Revelation 20

After millennia under Satan’s rule, God has
reclaimed His dominion over earth. Satan’s
forces are crushed: The King has returned to
reign! Meanwhile, the wicked dead wait for
their sentencing at the Great White Throne.
These are the dramatic revelations found in
Revelation 20!

The Millennial Kingdom: Heaven on Earth – Almost! (1-6)
· Satan bound and sealed in the abyss: No deceiving! (1-3)

· Reigning with Christ: The Overcomers’ Reward (4-6)

Satan’s Last Fling, and Sudden Doom (7-10)
· Old habits die hard: Satan released – and deceives! (7-8a)

· Satan gathers an army: Fire destroys them (8b-9)

· The devil gets his just desserts: Eternal fire (10)

The Great White Throne: The Wicked Dead Judged
· The holiness of God is on display here! (11)

· None righteous, no not one: The books show it! (12-13)

· Names not found in the book of life: This
alone determines eternal destiny (14-15)


And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15

For Further Study

1. Reference is made to a period of 1000 years six times in Rev. 20 (vv. 2,3,4,5,6, and 7). Despite this repeated emphasis, many scholars suggest this is figurative, symbolic of a long period of time. Some suggest that Bible verses like Ps.90:4 and 2 Pet.3:8 indicate that “1000 years” can refer to any length of time. Why is this argument invalid? (What does “1000 years” refer to in these verses?)

2. One approach to the Millennium (1000-year reign of Christ) in Rev.20 is the amillennial view, which says that this time began with Christ’s death and ends at His second coming. If we are living in this time, however, that would mean that Satan is now bound and sealed in the abyss (2-3)! Is this true? Read Acts 5:3; 2 Cor 4:3-4; 11:14; Eph 2:2; 2 Tim 2:26; 1 Pet 5:8. Does it sound like Satan is bound? Do you feel he is in your life?

3. Here’s a brain-teaser: At the end of the millennial kingdom, we read that Satan is released to deceive the nations one last time. This means unbelievers exist in the kingdom! Where did they come from? Beyond this, what do you think God’s purpose is in allowing Satan to stage this final revolt?

4. Recently the doctrine of hell – at least the idea that any person will ever go there – has been under attack. First, let’s establish what the Bible says. Does hell exist (see 19:20; 20:11, 14-15; 21:8)? Beside Satan, antichrist, and the false prophet, do any people go there (20:14-15)? Some suggest that eternal torment is unfair, but God does not! What does eternal destiny reveal about the significance of our lives right now?

5. Understanding the basis of judgment at the Great White Throne is critical (11-15). At first, ‘the books’ are opened. What was written in ‘the books’? Why are they judged from these first? Are they sent to hell based on what is written there? What is recorded in the book of life? What does this determine? See Luke 10:20; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27).

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