啓示錄 20 章 Revelations 20
- 馬克牧師
- Jul 20
- 10 min read
各位平安，今天我們繼續分享《啟示錄》第20章的經文。
昨天我們看到，所有跟隨撒但的人在最後仍不悔改的情況下，都受到了審判。接著，在第20章一開始，約翰記錄了一個畫面：一位天使從天降下，手裡拿著無底坑的鑰匙和一條大鍊子，捉住了那條大龍——也就是古蛇、魔鬼、撒但，把他捆綁一千年，丟進無底坑裡，封上、關閉，直到那一千年完結，之後才會暫時釋放他。
接下來約翰又看見，有一群人與基督一同作王一千年，這些人就是那些沒有拜過獸、也沒有受獸印的人。他們參與了所謂的「頭一次復活」。而撒但在一千年後被釋放，將再次迷惑列國，引發最後的對決，最後他和跟隨者都被丟進火湖中，永遠受苦。
這一章的內容，曾經在教會歷史中引起極大的爭論。正如我們一開始讀《啟示錄》時提到的，這本書採用的是啟示文體，帶有很多象徵性的語言、圖像和數字。這些元素的解釋往往不容易，也造成教會歷史上許多分歧。
比方說，這段經文中的「千禧年」就讓初代教會出現過不少不同的看法。有些人認為那就是一個具體的一千年，是撒但被關起來、世界進入和平的時期；也有人認為，這段千年是在象徵現今教會時代，直到末日審判。
甚至到了公元2000年前後，也出現很多人自稱是先知，說這就是末日來到、千禧年應驗的時候。也因此，有不少關於世界末日的預言大爆發，搞得大家人心惶惶。這就是為什麼我們讀經的時候，不能只抓住某一節或某一段，斷章取義，而是要從整體去理解神的啟示。
所謂「千禧年教義」的確曾在教會中造成許多混亂。很多人以為這個「一千年」是實際的數字，但從歷史上我們也看見，很多被稱為「魔鬼的化身」的人，出現在不只一個千年裡，這樣看來這個數字可能更多是象徵而非實指。
猶太人對「千禧年」的想法比較容易理解，因為這種末世彌賽亞王國的思想在他們的經文和文化中常常出現。但在聖經其他書卷中，對「千禧年」的描述其實是非常少的。
有些解經家會說，「主看千年如一日，一日如千年」，然後試圖對照舊約或其他經文，解釋這一千年是某種時間密碼或預兆。但我要提醒大家，如果我們太過強求去解釋那些神沒有完全啟示給我們的東西，就很容易產生誤解，甚至帶來混亂。
我們需要記得，神的啟示有一部分是清楚的，有一部分則是奧秘的。而我們的責任，不是去硬解所有的奧秘，而是去實踐那些清楚明白的命令。
最清楚的啟示是什麼？ 耶穌一定會再來，神一定會審判世界。 這才是我們信仰的核心，而不是花時間去推算哪一天會發生末日。耶穌自己說過，「那日子、那時辰，沒有人知道，只有天父知道。」
所以，如果有人告訴你：「我知道那天就是末日！」你自己就要小心，因為我們在啟示錄中也看見了，最危險的不是苦難，而是假先知、假使徒。這些人會迷惑人心，引人離開真道。
對於千禧年的概念，可以作為一個神學討論題目，但是在正統的神學觀念之中，這個概念並無立足之地，只是屬於歷史上的一個爭論事件而已。
在這千年結束之後，《啟示錄》接著提到撒但要被釋放，並且再次迷惑地上的萬國。
其中特別提到了兩個名字：「歌革」和「瑪各」。這聽起來對我們來說可能有點陌生，但如果你翻到《以西結書》第38和39章，就會發現這兩個名字早就出現過。
在中文聖經中，這段被標註為「歌革——耶和華的工具」，而在英文聖經的標題則是 "Prophecy about Gog and future invasion of Israel" —— 預言關於歌革以及將來對以色列的入侵。
這個主題不只出現在以西結書，像《但以理書》第11章、《撒迦利亞書》等地方，也都有類似的記載，預言有一場末世的戰爭，是由敵對上帝的勢力發動的。
對猶太人來說，這些預言特別有感。因為以色列從古到今，幾乎都是在敵人包圍之中，他們能夠享有和平的時間真的不多。這也造就了今天以色列「全民皆兵」的現 實—— 一個總是處於準備作戰狀態的國家。「歌革」和「瑪各」在猶太人的思想中，其實已經不只是某兩個地理位置或國家而已，它們代表的，是所有敵對上帝的勢力。
屬靈的含義也非常清楚：這些勢力最後要聯合起來，對抗耶路撒冷——這不只是地上的城市，而是象徵神的國；他們要攻擊神的子民——這不只是血脈上的以色列人，更是指所有「憑信心成為亞伯拉罕後裔」的真正以色列人，也就是屬基督的子民。
然而，這場攻擊最終會被基督完全粉碎。約翰在這裡寫下的預言，是一個強而有力的宣告：彌賽亞將會得勝，所有與神為敵的勢力，最終都會被丟進火湖，受永遠的刑罰。
其實也代表著基督徒該有的一個態度 – 這世界與我們為敵，所以我們也當隨時預備好，保持謹慎，做屬靈的爭戰。但我們不是靠自己的力量去征戰，而是倚靠已經得勝的基督去征戰。
最後，我們來到《啟示錄》第20章的結尾——白色大寶座的審判。
這裡所坐在寶座上的，就是那位至高的上帝——耶穌基督自己。就如同耶穌在《約翰福音》第5章所說，聖父已經將審判的權柄交給了聖子。而這也是我們在使徒信經裡所宣告的：「坐在全能父上帝的右邊，將來必從那裡降臨，審判活人死人。」
在這一幕當中，耶穌坐在審判者的位置上，對整個歷史和全人類做出終極的審判。
經文說，生命冊被打開了。這象徵著我們一生的行為，都被上帝詳細記錄、收藏在祂的書卷中。祂審判我們的標準不是外貌，也不是表面，而是按著我們一生所行的事。
「生命冊」這個概念其實貫穿整本聖經。
從《出埃及記》32章開始，摩西為百姓代求，甚至願意讓自己的名字從生命冊上被塗抹，只為了救贖以色列百姓；
《但以理書》7章說：「坐著要行審判，案卷都展開了」；
《詩篇》69篇提到：「惡人的名字要從生命冊上被塗抹，不得記錄在義人之中」；
《以賽亞書》4章也提到：「凡記錄在耶路撒冷生命冊上的，必稱為聖」；
