Revelation 20
Re 20:1 ¶ And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Re 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Jesus is the person with the keys and He gives them to us as we can responsibly use them, Mt 16:19.
Christians can now either bind and restrain Hell or loose it as they either obey God’s laws or break them.
This happens as we either give in to temptation through sinning and as a result of our personal behavior allow/loose the devil’s activity in our lives or resist the temptation and bind the demonic activity, Mt 16:19.
Mt 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven
Rev 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Jesus binds the Devil. So when does this happen? Answer – when a person does what He says.
As a reminder and to aid in the interpretation of this parable/mystery consider again that the Bible promotes a personal relationship with Jesus. This type of individual interpretation will result in a change in understanding, especially if a person has thought that these events will happen to everyone at the same point in time.
This concept can be seen through the following statement “An individual person must be born again, Jn 3:3. This foundational truth suggests an individual experience, not a group experience.
John 3:3 ¶Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Most interpret these verses in Revelation and those similar to it as occurrences that happen to the entire world at one time, this is where they are mistaken.
These verses make reference to a personal relationship, as the following paragraphs will make clear.
When the Christian individual is obedient, God prohibits the devil from touching the person (Pr 16:7 and 1 Jn 5:18), in this way the Devil is bound.
1 Jo 5:18 We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not, but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not.
Pr 16:7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
(ASV)
Rev 20:3 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.
Where was the Devil cast? Answer – The place that was prepared for Him, Hell or eternal fire or the bottomless pit. He is bound or restrained there.
Jesus keeps our enemies from touching us when we are free from sin. We keep free from sin by both recognizing and confessing to Jesus that the activity was indeed sinful (Ps 32:5), or by resisting the temptation to act in a sinful manner.
Psalm 32:5 KJV — I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
The Demonic is loosed when a Christian willfully practices sin. This does not mean that if they sin once by mistake, they receive punishment. This refers to practicing willful sin repeatedly. Heb 10:26-27.
God forgives much more than 490 times a day as He instructs us to forgive in Matthew 18:22. The main point in confession is to make the person confessing the activity realize that it is indeed a sinful action. A person must only confess the sin to be forgiven and in this way recognize that it is sinful. God will give the person the ability to forsake the sin and repent from the sinful action as the Holy Spirit develops the person’s character.
It is very important to remember here that if God forgives much more than 490 times a Day then He also knows that a person will not always be able to forsake a certain sinful activity the first time that they recognize it as being sinful.
The main point here is that during the time that the person is trying to develop the ability to refrain from a particular sin, they need to continue to recognize that it is indeed sinful.
Making peace with a persistent sin is the equivalent of calling evil good and the sinful tendency then can turn into “willful sin”, which is the precursor to judgment.
If we judge and condemn a person who commits a particular sin repeatedly we can interfere with God’s grace as He teaches them to repent or deny ungodly activity, Titus 2:11-12. This is the idea behind 1 Thess 4:15. We are not as obedient Christians to “come before” our willfully sinful brethren. We are to leave them alone and let the Lord descend and bring His judgment into their lives. His judgment is much more effective than ours.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, Heb 10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.
During those points of time referred to as the “Days of the Lord” the Devil or His demons are (under Jesus’ supervision) loosed in our lives in order to bring about our correction, 1 Cor 11:32.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
This is where the term “the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” comes into play, 1 Thess 5:2. The thief is the one who steals, kills, and destroys. He/they are the destroying Angels or the weapons of His (God’s) indignation, Psalm 78:49.
Psalm 78:49 KJV — He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
1 Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ASV)
Mt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:
The millennium or thousand-year period is symbolic of the obedient Christian life or the first resurrection when an individual Christian is raised and allowed to partake of Jesus’ life, as is referred to in Col 3:1.
During this obedient period in a person’s life, the Devil is prohibited from touching a Christian as we are told in the following verse. As verse 3 of Revelation 20 shows us the Devil is loosed when a person is willfully disobedient.
Unlike unbelievers, Jesus controls the extent to which Christians can be afflicted. He limits the affliction of the Christian so that the affliction itself develops the person’s Christ-like character as 1 Cor 11:31-32 shows.
1 Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
1 John 5:18 ¶ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
The Devil is loosed when the 1000-year period/millennium is ended in the life of the individual. In other words when the Christian is no longer obedient and willfully sins.
This is one of the reasons why Jesus did not answer the Disciple’s question regarding” when will the Day of the Lord happen”, Matt 24:3. The “Day of the Lord” refers to the time of discipline caused by willful sin. God brings about this discipline as it is necessary in the life of the individual believer in order to conform them to the image of Christ in each individual area of their lives.
