Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse 1. “Then I saw an
angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a
great chain in his hand.”
This “abyss” is a
place so vast that it’s impossible to get out of it once you’re in.
But the monsters of these verses (such as the “dragon”
– verse 2) are strong and persistent and would continue to try to
escape if there was any hope. It is likely the “abyss”
is a figurative expression for a place similar to the material
universe, which is, according to some scientific thought, endless, and
yet the “abyss” which is a limited,
confined place in the sight of God, is likely not in this universe at
all. It will be something like another “dimension” with no
possibility of return.
The angel (messenger) of this verse is to be sent
with a “key” to lock up the “beast”
and “false prophet” of the preceding
verses, along with the devil himself, as we will see in the next
verse. He is also given a “great chain”
to bind them. This “abyss” is
symbolic of an actual place that will be a bleak eternity for those
who reject the Lord and His love. It’s important to see that the “key”
and the “chain” (whatever they are)
will make it very secure. Confining these creatures will be good, for
who would want an eternity where they roam free?
Verse 2. “And he laid
hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan,
and bound him for a thousand years;”
It is interesting that ONE angel of God (verse 1)
is able to suddenly lay “hold” of the
accuser, the enemy named Satan, and leave him “bound”
for a millennium. Evil is not some out of control force - it is
indeed dangerous, but it is also a prisoner within the purposes of
God. It IS amazing, though, that this “devil”
is only to be bound “for a thousand years.”
There will be a REASON to let him go after that
time, just as there is a purpose in letting him be “free” right now.
If just one angel can act in such a manner in relation to the enemy,
then it is for our good and God’s glory that Satan was allowed to run
apparently rampant in our world for millennia. God through His angels
could have shut this “serpent” up at
any time. His evil nature has served in one key area: Our faith is
being tested. Are we true to God?
Verse 3. “and he threw
him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he
would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years
were completed; after these things he must be released for a short
time.”
Notice the complete lack of repentance on the
part of this “dragon” (Satan) as named in verse 2. He has done wrong
and he knows it, and yet he WOULD continue to “deceive” people like
you and me if he got the chance. But he won’t, not for a thousand
years; after which he will be done away with – Permanently! At the
present time, the deceptions of this creature are rampant throughout
the world, but during the millennium when Christ reigns in person on
earth, the “dragon” will be literally
shut up.
There have been many who have considered this
satanic being to be much stronger than he is. Yes, he is evil, and
yes, he is dangerous. But he is much like a mad dog on a leash, that
can only wreak havoc within certain limits. By allowing this creature
and the other troubles of this world, God is testing our faith to
trust the Lord within difficult circumstances. Actually, the greatest
deception, our worst danger, is to lack faith in the Lord.
Verse 4. “Then I saw
thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I
saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their
testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had
not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on
their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned
with Christ for a thousand years.”
It’s WONDERFUL that those who have been beheaded
because of their love of Jesus Christ will live again. Believing
missionaries who were killed and digested by cannibals will live. If
you have trusted in Christ and your head is taken from your body,
shrunk and hung from a head hunter’s belt, you will live again. If
the Muslims were to conquer the world and behead Christians
everywhere, God’s people will LIVE again and REIGN with Him. The end
is not the end, for He always has a new beginning and life for you and
me.
When things go badly for you, remember this
verse. The tendency for those who have been hurt or feel betrayed, is
to retreat inside themselves and not trust anymore. But the trust,
the faith we are given is from Christ Himself – Jesus Christ is the “author
and finisher” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Look to Him in your
sorrow. No matter how dark the moment and how complete our defeat may
seem to be, the VICTORY is His, and if we TRUST in Him, we will REIGN
with Him as well.
Verse 5. “The rest of
the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were
completed. This is the first resurrection.”
The “thousand years”
of this verse and verse 4 is interesting. It’s a definite time in the
future history of the human race, just as the “Reformation” was a
specific time in Europe, and certain dynasties reflect specific
periods in the history of China. At the point of this verse, Jesus
Christ will have openly reigned on earth for one thousand years.
Satan, the enemy of God and mankind, will be locked up for all of that
time, and the earth will experience known the first protracted time of
gentle peace since the beginning.
Those who have been murdered because they trusted
in Jesus Christ will be brought back to life and they will reign with
Him during the thousand years (verse 4). Now, others will return to
life once more. Notice the utter control that God has over our
lives. We live because He has decreed it (there is a PURPOSE in your
life), and even when we are dead, He will make us alive. There have
been many theories as to the identity of the “rest
of the dead” in this verse (such as those who lived in Old
Testament times), but what is important is that “death” cannot hold
those who TRUST in the Lord. We will be raised to life with Him.
