THURSDAY
Now we come to the final defeat of Satan and the final judgment before the throne of God.
Revelation 20:7-10 The Defeat of Satan 7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Satan is released. We aren’t given an explanation as to why, but we see he immediately returns to his old ways, even after being confined to the abyss. This reveals his total corrupted, evil nature. He will not change. Even when he clearly has no chance of victory, he continues to resist. This is similar to Saruman in Lord of the Rings. The movies don’t show this, but he is released from his confinement because he has no more power. But he goes to the Shire and creates chaos there that the hobbits have to deal with when they return. He proves himself to be irredeemably evil.
Gog and Magog are mysterious kingdoms taken from Ezekiel’s prophecy in chapters 38-39. The broader context of Ezekiel 36-39 is helpful here. In these chapters God promises to gather his people from exile, unite the kingdoms of Israel and give them a new heart. In chapter 37 Ezekiel prophecies to dry, dead bones and they come to life. Ezekiel and John are likely describing the same events. As best we can tell from extrabiblical sources, Gog and Magog were barbarian peoples from the north, in present day Turkey and extending into southwestern Russia. Taken literally, some interpreters speculate that this will be the battle of Armageddon in which an army from Russia, Turkey, Syria, Iran, etc. will invade Israel. This, of course, is a possible interpretation. However, as we have already talked about with Armageddon, I think this is likely a figurative vision of God’s final judgment on evil nations, i.e., Babylons. It’s likely that Gog and Magag represent all the armies of the world as Ezekiel mentions Persia, Cush, and other nations along with them. Some have thought Gog and Magog to be a demonic army. Others have thought it to be the resurrected army from ch. 19. (cf. Dan. 12). A decision is difficult, as little is revealed about it and we shouldn’t spend too much time on it.
Again, like the other battle images, this isn’t much of a battle. It is more of a judgment scene where God displays his greatness, his power, his holiness and his majesty. Here, fire consumes the armies. This is the same as in Ezekiel’s prophecy.
Ezekiel 38:16 16 In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
Ezekiel 38:22-23 22 With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur. 23 So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Finally, the devil joins the two beasts in the lake of fire to be tormented forever and ever. The final victory of the Lamb is realized and creation has been liberated from evil.
Revelation 20:11-15 Judgment Before the Great White Throne 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
In verse 11 the earth and the sky are said to find no place in the new creation. This simply implies that they, as we know them currently, will be transformed into something totally new (cf. Isa. 51:6; Ps. 114:3, 7; 2 Pet. 3:7).
Now we have a picture of the final judgment of all people. They are judged “by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” (cf. Dan. 12:1; Isa. 4:3) This text holds in tension grace and works, as the rest of the New Testament does as well. Believers names have been written in this book of life before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 17:8). The book of life is mentioned elsewhere in Revelation (3:5; 20:12, 15; 21:7). It also mentioned throughout Scripture (Ex 32:32-33; Ps 68:29; Dan 12:1-2; Phil 4:3). Here we see the election theme. But this election is revealed by the works that one does. We see this taught throughout the New Testament as well.
John 5:28–29 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation. (see also 2 Cor. 11:15; 1 Pet. 1:17; James 2:14-26)
Death and Hades are synonymous, as Hades was the realm of the dead. Death is the last enemy to be defeated (1 Cor. 15:26). God will swallow up death forever (Isa. 25:8).
Here, we have the second death. It’s noteworthy that there is no statement of unbelievers being tormented for all eternity like there was for Satan and the beasts (cf. 20:10). This eternal torment could be implied—a view known as Eternal Conscious Torment or ECT. Or this could suggest that unbelievers will be destroyed in the lake of fire—a view known as Conditional Immortality or more popularly known as Annihilationism.
This judgment of Satan and the judgment of humanity is not presented as an evangelistic tool. It is presented as a call for Christians to live faithfully to the way of Jesus in the midst of pressure from the empire which is animated by Satan. This judgment scene ensures believers of God’s ultimate victory over his adversary. Eventually the evil power that animates Babylon-like empires will be destroyed. It assures believers that no matter the sacrifices they make today for Jesus, they will be rewarded with eternal life in the new creation.
Although evangelism is not the main point, it is certainly still a relevant one. The truth is that those whose names are not written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire, not to experience life in the new creation. This truth provides a pretty strong, compelling motive to trust in Jesus for your salvation.
So Christian, again, be encouraged. God will judge Satan and he will be thrown into the lake of fire one day. Evil will be fully eradicated at the source. You’re on the winning team, even if it doesn’t look like it now. Also, if you don’t believe in Jesus, repent and put your faith in Jesus to escape the judgment of God, and be sure that your name is written in the book of life when you stand before the throne.