This chapter is straight forward regarding the timing and events to come. First, satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit where he remains for 1,000 years. Christ will reign for this period with those who meet one of the following criteria:
- “beheaded for the witness of Jesus”
- Beheaded “for the word of God”
- Have “not worshipped the beast”
- Have not worshipped the beast “image”
- Have not “received his mark upon their foreheads, or in the hands”
5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. – Revelation 20:5 KJV
The first resurrection is for the white robed multitude of many tribes, nations and tongues. They reign with Christ in the temple for the period of 1,000 years when satan is bound in the bottomless pit. The second resurrection does not matter to this group because they have already been judged for their works on earth, standing for Christ in the most egregious times from the beginning of creation. They receive the glory of reigning with Christ as “priests of God and of Christ” for 1,000 years.
It is unclear where the other followers of Christ who have “slept on earth” from natural causes will be at this time. It would make sense that the location of that group would be in the same part of heaven as they are today. At the end of the 1,000 years, the ultimate deceiver is loosed again for a short time and finally cast into the lake of fire, his final resting place for eternity, where there will be no rest!
The second resurrection comes after the 1,000 years and is the time the “dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” – Revelation 20:12 KJV. It is even repeated in the next verse, “they were judged every man according to their works.” – Revelation 20:13 KJV. They group in the 1st resurrection was judged for their works too and was blessed to immediately reign with Christ. It is important to remember, we can never earn eternal salvation with our works on earth. But, we will be rewarded according to our works while on earth for Jesus and Father God. Those who make effort in this life to be ever closer to God will be rewarded in heaven with opportunities to be even closer to God and Jesus Christ for eternity. Look at the reward for those who resist the mark of the beast. They start their eternal lives reigning with Christ for 1,000 years!
Closure of this chapter comes with death and hell delivering up the dead to stand before God. The books are opened and the dead are judged by what is written in those books. Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire along with any whose names are not written in the book of life. The bottomless pit was only a temporary resting place for evil until the final judgment and expulsion to the lake of fire.
Revelation 20 – Elements to Remember
- 1st Resurrection Saints are with Christ
- Those who were:
- Beheaded for their witness to Jesus Christ and the Word of God
- Have not taken the mark of the beast
- Have not worshipped the beast or image
- 2nd Death/Resurrection has no power over the 1st Resurrection Saints
- satan bound and locked in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years and then released to attempt to deceive again for a brief period
- Finally, satan is cast into lake of fire
- Those who were:
- 2nd Resurrection – 2nd Death
- “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.” – Revelation 20:12 KJV
- “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 work.” – Revelation 20:13 KJV
- Death and hell cast into the lake of fire.
- Those not in book of life also cast into the lake of fire.