This chapter opens with John beholding an angel coming down from heaven. Since the Apostle does not say that he saw this angel “after” the things that he wrote about in chapter 19 (as he frequently does in other places in this Book), this would lead us to conclude that we must not necessarily understand this scene to chronologically transpire after the events of chapter 19.
In chapter 9, the devil was given the key to a shaft of the bottomless pit so that he could let loose demonic forces upon the human race. Now, here in chapter 20, this angel of heaven thrusts the devil himself into the pit and closes the opening so that he cannot escape. Not only is he sealed into the pit, he is also bound by the chain of the Lord’s Almighty power.
What does this mean? When did this “binding” of Satan in the bottomless pit happen? In the Gospels, Jesus once answered His critics with a parable of a “stronger man” binding a “strong man” in order to rob his palace (Matt. 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:21). This parable was meant to show His accusers the reason why He was casting out the evil spirits from those who were afflicted by them – namely, so that He might bring freedom to those who were being held in bondage in the devil’s stronghold, and so that He might manifest His power as the “stronger man” Who was tying up Satan (the “strong man”). Therefore, this parable from the Gospels teaches us that the ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus was the beginning of the “thousand years” during which Satan is bound. The “thousand years” is not meant to be taken as a literal segment of time during human history. In the Scriptures, the number 1,000 is used as a symbol for completeness. Hence we understand this thousand-year-period as a time when the Lord will bring all His plans and works to complete fulfillment. It is, in fact, the time in which we are now living – the time between the First Advent and the Second Coming of Jesus.
It is stated here that the devil was bound for the thousand-year-period so that he might not be able to “deceive the nations.” The Church of Jesus would not be able to accomplish her God-given mission on earth if the devil were permitted to run loose and work against her. Hence he is shut up in the bottomless pit – beginning during the time of our Savior’s earthly ministry, and continuing until the end of the world, when the Church will have finished her work on earth. We have already seen, earlier in this Book, how the devil was thrown out of heaven when Christ successfully completed His work of redemption. He was pitched down to earth, where he began to vent his rage by persecuting the Woman (that is, the Church). But she was preserved from his malicious attempts to take her life, and so his plans to destroy her were thwarted. His being locked into the bottomless pit is a picture that shows how he is being restrained from destroying the Woman and her witness of Jesus to the world. However, shortly before the end of the world, when the Lord shall have determined that the Church’s mission has been accomplished, the devil will be let loose from the pit for a “short time.” We are not told why he “must” be released for this “short time,” but we may rest assured that our God has a good reason why this must transpire as part of His sovereign plans.
So we understand the “thousand years” to be a symbolic representation of the time that will pass between our Savior’s First and Second Coming. During that time, Satan is restrained from destroying the Church and hindering her mission, even though he will do his best to inflict much pain and persecution upon her.
Who are those who participate in the “first resurrection”? (verses 4-6) They are the people of God who live and reign with the Lord Jesus during that metaphorical “thousand years.” This includes the members of the Church Militant that is here on earth, as well as those who are already in heaven – making up the Church Triumphant. It is no wonder that a blessing is pronounced upon the heads of those who have a part in this “first resurrection” during the time of the Church’s ministry for Christ on earth! During that time, they enjoy the blessedness of being able to serve their Lord as His priests – carrying the message of the redeeming work of Jesus far and wide! And not only do they have a part in the “first resurrection,” they will also be partakers of the “second resurrection” of the body on the Great Last Day. They will only die once, unless the Lord returns before then; unlike unbelievers, who will die twice (both physically and spiritually) and be resurrected only once, so that they may be consigned to the lake of fire. But the second and everlasting death in the lake of fire will not be able to touch the people of God; for when Jesus returns, they will reign with Him forever in heaven!
Verses 7-10 give us a third and concluding view of the last great battle – called Armageddon – that will take place just before the end of the world, in which the dragon and his evil forces will make one more desperate attempt to annihilate the Church once and for all. During his bondage in the bottomless pit for a “thousand years,” Satan cannot directly fight against the Woman (the Church); he can only make life bitter and hard for her, in all manner of suffering and despair, through the agency of his political and religious beasts (chapter 13). But right before the end of the world, when he is let loose from the pit for a “short time,” he will cause the general hatred and hostility of the world toward the Church to break out into outright violence against her everywhere. This closing scene of this Battle of Armageddon is figuratively pictured under the imagery of “Gog and Magog.” This term was used by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 38 and 39) to stand as a symbol for the destructive enemies of the Lord’s people. But God rescues and delivers His children from their hands, right at the very point when it seems certain that they are about to be totally crushed under their destroying hands! Similarly, right before the end of the world, the evil forces of Satan (who will have been let loose from his bondage in the pit) will be just on the verge on crushing the Church of Jesus under their heels – very nearly annihilating her with great tribulations – when Christ Himself will step in and personally intervene, totally reversing the expected outcome of the battle! And as for the devil, the leader who spearheaded this last attack by his host of evil minions (“Gog and Magog”), he will be pitched into the lake of fire to receive his share of everlasting punishment – just like his two beasts whom he employed to persecute the Church (chapter 19). No longer will he and his beasts be able to afflict the Bride of Christ! She is now victorious because of the victory that her engaged Husband, the Lamb, has won for her; and she will reign by His side forever and ever!
The time has now come for the Great Last Judgment of all mankind. And that is exactly what is portrayed here in the last five verses of this chapter. The Apostle tells us that he sees a great white throne – colored white in order to represent the purity of His righteous judgment that He will utter. But His judgment is so terrifying to those who are not under the blood of Jesus, that heaven and earth will do their best to hide themselves from Him. But every human being who has ever lived will be raised from the dead (if they are not still alive when Christ returns) and summoned to stand before His throne so that they may receive the due reward of their deeds. The evil works of the unbelievers will prove them guilty, but those who have been cleansed in Christ’s blood have their names written in the Book of Life – and they alone will be the only ones who escape being thrown into the lake of fire. It is interesting to note that John tells us that death itself is cast into the lake of fire. Paul spoke of Death as the last great enemy of humanity; but now that enemy is forever vanquished and defeated, and Jesus Christ reigns victorious!
Lord, we praise Your name that the dragon and his beasts will no longer be able to afflict the Bride of Christ, for she is now victorious because of the victory that the Lamb has won for her! We thank You that we have been washed, cleansed, and purified in His blood so that we will not be found guilty when we stand before Your throne on that Great Last Day! Amen.
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