Mt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
In Revelation 20:3 the question becomes “When is the devil loosed”? The answer is – He is loosed in a person’s life when the Christian willfully sins. The Devil is loosed to carry out God’s prescribed (corrective) judgment upon the individual Christian.
1. This is the first occurrence in Revelation 20 where the “concept” of an end (Telos Strong’s # 5055) is used. Their obedience has “ended” in this verse.
The Devil/Demonic is here used as an instrument to teach the Christian to abstain from ungodliness, Romans 1:18 and Titus 2:11-12.
Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
(KJV)
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;
The devil is loosed when the Christian person sins willfully, Heb 10:26-27.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
The indignation of God devours the adversaries or that which opposes God.
Here we can see that the sinful tendency is devoured by the fire of God as the Christian individual is taught to deny the ungodly activity (Titus 2:12).
The demonic characteristic or temptation to which the believer had formally yielded is defeated.
In other words, the sinful tendencies are consumed and the believer is thereafter enabled to resist that particular temptation, as is indicated in 1 Cor 11:32.
During a period of discipline, a Christian must maintain their faith throughout the discipline process. As the author of their faith (Jesus), will enable them to maintain faith, should they choose to, Heb 12:2.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(KJV)
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. (ASV)
Heb 10:27 shows that willful sin results in judgment/fire. These comments on Rev 20:3 suggest that the “thousand-year period” or millennium is representative of the time in a person’s life when they obey God.
Rev 20:4 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 (Matt 10:39, An allusion to a circumcised heart or losing one’s life and living for Christ) 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.
The people mentioned in Revelation 20:4 were judged and prevailed during a time of judgment, Rm 3:4. These people would be similar to those referred to in Matt 25:21.
Ro 3:4 (RSV) By no means! Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written, “That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged.”
Mt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Here is a seeming contradiction – those that were beheaded lived? It is therefore referring not to physical but spiritual death. Those people died to sin.
The thousand-year period represents the obedient Christian life.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead (3062) lived not again until the thousand years were finished/accomplished (5055). This is the first resurrection.
The first resurrection (Col 3:1) is here defined as the millennium.
Revelation 20:5 shows us that in the first 4 verses of Rev 20 people are spiritually alive. These verses pertain to a person’s lifetime on earth. This is clarified because Paul tells us in Col 3:1 that the first resurrection happens in this lifetime and on earth and not after physical death.
People who are termed to be “the rest” (others who are spiritually dead) are those who are not spiritually alive. They are dead in Christ, 1 Thess 4:16. They represent those people involved in willful sin. They do not spiritually live until they attain the first resurrection, in other words until they stop sinning, as is seen in 1 Thess 4:17.
2. Verse 5 is the second use of the concept of an “end” (telos Strong’s 5055), and here the word end refers to the “end” of the person’s disobedience. The word is used here in the sense of something being attained or accomplished. The thousand-year period or millennium is attained.
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The “dead” are involved in sins and transgressions and do not participate in the resurrected life of Christ (the thousand years/millennium) until they again become obedient Christians as Paul mentions in Col 3:1.
Sin is the sting of death.
A person is made alive when they put their faith in Jesus and at that point they begin a process of abstaining from sin or being resurrected from being dead in sins, Rm 6:1-11.
In other words, they live again or participate in the resurrected life of Christ when they stop sinning willfully.
Paul said that during their earthly lives, Christians were participating in the resurrection in Col 3:1.
They become dead in sins and transgressions when they sin, but are “quickened” (so to speak Eph 2:5) when they are in Christ.
When a person “suffers in the flesh” they cease from sin just as Jesus resisted sin/disobedience in the garden, 1 Pet 4:1.
Lu 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
1Pe 4:1 ¶ Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
The first resurrection starts at conversion and is interrupted by judgment called the “Day of the Lord” when a Christian sins willfully or practices sin.
The first resurrection is again resumed (as is seen in the phrase “live again”) when the Christian again obeys. At which point the devil is again bound.
Note here that there is a difference between sinning accidentally and actually practicing sin.
There are two different “ends” or “points of completion”, being referred to in this section of scripture. The point when obedience is attained or reached and the point where disobedience is reached.
The first “goal or point aimed at” is found in Rev 20:2 and 3 (telos 5056) where the millennium has come and God binds the devil because of the Christian’s obedience.
When this point is reached Satan is bound in the life of the individual Christian and the “thousand years/millennium/first resurrection has been reached”. In other words, the individual Christian has been forgiven for their sins.
