The Death of the Dragon – Revelation 20

1. Read: Revelation 20:1-3

2. About the Text:

1) In chapter 17-18 we saw the judgment of the Great Harlot.

2) In chapter 19 we saw the victory of Christ over the beast and the false prophet.

3) In chapter 20 we see the Death of the Dragon, Satan.

4) This scene immediately follows Christ’s victory of the beast and his armies.

5) Many get hung up in this chapter about the 1000-year reign.

6) The chapter is really about the destruction of Satan, the Red Dragon.

7) The Dragon is introduced in chapter 12.

8) The Beast is introduced in chapter 13-14.

9) The Great Harlot is introduced in chapter 17 and judged in 18.

10) The Beast is defeated in chapter 19.

11) The Dragon is defeated in chapter 20.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The angel that binds the dragon.

1) An angel comes down from heaven.

2) He has the key to the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1-2).

3) He has a great chain in his hand.

2. The dragon is bound.

1) The angel grabs the dragon.

2) The dragon is the serpent of old, the devil, Satan.

3) The angel binds him (with chains) for 1000 years.

3. The dragon is put in the bottomless pit.

1) The angel throws the dragon into the bottomless pit.

2) He shuts the pit and puts a seal on it.

3) The dragon is bound so that he should not deceive the nations.

4) This is limited to 1000 years.

5) After that, he will be released for a little while.

4. Notes

1) The bottomless pit is the place from which evil comes (Revelation 9:1-12).

2) The key represents God’s control over evil (Job 1:6-12).

3) Chains are used to imprison; this is a prison (Revelation 20:7).

4) God has put a check on evil with the gospel (Acts 26:18, 2 Tim.1:10, Hebrews 2:14).

5) The time of 1000 years is symbolic of God’s appointed times and seasons (Acts 1:7).

1. The fate of the Martyrs.

1) John saw thrones with occupants.

2) These were given judgment, made judges.

3) John saw the souls who were martyred for Jesus and the word of God (Rev.6:9-11).

4) They had not worshipped the beast, his image, nor received the mark (Rev.13:8).

5) They lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years.

2. The first resurrection.

1) The rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years was finished.

2) This reign is the first resurrection (Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12, 1 Peter 3:21).

3) Those who participate in the first resurrection are not subject to the second death.

4) They will be priests of God and Christ (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6, 5:10).

5) They will reign with Him for 1000 years.

3. Notes:

1) “The saints will judge the world” (1 Corinthians 6:2).

2) God has appointed a time and a season (1000 years) for the saints, the church.

3) Baptism begins the first resurrection of living a new life for Christ.

4) Those who have been baptized and are faithful are not subject to the second death.

5) Christians are priests of God (1 Peter 2:9).

6) The 1000 year reign is the reign of Christ with his saints in the church.

7) The church is comprised of faithful saints on earth and in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-24).

1. The dragon makes his last stand.

1) These events take place after the 1000 years have expired.

2) Satan will be released from his prison.

3) He will go out to deceive the nations.

4) These nations are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38:2).

5) Their number are as the sand of the sea.

6) He will gather them together to battle.

2. The dragon is defeated.

1) The dragon and his armies control the earth.

2) They surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city.

3) Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them (2 Thess.1:8-9).

4) The devil was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.

5) The beast and the false prophet are already there.

6) They are tormented day and night forever (Matthew 25:41).

3. Notes:

1) Satan’s deception of the nations is for the purpose of extinguishing Christianity.

2) Gog and Magog are the enemies of God (Ezekiel 38:2).

3) Satan will use this great host to try to eliminate the church from the earth.

4) Jesus will return to deliver the church from ultimate destruction (2 Thess.1:8-9).

5) Satan will be consigned to ultimate destruction.

6) Hell is a place created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

1. God’s ultimate judgment begins.

1) John saw a great white throne.

2) The earth and the heaven fled from Him who sat on it.

3) They could find no place to hide.

2. The dead are judged.

1) All the dead stood before God.

2) The books were opened.

3) The book of life was also opened (Philippians 4:3).

4) The dead were judged according to their works.

5) They were judged by the things written in the books.

6) The sea gave up the dead in it.

7) Death and Hades delivered up the dead in them.

8) All were judged by their works (2 Corinthians 5:10).

3. The last enemy is destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26).

1) Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire, the second death.

2) Those not written in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire.

4. Notes:

1) No one will escape final judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

2) Being judged according to our works means condemnation because all sin (Rom.3:23).

3) Death and Hades are destroyed last (1 Corinthians 15:26).

4) Salvation does not depend upon our works, but on whether we are written in the book of life (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5).

1. The Death of the Dragon

1) The Dragon is Bound

2) Christ and His Saints Reign for 1000 Years

3) The Dragon is Destroyed

4) The Dragon’s Servants are Judged

2. Invitation