Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Revelation 20:1-6), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [1-3] To this point in the narrative of Revelation, the devil had been allowed to “deceive the nations,” which means he was able to manipulate the pagan Romans and unbelieving Jews (representative of all nations) into forming a (short-lived) coalition against the Kingdom of Christ, the church. How do you think pagans or non-Christian Jews from any era would respond to the suggestion that the devil was playing them, pulling their strings, in their opposition to the church? Why/how would you share that biblical revelation with them, if ever? Can there be Good News in it for them, or is it only a condemnation?

• The chief enemy of God and his people has been decisively (but not permanently) prevented from maneuvering the nations in a united antagonism against the church. The conditions that existed for the early church leading up to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 will not be repeated for “1000 years,” a number symbolizing a long, full age of time (but not forever). Now is the time when the church’s proclamation of the Gospel is relatively unhindered in the world, with the nations streaming into the church. Jesus defeated the devil throughout his earthly ministry, by his faithfulness and proclamation of God’s Word, and now he shares this victory with his people. What does this victory over “the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph. 6:12) mean? What does it look like in the life, history, and ministry of the church? How are you able to participate in it? Does the restraint of the devil mean that Christ’s people will never suffer or encounter resistance in this world? Why or why not?

• [4-6] The “first resurrection” here is when the faithful saints “depart [to] be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23), entering the Lord’s heavenly presence, separated from their earthly bodies through death, awaiting bodily resurrection at the end of the age. Even though it is not the eternal state of the New Heavens and New Earth, being a disembodied soul in heaven is good (“blessed and holy…!”). In fact, Paul says, personally, he would prefer to be in heaven with Christ than to continue in this life. Does this describe how you feel? Do you consider it a blessing to be with Jesus, even if it means your earthly death? Why or why not?

• The Good Lord shares his authority to rule and to judge with his faithful people, just as his Father shared his authority with him (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21). God has rewarded Jesus for his faithfulness, and Jesus will reward us for our faithfulness—even if that faithfulness means following him through death as we hold fast to “the testimony of Jesus and the word of God.” Paul says we will judge the world, and even judge angels (1 Cor. 6). What do you think it looks like for the faithful saints who are seated on “thrones” in heaven to share Jesus’ authority to judge? If we expect to be found faithful, and therefore rewarded with the privilege of judgment in Christ’s kingdom, what would the exercise of faithful judgment look like in this life? (This would probably have something to do with matters of church discipline.) What kind of God is not diminished by sharing his authority with others?