Year of the Bible
Revelation 20
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Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Chapter 20:
Babylon, the beast, and the false prophet are defeated (chapters 18-19), but the dragon, AKA Satan, must still be vanquished. We read of opposing events as Satan is bound and thrown into a pit, while those who have been martyred and not followed Satan will came back to life. These events are for 1000 years, and like other temporal measurements in Revelation (e.g. 3 ½ years in chapter 11, the size of Jerusalem chapter 22) we do not assume this is literal. Rather, Catholics read this as symbolic of the era of the Church on earth prior to the final judgement. Just as Satan was limited by Jesus’ ministry during Jesus’ life, he continues to be limited by Jesus’ ministry through the Church and her sacraments. The battle continues in our lives, but at the end of this era, Satan will be thrown into an eternal lake of fire, Revelation’s symbol for Hell (also see Matthew 3:12, 13:49-50). All those who have died will be judged, and those who followed Satan in their earthly life will follow him into eternal torment in the afterlife, the second death. Those who followed God will have their names listed in the book of life (2:11, 3:5), and their eternal life has already been previewed in the wedding of the Lamb (chapter 19).
The Book of Revelation, Chapter 20:
The Thousand Years
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let out for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years.
Satan’s Doom
7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations
which are at the four corners of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad earth and sur rounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city; but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Dead Are Judged
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; 15 and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
What part of St. John's imagery in this Chapter is moving you in some way? Go back to that part and read it again. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you see what He wants to reveal to you through these Sacred Words.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Vi a un ángel que bajaba del cielo,
con la llave del abismo y una gran cadena
de la mano.
2 Apresó al dragón, la serpiente antigua,
que es el Diablo y Satanás, y lo encadenó
durante mil años. 3 Lo arrojó al
abismo, lo cerró y puso un sello en él,
para que no seduzca más a las naciones
hasta que pasen los mil años. Después
debe ser soltado por poco tiempo.
4 Vi también unos tronos; a los que
se sentaron en ellos se les dio potestad
de juzgar; y vi a las almas de los degollados
por dar testimonio de Jesús y de la
palabra de Dios, y a los que no adoraron
a la bestia ni su imagen, ni recibieron la
marca en su frente ni en su mano. Revivieron
y reinaron con Cristo mil años.
5 Los demás muertos no revivieron hasta
que se cumplieron los mil años. Ésta
es la resurrección primera.
6 Bienaventurado y santo el que tiene
parte en la resurrección primera. Sobre
éstos la muerte segunda no tiene poder,
sino que serán sacerdotes de Dios y de
Cristo, y reinarán con él mil años.
7 Cuando se hayan cumplido los mil
años, Satanás será soltado de su prisión,
8 y saldrá a seducir a las naciones
que hay en los cuatro ángulos de la tierra,
a Gog y a Magog, y a reunirlos para
la guerra. Y su número es como la arena
del mar. 9 Subieron por la ancha extensión
de la tierra y pusieron cerco al
campamento de los santos y a la ciudad
amada, pero bajó fuego del cielo y los
devoró. 10 Y el Diablo, el seductor, fue
arrojado al estanque de fuego y azufre,
donde están también la bestia y el falso
profeta, y serán atormentados día y noche
por los siglos de los siglos.
11 Vi un gran trono blanco y al que
estaba sentado en él. Ante su presencia
huyeron la tierra y el cielo, y no de
jaron ningún rastro. 12 Vi a los muertos,
grandes y pequeños, en pie ante el trono,
y fueron abiertos los libros. También
fue abierto otro libro, el de la vida. Y los
muertos fueron juzgados por lo que estaba
escrito en los libros, según sus obras.
13 El mar entregó los muertos que
había en él, la muerte y el hades entregaron
los muertos que había en ellos, y
fue juzgado cada uno según sus obras.
14 Entonces la muerte y el hades fueron
arrojados al estanque de fuego. Ésta es
la muerte segunda, el estanque de fuego.
15 Todo el que no figuraba escrito en
el libro de la vida era arrojado al estanque
de fuego.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
¿Qué parte de las imágenes de San Juan en este capítulo te conmueve de alguna manera? Vuelve a esa parte y léela de nuevo. Invita al Espíritu Santo a que te ayude a ver lo que quiere revelarte a través de estas sagradas palabras.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).