Bible Glide

Revelation 20

Revelation 20 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Revelation 20 presents a sweeping vision of God's rule over evil, the honor given to faithful believers, and the final judgment of all people. The chapter moves from Satan's restraint to the defeat of rebellion and ends with the great white throne and the Book of Life.

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What happens in Revelation 20?

John sees an angel bind Satan and seal him in the Abyss so he can no longer deceive the nations for a thousand years. Thrones are set up, and those who remained faithful to Jesus are raised to life and reign with Christ. After the thousand years, Satan is released, gathers the nations for one last attack, and is destroyed by fire from heaven before being thrown into the lake of fire. The chapter then turns to the great white throne, where the dead are judged from the books, including the Book of Life. Death and Hades are also ended in the lake of fire.

This chapter follows the fall of the beast and false prophet in Revelation 19 and moves toward the final renewal described in Revelation 21. It brings the conflict between Christ and evil to its last major turning point before the vision of the new heaven and new earth.

Themes to notice

  • Satan restrainedGod limits Satan's power and shows that evil's influence is never beyond His control.
  • Faithful reignThose who belong to Christ are honored with life, authority, and priestly service.
  • Final judgmentThe great white throne scene shows every life brought before God's just and complete judgment.

Questions for Revelation 20

  • What does the binding of Satan show about God's control over evil?
  • Why are the faithful described as sharing in the first resurrection and reigning with Christ?
  • What does the Book of Life mean for the final judgment in this chapter?

Read the full text of Revelation 20 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Revelation 20

Satan Bound

1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.3And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.

4Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection.6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Satan Cast into the Lake of Fire

7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.9And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.10And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Judgment before the Great White Throne

11Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

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