An angel came down from heaven, bound Satan with a great chain, threw it into the bottomless pit and locked it up for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3). We should feel safe because among angels, some are able to defeat Satan. God has enough ammunition to dominate Satan.
In these 1000 years, the souls of those beheaded for Jesus and for the Word of God came back to life and reigned with Christ (Revelation 20:4). This coming back to life to reign with Christ is called the First Resurrection (Revelation 20:5). However, the author was not clear where they shall reign with Christ. In heaven? In the church? On earth or in the hearts of men? The author described them as blessed and holy. They shall be priests of God and of Christ. The Second Death has no power over them (Revelation 20:6).
After these 1000 years, Satan regained its freedom. He travelled around the four corners of the earth to gather an army, called Gog and Magog, to wedge battle against the saints. They surrounded them and Jerusalem. From heaven, God sends down fire to consume them. Then Satan, together with the beast and the false prophet, were thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur (Revelation 20:9-10). This lake of fire is the Second Death (Revelation 20:14). A throne came down from heaven. From the presence of the one sitting on the throne, even the earth and the sky fled (Revelation 20:11) All the dead now stand judgment before the throne. Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life, will be thrown into the lake of fire, to suffer the Second Death (Revelation 20:15).
The author then saw a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). He also saw Jerusalem coming down from heaven (Revelation 21:2). An angel explained that Jerusalem would be Christ's wife.
and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)
Behold, I make all things new (Revelation 21:5).
And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment.
He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:6-8)
The Holy City has four very high walls. Each has three gates. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are inscribed on them. The walls have 12 foundations. The names of the 12 apostles are inscribed on the foundation (Revelation 21:14). The City is very splendid. The 12 foundations are 12 different jewels: jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst (Revelation 21:19-20).
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb (Revelation 21:22-23).
The gates of the new City would never be shut, whether it be day or night (Revelation 21:25).
Dear Master, it is a consoling as well as a warning scene. I look forward to entering this New Jerusalem. Amen.
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