In verses 1 through 3 we see and angel coming from Heaven who takes
hold of satan and binds him up for one thousand years. It is interesting
that this angel binds satan. I’ve been in many charismatic meetings
where people claim to bind satan with their prayers. When I‘ve heard
people pray this way, I’ve always felt that this was an ineffective
prayer, because it was not our place to bind satan. And here you can see
who can bind him. This angel binds him for one thousand years.
This thousand years is known in prophetic circles as the millennium.
The au-mill approach to Revelation says that we are in the millennium
right now, but for me, there are way too many questions that can’t be
answered to hold this view point although there are some good arguments
for this position.
Others are called post-mill. These people believe that Jesus will
return to a world that has been perfected by the church. Restorationists
have come out of this camp.
Futurists believe that Jesus returns to the earth and satan is bound
for a literal thousand years and during this time Jesus rules on earth
with a rod of iron as stated in chapter 19. The mere fact that Jesus has
to rule with a rod of iron tells us that not all people on earth during this time are true believers, willing to submit to Jesus. During the
tribulation period many people are killed by God’s’ judgments, but not all are killed.
There are many who remain and live into the
thousand year period of Jesus’ reign. Those saints who return with Jesus
rule with Him on the earth. You can read Zechariah 14 that confirms
this to be a fact. Some will survive the Great Tribulation and they will
submit to Jesus or face a lack of rain. Zechariah 14 tells us
that if any one or any nation fails to come to Jerusalem once a year to
celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, they will experience draught.
This means that there is a possibility of disobedience during this time
period. But it also tells us that Jesus is in charge, keeping the peace. He will still have opportunity to judge disobedient
acts.
The thousand year period is not the new earth as seen later in
Revelation. The thousand years looks more like life on earth now
than life on the new earth. The main difference between now and then
is that Jesus is in charge. When it comes to the new earth,
everything is new. All are obedient to Jesus, and God Himself will
live with men, not just Jesus.
Futurists suggest that there are at least 400 verses in the Bible
speaking of this period. One example is where we see the lion laying down
with the lamb. Another is where we see weapons made into plows. If these
weapons are made into plows during this thousand years, then these weapons
didn’t get destroyed and they too are a left over from the old age.
The angel throws satan into the Abyss where he is locked up so he can’t
deceive the nations any longer. Deception is the main weapon satan has.
Note the word "nations" here. Both God and the devil
relate to humanity in two different aspects. They relate to us as
individuals. We speak much about that. But both God and satan
relate us on a national level. God judges the nations of the
earth. Satan deceives the nations of the earth. If you read
the book of Zechariah and the other Old Testament prophetic books you'll
not the term "nations of the world" used a lot. Nations,
as well as individuals play a role in the economy of God.
In verse 3 we see that satan is let lose for a short time after the
thousand years is up. He’s given one last chance by God to deceive
people on earth. So once again, those in the millennium are given one last
chance to serve the devil or serve God. I don’t believe that those
people who have a chance to be deceived are believers since they’ve
returned to earth with Jesus in their gloried body. They are past the time
of no return. But other human beings would have the ability to be
deceived.
In verse 4 John saw thrones. On these thrones were people who ruled
with Jesus, "who were given the authority to judge". This
suggests that those returning with Jesus will reign with Him, or help
administrate the Kingdom of God on earth. There’s many Scriptures that
say we will reign and judge on earth with Jesus, and Futurists believe
this to be in the millennium.
Also in verse 4 is special mention of those who were killed in the
Great Tribulation. They also reign with Jesus during this thousand year
period.
In verse 5 we see that the "rest of the dead did not come to
life" in what is called the first resurrection. Those who did not
come to life were raised to eternal death after the thousand years ended.
Thus the final judgment takes place then suggesting that there could be
sinners in the thousand years, or at least converted sinners who were
saved after Jesus’ returns. The point being that there could be human
beings on earth who have not received their glorified body because they
did not get saved in the age of grace.
Here we see in verses 5 and 6 the first resurrection and the second
death. The first death would be physical death, while the second death is
eternal death and damnation. The first resurrection is for those who
return with Jesus in their glorified bodies.
In verses 7 and 8 we see satan unleashed from his prison. He goes
throughout the whole earth and gathers people unto himself to rage war
once again against God and His people. How long this takes we really don’t
know, but you can guess any evil that we’ve seen in the world to date
will not compare to the evil of these days. Whether he knows it or not,
this is his last chance.
In verse 9 we see this great satanic army march across the face of the
earth and surround the city that Jesus loves, which would be Jerusalem.
Futurists believe that Jesus’ headquarters during this one thousand year
period will be in Jerusalem. But like the so-called battle of Armageddon
the fight really doesn’t get underway. Fire comes down from Heaven and
destroys the army.
In verse 10 we see that at this point the devil is thrown into the Lake
of Fire where the anti-christ and the false prophet have been for the last
thousand plus years. Here the devil is tormented day and night for ever
and ever. Many people who claim that the Lake of Fire is temporary say
this because of the Greek word "ion", which means "an
age". "Ion" is translated for ever here. By doubling this
word, that is , "ion upon ion" the Greeks have the only real way
to speak in terms of eternity. Punishment that lasts forever is called
eternal death. To me it is like you are in the process of dying, and even
though you wish death to come, death will never come. You’re always in
the process of dying but not being able to die.
In verse 11 John saw a "great white throne". What takes place
here is called by most all Christians as the "Great White Throne Judgment". Also in verse 11 we see that both earth and sky fled from
the one sitting on the throne. Most believers understand the one sitting
on the throne to be God Himself. Not even the earth and the sky are able
to stand in His presence. This could well be where the new heaven and the
new earth come into being. The present earth flees into nothingness.
In verse 12 we see all the dead standing before the one sitting on the
throne. This is in reference to those we saw earlier in the chapter that
were not part of the first resurrection, but stayed dead until this point
of time. At this point of time they rise from the dead and are judged
according to their works.
Most Futurists believe that Christians are not a part of this White
Throne Judgment because they are already alive and have passed from
dearth to eternal life with Jesus.
We see that God judges these wicked people according to their works,
suggesting that there might well be different levels of punishment. Those
who did more bad woks would be punished more.
John notes that there is the book of life which we’ve seen before. In
this book were written the names of those who received salvation because
they put their trust in Jesus. Then John speaks of a number of other books
where all the deeds of these people who are being judged were recorded.
These books were opened the lives of these people flashed before their
very eyes and were judge accordingly.
In verse 14 we see that after this White Throne Judgment both death
and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire along with the devil, anti-christ
and the false prophet. Here we should note that hell or Hades as it is
called here is not the Lake of Fire. They are two different things for
hell or Hades is cast into the Lake of Fire, so they can’t be the same.
At this point death is finally conquered, something Paul speaks much about
in 1 Cor. 15. Verse 15 calls this "the second death".
Then in verse 15 we note that all those whose name were not found
written in the book of life were also cast into the Lake of Fire. They too
would experience this second death.