This is the resurrection from the Dead (obedience) which Paul also refers to as the High calling of God in Christ Jesus in Phil 3:11-14. The Devil’s influence has ended and the believer’s obedience has begun.
Rev 20:3 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.
This is also referred to as the “end” (5056 “Telos”) or goal of the commandment in 1 Tim 1:5. This is Christian obedience.
1Ti 1:5 ¶ Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect (5048 “teleioo”) or “attained the goal”: but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Paul here sought the goal of the first resurrection in this earthly lifetime.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (5046 “teleios”, are complete in Christ), be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
The second “goal/end or point aimed at” or to be “accomplished or reached”, is mentioned in Rev 20:7 as the point at which the “first resurrection/millennium or thousand-year period” is ended or finished (5055 “teleo”).
This refers to obedience ending and willful disobedience starting.
When the millennium ends in the Christian’s life obedience ends and the devil is “loosed” as 20:7 shows.
We bind and loose the devil as we either obey Jesus or willfully sin.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
The obedient Christian life “ends” in the life of the individual Christian due to their willful sin. Thus the millennium “ends”. When obedience ends “willful sin” begins.
The second point reached in the conversation is the point of time when Jesus no longer withholds/binds the devil.
Because the individual person has chosen to sin, the devil is released to inflict God’s prescribed judgment against the particular sin.
When this point is reached it is referred to as a time when the person willfully sins, Heb 10:26-27.
The person has chosen “not” to keep themselves in the position where Jesus withholds the Devil. In this manner it can be said that they have the keys of death and Hell, Matt 16:19. They have chosen to become a man of sin, 2 Thess 2:1-14.
Jesus binds the devil for the period called the “thousand years/millennium, this time can be referred to as the obedient Christian life.
So the first “end or goal ” is the attaining of the “millennium or obedient Christian life” seen in Rev 20:2, and the second “end” in Rev 20 is when that obedient period or millennium ends in Rev 20:7.
When this obedient time is “finished or accomplished or reaches its end”, Jesus refrains from binding the devil. The enemies of God are then loosed in the life of the person to a degree, in order to bring about the individual’s repentance, 1 Cor 11:32.
Jesus can be called the Lion or “devourer” of the tribe of Judah because He oversees and thus limits the discipline that the Devil is allowed to inflict upon the Christians, so that they are not destroyed, but corrected.
This is seen in Matthew 5:26 and 24:22.
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.
Mt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened.
Their repentance is brought about through the suffering that the individuals experience during their conflict with the enemies of God.
The “rest of the dead” (the rest or the remainder of the disobedient) or simply the “rest” (3062) do not live again or partake of the “resurrected or obedient Christian life/thousand-year period or “millennium” until the point aimed at or “end” is attained or accomplished (teleo – 5055).
It is useful to remember that God can keep a person from sinning (refer to Gen 20:6), so the obedient Christian life is actually a reward for having/maintaining faith.
The “goal or point aimed at” that is referred to in Rev 20:5 using the words “do not live again until” is the point at which the person again chooses to participate in the first resurrection mentioned in Colossians 3:1 and stop sinning willfully.
Also here it is useful to understand that “willful” sin is different from accidental sin, 1 Tim 1:13.
Refraining from sin is the first resurrection, during this time the person’s heart is circumcised to the Lord (Jer 4:4). This point is not reached until the individual corrects the behavior that moved Jesus to “loose or not restrain” His enemies (the Devil) in their life in the first place.
Matthew 5:26 shows us that when a person “comes out” of the discipline referred to as the Day of the Lord they come away from the influences of Hell. They correct the behavior that caused God to discipline them in the first place.
As can be seen all the words for the “end or endpoints” are similar and closely related in meaning in the Strong’s concordance of the Bible. The Greek words numbered 5046-5048-5055-5056 all have similar meanings.
The “rest” of the people in Rev 20:5 refers to the “other” people in 1 Thess 5:6.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead (3062) lived not again until the thousand years were finished (5055). This is the first resurrection.
1Th 5:6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do “others”; (3062) but let us watch and be sober.
The rest of the dead are the spiritually dead brethren referred to variously as being asleep or not alert, Eph 5:14.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
They do not rise from spiritual death or a sinful condition until they attain the goal (1 Tim 1:5 and Col 3:11) of the “first resurrection/thousand-year period or millennium” which can be summarized as the “obedient life or reigning/overcoming in Life” with Christ, Rm 5:17.
Ro 5:17 For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Rev 20:6 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.