Verse 6. “Blessed and
holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these
the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of
Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”
This really is incredible. Not that His people
will reign with Him as “priests of God” – That’s a given! Except it
shall be for a LIMITED time (rather than for all eternity) – What a
surprise! But the temporary nature of this “assignment” is not a
problem at all, for in relation to His people, “the
second death has no power.” We are SAFE in our Lord. After
the thousand years, all may be reassigned to another “easy”
task (Matthew 11:30), followed by probably another and another,
lasting forever. We are SAFE and have good PURPOSE - in Him.
To be a “priest” is to impart something of God to
others, and to bring the needs of the people to God. At the time in
future history of this verse, it is likely God’s people will need –
nothing. A “priest” will simply carry out an aspect of the will of
God; acts which may be incomprehensible to us at this time because of
our present limited understanding of eternity. Each of God’s people
will be “holy” (set apart) for His
service and “blessed” (happy) in what
is done through you and me.
Verse 7. “When the
thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison,”
This is probably the most amazing news in the
prophetic visions observed by John (“The
Revelation of Jesus Christ)” – After the enemy is bound and
cast into prison for crimes against God, against the angelic kingdom
and humanity, after he serves only a “thousand
years” of his eternal sentence, he will be released. It won’t
be an accident; it’s not the result of an escape, for the “abyss”
(verse 3) or “lake of fire” (verse 10)
is escape-proof. If you go there, you won’t return.
The reason for his temporary release from custody
will be seen in the next verse, but it’s really about Romans 8:28 – “All
things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose.” Even this Satan’s
release will accomplish the good purposes of God in the lives of His
people. When you have problems, remember that “ALL
THINGS” work together for your good because the Lord makes it
so.
Verse 8. “and will come
out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth,
Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them
is like the sand of the seashore.”
“Magog” is
mentioned in Genesis 10:2 as one of the sons of Japeth, a progenitor
of the Caucasian races (Ezekiel 38:14-15 & context, 39:1 & forward).
From Ezekiel 38, it seems that “Gog”
represented the leadership of these tribes, who invaded the area of
Israel during 630 – 600 BC. Ezekiel 38:17-18 suggests these names may
have been used symbolically for all the enemies of the people of God.
Jewish tradition uses these names to describe the people who will
invade Jerusalem in the last days.
The events in verse 8 and context will be the
last trial for the people we call the “human race.” For the many who
have said, “If only I could see God, THEN I
would believe!” here is the ultimate test of those words. At
the point of this verse, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Himself God,
will have been physically on earth, visible to all, for one thousand
years. Humanity will have SEEN God for all that time. When the enemy
has been released, what will the people of this planet do? (We shall
see in the next verse).
Verse 9. “And they came
up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the
saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and
devoured them.”
The description of these events utilizes the term
“war” (verse 8) suggesting a wider
conflict than just a momentary clash of arms. There is no need to
belabor all that leads to this point, for this is what is important:
Jesus Christ will be visibly on earth for one thousand years. ALL
will bow to Him as Lord and serve Him. Then He will abruptly leave.
Those who really have faith in the Lord will continue to love and
serve Him, even though He is not in sight. Those who have been false
in their service to Him are many (“like the
sand of the seashore” - verse 8).
“He’s gone,” those who are false will whisper to
one another, and then, as it has happened throughout history, they
will attack those who simply TRUST in the Lord. They can’t get the
Lord, so they go after His people. When it seems that all is lost for
the “saints” (called-out ones) of the
Lord, FIRE will suddenly come down from heaven and destroy the false
ones, with the ease of a person stepping on an unwanted bug.
Verse 10. “And the
devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they
will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
In this verse we see the final judgment and
sentencing of the one called the “devil”
(slanderer) who is known in Scripture and on our planet by many
aliases, including, from God’s perspective and what should be our own:
“Satan” (the adversary), who is also
called the “great dragon,” and the “old
serpent” (Revelation 12:9) because of his activities in
relation to our earliest ancestors, as shown in the Book of Genesis.
This “lake of fire”
is also called “hell,” and the torment
of that place is: “eternal” (Matthew
18:8, 9), a place of “torment”
(Revelation 14:10 and as seen in these verses). It is the “outer
darkness” (Matthew 22:13). In these verses we can see the
sudden and complete end of this creature, the devil, along with the “beast”
and “false prophet” who cause many in
humanity to go with them into the “lake of
fire” (humanity’s part in the “lake”
will be glimpsed in verse 15).
Verse 11. “Then I saw a
great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth
and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.”
