Revelation 20:1-6
The Thousand Years
Read the passage
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
John sees an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain. The angel seizes the dragon, the ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, binds him for a thousand years, and throws him into the abyss.
The angel shuts and seals the abyss over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years are ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
John sees thrones whose occupants receive authority to judge. He sees the souls of those beheaded for Jesus' testimony and God's word, and those who refused the beast's worship and mark. They come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead do not come to life until that period is complete.
This is called the first resurrection. Those who share in it are blessed and holy. The second death has no power over them; they will be priests of God and Christ and reign with Him for a thousand years. Those the beast persecuted are shown alive, serving and reigning with their Lord.
Christians understand the timing and nature of the thousand years and first resurrection differently. Those questions require care, but they need not obscure the promises the passage states. God restrains the deceiver, Christ shares His reign, and the second death cannot claim those who share in this resurrection. Faithful witness has not been wasted.
Questions
1 Who is bound?
AnswerThe dragon, identified as the devil and Satan, is seized, chained, and shut in the abyss. The action directly limits the deceiver's reach over the nations.
2 How long is he confined?
AnswerHe is confined for a thousand years and then released for a little while. The period is part of the vision's sequence and should not be turned into a confident timetable beyond what the text says.
3 Who reigns with Christ?
AnswerThose who were beheaded for Jesus' testimony and had not worshiped the beast come to life and reign with Christ. The vision honors costly faithfulness.
4 Who is called blessed and holy?
AnswerThose who share in the first resurrection are blessed and holy, and the second death has no power over them. Their future is secure in God's life.
What This Means for Us
Someone who dies faithful to Jesus has not lost the future He promises. Remember that when you hear of a martyr or grieve a believer whose service ended in death. Pray for those left behind, and speak of Christ's promise with humility and hope. His people's future includes life and service with Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, limit the deceiver and honor faithful witnesses. Give our household humility with prophetic time, courage under pressure, and hope in the life and reign You share with Your people. Amen.