保羅在《腓立比書》4章說，他那些與他一同勞苦的同工，他確信名字也都記在生命冊上。
這就說明了一件事：神從來沒有忽略過我們的每一個行為。
而到了審判的日子，所有死了的人都要復活接受審判，每一個人都要照自己所行的接受評斷。不論你在人前做的、還是人後做的，不論有沒有人看見，都要在神的寶座前被揭露。
這段經文提醒我們一件很重要的事——我們所做的每一件事，都不是可有可無的。沒有一件事情會被遺忘，也沒有一個行動會被掩蓋。我們都需要在神面前交帳，沒有例外。
到這裡，我們看見了撒但和他所有跟隨者的結局；我們也看見耶穌坐在寶座上，審判活人與死人。歷史走到終點，一切都進入審判的時刻。
這是世界的終局，但也是神國度榮耀的序幕。
下一講，我們即將進入《啟示錄》第21章——那是一個嶄新的開始，一個全新的世界，一個沒有眼淚、沒有死亡、沒有痛苦的完美國度——新天新地。感謝各位的聆聽，願上帝的話語繼續引導你每天的腳步。
Peace to you all. Today we continue our sharing of the Scripture from Revelation chapter 20.Yesterday we saw that all those who followed Satan, and yet did not repent in the end, received judgment. Then in chapter 20, right from the beginning, John records this image: an angel comes down from heaven, holding the key to the abyss and a great chain. He seizes the great dragon— that ancient serpent, the Devil, Satan—binds him for a thousand years, throws him into the abyss, locks and seals it, and will do so until the thousand years are complete, after which he is released for a little while.
Next, John sees a group of people reigning with Christ for a thousand years—those who did not worship the beast or receive its mark. They share in the so‑called “first resurrection.” Then, after the thousand years, Satan is released, to deceive the nations again, stirring the final confrontation. In the end, he and his followers are thrown into the lake of fire, suffering forever.
The content of this chapter has stirred great controversy in church history. As I mentioned when we first began reading Revelation, this book uses an apocalyptic literary style, full of symbolic language, imagery, and numbers. Interpreting these symbols is not easy, and historically the church has seen many divisions over them.
Take the concept of the “millennium” for example—it provoked many different views in the early church. Some believed it to be a literal thousand‑year period where Satan is bound and the world enters peace; others interpreted it symbolically, applying it to the church age up until final judgment.
Around the year 2000, many claimed to be prophets, proclaiming the end of the world or the fulfillment of the millennium. These prophetic outbreaks caused widespread fear—this is why when we read Scripture, we cannot hold on to a single verse or passage in isolation, taking it out of context. We must grasp the full scope of God’s revelation.