The first resurrection is the “resurrection or obedient Christian life or Newness of Life” life spoken of in Romans 6:4 and 6:9 and Colossians 3:1.
Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life.
Ro 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Col 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired (5055), Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
3. This is the third use of the Strong’s concordance word numbered 5055.
In Rev 20:7 the word (5055) “Expired” is used again and refers back to the condition in verse 2 and a person’s obedience “expiring” or ending.
The same word “fulfilled” (5055) is used in Revelation 20:3 to indicate the point when Obedience is “accomplished” meaning that the point aimed at is reached.
This use of the Greek word numbered 5055 is similar to the idea expressed in 2 Cor 10:6 which uses the synonym 4137 and refers to completion or fulfillment.
There are three times in this section of scripture where the “end” (Strong’s # 5055) is referred to. The word is used to describe both the “end” of obedience in verses 3 and 7 and the “end” of disobedience in verse 5, referring to 2 Thess 2:6.
When this point (willful sin) is arrived at (the devil is no longer withheld by Jesus (because the person has willfully sinned, Heb 10:26-27).
The Lord then releases the Devil to discipline the individual Christian, as was done to Job, in accordance with 1 Cor 11:32.
Thus Jesus can be referred to as the Lion (devourer) of the tribe of Judah (God’s people).
Rev 20:8 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.
The Devil gathers the enemies of God and moves them to surround God’s people, Lk 21:20. This point is called the “Day of the Lord”. This happens because the abomination or willful sin dwells in the Holy place or temple.
The desolation of the temple is certain.
Lu 21:20 ¶ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
As is referred to in Luke 21:20, Jesus mentioned the conditions that should be apparent to believers when the Day of the Lord or the Day of Discipline is approaching in Matt 24:28.
Mt 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase (dead person) is, there will the eagles (Demonic) be gathered together.
Matt 24:28 and Luke 21:20 suggest that when a Christian sees a fellow Christian who is involved in willful sin they should regard this as an indicator that the Discipline referred to as the Day of the Lord will occur shortly in that person’s life.
Rev 20:9 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.
The fire of God refers to His enemies, whom God uses to bring about the judgment of the disobedient Christians who have gone out of the way (Jesus is the way), 2 Thess 2:7-12.
God allows His errant people to believe a lie so they can be judged and corrected.
The wording in 2 Thess 2:12 (KJV) is “damned”. This translation is unfortunate, and translations other than the KJV use the word “judged” here, which is more appropriate.
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (KJV)
2Th 2:12 that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ASV)
2 Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Here in verse 10, we see that the Devil (and His Angels) are not devoured in verse 9. The Devil is put with the beast and false prophet. The Christians are not devoured either. The fire (demonic) came down from God and devoured the carnal/sinful aspects of the believer, 2 Thess 2:8.
As can be seen in 2 Thess 2:8 the “Lawlessness” (Strong’s # 459) is consumed or removed from the “Man of sin”/Man who sins by the fire of God.
So what was devoured or consumed in verse 9 when they surrounded the camp of the saints?
The willfully sinful tendencies were consumed. This is in accordance with God’s grace teaching a person to deny ungodliness, Titus 2:11-12.
Evil Spirits (the devil and demons) and people (collectively embodying the fire) are used by God to discipline and mature the followers of Christ.
Rev 20:10 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 forever and ever.
Verses 11-15 are a summary of the preceding verses. The judgment illustrated in the preceding verses is referred to as the Great White Throne judgment of God.
Rev 20:11 ¶ 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.
Rev 20:12 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.
Rev 20:13 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.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)
RECAP —–
There is great confusion regarding what is referred to as the end-time events timetable.
Much of this stems from Revelation chapter 20.
In my view, the following paragraph illustrates the reason for much of the confusion –
Most religious denominations state that Christianity promotes a personal relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. In contradiction to that premise they at the same time assert that the end-time events occur to the entire world at the same time.
I consider the events to occur on an individual basis as this article will illustrate.
Keep in mind here that by design, the purpose of a parable is to conceal the truth regarding a spiritual mystery from unbelievers including some unlearned Christians, 1 Cor 14:23.
Re 20:1 ¶ And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Jesus is said to have these keys in Rev 1:18. So regardless of whether He gave them to an angel or this is a reference to Jesus himself being the messenger, we know it is done with Jesus’ authority and permission.
Re 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
As a Christian then, in this verse and in accordance with what the bible tells us, we need to ask ourselves the following question. “When is the Devil bound or restrained from interfering in the life of a Christian”?
The answer based on the following bible verse, is when they are obedient to God.
