Revelation 20:1 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Victory having been gained over the earthly manifestation of godlessness, it remains to deal with the power lying behind. The archenemy is described as "the dragon," "the old serpent," "the devil," and, finally, as "Satan." In this grouping of names is a remarkable unveiling of the very essence of evil.

A brief and the only account of the thousand years follows. It will be a time of perfect earthly government under the King appointed and anointed by God. That government will be administered by those who have lived by faith in the supernatural.

The description then turns to millennial issues. Evidently even during that period there will be those who have never submitted to essential righteousness. Satan is loosed out of prison to gather them together, and once more they act in definite hostility to the reign of righteousness. The issue is that Satan loses his usurped dominion forever. He is nevermore to be god of the world nor prince of the power of the air.

Then follows the account of the great assize. Books are opened, and a book. In the books things are written. Those whose names are in the book enter into blessedness. Those whose names are not found entered there are judged according to the things written in the books.

There comes a final movement. Death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire. Deepest death would seem to consist in the destruction of the possibility of dying. Beyond these words it is impossible to go in speculation, of hope or despair. Whatever that final sentence may mean, it is the sentence of Him who occupies the Great White Throne.

Revelation 20:1-15

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 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.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

8 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.

9 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.

10 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.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hella delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.