The devil, beast and false prophet were just
TAKEN (verse 10) and FLUNG into the “lake of
fire.” And there they will be “tormented
day and night forever and ever.” The idea of an everlasting
“hell” is not a popular one. None of us really care for the concept
of EVERLASTING suffering. But if all of creation is actually
everlasting and physical “death” just a temporary state, it would
explain the need for “hell” – It is a holding place, a prison to keep
those who do not want God. They will get their way and know the
misery of life without Him – forever!
Note that “earth and
heaven fled away” at the presence of God. It is important to
see that NOTHING and NO ONE can stand in the presence of God. He is
holy in all His ways and we, as a race, have polluted not only
ourselves, but also have ruined all creation. EVERYTHING must be
cleansed in order for the new beginning that we will see in the verses
and chapters that are to follow. Note that “earth
and heaven fled away” not only from the Lord, but also from His
throne, because in His presence, His touch, all things are pure.
Verse 12. “And I saw
the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and
books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the
book of life; and the dead were judged from
the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”
Some religions teach a kind of “soul sleep,” in
which people simply fall “asleep” at the time of death, and if they
have displeased the Lord in their lives, they never wake up. It’s a
nice concept, but it has no real Scriptural basis. These verses are
clear – All the dead, those who accomplished much in life and those
who did not, will stand before the Lord. “Standing”
implies awareness, as they are brought before Him. They are not
asleep; they’re alert and waiting.
This judgment will happen. Certainly it is clear
that God’s judgment will be based on works, the evidence of our
lives. Everything we do is carefully recorded by and for God. We, as
a race, have become, through computers and other means, pretty good at
keeping records. We should not be surprised that God’s abilities in
that area are infinitely better than ours. He has a perfectly
recorded, “televised” record of everything you have ever thought and
done.
Verse 13. “And the sea
gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the
dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them
according to their deeds.”
The “sea” here
may be the literal oceans of this planet, but the phrase also includes
the idea of a “sea of nations” (Revelation 17:15). In other words,
ALL those who have lived and died in history, anywhere on earth, will
be returned to consciousness at the moment of this verse. Their
bodies have lain in the earth for all these years and millennia. We
may be reduced to the elements out of which we are made, but God knows
who and where we are.
Note that judgment upon humanity is inevitable.
“Go ahead and do it;” someone might whisper – “No one will see you.”
But God sees and He will judge you for what you have done. Notice
also that your WORKS are held up for all creation to see and it is
your “DEEDS” on this earth that will
condemn you. But Jesus has died for our sins, in our place. He paid
the price for our deeds, which were counted against Him, not us – we
merely are to trust in Him. “The wages of
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus
our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Do you TRUST in Jesus Christ?
Verse 14. “Then death
and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death,
the lake of fire.”
“Death” will be
gone from us – Forever! Have you thought much about death? At the
time of this writing, it is estimated that 153,000 people pass from
this life every day. Most of humanity is in denial about the subject,
preferring to never think about it at all, until they reach a point
when it is impossible to think about anything else. It is everywhere
on earth, casting a pall over our lives, our relationships.
“Hades” is not
the “lake of fire,” but is rather it
is the equivalent of the Hebrew “Sheol,”
rendered variously as “grave, “hell”
and “pit” in Scripture. It is more
than just a “grave,” describing also the temporary place of the
unbelieving dead, as we see in Jesus’ parable of the “Rich Man and
Lazarus.” He noted the rich man was in “torments
in Hades” (Luke 16:23 & context). “Hades”
and everyone in it will be unceremoniously “thrown
into the lake of fire.” They will remain in Hades and they
will be in hell.
Verse 15. “And if
anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown
into the lake of fire.”
In Mark 9:43-44, Jesus spoke of a place where “their
worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” These verses
are about that place. The philosophies and concepts of the former
Greek States lived on in the Roman Empire. Jesus Christ was born into
that system, using verbal imagery understood by His hearers. The
Greeks had a surprisingly “modern” understanding of psychological
concepts – For instance, they used electro-shock therapy on depressed
patients (making them grasp electric eels), with some success.
The words Jesus spoke describe severely
mentally-disturbed patients. If you have ever observed such people,
you’ll know they are typically agitated and restless, which is why the
doctors prescribe so much medication for them – To calm the patients
so they can be controlled. There will be no “calm” in eternity for
those who have rejected the Lord. They are not written in the “book”
of God’s people. They will see God, but incredibly do not want Him
and they will get their way – an eternity without Him! Without God
all beings are insane, for they have chosen to be without Him –
forever!
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA
90809-2131 USA
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
