Rev 20:14 | TNotes | STEP | 20:14 The expression death and the grave refers to the reality of death; it is the last enemy that God will destroy (see 21:4 ; 1 Cor 15:26 ). • The lake of fire portrays the horrible end of God’s enemies who will not experience the “first resurrection” (see Rev 20:5-6 ; cp. Matt 25:41 ; Luke 16:24 ; Jude 1:7 ). Thematic note: The Thousand Years (The Millennium) Revelation 20 describes the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth. Three perspectives regarding how the millennium relates to the coming of Christ have been held by Christian groups with an equally high regard for Scripture as God’s inspired, authoritative word: 1. Premillennialism: The current age between Christ’s first and second comings will end when he returns to inaugurate a literal 1,000-year rule on earth with his holy people, after which Christ will execute the final judgment and inaugurate his eternal Kingdom. 2. Amillennialism: The “1,000 years” represents the current age between Christ’s first and second comings, in which Christ reigns spiritually with his people (i.e., there is not a literal 1,000-year period). At the end of this age, Christ will return, execute the final judgment, and inaugurate his eternal Kingdom. 3. Postmillennialism: During the current age following Christ’s first coming, Christ will establish through the church an age of peace on earth (the 1,000 years), at the end of which Christ will return, execute the final judgment, and inaugurate his eternal Kingdom. Differences over these perspectives have caused conflict among Christians. Many have forsaken Christian fellowship with those who hold a different opinion. True Christian humility and love would never let such differences disrupt Christian fellowship, however (see 1 Pet 3:8 ). All believers can agree about the overall message of Revelation: Christ will visibly return and rule in an actual new heaven and earth. A real spiritual warfare is taking place. Hell, like heaven, is real, and all people will be judged by God’s standards. The prophecies of Revelation offer hope to God’s people in the midst of pain, suffering, and confusion in the world. Passages for Further Study Rev 20:1-10

a20:14►

b21:4►

c1 Cor 15:26►

dRev 20:5-6►

eMatt 25:41►

fLuke 16:24►

gJude 1:7►

hRevelation 20►

i1 Pet 3:8►

jRev 20:1-10►

‏ Revelation of John 20:14

20:14 ^a The expression death and the grave refers to the reality of death; it is the last enemy that God will destroy (see 21:4 ^b; 1 Cor 15:26 ^c).

• The lake of fire portrays the horrible end of God’s enemies who will not experience the “first resurrection” (see Rev 20:5-6 ^d; cp. Matt 25:41 ^e; Luke 16:24 ^f; Jude 1:7 ^g).

Thematic note: The Thousand Years (The Millennium)
Revelation 20 ^h describes the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth. Three perspectives regarding how the millennium relates to the coming of Christ have been held by Christian groups with an equally high regard for Scripture as God’s inspired, authoritative word:
1. Premillennialism: The current age between Christ’s first and second comings will end when he returns to inaugurate a literal 1,000-year rule on earth with his holy people, after which Christ will execute the final judgment and inaugurate his eternal Kingdom.
2. Amillennialism: The “1,000 years” represents the current age between Christ’s first and second comings, in which Christ reigns spiritually with his people (i.e., there is not a literal 1,000-year period). At the end of this age, Christ will return, execute the final judgment, and inaugurate his eternal Kingdom.
3. Postmillennialism: During the current age following Christ’s first coming, Christ will establish through the church an age of peace on earth (the 1,000 years), at the end of which Christ will return, execute the final judgment, and inaugurate his eternal Kingdom.
Differences over these perspectives have caused conflict among Christians. Many have forsaken Christian fellowship with those who hold a different opinion. True Christian humility and love would never let such differences disrupt Christian fellowship, however (see 1 Pet 3:8 ⁱ).
All believers can agree about the overall message of Revelation: Christ will visibly return and rule in an actual new heaven and earth. A real spiritual warfare is taking place. Hell, like heaven, is real, and all people will be judged by God’s standards. The prophecies of Revelation offer hope to God’s people in the midst of pain, suffering, and confusion in the world.

Passages for Further Study
Rev 20:1-10 ^j