Study
23 From the Book of Revelation is: Revelation 20: 1-10
Great
differences exist among Christians concerning the interpretation of ‘the
thousand years’ and ‘the first resurrection’.
Either the thousand years follow Christ’s second coming, or this section
is a fresh symbolic description of the period between Christ’s first coming and
His second coming. There does seem to be parallel sequence in the main events
of Rev. 11-14 and 20. It was through Christ’s first coming that Satan was
bound. Cf. Mk. 3:23-27; Lk. 10:17-19; Jn. 12:31. Rev. 20:7-9 can be understood
as yet another reference to Armageddon. Cf. 16:14-16; 19:19. ‘The first resurrection’, however understood,
is a privilege shared in only by faithful followers of the Lamb. Some think the
phraseology symbolically predicts that the age of the martyrs would be followed
by a far longer period of Christian supremacy during which the faith of Christ
for which the martyrs died would live and reign.
1-
What activity is particularly attributed to Satan? In what
different ways is he dealt with? How is his activity made to serve God’s
purposes? Cf. 2 Thes. 2:9-12. What will be his end? Who will share the same
fate? Cf. Mt. 25:41.
2-
What are the rewards of the martyrs who are faithful to death?
Cf. Lk. 22:28-30; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:10, 11; 5:10. What grace should such
awareness make us covet?
Notes
1-
Verses 1-3 ‘The bottomless pit’: as the abode of evil spirits (cf.
9-11) this is to be carefully distinguished from ‘the lake of fire’ (verse 10).
2-
Verse 3. ‘Must’: for reasons hidden in the divine will.
3-
Verse 8. ‘Gog and Magog’: the reference here is to Ezk. 38; 39,
where the prophet conceived of a great invasion of the land of Israel.
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