John saw two things that would happen for a thousand years: (1) Satan would be captured and bound for a thousand years; (2) The saints of God would reign with Christ for a thousand years.

An interesting point that is mentioned here is the identity of Satan. He was given various descriptions. This is to confirm his identity in all the different aspects/ways of his manifestation:

a) Dragon; b) Ancient serpent; c) Devil; d) Satan; and he was bound for a thousand years.

The angel that John saw obviously had great power as he was given the keys to the bottomless pit, and a great chain. How do you describe a “bottomless pit”? You cannot see the bottom at all. When I was in Japan, I had the opportunity of climbing to the top of Mount Fuji (3776m high). It is considered an active volcano that had last erupted in 1707. When I was up there at the top, I walked as far as I could to side of the rim to look into the mouth of the volcano, I could not see the bottom as it appeared simply as a dark patch, and I could not tell what is in there. The depth of the volcano’s mouth resembles a bottomless pit.

Another interesting point is the description of the saints of God in verse 4:

a) They were martyred for their testimony of Jesus and of the word of God

b) They refused to worship the beast or its image

c) They had not received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or hands

d) They came to life, and began to reign with Christ for a thousand years

We will reign with Christ! (vv. 4, 6) This is a glorious truth. The Apostle Paul testified that, as the elect of God, we have obtained the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory, and one of the specific aspects of this glory is that “we will also reign with him.” (2 Timothy 2:10-12) Paul said that we will also be judging angels! (1 Corinthians 6:3)

A thousand years is a long time, but in the eyes of the Lord, a thousand years is but a day (Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). We cannot imagine how God sees the whole of eternity in one instance. Even human history is but a short span in his eternity. Let us look beyond this world and its temporal joys and sufferings, and look forward to the 1,000-year reign with Christ and to our eternal fellowship with God in his heavenly dwelling.

A third interesting point in this passage (vv. 5-6) is the mentioned of two related realities: The First Resurrection and the Second Death. The first resurrection refers to the saints that came to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years (v. 4b), and those who share in this first resurrection are the very blessed in the Lord. They are the same people whom the second death has no power over, that is, they will not face the second death.

What is the second death? The term "second death" occurs four times in the New Testament, specifically in Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 20:14 and 21:8. Well, it refers to those who whose names were not written in the Book of Life. They would be judged by God and face eternity in damnation in the lake of fire together with Satan and his demons. Chapter 21:8 tells us that these people were referred to as, “… the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.” Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is “the second death.” (v.14)

Eternal God of the heavens and the earth, the One who holds the power of life and death. We thank you for your grace that saves and sustains those whom you have chosen according to your perfect will and responded to your call. Thank you for the privilege of sharing in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life and delivering us from the second death. We pray for your mercy upon those who are still living on earth, that as long as they have breath and the opportunity to respond to your love and calling, that they would repent and receive eternal life and the promise of resurrection from death unto life. Amen!