Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Revelation
Chapter 20: The Great White Throne
Revelation 20 brings the long war to its end and every soul to its account. An angel binds 'the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan,' for a thousand years, that he 'should deceive the nations no more.' The martyrs who refused the beast 'lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years', the first resurrection, over which 'the second death hath no power.' When the thousand years are finished, Satan is loosed for a last deception, gathers the nations against 'the beloved city,' and is destroyed by fire from heaven, then 'cast into the lake of fire' forever. Then comes the final scene: 'a great white throne, and him that sat on it,' before whom heaven and earth flee. 'The dead, small and great, stand before God,' the books are opened, and each is 'judged... according to their works.' Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, 'the second death,' and 'whosoever was not found written in the book of life' is cast in with them.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Revelation chapter 20. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Satan is bound and later destroyed forever, the saints reign with Christ in the first resurrection, and all the dead stand before the great white throne to be judged. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
A Thousand Years
The dragon is chained, to deceive the nations no more.
The First Resurrection
They live and reign with Christ; the second death has no power.
Cast Into the Fire
A last deception, then the devil's eternal doom.
The Great White Throne
The dead judged by the books and the book of life.
The First Resurrection (Revelation 20:1-6)
Satan is bound for a thousand years so he can deceive the nations no more, while the faithful who overcame the beast live and reign with Christ, blessed and holy in the first resurrection, beyond the reach of the second death.
They Lived and Reigned With Christ
"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. 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 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."
Word Study
"resurrection," Greek anastasis (ἀνάστασις). The word means a rising up, a standing again, and is the New Testament word for the resurrection of the dead. Here it is called "the first resurrection": "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." Scripture speaks of two resurrections and two deaths. The first death is the death of the body that all now face; the "second death" is the eternal separation from God in the lake of fire (20:14). And there are two resurrections: the "first resurrection," the raising of the redeemed to life and glory, and the later raising of "the rest of the dead" to stand before the great white throne. Jesus taught this plainly: "they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29). The great blessing pronounced here is that those in the first resurrection are forever safe: "on such the second death hath no power." The believer may pass through the first death (the death of the body), but never the second; the one who is raised in Christ's resurrection can never be lost. And their portion is glorious: they are "priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him." So anastasis holds out the believer's sure hope: to share in the first resurrection is to be blessed, holy, untouchable by the second death, and to reign with Christ forever. This is why Paul counted all things loss "that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection" (Philippians 3:10).
Explanation
An angel binds Satan for a thousand years, restraining the deceiver of the nations, while the martyrs and faithful "lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" -- "the first resurrection." Blessed and holy are those who share in it, over whom "the second death hath no power," who serve as "priests of God and of Christ." The passage assures the persecuted church that those who lost their lives for Christ will reign with Him; the world's verdict is reversed. Whatever the details of the millennial reign, its comfort is plain: the suffering saints are vindicated, raised, and enthroned with the Lamb they died for.
Gospel Focus
The chapter opens with the binding of the great enemy. An angel with "the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain" lays hold on "the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan," and binds him "a thousand years... that he should deceive the nations no more." The one who has deceived the whole world (12:9) is chained by a single angel, so easily does heaven master him at God's command. During this reign the faithful who overcame the beast, "them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus... and which had not worshipped the beast," are vindicated and exalted: "they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Those the world executed now reign; those it counted losers are crowned. This is "the first resurrection," and over those who share it a beatitude is pronounced: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." Believers differ on the details of the thousand years, whether it is a literal future age of Christ's earthly reign or a symbol of Christ's present reign with His risen saints, and godly Apostolic people hold varying views. But the great certainties are plain and precious, and on these we build. Satan is decisively bound and mastered by God; the martyrs and faithful are not defeated but reign with Christ; there is a resurrection of the just over which death has no more power; and those raised in Christ are "priests of God and of Christ," sharing His reign forever. Note that title, "priests of God and of Christ," God and His Anointed named together, for the one God is revealed in Christ, and to reign with Christ is to reign with God. For the Apostolic reader the comfort is immense: whatever the world does to God's faithful, even beheading them, cannot touch their true life. They rise, they reign, and the second death has no power over them. To belong to the first resurrection is the blessedness worth any cost.
The Books Were Opened (Revelation 20:7-15)
Satan is loosed for a final deception and destroyed forever in the lake of fire; then all the dead stand before the great white throne, and each is judged by the books and by the book of life.
Whosoever Was Not Found Written in the Book of Life
"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. 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. 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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Word Study
"the book of life," Greek he biblos tes zoes (ἡ βίβλος τῆς ζωῆς). The book of life is God's register of the redeemed, the roll of all who belong to Him and have eternal life. At the great white throne, "the books were opened," the record of every deed, "and another book was opened, which is the book of life." Two kinds of books stand at the last judgment. The "books" record works; by them the deeds of every person are laid bare, and "the dead were judged... according to their works," for God's justice weighs every life truly. But the decisive book is "the book of life," the register of those who are God's own, redeemed by the Lamb. The final sentence turns on it: "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Works are judged, but salvation is by belonging to God, having one's name in the Lamb's book, written there by grace through faith in Christ. This book has appeared throughout Revelation: it is "the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (13:8), and only those written in it are kept from the beast's deception and the second death. Jesus told His disciples to "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20), and Paul spoke of his fellow workers "whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3). So he biblos tes zoes presses the one question that will matter above all others at the last day: is your name written in the book of life? To have it written there, by the blood of the Lamb, is to be delivered from the second death forever.
