousand-year age of peace ruled over by Christ. This is commonly known as the “millennium.”

(*All Bible verses are from the NIV unless otherwise noted)

Locks and keys of various forms have been used to secure valuables and protect against intrusion. In this case, John sees an angel preparing to close the entrance to Satan’s domain, the great abyss from which all evil figuratively flows onto the earth:

Rev 9:1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.

In Chapter 9, John sees that Satan holds the key to all that is in opposition to God. The darkness of that opposition obscures the truth and chokes mankind like smoke from a fiery furnace.

While the Enemy holds the keys to unlock all that is evil, Christ is the only one who has been given the keys to forever lock away that same darkness:

Rev 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Here the Apostle brings together the various descriptions of the enemy used throughout the prophecy:

To “bind” something up is to wrap it securely and to tie it so that nothing is loose. With the coming of Messiah, Satan‘s plans to eternally enslave humankind were demolished and imprisoned by God’s forgiving love!

Isa 22:22  I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Isa 25:8  …he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

Col 1:13  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Matthew 8:31  The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

John 12:31  Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

The event that broke Satan’s power forever – that sealed his fate and crushed the sting of death – took place on Calvary:

Col 1:20 …and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

1Pet 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1Cor 15:54 “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

This thousand-year period is commonly known as the millennium. Three primary views of this period of time have developed over the centuries, some more popular than others. Although sometimes hotly debated, holding one view over another has seldom been seen as unorthodox or heretical—simply different. However, how passionately readers embrace one view over another can have a significant impact on how they approach their Christian walk in anticipation of Christ’s continued work in the world.

Scripture maintains that Satan is bound by the power of Christ as believers move out in faith to confront evil: 

Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

2Thess 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

As we’ve seen, the word satan means adversary or accuser¹, and is illustrated in the courtroom scene the prophet Zechariah was shown (Zech 3:1-5).  According to Isaiah and Paul, Satan’s accusation of us is valid. We all fall far short of the perfection of God:

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Isa 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Rom 3:10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Justice and mercy appear incompatible. Justice involves the dispensing of deserved punishment for wrongdoing. Without consequences, justice can’t exist! On the other hand, mercy is all about pardon and compassion, erasing the wrong as if it was never committed. How can God be just and merciful at the same time?

That’s the Good News!

Rom 3:24 …and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

2 Cor 5:21  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Eph 1:7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Col 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

1 Pet 1:18  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Throughout the Revelation John has heard a number of time periods expressed which are accepted by most scholars to be symbolic:

• The saints will suffer persecution for ten days (2:10)
• Those not sealed to God to be tortured for five months (9:10)
• Two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days (11:3)
• The witnesses’ bodies will lie in the streets for three and a half days (11:9, 11)
• A woman is kept safe in the wilderness for 1,260 days (12:6)
• The woman is kept safe for time, times, and half a time (12:14)
• Kings will be given authority and Babylon will fall in one hour (17:12, 18:10, 17, 19)

It’s unlikely that John suddenly abandoned symbolic imagery to articulate a literal one-thousand-year period, which is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible. On the other hand, the Testaments consistently use numbers that are obviously symbolic:

• God shows love to a thousand generations (Exod 20:6, Deut 5:10, 7:9)
• If Israel is faithful, God promises that one hundred warriors would chase ten thousand enemies (Lev 26:8)
• May the LORD, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times (Deut 1:11)
• God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psa 50:10)
• A thousand years is as a day to God (Psa 90:4)
• Thousands upon thousands, ten thousand times ten thousand attend God (Dan 7:10)

It’s only through God’s presence within us that we can find the strength to master our desires. It’s only through the Holy Spirit that we become aware of our ability to live a better life, free from the things that create distance between ourselves and God and lead to broken relationships with others. Satan delights in the chaos in our lives but, because of Christ, is powerless to defeat us! Jesus will have the victory!

God’s Spirit of truth continues to break through the darkness of ignorance and sin. Most modern developed nations are aware of the foundational teachings of Jesus in one form or another. The Christ-like ideals of peace, justice, and equality undergird the philosophies of many modern cultures. Whether world leaders choose to adhere to these ideals is another question, but most peoples of the earth no longer live under the illusion that poverty is a tolerable norm, that murder and theft are to be expected, or that injustice is an acceptable way of life. World leaders can choose to be unethical tyrants, but they no longer do so out of ignorance, and in this age of technology, they can’t do it undetected!

Acts 14:16 In the past, [God] let all nations go their own way.”

Acts 17:30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

Satan’s supreme reign came to an end on Calvary, and Christ is conquering the nations.

Rev 1:6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Rev 2:26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.

