JESUS REIGNS AND SATAN IS TOSSED

by Tammy Phillips
November 21, 2021 

REVELATION 20

Satan Bound 1000 Years (Rev.20:1-3) 

When criminals have been proven guilty or admitted to heinous crimes, family and friends of the victims rejoice when criminals receive their just due. This is the scene of Revelation 19. The Antichrist and the false prophet have been thrown into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20  begins by describing the arrest and imprisonment of the dragon, the serpent, Satan himself, our adversary,  also called the Devil, the Accuser of the Brothers.  He has many alias’ and none of them good. He is locked up for a thousand years. Finally!

Several commentators point out that an unnamed angel (v.1)  bound Satan. It was not the Father, nor Christ.  Satan is not on God’s level as an opposite.  An angel with God-given authority bound him.

“And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”(Revelation 20:3 NKJV)

Satan is thrown  into the bottomless pit for the millennial reign of Christ on earth.  I wonder if the devil will feel like he is literally falling for a thousand years since the pit is bottomless?   Wouldn’t that be the justice of God?  Satan has always tried to deceive us and make us fall. Makes me smile to think about it. Notice, Satan is not thrown into the lake of fire, and he has to be released for a little while. But why? Answer later. 

“Till The Thousand Years Were Finished” (Rev.20:3)

During the Millennium :

• Israel will be the superpower of the world.   The Temple Mount will be the “capital” of the government of the Messiah. (Isaiah 2:1-3, Ezekiel 17:22-24)
• Earthlings will submit to the Lordship of Jesus. (Isaiah 2:1-5)
• No more war. (Isaiah 2:1-5)
• All animals live in peace with each other and humans. (Isaiah 11:6-9)
• King David will have a prominent place ruling over Israel. (Isaiah 55:3-5, Jeremiah 30:4-11, Ezekiel 34:23-31, Ezekiel 37:21-28, Hosea 3:5)
• Israel will be blessed and secure. (Amos 9:11-15)
• The temple will be rebuilt, and service restored. (Ezekiel 40-48, Ezekiel 37:26-28, Amos 9:11, Ezekiel 20:39-44)
• Resurrected saints  will be given assignments on Earth according to their faithful service. (Luke 19:11-27, Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 2:26-28; 3:12, 22, 1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

“The Millennium is important because it will demonstrate Jesus’ victory and worthiness to rule the nations.  The Millennium is important because it will reveal the depths of man’s rebellious nature in a perfect environment. (Revelation 20:11-15).  The Millennium is important because it will display the eternal depravity of Satan, who continues his evil as soon as he is released from his incarceration.  The Millennium is important because it will show the invulnerability of the city of God and God’s new order.”-David Gusik, BLB Commentary

The Saints Live And  Reign With Christ On Earth 1000 Years (Rev.20:4-6)

After the raptures and all the judgments of the Great Tribulation, it is hard to believe many people will be left on earth. However, there are.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. (Revelation 20:4 NKJV)

The Word of God says to us:   “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne even as I have sat down with my Father on his throne”(Rev 3:21). “  And so, the promise of sitting on their thrones and judgment given unto them. “Know ye not,” Paul said, “that you are going to judge the angels”(1 Corinthians 6:3).

Also, the beheaded for God, those who didn’t worship the beast and get his mark also live and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4).

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.” (Revelation 20:5 NKJV)

The first resurrection includes all Christians who were called up:  the dead in Christ, Old testament saints, living Christians, the 144,000 and Tribulations saints.

“Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6 NKJV). Hallelujah. 

As blessed followers of Christ we have eternal living, ruling, and reigning with Him in the near future!

Satan Released and Crushed (Revelation 20:7-10)

 “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison.” (Revelation 20:7 NKJV)

God is a just God. Satan is released to tempt people who have lived during the one-thousand-year reign. From the time of Adam man has been tempted.  If Satan hadn’t been released, all who had previously been tempted  and yielded could have accused   God of being unjust.  Satan had one thousand years to reform.  Nope, he is released, and he is his same old hard hearted criminal self with his same old plans…deceive the nations and battle Jesus. He gathers troops again. “And he gathers them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.” (Rev 20:8). Can you believe people who have actually seen Jesus for a thousand years can still be deceived by him?  They surround Jerusalem and God decides he has had enough.  “Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” (Rev:20:9). Finally, the devil is thrown to the lake of fire to be tormented forever. (Rev:20:10). Raise a Hallelujah!

The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev.20:11-15)

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.” (Revelation 20:11 NKJV)

John saw all the wicked dead not in Christ resurrected and standing before  the throne of God.  Books were opened including the Book of Life.  “The dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” (Revelation 20:12 NKJV).  We are alive at this time and not dead because we part of the first resurrection.  Hallelujah!

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15 NKJV).

The end of Death. The end of Satan on earth.  He gets to live forever tormented with his followers in the lake of fire.

I hope you are enCOURAGED!  As followers of Christ, we have the promise to live forever with Jesus, as well as rule and reign with Him for a thousand years in His kingdom, and so much more.  If you are not a follower of Jesus, you have a promise, too,  the lake of fire, burning eternally with Satan.  I enCOURAGE you to really think about your eternity and where you want to live.