Revelation

Revelation 20: God judges the dead

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the dead standing before the great white throne, please come before God in prayer. Ask Him to give you reverence for His judgment and to show you Christ, who reigns.

Doesn’t he see my ways, and count all my steps?

Job 31:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us Your righteous judgment, and help us to turn from our sin and trust Christ. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

An angel binds Satan in the abyss for a thousand years so he cannot deceive the nations. John sees faithful witnesses living and reigning with Christ, beyond the second death's power. After the thousand years, Satan is released and deceives the nations into surrounding God's people. Fire from heaven devours the attackers, and the devil joins the beast and false prophet in unending torment. A great white throne appears, and the dead stand before it as books and the book of life are opened. Each is judged according to his works, and everyone absent from the book of life is cast into the lake of fire.

As you read Revelation 20, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God restrains and judges every enemy, while those who belong to Christ share His life and reign.

The angel's key and chain show that Satan never holds power equal to God's. His binding prevents deception of the nations until the thousand years end, and even his later freedom must be brief. Those killed for Jesus are shown living and reigning with Him, so their costly testimony has not ended in defeat. John names the first resurrection, while the thousand years remain a point of difference among faithful Christians. The gathered nations may surround God's people, yet the fire that consumes them shows the limits of their power. The devil joins the beast and false prophet in torment that never ends, bringing their rebellion to its appointed judgment. The throne recalls Daniel's opened books, where heaven's court brings earthly power to account (Daniel 7 verses 9 and 10). The records of deeds show why each judgment is just, leaving no person hidden or forgotten. The book of life identifies those spared the second death, whose deliverance rests in belonging to the Lamb (Revelation 21 verse 27).

How does Revelation 20 show God's rule over every enemy and the life His people share with Christ?

God sets the limit of Satan's power.

An angel seizes Satan, binds him for a thousand years, and shuts and seals him in the abyss (verses 1 to 3). The purpose is that he should no longer deceive the nations until that period ends. His later release is brief and appointed, showing that his freedom never escapes God's rule.

Those faithful to Jesus share His life and reign.

John sees thrones with authority to judge, and the souls of those beheaded for Jesus' testimony and God's Word (verse 4). They refused the beast's worship and mark, and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead do not live until those years end, and John names the first resurrection (verse 5). Its participants are blessed and holy, and the second death has no power over them (verse 6). They serve as priests of God and Christ, reigning with Christ for a thousand years.

God ends Satan's rebellion and condemns him forever.

Released Satan deceives the nations called Gog and Magog, gathering a host like the sea's sand (verses 7 and 8). These names recall Ezekiel's enemies of God's people, now drawn from every corner of the earth (Ezekiel 38 and 39). They surround the saints' camp and beloved city, yet fire from God devours them (verse 9). Satan joins the beast and false prophet in the lake of fire and sulfur, tormented day and night forever (verse 10).

God judges every life with complete justice.

Earth and heaven flee the throne, leaving no place to hide, while great and small stand before it (verses 11 and 12). Opened books record deeds, and sea, Death and Hades yield their dead for individual judgment (verses 12 and 13). Death and Hades themselves enter the lake of fire, named the second death (verse 14). Anyone absent from the book of life is cast there, so no rank or resting place offers protection (verse 15).

Memorise

The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, when I stand before God, what will I trust to save me?

The devil who deceived the nations was defeated forever. Then John saw “a great white throne”, and the dead, “the great and the small, standing before the throne”. They opened books, and “another book was opened, which is the book of life”. They were judged, “each one according to his works”. John ends, “If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.”

Every one of us has sinned, and no one can stand on his own works. But Jesus Christ went to the cross for His people, and He bore the judgment of God for them. His payment is enough. He rose in power, and He has won over the devil.

So turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Do not trust your good works. Everyone who comes to Him finds that He forgives. The devil is defeated, and Jesus lives and reigns forever.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God rules over Satan and judges every person justly. Explain the martyrs' deaths and unending punishment gently, keeping the vision's promises and warnings intact without deciding the thousand years. A Christian home does not save anyone. Urge each child to turn from sin to Jesus, asking God for the new heart only He can give.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He is the righteous Judge and that the Lord Jesus saves His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

Revelation 20:6

Father, You are the righteous Judge, and You defeat the devil forever. Thank You for Jesus, who gave His life for His people. Please turn each of us from our sin to trust Him, and keep our eyes on Him this week. Amen.