William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 20:7

Observe here, 1. prophetical prediction, that when the long time of the church's liberty and peace shall be expired, which is here expressed and set forth under the notion of. thousand years; God will then take off his restraint from the devil, and he shall influence the wicked world once more to make opposition against his church: When the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. Behold here Satan's restless malice against mankind, and particularly against the church of Christ.

Observe next, That Satan is first said to deceive the nations, and then to gather them together to the battle against the saints: the same saints, either in their persons or in their successors, who did formerly reign, will now suffer But by whom? Gog and Magog; where is probably an allusion to these two names mentioned often in the Old Testament, who were the last enemies of the Jewish church before Christ's first coming.

In like manner the last enemies of the Christian church are here set forth by that name, who shall be utterly destroyed. little before Christ's second coming to judgment. Satan with all his united power, and combined force, will attempt the whole body of the Christian church before his last and fatal overthrow.

Observe lastly, That after the destruction of these agents and instruments of Satan's fury, his own full and final destruction is declared; which may be called his second imprisonment in that lake of fire and brimstone, which is both easeless and endless, there to keep company with the beast and false prophet to all eternity.

Behold here the dceiver and the deceived plagued together; the devil that deceived, and the beast and false prophet that were deceived by him, and were his instruments to deceive others, are cast together into the lake of fire, to be tormented for ever. Satan was indeed condemned to this before, and reserved thereunto, but the actual and final execution thereof is suspended until the end come.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Revelation 20:7

Old Testament

New Testament