Greetings, fellow eschatologists! And welcome to our new series on Revelation chapter 20. In this chapter, we’re going to study the imprisonment of none other than Satan himself. Then we’re going to talk about the first resurrection and the second death. These are all fascinating subjects. You won’t want to miss it. So don’t change the channel!
Revelation Chapter 20: Satan’s Imprisonment, the First Resurrection, and the Second Death
First in a Three-Part Series
by Karen Thompson
REVELATION 20
Satan’s Imprisonment and the First Resurrection
In chapter 19, we saw the beast and the false prophet thrown directly into the lake of fire. But here in chapter 20, we see a different consequence for Satan. The Devil, a.k.a. the dragon or serpent, does eventually get thrown into the lake of fire, but before that happens, we see a very unusual destiny for Satan.
Satan Imprisoned for a Thousand Years
Rev. 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. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 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.
Chapter 20 begins with John describing a new scenario involving the bottomless pit. He begins by saying he saw an angel descend from heaven “having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.” This is the second time we see an angel descend from heaven with a key to open up the bottomless pit. In Revelation chapter nine, an angel opened up the bottomless pit to let out the locusts and their king, Apollyon. This time the angel is not going to let something out; instead, he’s going to put something into the pit.
Notice the angel has two items: a key and a great chain. Verse two tells us why the angel has the chain: “he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years….” The purpose of the chain in the angel’s hand is to chain up Satan. How long will he be chained? One thousand years. He’ll be chained up the full length of the millennial reign of our Lord.
Verse three tells us what the angel does with the key: “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….” The angel bound Satan with the chain and then opened up the bottomless pit with his key and threw Satan inside. To make sure the pit was doubly secure, the angel sealed the pit.
The bottomless pit is a holding place, or prison, for fallen beings. This is where God imprisons rebellious beings. We already know that Apollyon, or the beast, was held in the pit. The apostle Peter also made mention of angels that sinned and were cast down to hell and delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved until judgment: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” (2 Pet. 2:4). Just like these angels, Satan will also be chained up and thrown into the darkness of hell. John only makes mention of Satan being thrown into the pit, but we can assume his fellow fallen angels will be thrown in there as well.
Now let’s look at this portion of verse three: “he should deceive the nations no more.” Satan and the angels that followed him in his rebellion will all be locked up for 1,000 years. During the full length of Jesus’ millennial reign, there will be no satanic presence on earth to deceive the nations.
Satan Is Let Out of the Bottomless Pit
The last part of verse three tells us that a Satan-free earth will come to an end after 1,000 years: “…till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Satan’s imprisonment comes to an end, and he is let out into the earth once again. The Lord has a purpose in letting Satan out of the bottomless pit. We’ll see what that purpose is in later verses.
Satan is let out only for a “little season.” What constitutes a little season? Ultimately, there’s no way we can know positively how long a little season will be. The only other reference to “little season” is in Revelation chapter six when the fifth seal was opened. John saw under the altar the souls of them that has been slain for the Word of God and for their testimony. The slain souls cried out to God, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, doest thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Then in verse 11, it says, “And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Rev. 6:11).
They were told to rest for a “little season” until their fellow servants would also be killed like they were. Right after that, an earthquake took place. That will happen at the very beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. The 70th week covers a span of seven years. So the words “little season” in the verse Revelation 6:11 means seven years. But that doesn’t necessarily mean “little season” will mean Satan is let loose for seven years.
The First Resurrection
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 for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped 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. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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.
In the first scenario of chapter 20, we see what will happen to Satan after Armageddon when Jesus begins His millennial reign. In this next scenario, we see what happens to the saints of God who endured the tribulation.
John described the next scenario: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them… (v. 4). John saw thrones; obviously, these thrones are in heaven. Those sitting on the thrones were given authority to judge. John then tells us who he saw sitting on the thrones: “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 worshiped 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” (v. 4).
Many of the believers who went through the tribulation will be beheaded simply because they are Christians. They are those who refused to worship the beast and to take his mark. They are the overcomers. They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:11).
About the overcomers, John said in verse four, “and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” The thrones John saw are for the overcomers, the ones who gained victory over the beast by refusing to worship him or take his mark. They are the ones to whom judgment will be given. The overcomers will live and reign with Christ a thousand years, His entire millennial reign.
Let’s look at verse five: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” The only people who are resurrected from the dead at this time are those who follow the Lamb. This is called the “first resurrection.” Those who died outside of Christ will not be raised until after the 1,000 years and after the “little season,” however long that is. Unbelievers will not be a part of the first resurrection.
Verse six tells us a couple of interesting things: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power….” What this tells us is that if there’s a first resurrection, then there will be a second resurrection. The other thing it tells us is that there is such a thing as a “second death.” Obviously, the first death is when your physical body dies. Now we learn that there is a second death, a death experienced after you die physically.
The last part of verse four again confirms that the thrones are for the overcomers: “but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Those who are a part of the first resurrection will reign and rule with Christ for His millennial reign. Notice it says they will be “priests.” This confirms that Revelation 1:6 and 5:10 says He has made the overcomers both kings and priests: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). The overcomers will reign with Christ as He will reign, as both kings and priests.
Overcomers and the 144,000 Man Child
Let’s talk for a moment about the other group that John said would help Messiah rule the nations. It’s the man child, the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel. Let’s review a couple of scriptures that talk about the 144,000 servants. Revelation 12:5 says they will help Messiah rule the nations: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” Like the overcomers, the 144,000 will also help Messiah rule the nations with a rod of iron.
Revelation 14:4 says something else about the man child: “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” If you recall, the man child is caught up to God, or raptured, in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week. That’s why they are called the first fruits. They will be the first part of the harvest to be caught up to God in heaven.
I want to focus your attention on the sentence, “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” Like the overcomers, the 144,000 are described as helping the Messiah to rule the nations with a rod of iron, but this sentence is uniquely applied to them. Only the 144,000 are described as following the Lamb wherever He goes, meaning they are in His immediate presence. What it says about the overcomers and the 144,000 in regard to helping Messiah rule the nations, it seems to indicate there will be different levels of leadership. I speculate the position of the 144,000 servants might be what you would call the “inner circle.”
Overcomers’ Rewards
These believers that John saw are overcomers; and as such, they will receive the overcomers’ rewards. In Revelation chapters two and three, we are told those who overcome will receive certain rewards.
The first overcomer’s reward is in Revelation 2:7: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
The second overcomer’s reward is in Revelation 2:11: “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
The third one is in Revelation 2:17: “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that deceiveth it.”
The fourth overcomer’s reward is in Revelation 2:26–28: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.”
The fifth overcomer’s reward is in Revelation 3:5: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
The sixth reward is in Revelation 3:12: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
The seventh overcomer’s reward is in Revelation 3:21: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
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