Dig Deeper
Revelation 20:1-3 || This scene depicts Jesus’ First Advent, the great chain is the Gospel, with which He defeated the dragon on the cross (see Colossians 2:13-15). The Thousand Years is the time between Jesus’ Resurrection and His Second Advent (see all of Matthew 24, especially verse 14).
Revelation 20:4-6 || The First Death = death on this earth. The First Resurrection = belief in Jesus (See John 5:24-27 & 11:25-26). See also Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 23:32-43,
1 Corinthians 6:2, Romans 5:17.
Revelation 20:7-15 || The devil is released for a short time (see 20:3), makes war, is utterly defeated and then is thrown into everlasting torment. All dead are raised. All people are judged according to what they had done. Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life are saved. All others are thrown into the lake of fire. This is the Second Death! See Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 2:5-3:26, Romans 6:3-5, Romans 8, Galatians 5.
Revelation 21 || God’s Plan: a completely new universe. A total renewal, which is to say better than it ever would have been if the first had not come. The brokenness is gone. Love and Justice have prevailed. There will be no darkness. Only light. God’s People (the Bride, the New Jerusalem) are completely free of their suffering, and are completely fulfilled in the presence of God. All of His designs from the beginning, which were GOOD, they were VERY GOOD (See Genesis 1), are now restored and carried forth. See Isaiah 65:17-25, 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Peter 3:10-13.
Revelation 22 || We will see the face of God in the Garden—a garden fully restored—for all eternity. Ezekiel’s River is there (see Ezekiel 47:1-12) and the curse is gone. So, together, the Spirit and the Bride say: “Come! Whoever is thirsty…take the free gift of the water of life!” See John 4:13-14, 7:37-38, 8:12, 14:6-7, 17:6-18, 20:30-31.