I have heard that Satan will be released during the Thousand Year Reign. Why is that? It will be so awesome to not have to fight him every day and just be with Jesus. Why does God release him for a while? After that, doesn’t he just have to stay in hell?
Let’s start by reading Revelation 19:11-21, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.” This event happens at the end of what is known as the tribulation period. The Lord Jesus returns and defeats those who war against Him. In this defeat, we see that the beast and the false prophet are “cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Now let’s read Revelation 20:1-3, “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” This event follows immediately after the beast and false prophet are cast into Hell. Satan is cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years so that he cannot deceive the nations during the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus on the earth. This pit is not Hell, but it is a temporary prison that Satan will be held in.
Let’s continue reading in Revelation 20:7-10, “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” When Satan is released from his prison, he goes to the four corners of the earth and gathers a huge army; an army that is the size of the sand of the sea. It is so sad to realize that even without Satan to tempt men to sin, that sin is still in the hearts of unrepentant people. Even during this period where the Lord Jesus reigns, there are still those who have not bowed their knees to His authority. These are the ones that will join with Satan in his last attempt to defeat the Lord. Of course, they are destroyed by fire from Heaven. It is then that Satan is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. He will never be released and will be tormented forever.
So why is Satan released at the end of the 1000 year reign of the Lord? It seems that sin must run its course. The hearts of evil men must be made manifest. This event will allow those who stand against the Lord to become public and the wickedness of their hearts will be shown in their desire to overthrow Him. They only need a leader to carry out their evil desires. Satan will be that leader.
For the believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, we realize that during the times of the Tribulation and Millennial reign of the Lord, we are with Him and are beyond the reach of Satan. In describing the Rapture in the book of 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, we read in verse 7, “…and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” From the very second that the church is raptured out from the world; we will never leave the presence of Christ again. 1 John 3:2 tells us, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” We shall see Him; we shall be like Him; and we shall forever be with Him. What a glorious portion awaits those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.