Pr 16:7 ¶ When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (KJV)
Re 20:3 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.
Here we again need to ask questions. When are people not susceptible to deception?
Answer – When they are obedient, and God protects them from all their enemies.
So based on the information from Rev 20:3 during the time period referred to as the “1000 years” God restrains the Devil and prohibits Him from deceiving the Christian.
The Christian is at peace with His enemies (Satan being our primary adversary) when they are obedient and under God’s protection.
So from this information, I conclude that the “1000-year period” is representative of “the obedient Christian life”. Rev 20 verses 4 and 5 identify the Millennium as the First Resurrection. As additional proof, the resurrection is something Christians are currently participating in according to Colossians 3:1 and Romans 6:11-13.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Rm 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord 12¶Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
“After that” He (the Devil) will be loosed.
So again, the question becomes “After what”? What causes God to stop restraining the devil thus allowing Him to deceive the Christian?
The word “fulfilled” from verse 3 is the Strong’s concordance Greek word numbered 5055. It refers to an “end” or a “completed act”.
When their obedience is fulfilled (ended) the person is again open to the influences of their enemies.
Satan is loosed and allowed to influence the individual when this thousand-year period or millennium comes to an end.
In other words – when the Christian is no longer obedient to God they can be influenced by Satan.
Re 20:4 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, nor in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Living and Reigning with Christ is here (and in verse 5) referred to as the first resurrection or the millennium/obedient Christian life, Col 3:1.
Colossians 3:1 is referenced here because it shows that the first resurrection happens in this lifetime.
In many manuscripts verse 5 reads simply – This is the first resurrection. Showing that the first resurrection is the symbolic 1000-year period commonly referred to as the Millennium.
The Strong’s Greek word numbered 3990 is here translated as beheaded. It means a weapon was used on them. I infer here that this corresponds to the circumcision of the heart. The weapon here refers to an instrument used on them not necessarily to their physical death, in my opinion.
In other words, those who were figuratively killed actually lost their lives in order to find them, Mark 8:35.
Rev 5:10 says Christians will reign on earth and I think the events of Rev 20:4 also occur on earth.
It is necessary to again restate that this is a parable and is not intended to be interpreted literally. The literal interpretation of a parable is an incorrect interpretation. By design, a parable or message in Tongues is intended to conceal a spiritual truth.
The information contained in the parable is designed for those who look for and find the meaning, as Jesus referred to in Mark 4:12.
When Christians are obedient they reign with Christ.
Re 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.
This is the first resurrection.
The first resurrection is on earth as Paul stated in Col 3:1.
Col 3:1 ¶ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
The first resurrection happens during this lifetime according to Col 3:1.
In addition, the first resurrection is defined in Phil 3:10 as being free from known sin, or conforming to Jesus’ death to sin, Romans 6:11 and 2 Cor 4:10.
Those Christians who are not obedient do not live (do not participate in the resurrected life, Col 3:1) until their obedience is fulfilled (accomplished).
They don’t live “again” meaning that they were alive previously and then died spiritually because of willful sinful activity (disobedience), similar to 1 Thess 4:16.
Whether verse 5 reads – as the shortened translations have it – “This is the First resurrection” – or not, verse 7 shows that the 1000 years (the First resurrection or millennium) can expire or “end” in the believer’s life.
During this time of disobedience, Satan is loosed, thus the thought contained in verse 7 captures the disputed portion of verse five which is pasted in the next paragraph.
“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished”.
In verse 3 the Greek word “teleo” (5055) is used in a negative manner to indicate reaching the “end” of obedience.
The “end” or “teleo” can also be used to describe reaching a positive end. This is seen in verse 5 as it is used to define the “first resurrection” as the positive end or goal reached or accomplished when a Christian is obedient.
Here remember, to be completely obedient does not necessarily mean being sinless.
Being completely obedient means that if a person has sinned, they have recognized the action as sinful and confessed it to the Lord (1 John 1:9) and been forgiven.
Re 20:6 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.
Re 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired (Strong’s #5055″ teleo”), Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Re 20:8 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.
Re 20:9 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.
Lu 21:20 ¶ And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The word “devour” in Rev 20:9 is Strong’s # 2719. It means to “eat down”.
So the fire of God consumes/devours (Heb 12:29) the activity of Satan in the person’s life and they again become obedient and protected, 1 Cor 11:32.
The disobedience of the Christian is corrected and the Christian who has again resumed their obedience is no longer subject to the activity of Satan.
Here in Revelation 20, the Apostle John is teaching basically the same information the Apostle Paul relates in the so-called rapture verses in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4.