Space forbids us from giving a detailed answer or from quoting every scripture, so we will give you a brief outline of the chapter. In short, this chapter presents to us the Millennium reign of Christ and the final judgment of Satan and all Christ-rejecters. We will be using the New King James Version.

Verses 1-3: “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon…who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up…so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.” Before Christ establishes His 1,000 year kingdom, He has Satan confined to a prison so that he will have no influence over men during that time.

Verses 4-6: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God…and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has no part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has not power.” John saw all those who had trusted in Christ raised from the dead and reigning with Christ. The “first resurrection” includes Old Testament believers and believers during the Church Age (their resurrection takes place at the Rapture), and believers who were martyred during the Tribulation Period (their resurrection take place just before Christ returns as “King of kings and Lord of lord”). They are called “blessed” for they will NOT experience the “second death” (the “lake of fire”).

Verses 7-10: “Now when the thousand years are expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth…to gather them to battle…and surrounded the saints and the beloved city…and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them…the devil…was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” God allows Satan to be released from the bottomless pit to deceive those who had not trusted in Christ during the 1,000 kingdom. They will follow him in his last act of rebellion (where he will attack the saints of God residing in Jerusalem) but God will judge Satan’s armies immediately with fire from heaven. Then Satan himself will meet his much-deserved end by being cast into the lake of fire where he will be tormented throughout the endless ages of eternity.

Verses 11-15: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…and I saw the dead…standing before God, and books were opened…and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life…and the dead were judged according to their works…the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them…and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” This solemn scene takes place at the end of time (at the “end of the 1,000 year kingdom). We saw earlier the blessing of all who took part in the “first resurrection” (which is called the “resurrection unto life” in John 5:29); here we the “unsaved dead” who experience the “resurrection of judgment” (John 5:29) and who are “cast into the lake of fire” because their names are NOT written in the Book of Life.

In closing, I would plead with all who read these lines to turn, while there is time, to the Lord Jesus Christ in true repentance and faith. If you will believe on Him as your Savior, you will receive eternal life (and your names WILL be recorded in the Book of Life). If you refuse to receive Him as your Savior NOW, you will meet Him as your Judge THEN. (263.1) (DO)