Chapter 20:1-7
In the Library of Congress there is a quote by Lord Alfred Tennyson from one of his poems that reads,
‘One God. One law. One element and one far off event to which the whole creation moves.’
Although not written from a Christian worldview, this quote sums up in many ways what we are about to encounter in Chapter 20.
His quote is displayed above the model of history, appropriately I might add, as the age of Christ’s reign on earth is where all of human history has been leading us to and yearning for.
Romans 8:19-21 says
19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
There are large sections of the Old Testament dedicated to what this golden age will look like. There is also often a depiction of creation restored in this age as well (Isa 11:6-9, 65:25, Joel 3:18, Amos 9:13). The Bible talks about it being a time where Jesus will rule from Jerusalem (Zech 1:16, 8:3, Ezekiel 48:35) in worldwide peace (Isaiah 2:4, 9:4-7; 11:6-9; Zech 9:10), prosperity (Isaiah 35:1-2,7; 30:23-25; 62:8-9; 65:21-23; Jeremiah 31:5,12 Amos 9:13-14; Micah 4:1, 4; Zechariah 8:11-12; 9:16-17), and glory (Isaiah 35:2; 40:5; 60:1-9; Ezekiel 43:1-5). He will usher in a time of joy (Isaiah 9:3-4; 12:3-6; 14:7-8 25:8-9; 30:29; 42:1; Jeremiah 30:18-19; Zephaniah 3:14-17; Zechariah 8:19; 10:6-7), holiness (Isaiah 4:3-4 Ezekiel 43:7-12 Zechariah 8:3; 14:20-21) and justice (Isaiah 9:7; 11:5; 32:16; 42:1-4; 65:21-23 Zephaniah 3:1, 13). There will be no sickness (Isaiah 29:18; 33:24; 35:5-6; 61:1-2 Ezekiel 34:16) and the whole world will enjoy the presence of God (Ezekiel 37:27-28; Zechariah 2:10-13) and worship Him (Isaiah 45:23; 52:1, 7-10; 66:17-23; Zephaniah 3:9; Zechariah 13:2; 14:16; Malachi 1:11).
As you can see, the Bible talks about this time a lot.
Chapter 20 talks about this time in the most direct fashion. In many ways chapter 20 is a continuation of chapter 19 with the opening sentence being, ‘Then I saw…’. The action that is about to be described is a direct carry on of the events in chapter 19.
It starts with an angel that descends out of heaven with the keys to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He grabs satan and casts him into the pit and seals him up for 1000 years so the nations will no longer be subject to his deception (20:1-3).
There are a few things to take note of here. Firstly, it wasn’t 10,000 angels that locked satan up, it wasn’t even 500 or even 10. It was only one angel who walked out of heaven with a chain, bound him up and threw him into the bottomless pit. The devil is not God’s equal and is nowhere close to being on the same level of power and might as Jesus. That serpent of old that deceived humanity into warring with God is chained up and thrown away by one single angel.
Once satan is bound up and locked away for 1000 years, Jesus and His saints set up the world wide government with Jesus as the benevolent King of all humanity. The child that was born and the Son that was given will rule in world wide peace and prosperity. The complete fulfillment of the Christmas verses in Isaiah 9 will be fulfilled,
Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Don’t those verses and the 1000 years of Revelation 20 speak of eternity and so are not meant to be taken as a literal time period? And isn’t Isaiah 9:6-7 in reference to the spiritual Kingdom?
No I don’t believe so.
In Revelation 20 the term 1000 years is used six times so it would have the appearance that John is emphasising a precise timing. In addition, when John wants to be general with time he is. In verse three he says, ‘a little while’, and in 20:8 he uses ‘as numberless as sand along the seashore’ but when referring to 144,000 he is specific. Or in the dimensions of the new Jerusalem he is specific. The evidence would suggest that when John wants to be specific he is and when he wants to be generic and symbolic he is. This means then, that the notion of living ruling and reigning with Christ on earth for 1000 years is to be taken quite seriously by us as believers.
Why?
In verse 4 it says that they ‘lived’ and reigned with Christ. That word lived is ezesan and is used 12 times in Revelation. 11 out of 12 times it refers to physical life. The word used for resurrection in verse 6 is the word anastasis and is used 42 times in the New Testament. 41 times out of those 42 referring to a bodily resurrection.
Our future involves a bodily resurrection in order to govern nations and the restoration of creation after the Tribulation and before we step into eternity. What an amazing plan of redemption God has and a mind blowing role He has planned for us to play.
Here’s what we can live from these verses:
- It Only Takes One Angel To Cast satan Into The Bottomless Pit. The devil has no power. He has been defeated by Christ and he only deceives people into giving him power. That is what he did in the Garden of Eden and that is still what he is doing today. Colossians 2:15 says,
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Today, let’s live in the finished, completed work of our Victor Jesus Christ and stand as more than conquerors in Him.
- There is a 1000 Year Assignment Yet To Be Fulfilled. Jesus is returning to restore not only humanity back to its rightful place as the family of God, but also creation, redeeming and restoring creation back to original glory. We have a role to play in that and that is to be the governors of God as we rule the nations with Him and replenish the earth. The original mission of humanity was to take God’s glory and flourish it around the world. Where the first Adam failed, the Second Adam will succeed and He wants us to play a part. Today, let’s learn to operate by faith and by the laws of the Kingdom as they will come in mighty handy very soon.
- Jesus Will Live Rule and Reign From Jerusalem Over the Whole World. The Bible talks a great deal about the rule of Messiah on earth. It will be a time of peace, joy, holiness, glory, justice and prosperity. A world wide Kingdom filled with the knowledge of God and His presence. There will be no poverty and no sickness as the Kingdom of God will be all and in all. Today, we have access to that through Jesus Christ. We don’t need to wait for Jesus to return to gain peace, joy or holiness. We also have access to healing and prosperity now. Everything in the Kingdom has already been delivered to us through the finished work of Christ Jesus. Let’s live by faith and establish the Kingdom now because we know what it looks like when He does.