The so‑called “millennial doctrine” indeed caused much confusion in the church. Many treated that “thousand years” as a precise figure, but if we look at history, we find many people identified as “incarnations of the devil” in times not confined to that thousand‑year window. So it seems likely the number is symbolic rather than strictly literal.
For Jewish readers, the idea of a millennium is somewhat more accessible, because the notion of a Messiah‑kingdom appears regularly in their Scriptures and culture. But if you look elsewhere in the Bible, references to a literal “thousand years” are actually very rare.
Some interpreters even say, “With the Lord a thousand years is like a day, and a day like a thousand years,” and attempt to map this to Old Testament verses or other scriptures, trying to decode a time‑code or prophecy. I want to caution you: if we insist on forcing explanations for what God has not fully revealed, we risk falling into error.
Let us remember: some of God’s revelation is clear; some remains mysterious. Our job is not to force open every mystery, but to live out the commands that are clear.
What is the clearest revelation? Jesus will certainly come again, and God will certainly judge the world. That is the core of our faith. Not spending time calculating exactly when the end will come. Jesus Himself said, “That day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son—only the Father.”
So if someone tells you, “I know exactly which day is Judgment Day,” you need to be cautious. Because in Revelation we also see that the greatest danger isn’t simply the tribulation, but false prophets and false apostles—these are the ones who deceive hearts and lead people away from the truth.
Regarding the millennium concept: we can treat it as a theological discussion topic, but within orthodox theology it holds no foundational place—it’s simply a point of historical debate, not the essence of our faith.
After this thousand‑year period ends, Revelation tells us that Satan will be released and will deceive the nations again.
And here two names appear: “Gog” and “Magog.” These sound unfamiliar—but if you turn to Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, you’ll see them mentioned. In the Chinese Bible the heading reads “Gog—tool of the Lord,” while in English the chapter is titled “Prophecy about Gog and future invasion of Israel.” It’s the prophecy about Gog and the future invasion of Israel.
This subject doesn’t only appear in Ezekiel—similar records show up in Daniel 11 and Zechariah; it prophesies a final war launched by forces that oppose God.
For the Jewish people, this is especially meaningful: Israel has been surrounded by enemies from ancient times until today, and peace has been relatively brief. That’s why modern Israel still retains a “total defense” posture—always prepared for war.
In Jewish thought, “Gog” and “Magog” are no longer just geographic names—they symbolize all forces opposed to God. Spiritually speaking, they represent powers that conspire against Jerusalem (which symbolizes God’s kingdom) and against God’s people— not just those of Israel by blood, but all who are faith‑descendants of Abraham, i.e., the true Israel of God, the Christian believers.
But the prophecy is hopeful: the Messiah will win. The enemies of God will be defeated and cast into the lake of fire, to face eternal judgment.
It also reflects the attitude believers should have: the world is opposed to us, so we must always be ready, vigilant, engaging in spiritual battle—not by our strength, but by relying on Christ who has already won the victory.
Finally, we come to the ending of chapter 20: the White Throne Judgment. Seated on the throne is Jesus Christ Himself—the same One who was offered as Savior, now the final Judge. As referenced in John 5, the Father has handed the authority of judgment to Him. And this is echoed in the Apostle’s Creed: “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”
Jesus sits on the judgment throne; the Book of Life is opened before Him—symbolizing that every person’s life and deeds are recorded by God. He will judge according to what each has done—not by external status, but by internal reality.
The concept of the Book of Life spans the entire Bible. In Exodus 32, Moses asks God to blot his name out of the book of life for the sake of the people; in Daniel 7 we see the books opened in judgment; in Psalms 69 the wicked say their names will be blotted out; Isaiah 4 says whoever is recorded in Jerusalem’s book shall be holy; Paul in Philippians 4 affirms that those who labored with him are recorded in the Book of Life.
All of this points to one truth: God never overlooks our deeds. On the day of judgment, all the dead shall be raised, and each will be judged according to what they have done—whether in secret or in sight of others—it will all be revealed before God’s throne.
This passage reminds us that nothing we do is insignificant. No deed is hidden. We must give an account for our lives before God.
And now we arrive at the scene where we have seen the end of Satan and all his followers—now we see Jesus on the throne, judging the living and the dead. History reaches its conclusion—but this is not just the end of the story; it’s the inauguration of God’s kingdom in glory.
In our next episode, we will step into Revelation chapter 21—this is a brand‑new beginning, a perfect world without tears, without death, without suffering—the new heaven and the new earth. Thank you all for listening. May the Word of God continue to guide your steps each day.
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