Revelation Lesson #20 Series

A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)

Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.

I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 20.

In our study concerning the influence of the spirit realm upon mankind, we have witnessed activities from the spirit world and have been given insights to the fall of the great whore of Babylon which caused mankind to fornicate with her. In chapter 19 we saw a glimpse of the excitement of heavenly beings as they realized her fall.

Also we were given insights to the judgment where all evil beasts and Satan, himself, were cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. We can understand how devastating the punishment for unbelief and unrighteousness shall be upon evil man.

We turn to chapter 20. Here we see the first punishment upon Satan where he is cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. We first must recognize this is not a literal 1000 years on our time table. In eternity, God does not live by our time table. One thousand years means a very long time. God uses this to explain to us a difference between one duration of time versus another duration of time. Only God knows when the event is complete to release Satan to deceive mankind ‘for a little season’. We understand a season as one fourth of a calendar year. This represents a shorter duration of time versus any other longer or shorter time. Let us read Rev. 20.

Rev. 20:1-3. 20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

This event does not seem to coincide with the final judgment of which we read in chapter 19. This seems to be an event which will happen anytime during the previous events spoken before. We have a hard time not thinking these events are in chronological order and happen one immediately following another. Often they are separate events or clusters,’sevens’, being described for our learning and can happen simultaneously or after a duration of time to complete one event. Some events are fulfilled before the next event begins. We need careful study and concentration to depict which way these events transpire.

Here we are given insight to the binding of Satan for a purpose. Perhaps it is to allow Christianity to have a time of peace to develop in all the earth.

In Zechariah 6:1-8, we see God’s servants, colored horses and chariots, performing His work to cause peace to come for the rebuilding of the temple. 6 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.

Peace was made for Israel to return to build the temple of Solomon again. However, ‘The Branch’ shall build the temple. The Branch is Jesus. In Zechariah 6:12-13, we read there is peace for both to have time to build the temple of God. This second temple is ‘The Church’, the Bride of Jesus. Notice Zechariah 6:12-13. 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.