Rev 5:10  You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Satan’s plan to eternally separate us from the Father was destroyed when Jesus died for our sins and paved the way to redemption. But the Enemy’s influence has not ceased. Rebellion, doubt, unbelief, and faithlessness can still free evil’s impact to do damage and create misery. Wherever there is unbelief, destruction is set free for a little while until the “good news” is acknowledged and faithfully lived out.

Readers can speculate that at some future point, the Christian inspiration that has shaped our culture may diminish to the point that Satan’s influence can reign nearly supreme for “a little while.” But what can be known for sure – what can have an immediate impact on the Church and the world – are the eternal principles declared by God’s Word.

John is seeing the redeemed, those believers who have surrendered their lives to God and His Christ:

Rev 3:21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Eph 2:6  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…

It’s the words of Christ that will judge the world. It’s the life he lived and the sacrifice he made that will stand as a witness against all that is evil:

John 12:48 …here is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.

James 1:21  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Heb 4:12   For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

A believer’s testimony of Jesus stands as a judgment against lies and injustice!

As we’ve seen in previous verses, all the redeemed reign with Christ, not just those who were beheaded. This is a euphemism for all who have surrendered their lives to the Father.

But, here again, all believers can agree on the eternal principles being expressed. Charles John Ellicott (1819-1905), in his Commentary for English Readers, Revelation Chapter 20, addresses these principles:

1. The millennium expresses an ideal picture – a state of beauty and peace possible for humankind at any time.
2. The victory of Christ, our redemption, was a real victory, defeating Satan’s plans. (Luke 10:18, John 12:31, John 16:11, 2 Peter 2:4).
3. But the rejection of Christ’s power and victory – humankind’s stubborn refusal of God and His Christ – postpones the realization of this picture and presents a barrier against the immediate fulfillment of John’s vision.
4. However, all is not completely hopeless. In God’s timing, the vision will be realized. The establishment of Christ’s Church and her continued battle against evil in this world was the beginning.

All Christians can be sure of this – Christ reigns now!

Rev 5:12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Satan’s power is bound every time a believer takes a stand in faith, believing in Christ’s redeeming grace:

Heb 2:14  Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

Rom 16:20  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Col 1:12 …and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Col 2:14 …having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Those who live in Christ will have eternal life:

John 3:16   For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Some would argue that pursuing a more symbolic approach to Revelation implies that the concept of resurrection is itself only symbolic. But a search of the scriptures yields numerous verses concerning the reality of resurrection as a promise and a hope:

Isaiah 26:19  But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise— let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy— your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.

Dan 12:2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Matt 22:30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

John 3:16   For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 6:37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

1 Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Paul gives a long discourse on the resurrection. Selections from the NLT are quoted here:

Their hope was for the restoration of Israel’s glory—an earthly one, where the “Son of David” would come and restore the physical kingdom of Israel⁴ (notes on 19:12).

The prophet Daniel is the first to introduce the concept of the dead being restored to life (Dan 12:2-3).

Here, another great eternal principle is revealed: Any person who faithfully embraces Jesus, the one who paid for their failings and imperfections, not only experiences a new beginning and purpose immediately in this life but also receives the promise that this new life will continue for eternity through the resurrection.

This same eternal principle holds true for those who refuse to acknowledge God. Those who live outside a covenant relationship with Christ are never truly alive. If they consciously choose to separate themselves from their Creator, knowing that He exists but preferring the pursuit of evil, that separation will continue eternally:

Prov 11:28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Matt 16:26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Matt 25:32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats…

Matt 25:41  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

In the next verses John sees an entirely new set of illustrations depicting once again a final battle scene and the judgments to follow.

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Footnotes

1. Strong’s G4567, Σατανᾶς, satanas ↩︎
2. Late Great Planet Earth, by Hal Lindsey and Carole C. Carlson, Zondervan, 1970. ↩︎
3. Left Behind, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Tyndale House, 1995. ↩︎
4. The idea of mashiach (messiah) is an ancient one in Judaism, and perceives him as a great human leader like King David, and not as a savior (Jer 23:5, Jer 33:15, Isa 11:2-5). Although there has always been a great deal of speculation about when the mashiach will come, most Jewish scholars suggest that the conduct of mankind will determine the time. Jewish tradition and scripture  identifies several tasks that the mashiach will accomplish: He will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the people, gathering them back to Israel and restoring Jerusalem (Isa 11:11-12; Jer 23:8; 30:3; Hos 3:4-5). He will establish an all-world government (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1). He will rebuild the Temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18). He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15). One reason Jews do not believe in Jesus is because he did not accomplish these tasks. Judaism 101: https://www.jewfaq.org/index.shtmls. ↩︎

*All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™