CHAPTER TWENTY - MILLENIAL REIGN - BATTLE OF GOG AND MAGOG - FINAL JUDGMENTS

20:1-3 An angel comes down from heaven with a key to the bottomless pit, the devil is bound for a thousand years, cannot deceive the nations until the thousand years are fulfilled. At that time he will be loosed for a short time.

20:4-5 Thrones are set up to judge nations. Authority is given to those who have been martyred (beheaded) for the witness of Jesus. Those who refused to worship the beast, and receive his mark live, rule, and reign with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are finished.

Those who refuse to worship the beast include those down through the ages martyred for their witness. The fact that it says those who refused to worship the beast or receive his mark indicates that current believers have gone through the tribulation and overcame. They are now ruling the nations with Yeshua, teaching all nations about the Kingdom of God. Each year the nations celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles which represents the wedding feast (Zechariah 14.16). The rest of the dead must wait until the final judgment at the Bema Seat of Messiah. That is Rev 20:11-15.

20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. These are the saints who have overcome down through the ages and those who have come through the tribulation of the last days. The Feast of Tabernacles is now fulfilled. Ezekiel’s temple: Ezekiel 40-48 is a type of the millennial temple of Adonai.

20:7-10 After a thousand years Satan is loosed, the rebellious nations who have refused to be taught of God’s priests are defeated in battle. The battle takes place as the armies surround Jerusalem. 20:9 This is the Gog and Magog battle described in Ezek 38.1-39.20. Even without the influence of HaSatan for a thousand years, nations still rebel! God is revealing to mankind how evil his heart really is!

20:11-15 Now the final judgment seat of Christ. All mankind from beginning of history until then, except for those who experienced the first resurrection, are judged out of the book of life. All are judged according to their works. If not in the book of life--cast into the lake of fire--eternal separation from God.