Context No. 2701 of 4322 · Revelation
Context · Reflection
Revelation 20:1-6: in context
1I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2He seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 3and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. 4I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed 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.
John sees an angel come down with the key to the abyss and a great chain, seize the dragon, the ancient serpent who is the devil, and shut him away for a thousand years so that he can deceive the nations no longer. Then John sees thrones, and on them the souls of those who were beheaded for their witness and would not worship the beast. They live and reign with Christ.
The vision does not pretend that evil has no grip now. It insists instead on a limit and an end. And notice who is shown reigning: not the ones who compromised to stay safe, but the ones who lost their lives rather than bow. "Over these the second death has no power." Faithfulness that looked in the moment like total defeat is revealed as the side that wins.
Do I measure faithfulness by how it fares right now, or by the end God has already shown it reaches?
Sources
- John 12:31: "Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out."
- Romans 16:20: "And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet."
- 2 Timothy 2:12: "If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us."