Revelation 20:1-10
AIM: The devil is doomed but desires to deceive and destroy people
A) Satan is locked in the abyss
(1) John sees angel down from heaven, had key to Abyss, holding great chain
(2) Seized dragon/ancient serpent/devil/Satan - bound him 1,000 years
(3) threw him into Abyss, locked and sealed, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore, after he'll be set free a short time
AIM: The devil is doomed but desires to deceive and destroy people
A) Satan is locked in the abyss
(1) John sees angel down from heaven, had key to Abyss, holding great chain
(2) Seized dragon/ancient serpent/devil/Satan - bound him 1,000 years
(3) threw him into Abyss, locked and sealed, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore, after he'll be set free a short time
- Satan's activity in the world: roams the earth, looking for someone to kill (Job 1:7;2:2;1 Peter 5:8), Makes people unable to hear Jesus and they carry out Satan's desires - murder, hates truth, father of lies (John 8:42-45; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
- My confidence in the Lord's power over Satan's activity: God hears me, heals me and helps me when I listen to him carefully, do what is right in his sight and earnestly seek him. (1 John 5:14-15; Exodus 15:26; Hebrews 11:1,6)
B) Martyrs reign with Christ for 1,000 years
(4) Thrones, seated by those given authority to judge AND souls of martyrs testimony about Jesus and word of God
- Not worshiped the beast/image or received it's mark on forehead or hand (Rev 13, Daniel 7-8)
- Came to life, reigned with Christ a thousand years (Genesis 1:14 stars in the sky mark season/days/years, original man lived a 930 years Genesis 5:4-5). (Isaiah 63:9 - in their suffering he also suffered, personally rescued them, redeemed them, lifted them up and carried them through all the years)
(5) The rest of the dead didn't come to life until 1,000 years ended - first resurrection
(6) Blessed (#5 of 7 blessings) and holy are those who share in first resurrection
- second death no power (Rev 2:11 - victorious will not be harmed, Rev 20:14 lake of fire is the second death, death/grave/Hades thrown in back at 19:19
- priests of God and Christ (Rev 1:6;5:10 echoes 1 Peter 2:5,9 God building us into a spiritual temple, offering spiritual sacrifices - royal priest, but emphasizes service our God, Psalm 132:9,16 clothed with righteousness/salvation, Leviticus Hebrews summarizes in chapters 7-9)
- Reign with him a 1,000 years "a life time of preparation for an eternity of service"
Application: How can I change my priorities to live for God and reflect my eternity to come? What form of hypocrisy do I try to hide from God and others? What is God asking me to change so that I'm victorious, blessed and holy?
C) Satan is released to deceive nations but they are defeated and Satan is thrown in lake of fire
C) Satan is released to deceive nations but they are defeated and Satan is thrown in lake of fire
(7) when 1,000 years are over Satan will be released from his prison,
- (8) going out to deceive the nations four corners of earth
- Gog and Magog (Genesis 10:2 explains these are Japhethites, Ezekiel 38:2;39:6 prophecy against them)
- and gather them for battle,
- huge like sand on seashore (Blessing Genesis 22:17;Hosea 1:10; Psalm 78:27; 1 Kings 4:29; but mostly armies are described this way Joshua 11:4; Judges 7:12; 1 Samuel 13:5...)
- (9) they marched across the breadth of earth surrounded "camp of God's people- city he loves", fire from heaven devoured them (Gen 19 Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed this way)
- (10) and the devil who deceived them thrown into lake of fire (burning sulfur) tormented day and night
Application: How am I standing for God in a culture that is idolatrous and ungodly? Where am I deceived by the devil in my heart and mind? Am I willing to repent and let God remove this deception from me?