Revelation: The Final Judgment

Revelation 20:7-15

I am excited to begin our new study on January 5, 2026, as we consider the story of God in the lives of his people. The Bible is one unified story of God, and we are not just spectators. We will see how the Bible fits together by following God at work through the people and events of Scripture. If you want to learn how the greatness of God is demonstrated in the story of your life, this study is for you. Again, I can’t wait to get started.

But first, we have some amazing things to see in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the message about him and from him. 

Last time, we considered the millennial kingdom, where Jesus will reign over the earth from Jerusalem. It will be a thousand years of peace on earth—peace among people, nations, and nature. Satan will be confined in the abyss, the “bottomless pit,” for the thousand years. John tells us that “after that he must be released for a little while” (Rev. 20:3). Now we learn what will happen when Satan roams the earth once again. 

Revelation 20:7-8
And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 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….

Ezekiel 36-39 serves as the background for this passage. In the Ezekiel passage, God’s people were secure in an end-time setting but were still attacked by evil nations represented here by Gog and Magog.^[1]

But wait a second—we are in the millennial kingdom's timeframe! How will Satan deceive people?

Satan’s Deception and Destruction (Rev. 20:7-10)
Remember, two groups will inhabit the earth during the millennial kingdom—those in resurrected, glorified bodies and those in physical bodies who trusted in Christ and survived the tribulation. The people in physical bodies will marry and have children, repopulating the earth. Life will be unlike anything we have ever experienced. There will be peace on earth, and Jesus will reign from Jerusalem. Still, as in the Garden of Eden, people will be responsible for trusting God or rejecting him. 

When Satan is released, he will deceive many, as he deceived Eve. This is a reminder of Satan’s unrepentant rebellion and the inherent sinfulness of humanity, which is helpless and hopeless without Jesus, even during the millennial kingdom.

Many will reject Jesus and follow Satan (Rev. 20:8b). He will gather them in one last attempt to overthrow the kingdom of God. Satan’s vast army will surround Jerusalem, “the beloved city” (Rev. 20:9a). But the battle is short-lived as “fire came down from heaven and consumed them” (Rev. 20:9b). John says, “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” (Rev. 20:10). 

The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15)
After the final disarming of Satan’s power and authority and his eternal judgment, John saw a “great white throne” with Jesus sitting on the throne as the Judge.[2] John says that “from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them” (Rev. 20:11). According to Bible scholar Robert Utley, some see this as the removal of the Genesis 3 curse[3] or a description of the destruction of the current physical order.^[4] This obliteration is described by the apostle Peter when he writes that “the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Pet. 3:10, 12).

Whatever happens to the heavens and the earth, the focus here is the throne. There, all the dead will be judged.

Revelation 20:12-13
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened . . . 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.

At this point, all who have trusted in Jesus are alive. So, the “dead” are all those who never trusted in Jesus. They had the opportunity and refused. Notice the dead were judged based on their deeds: “by what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (Rev. 20:12).

That’s the problem—the eternal problem. “None is righteous, no not one; . . . no one seeks for God” (Rom. 3:10-11). Our best actions are like a “polluted garment” (Isa. 64:6). We all fall short of God’s perfect standard (Rom. 3:23). The book that records our deeds is a record of failure after failure.

The Bible is clear that everyone will die once. After that comes the judgment (Heb. 9:27). But John says the second death is “the lake of fire,” an eternity of separation from God in what we know as hell (Rev. 20:15). John explains, “if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14). 

It’s time for an honest reflection. Many people refuse to accept the truth of an impending judgment, even though it couldn’t be clearer. I just learned of a Christian influencer who posted that he believes in what is called “annihilation.” That belief holds that if we don’t know Jesus, we will simply cease to exist. In essence, it denies the existence of hell. While that might make a person feel better, it is not what Scripture repeatedly teaches. 

So—two things. Thank God that your name is written in the book of life because you have trusted in Jesus as the only way to have a relationship with God. And be passionate about sharing Jesus with those who don’t know him.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Revelation 20:7-15. 

Talking to God: What does Satan’s ability to deceive people even during the millennial kingdom teach us about the seriousness of sin and our daily need for God’s grace?

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step.

2026: A New Year. A New Series. A New Way to See Your Life in God’s Story.

Starting January 5, 2026, jump into our most engaging series yet—God’s Story in God’s People. From Genesis to Revelation, you’ll discover how God works through real people with real struggles and real purpose—and how he wants to do the same in you. Don’t just read the story—step into it—and apply it to your everyday life. 

RE-IGNITE YOUR MARRIAGE IN 2026!
Refocus, reconnect, and recharge your marriage—starting January 10 with an in-person kickoff and online classes, ending with a Valentine’s Day recommitment ceremony.
Make this the year your love grows stronger than ever!
Learn more and register: livinggrounded.org/marriage

SAVE THE DATE: Bible Immersion trip to Israel: November 4-14, 2026.