A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)
Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.
I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we continue our study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as given to John, we begin in chapter 20.
In our study concerning the influence of the spirit realm upon mankind, we have witnessed activities from the spirit world and have been given insights to the fall of the great whore of Babylon which caused mankind to fornicate with her. In chapter 19 we saw a glimpse of the excitement of heavenly beings as they realized her fall.
Also we were given insights to the judgment where all evil beasts and Satan, himself, were cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. We can understand how devastating the punishment for unbelief and unrighteousness shall be upon evil man.
We turn to chapter 20. Here we see the first punishment upon Satan where he is cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. We first must recognize this is not a literal 1000 years on our time table. In eternity, God does not live by our time table. One thousand years means a very long time. God uses this to explain to us a difference between one duration of time versus another duration of time. Only God knows when the event is complete to release Satan to deceive mankind ‘for a little season’. We understand a season as one fourth of a calendar year. This represents a shorter duration of time versus any other longer or shorter time. Let us read Rev. 20.
Rev. 20:1-3. 20 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
This event does not seem to coincide with the final judgment of which we read in chapter 19. This seems to be an event which will happen anytime during the previous events spoken before. We have a hard time not thinking these events are in chronological order and happen one immediately following another. Often they are separate events or clusters,’sevens’, being described for our learning and can happen simultaneously or after a duration of time to complete one event. Some events are fulfilled before the next event begins. We need careful study and concentration to depict which way these events transpire.
Here we are given insight to the binding of Satan for a purpose. Perhaps it is to allow Christianity to have a time of peace to develop in all the earth.
In Zechariah 6:1-8, we see God’s servants, colored horses and chariots, performing His work to cause peace to come for the rebuilding of the temple. 6 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Peace was made for Israel to return to build the temple of Solomon again. However, ‘The Branch’ shall build the temple. The Branch is Jesus. In Zechariah 6:12-13, we read there is peace for both to have time to build the temple of God. This second temple is ‘The Church’, the Bride of Jesus. Notice Zechariah 6:12-13. 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
The Branch is further identified by ‘he’ which shall build the temple and shall bear the glory, sit upon and rule from his throne. He shall have dominion over his kingdom being the one upon a throne; a symbol of kingship. Being named a priest also indicates Jesus who became the high priest after the order of Melchizedek. He shall reign forever.
After a duration of time, of which only God knows, Satan shall be released for a little season. When Satan is released, what do you think he shall do? Will he be extremely angry? If so, in his anger, how do you feel he will react knowing his time to deceive mankind will come to an end shortly?
I believe we can imagine his drive to accomplish what he started, and had his Beast and False Prophet performing in his absence, will be more fierce and hurried to accomplish. Evils shall prosper at an exponential rate upon mankind.
Rev. 20:4. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
John saw ‘thrones’. Thrones represent judgment seats where a judge sits to serve justice. They that sat upon them were the twenty-four elders around the throne of God. Rev. 4:4. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. God has given these elders power to judge certain of the children of God. They are the souls that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and had not worshiped the beast of Satan.
In Rev. 6 we read of those who had been killed for the witness of Jesus being under the altar. Verses 9-11. 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
It appears it is these to whom is spoken who shall, or are, reigning with Jesus Christ for this long period of time, 1000 years. They have been judged and given white robes by the twenty-four elders on twenty-four thrones.
Rev. 20:5-6. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The rest of the dead, separated from God, waiting upon judgment, shall be judged at a later time. Those judged by the twenty-four elders were the ‘firstfruits’, a part of the first resurrection. God can do as He wills. It is not for us to know who He chooses to be a part of the first resurrection. God is sovereign. He is the only one who controls eternity. We should not second guess the will of God and not complain if we do not agree with His decisions.
Rev. 20:7-8. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Satan believes he can overpower God and the saints in battle. He desires to battle with God and His mighty angels. This is why the battle of Armageddon is pre-set to occur. (Rev. 16;:16) Satan shall gather a great army, ‘ the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.’ All of his followers whom he has deceived shall fight for him at this battle. They cannot be numbered. Gog and Magog represent the evil forces which will come to oppose the people, saints, of God. These people shall come from all quarters of the earth. (vs. 7) Evil people with the mark of the beast of Satan shall come together.
What shall be the result of the battle of Armageddon?
Rev. 20:9. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
God shall prevail over Satan and his minions. Armageddon shall become a short spiritual battle.
Rev. 20:10. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
God shall cast Satan into the lake of fire and brimstone with his fellow leaders to be tormented for eternity. Death shall never come to them; but they will be in eternal pain and anguish.
The Detailed Description Of The Judgment
Rev. 20:11-15. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
In this entire passage including the end of Satan and his beasts, a description of each party's eternal destiny, is described. The how and when is not indicated. Do they happen simultaneously or one following the other? There is no indication. We can know assuredly it will be as described. The activities described as, the placing the ‘vine’ into the winepress, is described here. The blemished shall be purged and the unblemished will remain to enter heaven. The good saved and the bad cast into the fire.
(study the parables in Matthew 25 where Jesus is answering questions from his apostles pertaining to the end of time on earth)
We first notice in the passage in verse 11 heaven and earth have no place to be. They are ‘fled away’. Earth and all things upon it are gone, destroyed, melted. The judgment is for those whose names were found in the book. They are judged according to their works, just as the servants were given certain talents in Matthew chapter 25.
Also, this judgment is likened to the separation of the sheep and the goats parable. Each one whose name is written in the book of life shall receive a place in heaven depending upon their ability to govern others. Some shall be given authority over 10s, 50s, 100s, and 1000s. Each one his respective place. All, whose name is written in the book of life shall be in heaven; saved from eternal hell.
[W]hosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Let us remind ourselves of Paul’s writing unto Thessalonica. 2 Thes. 2:3-4, 7-10, 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Also, 1 Thes. 4:13-17. 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
God has set a certain order to His judgment. It will occur as He directs. We who are living as righteously to His Will as we can shall be judged favorably. The abominable shall be judged righteously; not with false witnesses and false judgment, but, with righteous judgment from a righteous judge.
