This chapter is the pivotal point for millennial theories (postmillennialism, premillennialism, amillennialism). The interpretation of this chapter colors your view of the rest of the book of revelation and hinges on whether you take this chapter literally or figuratively.
Verses 1-3
- Who is involved?
- What significance is it that the Angel holds the chain and the key to the Abyss?
- How did the Angel deal with Satan?
- What does the way the Angel handled Satan signify about the relationship between Satan and God’s Angels?
- What traits are associated with Satan?
- How does the time and plan for Satan reveal God’s plan and His control?
Verses 4-6
- Who did John see first?
- Who are these people on the thrones (Luke 22:29-30)?
- What had been given to them and for how long?
- Who is not in this group?
- What seems to separate the two groups of people?
- What has been given to the first group?
Verses 7-10
- What happens after the thousand years’ rule?
- Who is involved after Satan is released?
- What is different in the parties involved here as compared to those involved in the destruction of Babylon?
- What influence does Satan have and over who?
- What was the position and size of the waring parties?
- Who won?
- What was the punishment for the vanquished?
- Who did the devil join?
- What does this indicate about the entity of Satan?
- Read Ezekiel 38:22-23
Verses 11-15
- Who is involved?
- Who is on the throne?
- What authority did the one on the throne have?
- What do you think it means that earth and sky fled from his presence?
- Who stood before Him?
- Are these different from those who ruled during the 1,000 years?
- What dead stood before Him?
- Why did they stand before Him?
- Can you imagine standing in front of and being one who is judged before He who the sky and earth fled from?
- What/Who was thrown into the Lake of Fire?
- What is this called and why?
- Do those who are thrown into the lake die?