Revelation
Chapter 20
Overview
John’s vision now moves through the restraint of Satan, a thousand-year reign, one final rebellion, and judgment for all humanity. The chapter speaks in vast symbols: a locked abyss, thrones, armies as countless as seaside sand, and books opened before a white throne. Gog and Magog are names for the nations gathered in the last attack. The movement is severe but clear: Satan’s power to deceive is restrained, briefly released, and finally ended; the dead rise, every person is judged by what they have done, and even death itself meets its end.
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He held the key to the abyss and carried a great chain in his hand.
2He seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan—and bound him for a thousand years.
3The angel threw him into the abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him. This was to keep him from deceiving the nations again until the thousand years were over. After that, he must be released for a short time.
4Then I saw thrones. People sat on them and were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because they had testified about Jesus and proclaimed God’s message. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not accepted its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years.
5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection.
6God’s favor rests on those who share in the first resurrection, and they belong to him. The second death has no power over them. They will serve God and the Messiah as priests, and they will rule with the Messiah for a thousand years.
7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison.
8He will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and gather them for battle. Their number will be like the sand beside the sea.
9They marched across the broad earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people and the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.
10The Devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the prophet who spoke lies already were. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11Then I saw a great white throne and the one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.
12I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
13The sea gave up the dead in it. Death and the realm of the dead also gave up the dead in them. Each person was judged according to what they had done.
14Then death and the realm of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
15Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.