Explanation
Satan is loosed for a final rebellion, gathers the nations, and is decisively defeated -- "fire came down from God out of heaven" -- and the devil is cast into the lake of fire forever. Then comes the most solemn scene in Scripture: the great white throne, where the dead, small and great, stand before God and are "judged... according to their works," out of the books. Whoever is "not found written in the book of life" is cast into the lake of fire -- "this is the second death." Even death and hell are cast in. History ends at a throne of perfect justice, and the only refuge is to have one's name written in the Lamb's book of life.
Gospel Focus
When the thousand years end, "Satan shall be loosed" for one last deception, gathering "the nations... Gog and Magog" against "the camp of the saints... and the beloved city." It is a final unmasking: even after his long imprisonment, the devil's nature is unchanged, and the hearts that follow him were never truly won. But the rebellion is over in an instant: "fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." There is no drawn-out battle; God simply consumes His enemies. 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." The counterfeit trinity of evil, dragon, beast, and false prophet, meets a common and final doom. Then comes the most solemn scene in all Scripture: "a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away." Before the holiness of God the very universe flees. "The dead, small and great, stand before God", no rank, no wealth, no power exempts anyone. "The books were opened," recording every deed, "and another book... which is the book of life." All are "judged... according to their works," for God's justice is perfect and thorough. "Death and hell" themselves are "cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." And the final line falls with terrible clarity: "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." For the Apostolic reader this chapter is the most searching summons in the Bible. Judgment is certain; all the dead will stand before God; the books will be opened; and the one thing that will finally matter is whether your name is written in the book of life. This is not earned by works, though works are judged, but received by grace, one's name written in "the book of life of the Lamb slain" through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, being born again of water and Spirit. The good news is that the book still stands open now. Today, while there is breath, every person may come to the Lamb, be washed in His blood, and have their name written in heaven, and so pass, not into the second death, but into the life that has no end.
Chapter 20 in Review
Revelation 20 brings the great conflict to its end. Satan, "that old serpent, which is the Devil," is bound "a thousand years" so he can "deceive the nations no more," while the faithful who refused the beast "lived and reigned with Christ." This is "the first resurrection," and "on such the second death hath no power": they are "priests of God and of Christ." When the thousand years end, Satan is "loosed" for a final deception, gathers the nations against "the beloved city," and is destroyed by "fire... from God out of heaven," then "cast into the lake of fire," where "the beast and the false prophet are," forever. Then "a great white throne" appears, and "the dead, small and great, stand before God"; "the books were opened," with "the book of life," and all are "judged... according to their works." "Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death," and "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter holds the great certainties, whatever one's view of the thousand years. Satan is mastered by God, bound by a single angel and finally destroyed forever; the powers of darkness do not win. The faithful, even the martyred, are not defeated but reign with Christ, blessed and holy in the first resurrection, forever beyond the second death, priests of God and of Christ, for the one God is revealed in Christ and to reign with Christ is to reign with God. And judgment is real and universal: all the dead will stand before the great white throne of the holy God, from whose face heaven and earth flee, and every life will be judged truly by the books of works. Yet the final verdict turns on the book of life. To have one's name written there, not by merit but by the blood of the Lamb, received through repentance and faith, is to be delivered from the second death. So this chapter is at once the most sobering and the most gracious of warnings. The judgment is certain; the book of life is open now. Today, come to the Lamb, be washed in His blood, be born of water and Spirit, and have your name written in heaven, that when the books are opened you may be found in the first resurrection, and not in the lake of fire.
- Satan is bound and mastered by God, then destroyed forever; the enemy does not win (20:2-3, 10).
- The faithful "lived and reigned with Christ"; the martyred are not defeated but crowned (20:4).
- "The second death hath no power" over those in the first resurrection (20:6).
- The saints are "priests of God and of Christ", the one God revealed in Christ (20:6).
- All the dead, "small and great," stand before the great white throne of the holy God (20:11-12).
- The final verdict turns on the book of life, written by the blood of the Lamb (20:15).
Questions for Reflection
- Does it steady you that Satan is fully mastered by God and destined for the lake of fire?
- Do you have part in "the first resurrection," over which the second death has no power?
- Are you ready to stand before the great white throne of the holy God?
- Is your name written in the book of life, by the blood of the Lamb?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Satan bound; the dragon mastered: Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 12:9; Isaiah 24:21-22; Matthew 12:29; Jude 6. The first resurrection; reigning with Christ; the second death: Revelation 20:4-6; John 5:28-29; Daniel 7:18, 27; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:11; 1 Peter 2:9. Satan loosed, Gog and Magog, and his eternal doom: Revelation 20:7-10; Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 19:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Matthew 25:41. The great white throne and the books: Revelation 20:11-13; Daniel 7:9-10; 12:1-2; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 16:27. The book of life and the second death: Revelation 20:14-15; Revelation 13:8; 21:27; Exodus 32:32-33; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Daniel 12:1. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Satan bound and mastered by God: Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 12:9; Matthew 12:29.
- The first resurrection; the saints reign with Christ; the second death has no power: Revelation 20:4-6; John 5:28-29; 2 Timothy 2:12.
- Satan loosed and cast into the lake of fire forever: Revelation 20:7-10; Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 19:20.
- The great white throne; the books and the book of life; the second death: Revelation 20:11-15; Daniel 7:9-10; Revelation 13:8.