The rule of Christ - Revelation 20:1-15

The *angel binds *Satan - Revelation 20:1-3

v1 Then I saw an *angel come down from heaven. He had the key to that deep hole that has no end. In his hand, he carried a great chain. v2 He overcame and took hold of the *dragon. The *dragon is the ancient snake and he is the devil and *Satan. The *angel bound the *dragon for 1000 years. v3 Then the *angel threw *Satan into the deep hole. He locked the door so that *Satan could not escape. *Satan could no longer cause the nations to do evil things. After the 1000 years, he will be free again for a short time.

Verse 1 An *angel came down from heaven. He had a key and a great chain in his hands. The key was to open the entrance of the hole whose depth has no end. This hole is a description of the place where *demons live. They have to wait there for the time when God will punish them. This is a description, but it describes real things. There can be no key for a hole. And nobody can bind a *demon with a chain. But the meaning is that the *angel has control of that place. The *angel will be able to bind *Satan during that time. *Satan will not be able to work on earth for those 1000 years. Verses 2-3 The *angel seized the *dragon and bound him with the chain. The *dragon means the devil and his name is *Satan. That chain will bind him for 1000 years. He will not be able to do anything during that time. He will have no power whatever. The *angel threw *Satan into the hole and locked the door. The *angel made certain that nobody could open it. *Satan had to remain there during the 1000 years. He will not be able to affect the nations during that time. At the end of the 1000 years, *Satan will be free for a short period.

Jesus Christ rules on earth - Revelation 20:4-6

v4 Then I saw *thrones and those who sat on them. God chose them and he gave them the right to rule. Also, I saw the *souls of those people who died for their *faith. Their enemies had used axes to kill them because they had told about Jesus. They spoke the true word of God. These people had not given honour to the *beast or his image. They had not received the mark of the *beast on the front of their heads or on their hands. They came back from death. They lived and ruled as kings with Christ for 1000 years. v5 This is the first time that God will raise people from death. The rest of the people who had died did not live again until the end of the 1000 years. v6 Happy and holy are those whom God raises from death at this time. The second death that will come will have no power over them. But they will be priests of God and of Christ. And they will rule as kings with Christ for 1000 years.

Verse 4 Many people died because they would not *worship the *beast. They had refused to give honour to the image of the *beast. They had not received the mark of the *beast. They had obeyed the *Lord Jesus. They believed and they spoke the word of God. God made these people alive again. They sat on thrones. These are not the only ones who will sit on *thrones. Some Christians who had not died for their *faith will rule the nations with Christ. The *Lord has promised this honour to those who overcome (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21). Many people believe that all real Christians will receive this honour. Everyone who is a real Christian overcomes the devil. But they do not overcome the devil because of their own efforts. They overcome the devil because they trust Christ. Christ will rule the earth for 1000 years. Those who sit on the *thrones will rule with him. They will be the judges of the nations. They will live on earth for the whole 1000 years. Verse 5 These who rule in the 1000 years, God has made alive. Nobody else will live again until the end of the 1000 years. Then God will raise all of them from death and they will live. Then, he will be the judge of all people. Verse 6 God has been kind to those whom he raises at the start of the 1000 years. They will not suffer the second death. The second death means the lake of fire. They are safe and they will live with the *Lord always. God will be the judge of the rest of the people after the 1000 years. Only those who have trusted the *Lord to save them from their *sins will be safe. They will always live with the *Lord. But many people have not trusted the *Lord. And they will suffer in the lake of fire. In other words, they will die the second death.

These whom God raises for the 1000 years will be his priests. They will know and serve God and the *Lord Jesus here on the earth. They will rule as kings with Christ.