Vol.9 No.5

Q. I’m con-fused by the events men-tioned in Revelation 20. I’ve always thought that the righteous and the wicked were judged at the same time at the second coming of Christ. But this 1,000 year period between the first and second resurrection doesn’t fit that concept. Can you help me?

A. Understanding Revelation 20 is the key to understanding the judgement of the wicked and the 1,000 year period often referred to as the millennium.

Immediately following the portrayal of Christ’s second advent (Revelation 19:11-21) is the description of Satan’s confinement for a thousand years. This period begins with the resurrection of the righteous, the “blessed and holy” of all ages (Revelation 20:5, 6). Verse 5 also tells us that “the rest of the dead [those who were wicked] live not again until the thousand years were finished. Their resurrection, called the resurrection of damnation, takes place at the close of the 1,000 year period. So, the resurrection of the righteous begins the 1,000 years, and the resurrection of the wicked ends the 1,000 years.

But what will happen to the living wicked? They will be slain by the very presence of Christ at the second coming. When an angel appeared at Jesus’ tomb, the entire group of Roman guards fell as dead men (Matthew 28:2, 4). When the brightness of all the angels, God the Father, and God the Son combine, the wicked will die as if hit by lightning.

Revelation 20:4 introduces us to a judgement that will take place in heaven. While John does not specify the identities of those who are being judged by the saints, other passages of Scripture indicate that this judgement refers to both the judgement of the wicked of the earth and the fallen angels. Paul declares: “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels?”  (1 Corinthians 6:2, 3). Therefore, prior to their eternal destruction, the names of all created beings who have not been redeemed will be reviewed by the saints. This in no way indicates that God is uncertain of the justice of this judgement; but God allows redeemed men to understand fully His absolute justice as a righteous judge.

Since the wicked already have been condemned and excluded from heaven, the judgement by the saints cannot determine whether men shall be lost or saved. In union with Christ they will judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the heavenly records (Daniel 7:10) and the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is decided, according to their works, and it is recorded against their names in the book of death. Satan and his angels will be also judged by Christ and His people (Jude 6).

The close of the thousand years marks the close of the terrible experiment of sin. Sinners who are finally unrepentant will be destroyed, and the way will be prepared for God to re-establish the kind of world in which He placed Adam and Eve.