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7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ~ Revelation 20:7-10
Since Satan will be confined to the abyss for a thousand years, his temptations will cease. As a consequence the earth will be greatly improved. Men will live together in harmony and peace. There will be no more war. But, sin will still be present, even when the devil is gone. A thousand years of peace and blessing will demonstrate, beyond question, original sin. This means all people are born into sin and each one has an evil nature. Man is not a sinner because he sins, he is a sinner and therefore he sins.
During the Millennium, it will be obvious "The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." This is why everyone needs salvation. Without the Lord Jesus, we are all desperate and hopeless.
At the end of the Millennium, according to v.7-8 of today's text, "Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore."
The only people who will enter the Millennial Kingdom will be those who have made the decision to trust the Lord Jesus as their Savior. And, we will have glorified bodies, and, we will have the ability to carry out God's will perfectly. And, God will release Satan from the abyss to give man free choice. In fact, how will anyone have free choice unless there are two ways to choose.
Now, everyone who enters the thousand year reign of Christ, the Millennium, will be righteous, will be a believer. It seems, the Bible indicates, that the day of the Lord, the tribulation period, takes care of all of the wicked. By the time the Tribulation has ended all of the wicked upon the earth will have been destroyed. Isaiah 60 informs us "all of Your people be righteous and will possess the land forever."
Only believers will enter but many of them, of course, will still be in their physical bodies, and, in the Kingdom, they will have children. Their children will have to confess Christ to be saved, like anybody in this current age would. But, many of them will reject Christ, showing the depth of original sin.
Though, during the Millennium, righteousness will rule, and peace will prevail, the human heart will still be present and will still be able to choose. And, ultimately, some will rebel. The point is this: people reject the Lord Jesus Christ not because of their environment but because of their nature. We sin because we are sinners by nature and by choice. Not because of environment.
This final revolt of society will be the result of Satan deceiving the nations throughout the earth. Once he is released, he will organize an army and he will yet again deceive many. When the Lord Jesus came the first time, man rejected Him, because they loved their sin too much. They loved darkness rather than light.
In v.8 Gog and Magog are mentioned. Gog is typically seen as a ruler. Magog was the grandson of Noah. Magog was the second son of Japheth. Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Japheth’s second son, the grandson of Noah was Magog. So, Magog was the child of Japheth, and he created a great kingdom north of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. In ancient times, it was known as Scythia. Today, it is known as Russia. After the release of Satan from the abyss, there will be a rebellion, and, this could be the battle that is described in Ezekiel 38-39. Many debate that point.
In v.8 we read, amazingly, “In number they are like the sand on the seashore.” I find it so tragic that there will be a massive number of people who will join Satan’s rebellion, even after it has been proven that God is good and can be trusted.
During the Millennium, there will be a population explosion. People will live long lives, conditions will be perfect. There will no natural enemies. Diseases will not proliferate. As a result people will know wholeness like never before. Yet, even during these conditions of health and safety and peace, Satan will deceive and gain followers.
In v.9-10 of today's text we read, "9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Hell was designed for the devil when he fell. It was not designed for people. The Lord Jesus referred to hell as an "everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels". Sadly, many will decide to go yet again with Satan. And, to God's credit, they will be given free choice, and He will honor their free choice. He will have to, to be equitable and loving. This is the devil's last stand and with his demise, sin and death will be no more.
