A Closer Look at Section 3 (Chapters 20-22)

“The healing of the nations” – Rev 22:2

These chapters conclude the Bible. All of the loss suffered in the opening three chapters of the Bible is here undone in its last three. It is a glorious ending, worthy of a Glorious God.

Chapter 20

The Thousand Years

When Chapter 20 opens, we again jump back to the beginning of the harvest, but only for the briefest of moments. The first three verses show the return of Jesus with the great chain of truth that will bind the errors of men and their systems (Psa 2:1-9).

Many students of Revelation interpret the four-name entity of 20:2 NOT as the personal devil, but as the social-civil order which the personal devil has directed from the beginning. The personal devil is not excluded from this name, but it is not primarily about him. (Ezekiel 28:13-15 and Isaiah 14:12-16) This four-name appellation of verse 2 occurs originally in Chapter 12 where it has the same meaning.

Five Times through the Millennium

(1) The Millennium & “The Devil” (Rev. 20:1-10) this section deals with the binding and final elimination of the “dragon” — that part of the trio from Rev. 16:13 which was NOT destroyed in Rev. 19:20.

(2) The Great White Throne of Judgment (Rev. 20:11-Rev. 21:1) in these verses are summarized the standards and process of the judgment of individuals, in the Day of Judgment.

(3) The New Order (Rev. 21:2-8) this section shows the joys awaiting the resurrected as well as the fate of the incorrigible.

(4) Focus on the Bride (Rev. 21:9-27) in these verses are symbolized the “New Jerusalem” — the Bride of Christ who, with Him will govern during the peaceable kingdom.

(5) Food, Water and Light (Rev. 22:1-5) the sustaining elements for life everlasting are shown in this final picture with the concluding promise to resurrected mankind that “they shall reign for ever and ever.”

A few observations on Chapter 20

1. That the actual devil will be bound, as well as this symbolic devil, is assured by the Lord’s parable in Matt 12:29. The Millennium is for the regeneration of the race. (Matt 19:28) All things that would make this judgment day (2 Pet 3:7, 8) difficult will be cleared out of the way (Isa 35:8-10). This is the reason for not only binding the literal devil, but also the influences of the beastly governments (Dan 7:17, 18) which have made life so difficult for the human race.

2. The first sentence of Verse 5 is SPURIOUS. In the best manuscripts, the words “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” are not found. This has confused many sincere seekers of truth. Not only do the words not occur in early manuscripts, but logic teaches that they make no sense.

If, as Verse 3 states, Satan is bound so as not to deceive the nations, then logic dictates that the nations must still be alive! Read from Verse 4 through Verse 6 WITHOUT the spurious words and see the logical flow and the resulting sense it makes.

3. As noted in the Chart of the Ages, the “little season” (Verse 3) of Satan’s loosing (Verse 7) is clearly shown as the last judgment event of history (the Dark Blue area depicted at the end of the Messianic Age). After it, peace for evermore! Verse 10 finds the destroyed religious systems (beast and false prophet from 19:20) and the destroyed civil power, finally gone — gone in every way except in the minds of men whose memories will forever vex or torment any reference to these undesirable parts of human history.

4. Apparently the final deception will occur when The Christ is ready to step aside (1 Cor 15:24-28) and turn the kingdom over to the Father. The deception will be an attempt by the devil and men of pride to re-establish a civil government. (Rev 20:7-9) God destroys them. (See Matt 25:46 – note that the opposite of punishment is life. Eternal punishment is death.)

The everlasting “fire” is everlasting destruction. What better symbol of destruction exists than fire which totally consumes what it bums? Thus in Verse 9, the personal devil (Satan) and his followers are destroyed; in Verse 10, the symbolic devil (the social-civil order) is consigned to a tormented spot in the eternal memory of the pages of history.

5. An important item: The awakened dead (not the Church) will be judged by works — they will be, under the mediator (Rev 5:10; 20:6), progressing toward perfection. Perfect works will be required of them in the end. (See also 22:12.)

6. Another important item: In Verse 13 we note that “hell” gives up its dead. Then, in Verse 14, hell is destroyed in oblivion, where the beast, false prophet, and devil are (Verse 10).

The Bible hell is the condition of nothingness in the grave (Eccl 9:5). “Death” in Verse 14 is the condition of being alive but not having received the right to continue living — i.e., “death” is the condition of DYING. Thus Jesus could say, “Let the dead bury their dead.” (Luke 9:60)

Both “hell” (being dead) and “death” (dying) are consigned to oblivion. Life will reign for all who progress to perfection through the thousand years and the little season because of their faith and obedience.

Chapters 21 and 22

The Glorious Ending (Really the Beginning)

Chapters 21 and 22 are ecstatic in their descriptions of the new government. (A “city” in symbolism is a government. Even today we refer to Tokyo, London, Paris or Washington when referring to the governments housed in these capital cities.)

In symbolic terms “the healing of the nations” (22:2) occurs because of the fruitage of the trees. These trees are the Church glorified (Isa 61:3). Jesus and His bride (22:17) offer the water (truth) of life to all who wish to avail themselves of it without the deceptions of Satan to hinder them.

It is no wonder that John’s final prayer (22:20) was, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

Transition to another Salvation

Section 3 of Revelation (Chapters 20-22) concludes the business of the Gospel Age and introduces the business of the Messianic Age: the blessing of all the families of the earth as was promised in the covenant with Abraham.

The focus of these last three chapters is now on the world of mankind:

1) The Church is become, with their Lord, kings and priests (Rev 20:4, 5).

2) Satan (both personal and symbolic) is stripped of power so as not to deceive the nations during the thousand years. (Rev 20:1-3)

3) The old earth (society) and heaven (religious world) are gone (20:11).

4) Those which have previously died are awakened to join the nations which have survived the transition trouble (Armageddon); they are all yet reckoned “dead” (20:12) because they have not yet availed themselves of the benefits of the Millennium to obtain full and perfect life. This process of gaining life during the thousand years is called the “resurrection of the unjust” (Acts 24:15) and the “resurrection of judgment” (John 5:29 — NAS translation).

5) The understanding (“book(s)“) are opened (20:12). The permission to live (“book“) is made available (20:12). Those who obey (works) will be entered into this “book” of permission to live (20:12). This is the time period (the thousand years) in which the separation of the Sheep and the Goats takes place (Matt 25:31-46)

6) While heaven and earth (religious and social organization) have disappeared (20:11), the sea (restless masses of mankind who have never been a part of “heaven” or “earth“) repents and is converted (Isa 60:5). Thus the sea gives up its dead (20:13).That is, in finally finding the Lord and the truth, these people LOSE their restlessness and become part of the new earth (17:5; 21:1). Thus, there will be no more sea.

7) The new government (city) of Jesus and His bride (Isa 9:6; Rev 21:2) rules this Mediatorial age among men (5:10; 21:3), the results will be glorious (21:4-7).

8) The incorrigible will be destroyed ultimately (Acts 3:23; Rev 20:7-9; 21:8, 27). The faithful will inherit the earth as promised (Matt 5:5; Rev 21:7). The whole world will gladly fall into line with this new life-giving arrangement (Isa 14:7; Rev 21:24, 26).

9) The Church, who are the fountain and trees of this prophecy, will share life abundantly with all the willing. (Rev 21:6; John 4:14; Rev 22:1, 17; Isa 61:3; Rev 22:2)

In our next post we will take a look at some important points which will aid the student in the study of the book of Revelation.