This chapter talks about the millennial Kingdom. Messiah Yeshua, at His second coming (not to be confused with the rapture), comes to earth just prior to the establishment of this Kingdom (the premillennial return of Messiah, see above). We are not presently living in this millennial Kingdom, as some people believe. Nor is this millennial Kingdom going to be absent (amillennialism).

Verse 1: “I looked, and an angel came down from the heavens. In his hand was the key to the bottomless pit (Abyss) and a great chain.”

Verse 2: “He seized the dragon, that serpent of old, the devil, or satan, and he bound him for a thousand years.”

The first thing we learn about this millennial Kingdom is that satan is bound and is in the abyss for 1000 years. satan will have no influence in this Kingdom. The only influence is that of Messiah Yeshua. His Word is going to go out from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2v2-5)

Verse 3: “He cast him into the abyss, and closed him in. He put a seal upon him in order that he would not be able to deceive the nations until the thousand years ended. Afterwards he should be released for a short time.”

Satan is seen as a deceiver. One of the ways that he deceives is that he causes people to doubt what G-d has said (Genesis 3v1). When we begin to doubt we are weakened spiritually. Why is it necessary for satan to be released after this 1000-year period? To answer this question, we need to understand who takes part in this millennial Kingdom:

1. Those who took part in the rapture (which happens shortly after the abomination of desolation – 2 Thessalonians 2v1-4). At the time of the rapture, every believer, dead or alive, will receive a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15v50-55). These believers are going to be in the heavens, with Messiah, until His return (second coming).

2. Jewish people who come to faith after the rapture and before the second coming of Messiah.

3. Gentiles who come to faith after the rapture and before the second coming. Everyone in the millennial Kingdom, on Day 1, is a believer. They are all saved (Revelation 19v21 tells us that all the unbelievers, at this time, die and their flesh is fed to the birds).
Every believer who took part in the rapture received a glorified body (see above). As a result, they will not be able to procreate (Matthew 22v30). However, there is no Scriptural evidence to show that the Jews and Gentiles that came to faith after the rapture receive a glorified body. This group of people will be able to procreate. (Micah 4v1-8, Isaiah 65v20-23) The law (Torah) will go forth, in the millennial Kingdom, and the first commandment to mankind was to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1v28). People are going to
obey the Torah and be fruitful and multiply.)

4. This is the group of children that are born, in the millennial Kingdom, from the 2nd and 3rd group of people mentioned above. They are going to become the largest group: “like sand on the seashore” 20v8.


Verse 4: “I looked, and I saw the thrones and those who sat upon them. Judgement was given into their hand. The souls of the ones who were beheaded, on account of the testimony of Yeshua and the Word of G-d, those who did not bow down to the beast and its image, and those who did not receive the mark upon their foreheads nor upon their hands, they shall rise and live. They shall rule with Messiah a thousand years.”

Those who embrace the Word of G-d manifest the testimony of Yeshua. This verse is a reference to believers (those who have the testimony of Yeshua). We are going to rule and reign with Messiah for those 1000 years. This is the first resurrection.